Auto Transport Costs & Delivery Time оn Car Shipping to and from Virginia to California
ROUTE: FROM VIRGINIA TO CALIFORNIA
PRICE: $1499 - $1699
DISTANCE: 2741 MILES
ESTIMATED DELIVERY TIME: 5-7 DAYS
"All prices and estimated delivery times provided on this site are approximations based on current market conditions as of 2025. These estimates are subject to change due to factors such as seasonal demand, fuel prices, and specific pick-up and delivery locations."
Looking for a Vehicle Transport Company Between Virginia and California
From Point A in Virginia to Point B in California
Most places in Virginia and California are separated by at least 2,500 miles, with some locations more than 3,000 miles apart. If you need to get your car from your current location in Virginia to a new one in California, you could spend days on the road and hundreds, if not thousands of dollars on food and accommodation along the way — all while racking up a whole lot of miles on your odometer. However, you also have the much easier option to hire an auto shipping company to transport your vehicle to the west coast for you, saving you all that time and keeping your mileage down.
In this guide to using a Virginia-to-California car shipping company, we explore the average costs, shipping times, and processes for cross-country vehicle shipments. You’ll also get some expert advice on how to find cheap car transport rates to California and ensure a hassle-free shipping experience.
Top-Rated Virginia and California Car Transport with 4.7 Stars and 70,000+ Happy Customers
In this comprehensive 2025 guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about using a car shipping company in Virginia or California, including updated costs, shipping timelines, available transport options, and helpful tips to make your move smoother.
How long does it take to Ship a Car from Virginia to California?
Most car shipments from Virginia to California take between {time range} days. Like the cost of shipping, auto transit times depend a lot on the distance a trucker needs to travel. That’s why it may take a day or two longer to ship your vehicle 3,100 miles from Virginia Beach to Eureka than to transport it around 2,670 miles from Blacksburg to San Jose.
However, there are some things that can delay your shipment that are beyond the control of your driver. These include:
- Traffic: Los Angeles is notorious for traffic jams, as is Northern Virginia near Washington, DC. In addition, your car carrier will travel across the country on either I-40 or I-70, both of which pass through several major cities that could be congested with commuters and travelers. Regardless of where it happens, getting stuck in traffic en route can push your delivery time back.
- Weather: It’s very possible for your driver to run into severe weather on the way from Virginia to California. Whether its hurricanes and tropical storms on the east coast, tornadoes in the midwest, or wintry conditions in mountainous areas all along the route, bad weather can cause significant delays.
- Mechanical issues: A blown tire, broken axle, or engine problems may take your truck driver off their route and force them to spend time getting repairs, holding up your shipment.
- Additional jobs: In most cases, your car will be one of many your driver is carrying. Each pickup and delivery along the way adds to the total shipping time.
SGT Auto Transport Reviews on Car Shipping Services Between Virginia and California
We track a lot of metrics to make sure we’re always improving, but our key metric is our customer reviews. With more than 150,000 shipments under our belt, we now have tens of thousands of customer reviews across different sites on the internet like Google and the BBB. The vast majority of those reviews are from customers who say they’re happy they chose SGT Auto Transport. That’s a good sign you’ll feel the same way when you use us as your Virginia-to-California car shipping company.
Shipping from the State Of Virginia Reviews
One thing customers consistently bring up in positive reviews is the price they got on their shipping quote. You’ll find lots of comments from people who say they got their cheapest quote from SGT Auto Transport. But another common topic is the fact that there were no hidden costs and that the price they got in their quote was the same as what they paid in the end. You can expect the same for your shipment to California.
Our Most Popular Vehicle Transport Routes from and to Virginia: Table With Prices and Delivery Time
| FROM | TO | DELIVERY TIME | PRICE* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia | Florida | 1-2 days | $549 - $749 |
| Virginia | Nevada | 4-5 days | $849 - $1049 |
| Virginia | Massachusetts | 1 day | $499 - $699 |
| Virginia | Texas | 2-3 days | $899 - $1099 |
| Virginia | Washington | 5-7 days | $949 - $1149 |
| Florida | Virginia | 1-2 days | $649 - $849 |
| Nevada | Virginia | 4-5 days | $999 - $1199 |
| Massachusetts | Virginia | 1 day | $399 - $599 |
| Texas | Virginia | 2-3 days | $449 - $649 |
| Washington | Virginia | 5-7 days | $1199 - $1399 |
Shipping to the State Of California Reviews
Customer reviews also tend to mention a positive experience with the drivers we assign them. We thoroughly vet each and every driver we use, so it’s not surprising to read reviews that talk about the professional service people received, or that their driver was especially careful with their car and helpful when answering questions. That’s just what we expect from the people we work with.
