California coverage
We move vehicles into and out of every California metro, from San Diego to the Oregon line. California is the one state where the vehicle itself can block registration — emissions certification matters here in a way it does not anywhere else, and it is worth knowing before your car is on a truck.
FMCSA licensedMC 1648063 · USDOT 4251528
Zero upfront paymentYou pay once a carrier is dispatched
Open & enclosedEvery carrier carries cargo insurance
Extended support hoursBilingual English & Spanish
Door-to-door service reaches residential addresses in every major metro. Rural and mountain addresses may use a nearby meeting point when a full-size carrier cannot safely access the street.
Two things set the number: distance and whether the vehicle rides open or enclosed. Our published long-haul reference rate is about $0.58 per mile on typical long-distance routes, and the per-mile figure falls as total distance rises — short moves cost more per mile than cross-country ones.
| Route | Approx. distance | Open transport estimate | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York → California | ~2,800 mi | from ~$1,625 | Longest mainland corridor. Best per-mile economics of any route we run. |
| Texas → California | ~1,400 mi | from ~$812 | High-volume lane. Frequent carrier availability in both directions. |
| Florida → California | ~2,600 mi | from ~$1,508 | Snowbird season tightens capacity. Book earlier between October and March. |
| Within California | under 500 mi | short-haul rate | Short moves price above the long-haul per-mile rate. |
| Enclosed transport | any | premium | Recommended for classic, exotic and low-clearance vehicles. |
Estimates above multiply approximate corridor distance by our published long-haul reference rate. They are a planning aid, not an offer. Actual pricing depends on pickup and delivery ZIP codes, vehicle dimensions, operating condition, transport type and current carrier availability on the lane.
California registration is stricter than most states, and one requirement can stop the process entirely. Check these before your vehicle ships, not after it arrives.
You have 20 days to register your vehicle after you become a California resident or take a job in the state, per the California DMV.
A Smog Check is required for out-of-state 1976 model-year and newer vehicles registering in California for the first time (CA DMV). Vehicles under four model years old may pay a smog abatement fee instead.
This is the one that catches people. A vehicle must be certified to meet California emission standards to be eligible for registration. A federal-spec vehicle from another state is not automatically eligible. Confirm your vehicle's certification before you ship it.
Worth reading first: how car shipping cost is calculated, how to prepare your car for transport, and how to spot transport scams before you pay anyone a deposit.
Send your pickup and delivery ZIP codes and vehicle details. No payment until a carrier is dispatched.
