Car Shipping From Oregon to California - What You Need to Know

June 20th, 2023

Estimated reading time: 7 minutes

Oregon and California are two very popular states when it comes to shipping cars. The three biggest cities in Oregon are Portland, Eugene, and Salem, all of which lie along the I-5, a major trucking route along the eastern coast of the United States. 

Some of the main delivery locations when shipping a car in California are San Francisco, Fresno, San Jose, Sacramento, and Los Angeles

Why you might need auto transport from Oregon to California

Many situations might call for auto transport. Here are just a few examples:

• You’re relocating to California for your job
• You’ve bought a car online and it’s located in Oregon and you need to get it to your Californian home
• You want to attend a car show in California with your classic car
• One of your kids is attending college or university in California and you want them to have use of a car
• You need to get your custom car to a specialist garage in California
• Military relocation
• Moving to a new home
• Taking an extended vacation

What are the benefits of choosing Oregon car transport? 

You might be thinking that driving your car is an option. After all, the states of Oregon and California are right next door to each other. However, there are many reasons why you should consider using a professional company for car shipping to and from Oregon. 

Whether you want to move a single car or a whole collection of vehicles, a professional auto transport company comes with the following benefits:

Saves effort

One of the main reasons people choose to use car shipping services is that it saves a tremendous amount of effort. Moving vehicles, especially if there you’ve got more than one, requires planning and also takes time. Use an auto transport service and you don’t need to take time off work or waste a few days driving wherever you need to go. 

Reduces wear and tear

Driving a car several hundred miles causes unnecessary wear and tear on the vehicle. As well as increased strain on a vehicle, there are also other risks to consider. 

Flat tires and engine problems could occur at any time. There is also the increased risk of being involved in a traffic accident. All of these can be avoided if you use a professional car shipping service.  

It’s convenient

Car shipping services are the most convenient way to transport vehicles over any kind of distance. Your vehicle is moved from one location to another without any effort on your part. It’s also possible for carriers to move more than one vehicle simultaneously. Vehicles are being shipped all over the US constantly, so it’s easy to find a service that fits your schedule. 

Shipping is door-to-door

You can arrange for your vehicle to be picked up from wherever you need it. It can also be dropped off at a chosen location, or as close as the driver can get. 

You don’t need to drive your vehicle to an inconvenient location and then find a ride home. Time and effort are also saved when it comes to retrieving your vehicle, as the carrier will drop it where you need it. 

It offers protection

Auto transport offers a high level of protection for your vehicle. Vehicles are safe during the transportation process as the best safety equipment is used. 

If the vehicle you want to transport is high value, enclosed car shipping is a service that offers complete protection. 

Insurance coverage

A reassuring feature of auto transport services is the insurance coverage that’s provided. You should feel far less stressed when transporting your vehicle because you know it's covered. 

The likelihood of something going wrong is small, but knowing there is insurance coverage helps to alleviate any concerns.

However, it’s worth noting that personal items are not included in the coverage, much like regular car insurance. Therefore, it’s advisable to remove such items before you ship your car.  

Saves time

The final benefit of shipping your car from Oregon to California, rather than driving, is that it saves you time. Once your car is safely loaded, you’re free to focus on other things. Rather than spending hours sitting behind the wheel driving, you can use the time as you need.

How much does car shipping from Oregon to California cost?

The cost of shipping a vehicle from Oregon to California depends on the specific pick-up and delivery location. 

It also depends on the size of the vehicle you want to ship, whether you want open or enclosed car shipping, and whether the vehicle runs.

Other factors that can affect the cost include the number of vehicles you want to ship, whether you’re shipping during the peak or off-season, the availability of discounts, and the exact route the carrier needs to take.

If you want to know how much it will cost to ship your car from Oregon to California, you can get an instant quote on our website. 

Get a Free, Instant Quote

How long does shipping from Oregon to California take?

A carrier can travel an average of 500 miles in one day. Therefore, if you take the total distance between your pick-up and delivery location and divide it by 500, you’ll get a rough idea as to how long it will take.

Several other factors can impact the timeframe, not just the distance. They include:

• The number of stops a carrier has to make
• The flow of the traffic
• Weather conditions
• Detours
• Road constructions
• Heavy traffic

The Department of Transport has also mandated how long truck drivers can be legally on the road. Truck drivers are limited to 70 hours of driving each week.   

How does auto shipping from Oregon to California work?

The auto-shipping process is a very simple one. All it takes is three simple steps and your car will be delivered to your door.

Step 1: Get a quote and book your car shipping in Oregon

To get your instant quote you just input a few basic details such as:

• Pick-up city and state
• Delivery city and state
• Year, make, and model of the vehicle you want to ship
• Condition of the vehicle
• Type of transport
• First available pick-up date

If you’re happy with the quote you can confirm and book your order. 

Step 2: Your car is picked up

You’ll be contacted by your assigned carrier a few hours before the arranged pick-up time. The carrier will want to confirm the pick-up location is accessible for large commercial vehicles and that you’ll be present to release the vehicle. 

When the carrier arrives, you and the driver will inspect your car, noting any damage on the Bill of Lading. Once that inspection is complete, the driver will load your car and be on their way. 

Step 3: Your car is delivered

The carrier will contact you again when they’re near the final destination. When the carrier delivers your car, you must inspect it again to ensure everything is in order. If you’re happy, you sign the Bill of Lading and accept delivery of your car. 

Other things to know about shipping a car from Oregon to California

• California car insurance requirements: Minimum car insurance requirements in California are $15,000 for injury to one person, $5,000 for property damage in the event of an accident involving another driver, and $30,000 per accident. 
• California vehicle inspections: Annual safety inspections are a requirement in California. The inspections are to ensure vehicles are in good condition and safe to operate and use on public roads.
• Driver’s license: If you move to California and become a resident, you must obtain a California driver’s license within 10 days. 
• Additional taxes: If you purchase a car in another state and use it for less than 12 months outside of California before bringing it to the state, you must pay taxes. 

If you’ve got any questions you want to ask or are ready to make your booking for car shipping from Oregon to California, you can reach our shipping advisors at (864) 546-5038, or use our Live Chat option. 

FAQs

How much is it to ship a car from Oregon to California?

Giving an exact price can be difficult because there are so many variables that can affect the cost of shipping a car. The table below gives a rough estimate:

Distance (miles)	Average price per mile	Sample distance (miles)	Sample price
1000-1500	$0.70	1000	$700
1500-2000	$0.48	$1750	$840
2000-2500	$0.45	$2400	$1,080
2500-3000	$0.47	$2700	$1,269

 

Taking the figures above into account, you can expect to pay less than $700 to ship a car from Oregon to California because the distance between the two farthest points of each state is 1000 miles.   

Can I buy a car in Oregon and bring it to California?

Buying a car in Oregon is an attractive prospect because there is no sales tax in Oregon whereas California has a sales tax of 7.25%. However, to avoid paying use tax when you take it to California, you have to use it for at least 12 months outside of the state. 

What is the cost to ship a car from Portland to California?

The cost of shipping a car from Portland to California depends on the distance. It’s likely going to be less than 1,000 miles which means you could pay $0.70 per mile, possibly even less, depending on current prices. 

What is the cheapest way to ship cars across the States?

The cheapest way to ship cars across the States is using open auto transport. Open transport trailers are widely available and several vehicles can be shipped at the same time.