How Much Does It Cost to Ship a Car from Virginia to California?
Shipping a vehicle from Virginia to California typically costs between $1499 and $1699 in 2025. Since auto transport companies charge for shipping by the mile, distance has the biggest influence on the cost of your shipment. Given California’s massive size and the large distances between different parts of Virginia, you’ll find a lot of variation in shipping costs depending on your pickup and dropoff locations.
For example, the shipping route from Norfolk to Sacramento is more than 2,880 miles long. That shipment is likely to be somewhat more expensive than shipping it a little over 2600 miles from Richmond to Los Angeles.
Our Most Popular Vehicle Transport Routes from and to California: Table With Prices and Delivery Time
| FROM | TO | DELIVERY TIME | PRICE* | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | Florida | 4 - 5 days | $1200 - $1500 | |
| California | New York | 6 - 8 days | $1200 - $1500 | |
| California | Illinois | 3 - 5 days | $1100 - $1200 | |
| California | Washington | 3 - 5 days | $900 - $1100 | |
| California | Georgia | 4 - 5 days | $1100 - $1300 | |
| Florida | California | 4 - 5 days | $1000 - $1250 | |
| New York | California | 6 - 8 days | $1200 - $1500 | |
| Illinois | California | 3 - 5 days | $1000 - $1100 | |
| Washington | California | 3 - 5 days | $700 - $900 | |
| Georgia | California | 4 - 5 days | $700 - $900 |
Want to know the cost of shipping a car with us?
Pickup Anywhere in Virginia Delivery Anywhere in California - Reliable Car Transport Services
As part of our effort to make shipping a car easy for our customers, we provide true door-to-door auto shipping service. That means we’ll pick your vehicle up where you tell us to (or as close as possible) and drop it off at the location you provide.
Our door-to-door service isn’t limited to certain locations, either. Your driver will come to you to pick up your car whether you’re shipping it from downtown Alexandria or in the mountains near Abingdon. They’ll also deliver it near your doorstep, regardless of whether you’re moving it to the middle of busy San Francisco or a remote seaside getaway in Crescent City.
What Factors Affect the Cost to Ship a Car From Virginia to California?
There are other factors that influence the cost of auto shipping besides distance. Some of the things that can affect your per-mile shipping cost from a car shipping company in Virginia include:
There are other factors that influence the cost of auto shipping besides distance. Some of the things that can affect your per-mile shipping cost from a car shipping company in Virginia include:
Here’s a breakdown of a few of the moving parts that go into determining shipping costs for vehicle transport:
Shipping method: Transporting your vehicle in an enclosed carrier offers more protection from the elements and road debris than an open car carrier, but it’s also more expensive.
Time of year: Car shipping costs are subject to seasonal demand, with rates typically hitting their peak in summer months.
Pickup and delivery locations: Auto haulers may charge more if they have to make a detour from major highways like I-40 and I-5 or travel far from bigger cities like Los Angeles and Oakland to get to more rural locations.
Vehicle size: It often costs more to ship larger, heavier vehicles than smaller ones.
Drivability: You’ll have to pay more to ship your car if it isn’t currently running since your trucker can’t drive it on and off their carrier.
Diesel prices: Fuel is a major cost for truck drivers, so auto shipping costs tend to go up when the price at the pump rises.
How much does car transport from Virginia to California cost?
When calculating the cost of auto transport, car shipping companies in Virginia to California consider several things. The key factor is how far you want to ship your vehicle, closely followed by the type of vehicle you want to ship. The following factors also make a difference in the cost of car shipping services.
