What's the Cost to Ship a Car from New Jersey to California?

People choose to ship their cars from New Jersey to California all the time. They might be relocating from one city to another because of their job, purchasing a vehicle online, heading across the country for college, or moving east to be closer to family. 

Whatever the reason for the move, one question they need to answer from the very beginning is how much to ship a car from NJ to CA?

While driving across the country might seem like the obvious answer, the better option is shipping a car to California.

If you think you’d like to drive, don’t forget you’ll be putting extra wear and tear and mileage on your car. Driving three thousand miles is also quite an arduous task, especially if you’ve got no one to share the driving. Add in the extra costs you’ll have to budget for such as accommodation, food, and gas, and you’ll come to the conclusion that it’ll probably be safer and more affordable to shop your car from New Jersey to California. 

So, what is the average cost to ship a car from New Jersey to California? The following table gives you the average prices and reflects market conditions as of April 2022. The rates are subject to change due to the cost of gas, pick-up and delivery locations, seasonal fluctuations, and several other factors that we’ll look at shortly. 

If you’re thinking about shipping your car from the State of New York to the State of California, the prices highlighted in yellow are the ones that apply to you. 

For a more exact price, get in touch and request your free quote today.

So, what factors can affect the car shipping cost from New Jersey to California?

Distance

Possibly the most significant factor that is likely to affect the cost of shipping a car from New Jersey to California is the distance we need to ship your car. 

As you might expect, the further your car needs to travel, the higher the cost. Shipping your car from New Jersey on the West Coast to San Francisco on the East Coast, is going to cost more than from New Jersey to Los Angeles.

Not only that but the actual pick-up and delivery locations can also impact the cost of car shipping from New Jersey to California. If either of these spots is in a rural location, it will cost more than shipping between two cities.     

Condition of your car

Not everyone wants to ship a car that’s operable. For example, the proud owner of a classic Corvette may need to get it to a specialist garage for repair. Therefore, the car may be inoperable. 

A car that’s not running requires extra care. Specialist equipment will also be needed to load and unload the car. Both these things mean you could pay extra for your auto transport service. 

Size and weight of your car

Here at SGT Auto Transport, we’re asked to ship a wide range of different vehicles. They come in all shapes and sizes, and this can affect the cost of your car transport service. 

There are strict weight restrictions that carriers have to comply with, which means they can transport less freight if the vehicles are heavy. 

If you own a small car, you can expect to pay less than someone who owns an SUV, truck, or van. 

How your vehicle is delivered

When it comes to shipping a car, the most common way is a door-to-door shipping service. This is the service that we offer. The carrier collects your vehicle from outside your home or some other convenient location close by. After being transported, the carrier will deliver it to your preferred final destination.

Another type of auto transport service is terminal-to-terminal shipping. This is not quite so common as it once was, but it’s still an option. In this case, it’s your responsibility to deliver your car to the storage or terminal location. The carrier picks it up from there when they’re in the area and transports it to the terminal or storage location nearest to your preferred final location. It’s then down to you to collect it when you’re ready. 

Door-to-door transport is a little bit more expensive, but it’s way more convenient. In addition to the convenience, there’s no stress involved because you don’t have to worry about dropping off and picking up your car.  

Type of auto transport service

When you get in touch with an auto transport company to find out how to ship your car, the shipping agents will advise you that there are two main options. You have to decide whether open or enclosed car transport is the right one for you. 

Open car transport

Open car transport is the standard option and also happens to be the cheapest. You have more options and increased flexibility because more carriers offer open car shipping. 

During transportation, your vehicle is exposed to the weather and traffic debris. But don’t let this put you off because the risk of damage is negligible. If you’re particularly worried, you do have the option of top loading. The chance of any damage is further reduced, but you will have to pay more for this service.  

Enclosed car shipping

Enclosed auto transport is a service that’s designed for owners of custom, classic, antique, exotic, high-class, or high-end cars. Precious vehicles like these are transported in an enclosed trailer which offers complete protection for the cars inside. 

The cost of this type of service is 30% to 40% higher, but you get complete peace of mind which has to be worth the extra expense. 

Dates and speed of delivery

The standard time it takes for an auto transport company to pick up your car is between 1 and 5 business days. It then takes between 7 and 10 days to transport your car from one side of the country to the other. 

However, if you’re in a rush and need your car shipped super quick, there are other options. 

With express car shipping, for example, your vehicle will be picked up in 1-2 business days. This is a significant change to the timeframe. 

Another quick auto transport option is guaranteed pick-up. With this service, you can arrange a car pick-up with a window of 24 hours. 

You should note that both these options cost more than standard car shipping.     

Cost of fuel

This is one of those factors over which you have no control. The price of fuel goes up, and it can also go down. In addition, it’s not uncommon for prices to be different depending on the location. 

The cost of fuel also happens to be one of the largest variables in the auto transport industry. What this means for you when you’re wondering about the cost to ship a car from New Jersey to California, is that the carrier is going to pass on any increases to the customer.  

Insurance 

One final factor to consider is the cost of insurance. Quite often, this is included in the price, but make sure you check when you make your booking. Ask for a copy of the carrier’s cargo insurance so you can check what’s covered.

If you’ve decided to ship some of your personal possessions in the trunk of your car, remember that they won’t be covered under the carrier’s insurance. You can get a personalized quote today using our instant online calculator. Alternatively, call (864) 546-5038) or use Live Chat and speak directly with one of our shipping advisors.