California to New York Car Shipping: 2026 Costs & Transit

Open carrier: $1,450 - $2,025 from California to New York

Enclosed: 37.3% more on every city pair, since all run over 2,000 miles

Distance: about 2,600-2,950 road miles

Carrier assigned: 1-3 business days from your first available date

Transit: 5-7 days once the car is loaded

Main routes: I-80 from Northern California, I-70 or I-40 from Southern California

California to New York runs $1,450 to $2,025 on an open carrier, while enclosed transport carries a premium of 37.3%. Los Angeles and San Diego to Brooklyn start at $1,450, while Los Angeles to Manhattan reaches $2,025.

Every price on this page comes from SGT orders booked over the last 6 months. The ranges cover running vehicles of all body types, from hatchbacks to crew cab pickups, hauled on an open carrier.

What Affects Your California to New York Price

Mileage sets the starting point. The vehicle, the calendar and how easy both addresses are to reach decide the rest.

City pair: Los Angeles to Rochester covers about 2,600 miles, while Fremont to Hicksville on Long Island stretches to roughly 2,950.
Size and weight: full-size trucks, large SUVs and heavy EVs like a Tesla Model X use more of a carrier's weight limit, so they cost more to move.
Running condition: our ranges assume the car drives. A non-running car needs a winch, a powered cable that pulls it up the ramp, and costs 15% more.
Season: winter snow in the Sierra Nevada, the Rocky Mountains and upstate New York slows trucks and can push rates up.
New York City delivery: city truck rules and tight streets often mean a meeting point instead of your front door.
Hard-to-reach pickups: a mountain town or a farm road in the Central Valley adds miles before the carrier even reaches the interstate.
Fuel: diesel is one of a carrier's biggest running costs, and weekly prices tracked by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) feed straight into quotes.
Tolls: carriers pay their way across the Pennsylvania Turnpike, the New York State Thruway and the Hudson River bridges.

The car shipping calculator gives you a quote for your exact addresses and dates.

California to New York Prices by City Pair

City pairs between California and New York cost $1,450 to $2,025 on an open carrier. Each row uses real road miles, and transit counts the days from loading to delivery.

Origin	Destination	Price range	Distance (mi)	Transit time
Los Angeles, California	Brooklyn, New York	$1,450 - $1,825	2,810	5-7 days
Los Angeles, California	New York, New York	$1,475 - $2,025	2,800	5-7 days
Los Angeles, California	Queensbury, New York	$1,500 - $1,675	2,840	5-7 days
Santa Monica, California	Brooklyn, New York	$1,500 - $1,950	2,820	5-7 days
San Diego, California	Brooklyn, New York	$1,450 - $1,975	2,790	5-7 days
San Francisco, California	Brooklyn, New York	$1,475 - $1,750	2,920	5-7 days
Sacramento, California	Brooklyn, New York	$1,475 - $2,000	2,830	5-7 days
Riverside, California	Brooklyn, New York	$1,475 - $1,900	2,760	5-7 days
San Jose, California	Ithaca, New York	$1,725 - $1,800	2,810	5-7 days
Los Angeles, California	Ithaca, New York	$1,450 - $1,825	2,670	5-7 days
Santa Clara, California	Brooklyn, New York	$1,550 - $1,750	2,950	5-7 days
Los Angeles, California	Staten Island, New York	$1,625 - $1,900	2,790	5-7 days
San Francisco, California	Ithaca, New York	$1,775 - $1,800	2,790	5-7 days
Sacramento, California	Syracuse, New York	$1,700 - $1,725	2,710	5-7 days
Los Angeles, California	Rochester, New York	$1,525 - $1,600	2,600	5-7 days
Irvine, California	Rochester, New York	$1,675 - $1,750	2,600	5-7 days
Fremont, California	Hicksville, New York	$1,925 - $1,950	2,950	5-7 days
San Francisco, California	New York, New York	$1,500 - $1,850	2,910	5-7 days

_{Prices are open-carrier ranges from SGT bookings from California to New York from the last 6 months from the date of last modification, and include door-to-door service, carrier insurance, and fuel.}

Every pair in the table runs well past 2,000 miles, so enclosed transport adds 37.3% to any of these prices.

