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

Budget $750 – $900 open or $950 – $1,150 enclosed. Those bands are for a running standard vehicle on the 1,140-mile run.

How long does it take to ship a car from Washington to California?

Plan on 2–3 days after pickup. The carrier covers roughly 1,140 miles via I-5.

Do you also ship cars from California to Washington?

Yes. Going California to Washington costs $1,100 – $1,350 open or $1,650 – $1,900 enclosed.

Do you pick up in Seattle and deliver to San Francisco?

Yes. Other pickups here include Bellevue, Tacoma and Spokane; other drop-offs, San Jose, Los Angeles and San Diego.

WA → CA

Car shipping from Washington to California

A straight run down the West Coast, and one of the more predictable lanes in the country — single interstate, no mountain crossings of consequence, consistent carrier supply.

Distance~1,140 miles

Transit time2–3 days

InterstatesI-5

Typical dispatch1–3 business days

Who ships WA to CA

Tech relocations between Seattle and the Bay Area in both directions, students, and retirees moving south.

A notably high proportion of EVs given the two tech corridors at either end.

1,140 miles via I-5

I-5 the entire distance, through Portland, Eugene, Redding and Sacramento. One of the simplest lanes to quote accurately because there is essentially one routing.

Reliable year-round. Winter occasionally brings snow over the Siskiyou Pass on the Oregon–California border, which can add a day, but serious disruption is rare.

Shipping California to Washington

California to Washington is the same I-5 run and the same two-to-three days, and on this corridor the two directions really do price alike — the tech relocations that empty Seattle toward the Bay Area are matched by the ones going the other way, so neither direction is the light one. The only asymmetry worth knowing is the Siskiyou Pass. Northbound in December or January you are climbing into the weather rather than out of it, and that is the one time of year I would keep a day of slack in a Seattle delivery date.

From Seattle and Bellevue to San Francisco and San Jose

SeattleBellevueTacomaSpokaneSan FranciscoSan JoseLos AngelesSan Diego

Not listed? Pickup is anywhere in Washington and delivery anywhere in California, door to door.

Typical rate

Washington to California

WA → CA

Open$750 – $900

Enclosed$950 – $1,150

CA → WA

Open$1,100 – $1,350

Enclosed$1,650 – $1,900

Washington to California is the cheaper direction on an open carrier.

Running standard vehicle; oversized, non-running or peak-season moves cost more. Rates as of September 2026.

WA → CA

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On the road

Washington to California, by carrier

1,140 miles, 2–3 days once loaded.

More CA and WA routes

Dallas → Los Angeles1,435 mi · 3–4 days

Texas → California1,450 mi · 3–4 days

Seattle → Phoenix1,450 mi · 3–4 days

Houston → Los Angeles1,550 mi · 3–4 days

Las Vegas → Los Angeles270 mi · 1–2 days

Illinois → California2,015 mi · 5–6 days

All routes

Common questions

Shipping Washington to California

How much does it cost to ship a car from Washington to California?: Budget $750 – $900 open or $950 – $1,150 enclosed. Those bands are for a running standard vehicle on the 1,140-mile run.
How long does it take to ship a car from Washington to California?: Plan on 2–3 days after pickup. The carrier covers roughly 1,140 miles via I-5.
Do you also ship cars from California to Washington?: Yes. Going California to Washington costs $1,100 – $1,350 open or $1,650 – $1,900 enclosed.
Do you pick up in Seattle and deliver to San Francisco?: Yes. Other pickups here include Bellevue, Tacoma and Spokane; other drop-offs, San Jose, Los Angeles and San Diego.