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Route guide · VA → CA
Car shipping from Virginia to California
Car transport from Virginia to California runs 2,800 road miles between the biggest metros. Shipping a running sedan from Virginia Beach to Los Angeles costs about $1,400–$2,000 on an open carrier and $2,100–$3,000 in an enclosed trailer, with 6–10 days in transit. It ranks #44 among the 250 busiest car-shipping lanes, based on Census moving data.
- Open carrier, sedan
- $1,700
- Road miles
- 2,800
- Days in transit
- 6–10
- People moving a year
- 17.0K
- Companies at both ends
- 112
City to city
Cost to ship a car from Virginia to California, city to city
Open-carrier prices for a running sedan between Virginia Beach, Richmond, Alexandria and Roanoke and Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego and San Jose — 2,490 to 3,020 road miles apart.
| From | Los Angeles | San Francisco | San Diego | San Jose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia Beach | $1,400–$2,0002,800 mi · 6–10 days | $1,475–$2,1003,020 mi · 7–11 days | $1,375–$1,9752,750 mi · 6–10 days | $1,450–$2,0502,950 mi · 6–10 days |
| Richmond | $1,375–$1,9502,700 mi · 6–10 days | $1,425–$2,0502,910 mi · 6–10 days | $1,350–$1,9252,650 mi · 6–10 days | $1,400–$2,0252,840 mi · 6–10 days |
| Alexandria | $1,375–$1,9752,720 mi · 6–10 days | $1,425–$2,0502,910 mi · 6–10 days | $1,350–$1,9502,670 mi · 6–10 days | $1,425–$2,0252,850 mi · 6–10 days |
| Roanoke | $1,325–$1,8752,540 mi · 6–9 days | $1,400–$1,9752,760 mi · 6–10 days | $1,300–$1,8752,490 mi · 5–9 days | $1,375–$1,9502,690 mi · 6–10 days |
Estimate, not a quote
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
Virginia Beach to Los Angeles, 2,800 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 | $1,400–$2,000 | $2,100–$3,000 |
| Midsize SUV or crossover | $1,575–$2,250 | $2,350–$3,350 |
| Large SUV (Tahoe, Expedition) | $1,750–$2,500 | $2,625–$3,750 |
| Pickup truck | $1,825–$2,600 | $2,725–$3,900 |
| Motorcycle | $850–$1,200 | $1,250–$1,800 |
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 Virginia to California is January–May and September–November.
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Cheapest: about $1,700 Peak: about $1,825
About this route
Why so many cars go from Virginia to California
About 16,969 people moved from Virginia to California in each of the last two years, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (15,837 in 2023, 18,100 in 2024). That is 6.6% of everyone who left Virginia for another state, making California its #4 destination.
Traffic runs both ways — about 20,976 people a year move from California back to Virginia — so carriers run this lane year-round and quotes tend to be steady.
How the price compares
At a typical $1,700, shipping from Virginia to California costs more than sending a car to Arizona ($1,550) and Colorado ($1,350) but less than to Washington ($1,725). That works out to about 61¢ a mile — long hauls cost less per mile because loading and paperwork are spread over more distance.
Distance and transit time
Count on 6–10 days on the truck for the 2,800 road miles from Virginia Beach to Los Angeles — federal rules cap drivers at 11 hours a day behind the wheel, and a full carrier makes several stops on the way. The car heads west 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 transport companies from Virginia to California
Companies headquartered at either end of the route usually run this lane often. Filter by services, company type and safety record — every listing is matched to its FMCSA record.
- Pickup end Virginia 24 companies · 22 carriers · 2 brokers · 96 trucks · 12 yrs avg.
- Delivery end California 88 companies · 67 carriers · 24 brokers · 1,921 trucks · 12 yrs avg.
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Company profile submitted. Complete details in the owner panel.
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Cross-border car shipping between the USA and Canada with customs handling, in business since 1985.
H&
Hansen & Adkins Auto Transport Inc
FMCSA verifiedLarge Los Alamitos, CA auto carrier with 30+ years of experience, moving new and remarketed vehicles coast to coast.
DA
Deluxe Auto Carriers
FMCSA verifiedSouthern California car carrier in the Proficient Auto Logistics group, moving finished vehicles to dealerships.
DA
DBN Auto Transport
FMCSA verifiedWoman-owned Anaheim car carrier established in 2012, with soft-tie trailers and camera/GPS on every truck.
QC
Quality Car Shippers LLC
FMCSA verifiedFamily-owned Murrieta, CA car carrier serving dealers, rental companies, auctions and OEMs across the lower 48.
AL
Auto Line Express Inc
FMCSA verifiedGardena, CA car carrier moving thousands of finished vehicles a year across the U.S. and Canada since 2013.
IL
Intercity Lines, Inc
FMCSA verifiedAP
A Plus Auto Shippers LLC
FMCSA verifiedLicensed and bonded auto carrier from the Phoenix and Palm Desert area shipping cars and trucks nationwide.
AS
All Star Auto Transport
FMCSA verifiedChino, California auto carrier moving vehicles in California and Texas since 2005.
CA
CA Auto Express Inc
FMCSA verifiedSouthern California motor carrier shipping vehicles on its own trucks, coast to coast and within California.
GK
Golden Key Express
FMCSA verifiedLS
Lucky Star Auto Transport
FMCSA verifiedFamily-owned San Jose car carrier offering open, door-to-door auto transport nationwide since 2012.
AC
ABC Car Shipping
FMCSA verifiedAt ABC Car Shipping, our objective is to make safe vehicle shipments across the U.S. affordable to everyone, regardless of their location or shipping distances
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Related routes
Nearby alternatives
Moving close to California but not into it — or coming from somewhere near Virginia? These guides cover the neighbouring lanes.
From Virginia to states near California
To California from states near Virginia
FAQ
Virginia 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 Virginia to California?
For a running sedan on an open carrier, expect about $1,400–$2,000 from Virginia Beach to Los Angeles (2,800 road miles). Between other big cities in the two states prices range from $1,300–$2,100. An SUV costs about $1,575–$2,250, a pickup $1,825–$2,600, and an enclosed trailer $2,100–$3,000 for a sedan.
How long does it take to ship a car from Virginia to California?
Transit is usually 6–10 days after pickup for the 2,800-mile trip from Virginia Beach 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 Virginia 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. 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 Virginia to California?
Driving 2,800 miles takes about 6 days: roughly $360 in gas and 5 nights of hotels and meals (about $700). Shipping a sedan costs about $1,400–$2,000. Add wear on the car and 6 days off work, and the two come out close.
Which car shipping companies go from Virginia to California?
Our directory lists 24 companies based in Virginia and 88 based in California, each checked against FMCSA records, plus 190 that ship nationwide.