An open carrier is the usual pick for a daily driver and the cheaper way to cross the country. Enclosed transport costs 37.3% more, and your car rides inside a soft or hard-sided trailer, away from weather and road spray.

Open trucks carry 8 to 10 cars on two exposed decks. Enclosed trailers carry 1 to 6, so book them 2 to 4 weeks out.

Enclosed is worth the premium in three situations:

Classic, exotic, new or low-clearance cars. Collectors who buy at Southern California shows and auctions usually want the car covered for nearly 3,000 miles. Many enclosed trailers use a hydraulic lift gate, a flat platform that raises the car so a low front bumper never touches a ramp.
Winter shipments. The route crosses snowy mountain passes and ends in a state that spreads heavy road salt, and an open car takes all of it.
Cars headed straight into storage. If the car goes into a New York garage on arrival, enclosed keeps desert dust and salt off the paint.

See our open car transport, enclosed auto transport and classic and luxury car transport pages.

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The trip runs roughly 2,800 miles, and most carriers use one of three cross-country interstates. Which one they take depends on where in California the car starts and on the season.

From Northern California. Cars from San Francisco, San Jose and Sacramento usually head east on I-80 over Donner Pass in the Sierra Nevada. The road runs through Reno, Salt Lake City, southern Wyoming, Nebraska, Iowa and the Chicago area, then across Ohio and Pennsylvania into New Jersey. Drivers enter New York City on the George Washington Bridge.

From Southern California. Los Angeles, San Diego and Riverside loads take I-15 north through Las Vegas into Utah and join I-70. That road climbs through the Colorado Rocky Mountains, over Vail Pass and through the Eisenhower Tunnel, then drops to Denver. From there it runs through Kansas City, St. Louis, Indianapolis and Columbus. Trucks finish on the Pennsylvania Turnpike and I-78 toward New York.

The winter option. Some drivers swing south on I-40 through Flagstaff, Albuquerque, Oklahoma City, Memphis and Nashville, then turn north on I-81 through Virginia and Pennsylvania. It adds miles but skips the worst mountain snow.

To Upstate New York. Carriers leave I-80 near Cleveland for I-90 along Lake Erie, then take the New York State Thruway to Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse and Albany.

These are the spots that slow trucks down most:

Donner Pass, where Caltrans posts chain controls and heavy trucks must stop to fit chains.
Southern Wyoming, where the state closes stretches of I-80 during winter storms.
Colorado, where the state's chain law requires commercial trucks to carry chains on I-70 from September 1 to May 31.
Lake-effect snow, which hits Buffalo and Syracuse hard in winter.
New York City crossings. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey bans tractor-trailers from the Holland Tunnel, which also has only 12 feet 6 inches of clearance, so car carriers use the George Washington Bridge or the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge.

Carriers also load and unload other cars at hubs such as Denver, Chicago and Columbus, which is why transit runs longer than the driving time alone.

Summer (June to August): this is peak moving season. Service members move on Permanent Change of Station (PCS) orders, and California students head to NYU, Columbia, Cornell and Syracuse University for late-August move-in. Book 2 to 3 weeks ahead.

Fall (September to November): demand settles after Labor Day, and the passes stay clear until the first big storms. Book 1 to 2 weeks ahead.

Winter (December to February): fewer cars ship, but storms in the Sierra, Wyoming and the Rockies can add 1 to 2 days, and some carriers switch to I-40. Driver availability also tightens from Thanksgiving to New Year's. Book 2 weeks ahead and keep your dates loose.

Spring (March to May): demand rises as the school year winds down and moving season begins. Book 1 to 2 weeks ahead in March and closer to 2 to 3 weeks by May.

Most cars spend 5 to 7 days in transit from California to New York. Add 1 to 3 business days for us to assign a carrier, and most deliveries land 6 to 10 days after your first available date.

