Route guide · OR → CA
Shipping a car from Oregon to California
Shipping a running sedan from Portland to Los Angeles costs about $850–$1,250 on an open carrier and $1,275–$1,875 in an enclosed trailer, with 2–4 days in transit. It ranks #94 among the 250 busiest car-shipping lanes, based on Census moving data.
- Open carrier, sedan
- $1,050
- Road miles
- 980
- Days in transit
- 2–4
- People moving a year
- 20.1K
- Companies at both ends
- 129
City to city
What it costs between Oregon and California cities
Open-carrier prices for a running sedan between Portland, Salem, Eugene and Bend and Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego and San Jose — 520 to 1,090 road miles apart.
| From | Los Angeles | San Francisco | San Diego | San Jose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portland | $850–$1,250980 mi · 2–4 days | $700–$1,075640 mi · 2–3 days | $875–$1,2751,090 mi · 3–5 days | $700–$1,100670 mi · 2–4 days |
| Salem | $825–$1,225930 mi · 2–4 days | $675–$1,050590 mi · 2–3 days | $875–$1,2751,050 mi · 3–5 days | $700–$1,075630 mi · 2–3 days |
| Eugene | $800–$1,200870 mi · 2–4 days | $625–$1,000520 mi · 2–3 days | $850–$1,250990 mi · 2–4 days | $650–$1,025560 mi · 2–3 days |
| Bend | $775–$1,175840 mi · 2–4 days | $650–$1,025530 mi · 2–3 days | $825–$1,225950 mi · 2–4 days | $650–$1,025550 mi · 2–3 days |
A pickup or delivery far from these metros usually adds $75–$150. Quotes move with fuel prices and truck space, so treat these as a yardstick. Price your own addresses →
By vehicle
Price by vehicle type
Portland to Los Angeles, 980 miles. Bigger and heavier vehicles take more room and weight on the trailer, so they cost more.
| Vehicle | Open carrier | Enclosed |
|---|---|---|
| Sedan or small car | $850–$1,250 | $1,275–$1,875 |
| Midsize SUV or crossover | $950–$1,400 | $1,425–$2,075 |
| Large SUV (Tahoe, Expedition) | $1,050–$1,550 | $1,575–$2,325 |
| Pickup truck | $1,100–$1,625 | $1,650–$2,425 |
| Motorcycle | $500–$750 | $750–$1,125 |
By month
Best time to ship
Prices on this lane peak in December (the holidays and winter weather up north), running about 10% above the quietest months. The cheapest time to ship from Oregon to California is March–May and September–November.
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Cheapest: about $1,050 Peak: about $1,150
About this route
Why so many cars go from Oregon to California
About 20,058 people moved from Oregon to California in each of the last two years, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (22,162 in 2023, 17,954 in 2024). That is 16.4% of everyone who left Oregon for another state, making California its #2 destination.
This is the lighter direction: about 32,654 people a year move California to Oregon. Carriers that bring cars into Oregon need loads back toward California, so it's worth asking for a backhaul price on this leg.
How the price compares
At a typical $1,050, shipping from Oregon to California is one of the cheaper long moves out of Oregon — Arizona ($1,125) and Texas ($1,375) cost more. That works out to about $1.07 a mile.
Distance and transit time
Your car spends 2–4 days on the road for the roughly 980 miles from Portland to Los Angeles, after a pickup window of a few days while the carrier assembles a full load. The car heads south-southeast and stays on Pacific time the whole way.
On the road
- Winter storms in Oregon can slow pickups and deliveries in December through February — leave slack in your schedule.
Companies
Car carriers at both ends of the route
The largest carriers headquartered in Oregon and California, by trucks on file with the FMCSA. A company based at either end usually runs this lane often.
Pickup end Oregon
7 companies based in Oregon: 7 carriers, 1 brokers, 19 trucks in total, 13 years in business on average.
- Carroll Auto Transport LLC Gilchrist · 5 trucks · since 2001 · USDOT 991916
- DMV Auto Transport Portland · 4 trucks · since 2008 · USDOT 1797529
- EZ Transport LLC Troutdale · 2 trucks · since 2016 · USDOT 2871184
- Finesse Auto Transport LLC Damascus · 2 trucks · since 2018 · USDOT 3087476
- Interstate Expressways Inc Eugene · 2 trucks · since 2025 · USDOT 4462008
Delivery end California
122 companies based in California: 91 carriers, 18 brokers, 1,809 trucks in total, 11 years in business on average.
- Hansen & Adkins Auto Transport Inc Los Alamitos · 965 trucks · since 1994 · USDOT 568253
- Professional Auto Transport Inc Jurupa Valley · 257 trucks · since 2003 · USDOT 1130314
- Central Valley Auto Transport Inc Strathmore · 76 trucks · since 2001 · USDOT 978079
- DBN Auto Transport Anaheim · 75 trucks · since 2017 · USDOT 2979175
- Safe Auto Transport Inc N Highlands · 44 trucks · since 2013 · USDOT 2411467
96 more companies in our directory ship to all 48 contiguous states. Browse all companies →
Related routes
Nearby alternatives
Moving close to California but not into it — or coming from somewhere near Oregon? These guides cover the neighbouring lanes.
From Oregon to states near California
To California from states near Oregon
FAQ
Oregon to California car shipping: questions
Numbers on this page come from our price model, Census moving data and California's DMV.
How much does it cost to ship a car from Oregon to California?
For a running sedan on an open carrier, expect about $850–$1,250 from Portland to Los Angeles (980 road miles). Between other big cities in the two states prices range from $625–$1,275. An SUV costs about $950–$1,400, a pickup $1,100–$1,625, and an enclosed trailer $1,275–$1,875 for a sedan.
How long does it take to ship a car from Oregon to California?
Transit is usually 2–4 days after pickup for the 980-mile trip from Portland to Los Angeles. The wait for pickup is separate: typically 1–5 days, or 1–2 days if you pay about 30% more for expedited service.
When is the cheapest time to ship a car from Oregon to California?
March–May and September–November is the cheapest window on this lane. Prices are highest in December, up to about 10% more. If you must ship in peak months, book three to four weeks ahead.
How soon do I have to register my car in California after moving?
California requires new residents to register within 20 days of becoming a resident. The car must pass a California smog check, and it has to meet California emission standards to be registered at all.
Is it cheaper to drive or ship my car from Oregon to California?
Driving 980 miles takes about 2 days: roughly $130 in gas and 1 night of hotels and meals (about $140). Shipping a sedan costs about $850–$1,250. Over this distance driving usually costs less, if you can spare the day.
Which car shipping companies go from Oregon to California?
Our directory lists 7 companies based in Oregon and 122 based in California, each checked against FMCSA records, plus 96 that ship nationwide.