Route guide · WA → CA
Shipping a car from Washington to California
Shipping a running sedan from Seattle to Los Angeles costs about $900–$1,300 on an open carrier and $1,350–$1,950 in an enclosed trailer, with 3–5 days in transit. It ranks #18 among the 250 busiest car-shipping lanes, based on Census moving data.
- Open carrier, sedan
- $1,100
- Road miles
- 1,130
- Days in transit
- 3–5
- People moving a year
- 29.6K
- Companies at both ends
- 158
City to city
What it costs between Washington and California cities
Open-carrier prices for a running sedan between Seattle, Spokane, Vancouver and Yakima and Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego and San Jose — 650 to 1,250 road miles apart.
| From | Los Angeles | San Francisco | San Diego | San Jose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle | $900–$1,3001,130 mi · 3–5 days | $775–$1,175810 mi · 2–4 days | $950–$1,3501,250 mi · 3–5 days | $775–$1,175840 mi · 2–4 days |
| Spokane | $900–$1,3001,110 mi · 3–5 days | $800–$1,200880 mi · 2–4 days | $925–$1,3251,210 mi · 3–5 days | $800–$1,200890 mi · 2–4 days |
| Vancouver | $850–$1,250980 mi · 2–4 days | $700–$1,100650 mi · 2–3 days | $900–$1,3001,100 mi · 3–5 days | $725–$1,100680 mi · 2–4 days |
| Yakima | $850–$1,2501,030 mi · 3–5 days | $750–$1,150740 mi · 2–4 days | $900–$1,3001,140 mi · 3–5 days | $750–$1,150760 mi · 2–4 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
Seattle to Los Angeles, 1,130 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 | $900–$1,300 | $1,350–$1,950 |
| Midsize SUV or crossover | $1,000–$1,450 | $1,525–$2,175 |
| Large SUV (Tahoe, Expedition) | $1,125–$1,625 | $1,700–$2,450 |
| Pickup truck | $1,175–$1,700 | $1,750–$2,550 |
| Motorcycle | $550–$775 | $800–$1,175 |
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 Washington to California is March–May and September–November.
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Cheapest: about $1,100 Peak: about $1,200
About this route
Why so many cars go from Washington to California
About 29,587 people moved from Washington to California in each of the last two years, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (32,218 in 2023, 26,956 in 2024). That is 14.1% of everyone who left Washington for another state — no state draws more people from Washington.
This is the lighter direction: about 42,398 people a year move California to Washington. Carriers that bring cars into Washington need loads back toward California, so it's worth asking for a backhaul price on this leg.
How the price compares
At a typical $1,100, shipping from Washington to California is one of the cheaper long moves out of Washington — Colorado ($1,125) and Arizona ($1,175) cost more. That works out to about 97¢ a mile.
Distance and transit time
Expect about 1,130 road miles from Seattle to Los Angeles — 3–5 days on the truck after pickup. Carriers usually load several cars before heading out, so the pickup window matters as much as transit time. The car heads south-southeast and stays on Pacific time the whole way.
On the road
- Winter storms in Washington 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 Washington and California, by trucks on file with the FMCSA. A company based at either end usually runs this lane often.
Pickup end Washington
36 companies based in Washington: 36 carriers, 0 brokers, 237 trucks in total, 9 years in business on average.
- Diesel Auto Express Vancouver · 97 trucks · since 2009 · USDOT 1885300
- DC Trucking Enumclaw · 30 trucks · since 2017 · USDOT 3001374
- U Save Auto Transport LLC Moxee · 8 trucks · since 2007 · USDOT 1625792
- DC Auto Carrier LLC Bonney Lake · 7 trucks · since 2022 · USDOT 3871099
- Advanced Auto Transport LLC Kelso · 6 trucks · since 2016 · USDOT 2943372
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 Washington? These guides cover the neighbouring lanes.
From Washington to states near California
To California from states near Washington
FAQ
Washington 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 Washington to California?
For a running sedan on an open carrier, expect about $900–$1,300 from Seattle to Los Angeles (1,130 road miles). Between other big cities in the two states prices range from $700–$1,350. An SUV costs about $1,000–$1,450, a pickup $1,175–$1,700, and an enclosed trailer $1,350–$1,950 for a sedan.
How long does it take to ship a car from Washington to California?
Transit is usually 3–5 days after pickup for the 1,130-mile trip from Seattle to Los Angeles. Getting the car picked up takes another 1–5 days on a standard booking; expedited pickup within 1–2 days costs about 30% more.
When is the cheapest time to ship a car from Washington to California?
March–May and September–November is the cheapest window on this lane. Prices are highest in December, up to about 10% more. Whatever the month, a flexible pickup date booked 2–3 weeks out gets the best price.
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 Washington to California?
Driving 1,130 miles takes about 3 days: roughly $140 in gas and 2 nights of hotels and meals (about $280). Shipping a sedan costs about $900–$1,300. Add wear on the car and 3 days off work, and the two come out close.
Which car shipping companies go from Washington to California?
Our directory lists 36 companies based in Washington and 122 based in California, each checked against FMCSA records, plus 96 that ship nationwide.