Here is how the timeline breaks down:

Quote and book. You give us both addresses, the vehicle and your first available date.
Carrier assigned. This step, called dispatch, pairs your order with a truck heading east.
Pickup. The driver inspects the car with you and loads it.
Transit. The truck crosses the country on I-80, I-70 or I-40.
Delivery. You inspect the car in New York and take the keys.

A trip this long can't be rushed. Federal hours-of-service rules let a driver drive 11 hours within a 14-hour workday, so a loaded truck covers about 500 to 700 miles a day. The carrier also stops to load and unload other cars along the way. In winter, a pass closure can hold a truck for hours, and a big storm can add 1 to 2 days.

If your schedule is tight, express auto transport cuts the wait for a carrier to 1 to 2 business days, and Guaranteed Pick-up sets a 24-hour pickup window. Neither one makes the drive itself shorter.

Shipping is the better value for almost everyone on this route. Driving coast to coast means more than 40 hours behind the wheel, which works out to 5 or 6 days with rest stops.

Count the real cost: fuel at California prices to start, 4 or 5 hotel nights, meals and tolls. The car picks up about 2,800 extra miles of wear, you lose a week of work, and you may need a flight back.

Driving makes sense only if the road trip itself is the goal. For New York City moves, shipping also means no hunt for parking on moving day. See our ship a car across country page.

Car carriers often run 75 to 80 feet long, so they can't reach every street. When yours is too narrow or too steep, the driver will meet you at a nearby wide road or parking lot.

Los Angeles, San Francisco and the Bay Area

Steep hills, narrow streets and permit-only parking make door pickup tricky in parts of San Francisco and the Bay Area. Gated communities and HOA neighborhoods in Los Angeles may also block large trucks, so check the rules before pickup day.

Ports, Dealers and Auctions

Cars bought at Southern California auctions can be picked up straight from the lot. So can imports landed at the Port of Los Angeles, the Port of Long Beach or the Port of Hueneme. See our dealership transport page.

New York City and Long Island

Trucks in New York City must stay on NYC DOT truck routes, so door delivery in Manhattan is rare. Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx and Staten Island often need a meeting point.

Long Island and Westchester usually have wider streets and easier access.

Upstate New York

Rural roads and lake-effect snow can push an upstate delivery back a day in winter.

1

Get a quote.

Enter both addresses, your vehicle and your first available date in the car shipping calculator. The quote holds for 7 business days.

2

Book.

Pick open or enclosed transport and confirm your pickup window, the span of days when the driver can collect the car. We then assign a vetted carrier and send you the driver's contact details.

3

Pickup and inspection.

You and the driver check the car together and record its condition on the Bill of Lading. Think of it as the signed condition report and receipt for your car, so mark every chip and dent that is already there.

4

Delivery and final inspection.

Look the car over at your New York address and note any new damage on the Bill of Lading before you sign. Then you complete payment.

Wash it and photograph it. Shoot every side, the roof and the odometer with the date visible, and note any existing damage.

Run the tank down. A quarter tank or less is plenty to drive on and off the truck.

Charge an EV to 30% to 50%, since carriers don't plug cars in during the trip.

Pull your FasTrak and E-ZPass tags, or every toll plaza on the carrier's route could bill your account.

Clear out personal items. Up to 100 lbs can stay in the trunk or on the back seat below the window line, and the front seats must be empty.

Check the basics. Look for fluid leaks, check the tires and battery, and turn off the alarm.

Hand over one key, and let us know in advance if the car doesn't run.

The carrier's cargo insurance covers your car from pickup to delivery. Every carrier SGT assigns is registered with the FMCSA, and the policy limit covers all customer vehicles on the load together, not each car on its own.

Open carriers on this route carry $100,000 to $150,000 per load, and enclosed carriers carry $250,000 to $3,000,000 per load. You pay no deductible. Ask us for the certificate of insurance before pickup if you want to see it.

Anything you leave inside the car is not covered by cargo insurance. At delivery, inspect the car before you sign the Bill of Lading, because a note of new damage on that form is what backs up a claim.

