Route guide · TN → CA
Shipping a car from Tennessee to California
Shipping a running sedan from Nashville-Davidson to Los Angeles costs about $1,175–$1,700 on an open carrier and $1,775–$2,550 in an enclosed trailer, with 5–8 days in transit. It ranks #151 among the 250 busiest car-shipping lanes, based on Census moving data.
- Open carrier, sedan
- $1,450
- Road miles
- 2,110
- Days in transit
- 5–8
- People moving a year
- 6.7K
- Companies at both ends
- 137
City to city
What it costs between Tennessee and California cities
Open-carrier prices for a running sedan between Nashville-Davidson, Memphis, Knoxville and Chattanooga and Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego and San Jose — 1,840 to 2,540 road miles apart.
| From | Los Angeles | San Francisco | San Diego | San Jose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville-Davidson | $1,175–$1,7002,110 mi · 5–8 days | $1,250–$1,8002,350 mi · 5–9 days | $1,175–$1,6752,050 mi · 5–8 days | $1,250–$1,7752,280 mi · 5–8 days |
| Memphis | $1,125–$1,6251,910 mi · 4–7 days | $1,200–$1,7252,170 mi · 5–8 days | $1,100–$1,5751,840 mi · 4–7 days | $1,175–$1,7002,090 mi · 5–8 days |
| Knoxville | $1,250–$1,7752,300 mi · 5–8 days | $1,325–$1,8752,540 mi · 6–9 days | $1,225–$1,7502,240 mi · 5–8 days | $1,300–$1,8502,460 mi · 5–9 days |
| Chattanooga | $1,225–$1,7502,220 mi · 5–8 days | $1,300–$1,8502,470 mi · 5–9 days | $1,200–$1,7252,160 mi · 5–8 days | $1,275–$1,8252,400 mi · 5–9 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
Nashville-Davidson to Los Angeles, 2,110 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 | $1,175–$1,700 | $1,775–$2,550 |
| Midsize SUV or crossover | $1,325–$1,900 | $2,000–$2,850 |
| Large SUV (Tahoe, Expedition) | $1,475–$2,125 | $2,225–$3,175 |
| Pickup truck | $1,550–$2,200 | $2,300–$3,300 |
| Motorcycle | $700–$1,025 | $1,075–$1,525 |
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 Tennessee to California is January–May and September–November.
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Cheapest: about $1,450 Peak: about $1,550
About this route
Why so many cars go from Tennessee to California
About 6,658 people moved from Tennessee to California in each of the last two years, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (5,343 in 2023, 7,972 in 2024). That is 4% of everyone who left Tennessee for another state.
This is the lighter direction: about 21,816 people a year move California to Tennessee. Carriers that bring cars into Tennessee need loads back toward California, so it's worth asking for a backhaul price on this leg.
How the price compares
At a typical $1,450, shipping from Tennessee to California is among the most expensive routes out of Tennessee; Colorado ($1,125) and Florida ($1,025) cost less. That works out to about 69¢ a mile — long hauls cost less per mile because loading and paperwork are spread over more distance.
Distance and transit time
Nashville-Davidson to Los Angeles runs about 2,110 road miles. With drivers limited to 11 hours of driving a day and stops for other cars on the load, that is 5–8 days on the truck. The car heads west and crosses 2 time zones — from Central 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 Tennessee and California, by trucks on file with the FMCSA. A company based at either end usually runs this lane often.
Pickup end Tennessee
15 companies based in Tennessee: 15 carriers, 1 brokers, 190 trucks in total, 12 years in business on average.
- American Transportation Company Knoxville · 91 trucks · since 2000 · USDOT 868890
- Heartbeat Auto Transport Inc La Vergne · 52 trucks · since 2014 · USDOT 2465955
- GT Transportation LLC Winchester · 8 trucks · since 2014 · USDOT 2515264
- Turon Express LLC Sevierville · 7 trucks · since 2018 · USDOT 3124588
- Class Custom Carriers LLC Linden · 4 trucks · since 2002 · USDOT 1038733
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 Tennessee? These guides cover the neighbouring lanes.
From Tennessee to states near California
To California from states near Tennessee
FAQ
Tennessee 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 Tennessee to California?
For a running sedan on an open carrier, expect about $1,175–$1,700 from Nashville-Davidson to Los Angeles (2,110 road miles). Between other big cities in the two states prices range from $1,100–$1,875. An SUV costs about $1,325–$1,900, a pickup $1,550–$2,200, and an enclosed trailer $1,775–$2,550 for a sedan.
How long does it take to ship a car from Tennessee to California?
Transit is usually 5–8 days after pickup for the 2,110-mile trip from Nashville-Davidson 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 Tennessee 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 Tennessee to California?
Driving 2,110 miles takes about 5 days: roughly $270 in gas and 4 nights of hotels and meals (about $560). Shipping a sedan costs about $1,175–$1,700. Add wear on the car and 5 days off work, and the two come out close.
Which car shipping companies go from Tennessee to California?
Our directory lists 15 companies based in Tennessee and 122 based in California, each checked against FMCSA records, plus 96 that ship nationwide.