Shipping a Car from New York to California
Coast to coast is the marathon of auto transport, and it is also the best per-mile deal in the business. Nearly 3,000 road miles, one truck, one price, and your car crosses the country while you take a six hour flight.
What does it cost to ship a car from New York to California?
Most sedans cross for about $1,750 to $2,100 on an open carrier, which sounds like a lot until you do the division: it is far less per mile than any short route, because long hauls spread the truck's fixed costs across big distance. SUVs add a little, enclosed adds roughly 45 percent. Your exact ZIP-to-ZIP number takes ten seconds in our instant calculator, no email or phone number required.
How many days does coast to coast transport take?
Pickup within one to five days of booking, then seven to ten days of driving. Plan on about two weeks door to door and you will usually be pleasantly surprised. The math behind every window is in our transit time guide.
Does my car ride the same truck the whole way?
Almost always yes. Cross-country loads are the runs carriers build their week around, so your car is loaded once in the New York area and unloaded once in California. Fewer touches is one of the quiet advantages of a long single haul.
What should go with the car, and what should not?
The tank at a quarter or less, one set of keys with the driver, and nothing valuable inside. Cross-country moves tempt people to pack the trunk like a moving container, and our cost guide explains why weight and insurance rules make that a bad idea.
Is enclosed worth it for a coast to coast run?
For nice cars, more than on any other route, simply because the car is exposed to ten days of weather and road grit instead of two. Enclosed transport is one checkbox in the calculator and roughly 45 percent over open. Going the other way? See the California to New York guide.
Common questions on this route
Why is the per-mile rate so low on New York to California?
Long hauls spread a truck's fixed costs over nearly 3,000 miles, so the per-mile rate drops to the lowest of any route even though the total is higher. It is the most efficient transport money buys.
Can you pick up in Manhattan or the boroughs?
Yes. Full-size carriers cannot always enter tight blocks, so drivers often meet at a nearby wide street or lot in the city. Suburban Long Island, Westchester, and upstate pickups load straight from the driveway.
Where does the truck cross the country?
Most carriers run I-80 through Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Nebraska, or drop to I-70 or I-40 in winter when Rockies and Sierra weather demands it. Routing is the carrier's call and does not change your price.
Should I ship the car or drive it to California?
Driving costs roughly a week of your time plus fuel, hotels, meals, and 3,000 miles of wear. For most people the shipping quote is cheaper than the honest total of driving, before counting vacation days.