New York gives new residents 30 days to register their vehicle, according to the New York State DMV. You can mail your documents to a local DMV office, and the car then needs a New York inspection.

Paperwork: form MV-82, your original California title (photocopies aren't accepted), proof of New York auto liability insurance, copies of your proof of identity and age, and payment for sales tax or the DTF-803 exemption form.
Insurance: your New York policy must include no-fault coverage, also called Personal Injury Protection, of at least $50,000.
If a lender holds your title: ask the lender for a certified copy of the title and a letter on its letterhead that lists the owner, year, make and VIN and confirms the lender holds the original title.
Sales tax: if you were not a New York resident, and did not live or work in New York, when you bought the car, you can claim an exemption from New York sales tax with form DTF-803.
Inspection: put the 10-day inspection extension sticker on the car when it enters New York, not before. Then pass a New York safety and emissions inspection within those 10 days.
Emissions: New York uses California's vehicle emissions standards, so a California car won't run into the compatibility problems that cars moving the other way can face.
Wait times: allow about 6 weeks for registration documents by mail, and up to 90 days for the title.

Car Shipping Services from California to New York

SGT offers door-to-door, open, enclosed, cross-country, Guaranteed Pick-up, express, military PCS, college student, classic and luxury, dealership and auction, and motorcycle shipping from California to New York.

Military families can ship from Camp Pendleton, Naval Base San Diego or Travis AFB to Fort Drum, West Point or Fort Hamilton. Graduates of UCLA, USC, Stanford and UC Berkeley who take jobs in New York can ship with us too.

Open car transport is a practical and budget-friendly choice for vehicle shipping. With fast transit times, flexible scheduling, and trusted service, it's no surprise that it's the preferred option for many of our customers.

Our cross-country car transport service offers a simple and convenient way to relocate your vehicle. From short interstate moves to coast-to-coast deliveries, we ensure your car reaches its destination safely and efficiently.

Choose our enclosed auto transport service when your vehicle deserves the highest level of protection. Enclosed trailers shield your car from weather, road debris, dust, and dirt, ensuring it arrives in pristine condition.

Whether you're relocating, buying, or selling a motorcycle, our reliable shipping service makes the process simple. We offer convenient door-to-door transport to ensure your bike arrives safely at its destination.

Need your vehicle picked up on a specific date? Our guaranteed car transport service is designed for customers with strict timelines, ensuring your vehicle is collected as scheduled and delivered with care.

Our college student car transport service makes it easy to bring your vehicle to campus. We pick up your car from your home and deliver it directly to your college, giving you the freedom and convenience of having your own transportation while you study.

Need to ship your vehicle on short notice? Our expedited car shipping service is designed for urgent situations, with vehicle pick-up available in as little as 1-2 business days, helping you stay on schedule.

Military relocations often happen with little notice, making dependable vehicle transport essential. Our military auto transport service supports active and retired military members by providing fast, secure shipping for PCS moves and other assignments.

We pick up anywhere in California and deliver anywhere in New York, door-to-door, from the Port of Long Beach to the five boroughs.

California pickups: Los Angeles, San Diego, San Jose, San Francisco, Fresno, Sacramento, Long Beach, Oakland, Bakersfield, Anaheim, Riverside, Irvine, Santa Ana, Santa Monica, Santa Clara, Fremont and Stockton. See California car shipping and Los Angeles car shipping.

New York deliveries: New York City (Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx and Staten Island), Long Island (including Hicksville), Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Ithaca, Albany, Queensbury, Yonkers, White Plains, New Rochelle, Utica and Binghamton. See New York car shipping and New York City car shipping.

See below all zip code areas we serve in California.