Distance
Pick-up date
Route
Vehicle (Make and Model)
Vehicle condition
Transport method
Seasonality
Discount
Get an Instant Car Shipping Quote for Vehicle Transportation Between Virginia and California
You don’t have to guess at how much you’ll pay to ship your car to California — our car shipping calculator will tell you right away. It takes only a few minutes to tell us what we need to know to create an actual quote for your shipment and deliver it to your inbox. That quote will include all of the fees, taxes, and insurance costs you need to pay, so you won’t get any surprises on your bill later. Best of all, getting a quote is completely free and comes with no obligation.
Here’s the information you’ll need to share with us:
- Pickup point in Virginia
- Delivery location in California
- Year, make, and model of your vehicle
- Current operating condition (operable or inoperable)
- Preference of open or enclosed shipping
- Earliest pickup date available
- Email address and phone number where we can reach you
You could have a quote for a Virginia-to-California car shipping service in hand just a few minutes from now when you use our auto transport calculator. But even though you’ll get an all-inclusive quote right away, you’ve got time to make your decision. All of our quotes are good for up to seven days to give you some time to think it over.
Want to know the cost of shipping a car with us?
How Does Vehicle Transport from Virginia to California Work?
There’s a lot of logistics work that goes into getting your car to California on schedule. However, as your Virginia car shipping company, that’s what we do. This is how the auto transport process works for our agents:
There’s a lot of logistics work that goes into getting your car to California on schedule. However, as your Virginia car shipping company, that’s what we do. This is how the auto transport process works for our agents:
Step 1
Next Step
Next Step
Next Step
Next Step
Next Step
How to Easily Ship a Car from Virginia to California with SGT Auto Transport?
Our team takes on the hard part of shipping your vehicle so your part is as easy as possible. After you confirm your service and agree to a pickup time, there are only a few things you’ll need to do:
We offer competitive rates, top-tier customer service, and access to a massive nationwide network of licensed and insured carriers.
Wait for us to give you an ETA for your delivery appointment in California.
When it’s time for your vehicle to be delivered, meet your driver again to do a post-shipment inspection and sign the Bill of Lading again together.
As long as there are no issues to deal with, that’s all there is to it.
Advantages of Shipping Your Vehicle between Virginia and California with SGT Auto Transport
We know we’re not the only Virginia auto transport company that can ship your car to California, but we also know we’re one of the best providers in the country. There are a few features about SGT Auto Transport that make us stand out from the competition
Transparent pricing: When you request a quote from us, that quote will include everything up front. You won’t have to worry about hidden fees or insurance charges being tacked on later.
No deposit required: You don’t need to put any money down to book your shipment. We’ll go ahead and get the process started and sort out payment later.
Accurate ETAs: You’ve got better things to do than wait around for a truck driver to show up. That’s why we make sure our drivers stick to the appointment times we tell you and update you immediately if anything changes.
Fully Licensed & Insured: SGT guarantees full protection of your vehicle during transit. Every carrier in our network is fully licensed, bonded, and insured, giving you peace of mind that your car is in safe and professional hands from start to finish.
Price matching: If you get a cheaper quote from a different Virginia-to-California car shipping company, we’ll match that price if you send us the quote.
Types of Vehicle Transportation Services we provide from Virginia to California
We’ve got a few options to choose from on how you want us to ship your car to California, as well as a few features we want to share with you.
We’ve got a few options to choose from on how you want us to ship your car to California, as well as a few features we want to share with you.
Door-To-Door Transport
Your car will travel thousands of miles, but you won’t need to go more than a few steps from your door on either side for us to pick your vehicle up in Virginia and deliver it in California.
Open Car Transport
The most affordable method for shipping your car is to load it onto an open car carrier. Open transport is also our most popular option.
Enclosed Auto Transport
If you don’t want to leave your car exposed to potential damage from weather and debris, you can pay more to ship it across the country in an enclosed container.
Guaranteed Pick-Up Service
Need to make sure your car leaves Virginia on a specific date? For an additional fee, we can guarantee that your truck driver will pick your car up on the exact date you provide.
Motorcycle Shipping
California has thousands of miles of scenic roads that are perfect for exploring by motorcycle. We can ship your bike out to the west coast packed safe and secure in a wooden shipping crate.
Classic & Luxury Car Transport
Our premium-tier shipping option provides white glove service from coast to coast for rare or valuable vehicles that require meticulous handling.
Transport Cars For Dealerships
For car dealers that need to move an entire set of vehicles from a lot in Virginia to one in California, we offer fleet transport services with bulk shipping rates.
