Route guide · SC → CA
Shipping a car from South Carolina to California
Shipping a running sedan from Charleston to Los Angeles costs about $1,350–$1,925 on an open carrier and $2,000–$2,875 in an enclosed trailer, with 6–9 days in transit. It ranks #161 among the 250 busiest car-shipping lanes, based on Census moving data.
- Open carrier, sedan
- $1,650
- Road miles
- 2,600
- Days in transit
- 6–9
- People moving a year
- 6.2K
- Companies at both ends
- 140
City to city
What it costs between South Carolina and California cities
Open-carrier prices for a running sedan between Charleston, Columbia, Rock Hill and Greenville and Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego and San Jose — 2,350 to 2,870 road miles apart.
| From | Los Angeles | San Francisco | San Diego | San Jose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston | $1,350–$1,9252,600 mi · 6–9 days | $1,425–$2,0252,870 mi · 6–10 days | $1,325–$1,8752,530 mi · 6–9 days | $1,400–$2,0002,790 mi · 6–10 days |
| Columbia | $1,325–$1,8752,520 mi · 6–9 days | $1,400–$2,0002,780 mi · 6–10 days | $1,300–$1,8502,450 mi · 5–9 days | $1,375–$1,9502,700 mi · 6–10 days |
| Rock Hill | $1,300–$1,8752,500 mi · 5–9 days | $1,375–$1,9752,750 mi · 6–10 days | $1,300–$1,8502,440 mi · 5–9 days | $1,350–$1,9502,670 mi · 6–10 days |
| Greenville | $1,275–$1,8252,410 mi · 5–9 days | $1,350–$1,9502,660 mi · 6–10 days | $1,250–$1,8002,350 mi · 5–9 days | $1,325–$1,9002,590 mi · 6–9 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
Charleston to Los Angeles, 2,600 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 | $1,350–$1,925 | $2,000–$2,875 |
| Midsize SUV or crossover | $1,500–$2,150 | $2,250–$3,225 |
| Large SUV (Tahoe, Expedition) | $1,675–$2,400 | $2,500–$3,575 |
| Pickup truck | $1,750–$2,475 | $2,600–$3,725 |
| Motorcycle | $800–$1,150 | $1,200–$1,725 |
By month
Best time to ship
Prices on this lane peak in June–August (the summer moving peak), running about 8% above the quietest months. The cheapest time to ship from South Carolina to California is January–May and September–November.
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Cheapest: about $1,625 Peak: about $1,750
About this route
Why so many cars go from South Carolina to California
About 6,151 people moved from South Carolina to California in each of the last two years, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (5,346 in 2023, 6,955 in 2024). That is 4.6% of everyone who left South Carolina for another state.
Traffic runs both ways — about 7,908 people a year move from California back to South Carolina — so carriers run this lane year-round and quotes tend to be steady.
How the price compares
At a typical $1,625, shipping from South Carolina to California is among the most expensive routes out of South Carolina; Texas ($1,100) cost less. That works out to about 63¢ a mile — long hauls cost less per mile because loading and paperwork are spread over more distance.
Distance and transit time
Charleston to Los Angeles runs about 2,600 road miles. With drivers limited to 11 hours of driving a day and stops for other cars on the load, that is 6–9 days on the truck. The car heads west-northwest and crosses 3 time zones — from Eastern to Pacific time — so confirm whether the delivery window you are given is in local time.
On the road
- Trucks usually take the southern route across the desert Southwest, which stays open all winter — one reason this lane runs on schedule year-round.
Companies
Car carriers at both ends of the route
The largest carriers headquartered in South Carolina and California, by trucks on file with the FMCSA. A company based at either end usually runs this lane often.
Pickup end South Carolina
18 companies based in South Carolina: 18 carriers, 0 brokers, 63 trucks in total, 7 years in business on average.
- Autobahn Express Inc Spartanburg · 8 trucks · since 2012 · USDOT 2355697
- Turbo Auto Carrier LLC Spartanburg · 7 trucks · since 2019 · USDOT 3283356
- Aka Logistics LLC Boiling Spgs · 6 trucks · since 2022 · USDOT 3912102
- Big Country Transport LLC Walterboro · 6 trucks · since 2010 · USDOT 2070832
- United Auto Transportation LLC Inman · 6 trucks · since 2011 · USDOT 2167832
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 South Carolina? These guides cover the neighbouring lanes.
From South Carolina to states near California
To California from states near South Carolina
FAQ
South Carolina 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 South Carolina to California?
For a running sedan on an open carrier, expect about $1,350–$1,925 from Charleston to Los Angeles (2,600 road miles). Between other big cities in the two states prices range from $1,250–$2,025. An SUV costs about $1,500–$2,150, a pickup $1,750–$2,475, and an enclosed trailer $2,000–$2,875 for a sedan.
How long does it take to ship a car from South Carolina to California?
Transit is usually 6–9 days after pickup for the 2,600-mile trip from Charleston to Los Angeles. Before that, allow 1–5 days for a carrier to be assigned — or pay roughly 30% extra to have it collected within 48 hours.
When is the cheapest time to ship a car from South Carolina to California?
January–May and September–November is the cheapest window on this lane. Prices are highest in June–August, up to about 8% more. In any month, giving the carrier a wide pickup window lowers the quote.
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 South Carolina to California?
Driving 2,600 miles takes about 6 days: roughly $330 in gas and 5 nights of hotels and meals (about $700). Shipping a sedan costs about $1,350–$1,925. Add wear on the car and 6 days off work, and the two come out close.
Which car shipping companies go from South Carolina to California?
Our directory lists 18 companies based in South Carolina and 122 based in California, each checked against FMCSA records, plus 96 that ship nationwide.