90041	90042	90043	90044	90045
90046	90047	90048	90049	90050
90051	90052	90053	90054	90055
90056	90057	90058	90059	90060
90061	90062	90063	90064	90065
90066	90067	90068	90069	90070
90071	90072	90073	90074	90075
90076	90077	90078	90079	90080
90081	90082	90083	90084	90085
90086	90087	90088	90089	90090
90091	90092	90093	90094	90095
90096	90097	90098	90099	90101
90102	90103	90189	90201	90202
90209	90210	90211	90212	90213
90220	90221	90222	90223	90224
90230	90231	90232	90233	90239
90240	90241	90242	90245	90247
90248	90249	90250	90251	90254
90255	90260	90261	90262	90263
90264	90265	90266	90267	90270
90272	90274	90275	90277	90278

You can also find the ZIP codes of New York areas we serve showed in the table below.

10119	10120	10121	10122	10123
10128	10129	10152	10153	10154
10155	10158	10162	10165	10166
10167	10168	10169	10170	10171
10172	10173	10174	10177	10199
10271	10278	10279	10280	10281
10282	10301	10302	10303	10304
10305	10306	10307	10308	10309
10310	10311	10312	10314	10451
10452	10453	10454	10455	10456
10457	10458	10459	10460	10461
10462	10463	10464	10465	10466
10467	10468	10469	10470	10471
10472	10473	10474	10475	10501
10502	10503	10504	10505	10506
10507	10509	10510	10511	10512
10514	10516	10517	10518	10519
10520	10521	10522	10523	10524
10526	10527	10528	10530	10532
10533	10535	10536	10537	10538
10540	10541	10542	10543	10545
10546	10547	10548	10549	10550
10551	10552	10553	10560	10562
10566	10567	10570	10573	10576
10577	10578	10579	10580	10583
10587	10588	10589	10590	10591
10594	10595	10596	10597	10598
10601	10603	10604	10605	10606
10607	10701	10703	10704	10705
10706	10707	10708	10709	10710
10801	10803	10804	10805	10901
10910	10911	10912	10913	10914
10915	10916	10917	10918	10919
10920	10921	10922	10923	10924
10925	10926	10927	10928	10930
10931	10932	10933	10940	10941
10950	10952	10953	10954	10956
10958	10959	10960	10962	10963
10964	10965	10968	10969	10970
10973	10974	10975	10976	10977
10979	10980	10983	10984	10985
10986	10987	10988	10989	10990
10992	10993	10994	10996	10998
11001	11003	11004	11005	11010
11020	11021	11023	11024	11030
11040	11042	11050	11096	11101
11102	11103	11104	11105	11106
11109	11201	11203	11204	11205
11206	11207	11208	11209	11210
11211	11212	11213	11214	11215
11216	11217	11218	11219	11220
11221	11222	11223	11224	11225
11226	11228	11229	11230	11231
11232	11233	11234	11235	11236
11237	11238	11239	11249	11354
11355	11356	11357	11358	11360
11361	11362	11363	11364	11365
11366	11367	11368	11369	11370
11372	11373	11374	11375	11377
11378	11379	11385	11411	11412
11413	11414	11415	11416	11417
11418	11419	11420	11421	11422
11423	11426	11427	11428	11429
11430	11432	11433	11434	11435
11436	11691	11692	11693	11694
11697	11701	11702	11703	11704
11705	11706	11709	11710	11713
11714	11715	11716	11717	11718
11719	11720	11721	11722	11724
11725	11726	11727	11729	11730
11731	11732	11733	11735	11738
11739	11740	11741	11742	11743
11746	11747	11749	11751	11752
11754	11755	11756	11757	11758
11762	11763	11764	11765	11766
11767	11768	11769	11770	11771
11772	11776	11777	11778	11779
11780	11782	11783	11784	11786
11787	11788	11789	11790	11791
11792	11793	11794	11795	11796
11797	11798	11801	11803	11804
11901	11930	11931	11932	11933
11934	11935	11937	11939	11940
11941	11942	11944	11946	11947
11948	11949	11950	11951	11952
11953	11954	11955	11956	11957
11958	11959	11960	11961	11962
11963	11964	11965	11967	11968
11970	11971	11972	11973	11975
11976	11977	11978	12007	12008
12009	12010	12015	12017	12018
12019	12020	12022	12023	12024
12025	12027	12028	12029	12031
12032	12033	12035	12036	12037
12040	12041	12042	12043	12045
12046	12047	12050	12051	12052
12053	12054	12056	12057	12058
12059	12060	12061	12062	12063

SGT Auto Transport averages 4.6 out of 5 across Google, the BBB, Trustpilot and ConsumerAffairs, from 16,877 reviews. We have moved cars for 128,940+ customers through a network of 25,000+ vetted carriers.