Military Car Shipping
Active-duty and reserve members of the armed forces get a discount on auto shipping with SGT Auto Transport, whether you’re relocating from your base in Norfolk to a new assignment in California or just headed out west for any other reason.
College Students Car Transport
If your child is heading out to Stanford, UC-Davis, or any one of California’s heralded universities, we can ship their car to them so they can have access to it without having to drive it across the country.
Express Auto Transport
We offer a rush shipping service option for an additional fee if your car needs to be in California as soon as possible.
Useful Tips for Car Shipping from and to Virginia and California
It is extremely important to us that you have the best possible shipping experience when you hire us to transport your car to California. While most of that is in our hands, there are a few things you can do to get a better chance at finding a great deal on your shipment and to ensure the process is as seamless as possible:
It is extremely important to us that you have the best possible shipping experience when you hire us to transport your car to California. While most of that is in our hands, there are a few things you can do to get a better chance at finding a great deal on your shipment and to ensure the process is as seamless as possible:
Top 6 hints for transporting/moving to this state
Book your car transport service to California as far in advance as you can if you want to get the cheapest possible price
You’re likely to get the lowest rates if you give a wide window of time for pickup and delivery to accommodate a larger number of drivers and routes.
We allow customers to ship personal items in their cars, but cargo is limited to 100 pounds and must be properly secured in the trunk of the vehicle.
Auto carriers can refuse to load a vehicle onto the truck if it is leaking oil or other fluids. Inspect your car for leaks a few days before your pickup date.
Remove any parking tags or toll transponders like EZPass from your vehicle prior to pickup.
Make sure all four tires on your car are fully inflated to allow your trucker to safely drive your vehicle on and off of the carrier.
Clean your vehicle out and remove all loose items at least a day in advance of pickup.
Ensure you have two copies of your ignition key so you can give one to your truck driver and hold on to the other for safekeeping.
We provide car shipping services between Virginia and California, and across the country
Coast to coast, north to south, and anywhere else you need to ship your car
Coast to coast, north to south, and anywhere else you need to ship your car
Car transport to or from 48 other states
Types of Vehicle Transportation Services we provide in Virginia and California
After shipping more than 100,000 vehicles, we know what people want. Based on that experience, we offer the options and features we’ve learned shipping customers want the most.
After shipping more than 100,000 vehicles, we know what people want. Based on that experience, we offer the options and features we’ve learned shipping customers want the most.
Service type:
Want to know the cost of shipping a car with us?
Frequently Asked Questions about Car Shipping Services in Virginia and California:
How much does it cost to ship a car from Florida to Virginia?
Getting a vehicle from Florida to Virginia is a fairly straight shot up the Interstate along the eastern seaboard. This should take no more than 2 days, and you should expect to spend $549 to $749.
How much does it cost to ship a car from Nevada to Virginia?
Auto logistics from Nevada to Virginia would be a pretty big job and a lot of driving. Barring delays, this should take 4 to 5 days and expenditures should be $849 to $1049.
How much does it cost to ship a car from Illinois to California?
In our experience, getting a vehicle from Illinois to California should take 3 to 5 days, and cost in the neighborhood of $1100 to $1200.
How much does it cost to ship a car from Washington to California?
From our experience, auto transport from Washington to California is a 3 to 5 day job and should cost $900 to $1100.
How much does it cost to ship a car from Texas to Florida?
We’ve delivered vehicles from Texas to Florida before; depending on the Texas departure point, this should take 2 to 3 days and cost $699 to $899.
How much does it cost to ship a car from California to Florida?
Getting a vehicle from California to Florida means traversing the entire Continental US; expect this to take 5 to 7 days, at a cost of $899 to $1099.
How much does it cost to ship a car from Washington to Virginia?
There’s a lot of ground to cover from Washington to Virginia. In our experience, this will be a 5 to 7 day run and you can expect to spend $949 to $1149
How much does it cost to ship a car from Texas to Virginia?
A drive from Texas to Virginia is several hundred miles. This could take as long as 2 to 3 days, and total costs should be $899 to $1099.
How much does it cost to ship a car from Massachusetts to Virginia?
Getting a vehicle from Massachusetts to Virginia should be a fairly straight shot; expect this to be a 1 day job and should cost around $499 to $699.