Licensed broker: registered with the FMCSA under USDOT 2521690 and MC 873392. Every carrier's authority and insurance is checked before we assign it.
Price Match Guarantee: bring us a lower quote, and we will match it.
Recognized by: US News and move.org.
No upfront payment: no deposit, and nothing is charged until a carrier is assigned.
Platform ratings: 4.7 on Google, 4.44 in BBB customer reviews, 4.1 on Trustpilot and 3.8 on ConsumerAffairs.

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California to New York Car Shipping FAQs

How much does it cost to ship a car from California to New York?

It costs $1,450 to $2,025 on an open carrier, based on SGT bookings over the last 6 months. Los Angeles and San Diego to Brooklyn start at the low end, and Los Angeles to Manhattan sits at the top. Enclosed adds 37.3%.

How long does it take to ship a car from Los Angeles to New York City?

Los Angeles to New York City covers about 2,800 miles and takes 5 to 7 days in transit. With 1 to 3 business days to assign a carrier, most cars arrive 6 to 10 days after your first available date.

What is the cheapest time of year to ship a car from California to New York?

Fall is usually the cheapest window. Summer moves and college move-in have passed, and mountain passes are still clear. Prices climb in summer, and winter storms can add delays.

Is enclosed transport worth it for a cross-country move?

For a classic, exotic, new or low-clearance car, yes. Enclosed costs 37.3% more on this route but keeps the car out of weather, salt and road debris for nearly 3,000 miles. For a daily driver, open transport is usually enough.

Can a car carrier deliver to my street in Manhattan or Brooklyn?

Usually not to the door. New York City keeps large trucks on designated truck routes, and a 75-foot carrier can't use most residential streets. The driver will call ahead to set a meeting point nearby.

Do I need to be there at pickup and delivery?

You or an adult you choose must be there at both ends. That person inspects the car with the driver and signs the Bill of Lading. Tell us your New York contact's name when you book.

Is my car insured during transport?

Yes. The carrier's cargo insurance covers your car from pickup to delivery, and you pay no deductible. The policy limit covers all customer vehicles on the load together, not each car individually. Personal items aren't covered.

Can I put personal items in my car?

Yes, up to 100 lbs in the trunk or on the back seat below the window line. Keep the front seats empty. Cargo insurance doesn't cover belongings, so take valuables and toll tags out before pickup.

Can you ship an electric car from California to New York?

Yes. We ship EVs, including Tesla models, on open and enclosed carriers. Charge the battery to 30% to 50% before pickup, and expect a heavy EV to price toward the upper end of the range.

What do I need to register my car in New York?

Send form MV-82, your original California title, proof of New York insurance with no-fault coverage, a copy of your ID and the sales tax payment or DTF-803 exemption form to the DMV within 30 days. Then pass a New York inspection within 10 days.

These routes cover other common moves out of California and into New York.

Route	Price range	Distance	Transit time
New York to California	$1,325 - $1,800	2,810 miles	5-7 days
California to Florida	$1,300 - $1,850	2,640 miles	5-7 days
California to Illinois	$1,175 - $1,650	2,030 miles	4-5 days
California to Georgia	$1,225 - $1,775	2,210 miles	4-5 days
California to Washington	$925 - $1,425	1,140 miles	2-3 days
Florida to New York	$850 - $1,700	1,260 miles	2-3 days
Texas to New York	$1,000 - $1,700	1,660 miles	3-4 days
Michigan to New York	$625 - $1,125	650 miles	1 day

Prices are open-carrier ranges from SGT bookings on these routes from the last 6 months from the date of last modification, and include door-to-door service, carrier insurance, and fuel.

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