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Best companies for vehicle shipping in California

Moving across the country or just across the state? Shipping your vehicle can save time, and wear and tear. Whether you’re moving or need to move fleet vehicles, vehicle shipping companies offer customized solutions. With vehicle shipping in California, expect full insurance, instant quotes, reliability and tracking. Premium offers include a free car wash and rental car use while the vehicle is in transit. 

These companies are also some of the best vehicle shipping companies to work for in California. If you need to transport a vehicle from another state, you’ll find additional vehicle shipping options in this article. 

Quicklook: Best companies for vehicle shipping in California

  • Best for high-value vehicles: uShip
  • Best for personalized service: Coastal Car Transport Inc. 
  • Best for nationwide shipping: Montway Auto Transport
  • Best for quote comparisons: Direct Express Auto Transport
  • Best for quality and safety: Sherpa Auto Transport
  • Best for heavy equipment shipping: A1 Auto Transport
  • Best for shipping trucks: Easy Auto Ship

7 best companies for vehicle shipping in California

The seven companies below offer solutions for vehicle shipping in California across the country or around the world. They are known for their A+ service and consistently receive high customer ratings. 

uShip

uShip

uShip offers a comprehensive set of tools and a vast network of reliable transporters for smooth car shipping to Alaska. Their comprehensive support system empowers you to transport your car to Alaska with confidence, knowing that your vehicle is in capable hands every step of the way.

Their platform features streamlined communication tools for direct contact with transporters, fostering trust and efficient communication. With real-time tracking, you can monitor your car’s journey closely, staying informed and planning effectively. uShip also verifies carrier qualifications, giving you confidence in capable hands during your car’s journey to Alaska.

Best For: Transparency

Benefits:

  • User-friendly interface
  • Self-service options
  • Huge carrier marketplace
  • You can vet drivers by profile
  • Easier interaction with the shipper

Disadvantages:

  • Does not provide personalized support
  • Quotes are not guaranteed
Coastal Car Transport Inc. 

Coastal Car Transport Inc. 

Coastal Car Transport Inc., based in Burbank, California, has a reputation for reliability and personalized offerings. With an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau, it is known for exceptional service and a wide variety of vehicles shipped. Customers report first class responsiveness and efficiency for transport within California.

Best for: Personalized service

Benefits: 

  • No upfront payment
  • Free quote
  • No hidden fees
  • Only works with licensed, bonded and insured carriers
  • Personalize quotes based on speed, location and vehicle type 
  • Locally owned and operated
  • Discounts available

Disadvantages: 

  • Unclear payment options 

Montway Auto Transport

Montway Auto Transport advertises that it is the number-one rated car transporter in the U.S. and has reliable vehicle shipping in California. It offers a personalized approach and dedicated advisors to help you transport your vehicle safely and securely. It has a network of more than 15,000 personally vetted haulers with high performance standards. 

Best for: Nationwide shipping

Benefits: 

  • Free quotes
  • No upfront payment
  • Payment required after vehicles are dispatched
  • After-hours customer support with extended hours 365 days a year
  • Professional auto transport advisors keep you in the loop every step of the way
  • Large national network of carriers for faster delivery

Disadvantages: 

  • You’ll need to contact them for vehicle tracking information. 
Direct Express Auto Transport

Direct Express Auto Transport

Direct Auto Transport is an auto transport broker that offers comparisons of the best shippers to meet your vehicle shipping in California needs. It offers three service rates: standard, expedited and rushed. With the rush rate, you will be assigned a carrier within one to two days. Your vehicle will be picked up one to two days after that. 

Best for: Quote comparisons

Benefits: 

  • Transparent quote comparisons
  • Fast delivery options for vehicle deliveries in under a week
  • Regional quotes for added savings
  • Nationwide brokers work with exceptional carriers for flexible service
  • Excellent customer reviews

Disadvantages: 

  •  Not a direct carrier 

Sherpa Auto Transport

Sherpa auto transport offers a variety of attractive features, including a guaranteed price lock and a clean car guarantee to simplify car shipping. With 4.9 out of 5 stars and close to 5,000 reviews, It is known to deliver on promises — and more. It offers instant quotes over the telephone for personalized information instantly. 

Best for: Quality and safety

Benefits: 

  • Instant quotes with guaranteed price locks
  • Transparent pricing
  • Free car wash after delivery 
  • Door-to-door pickup and delivery
  • Pack up to 100 pounds of personal items or household goods in the vehicle
  • All-inclusive quotes with insurance 

Disadvantages: 

  • Initial payment needs to be made by credit card  

A1 Auto Transport

Founded in 1988 in California, A1 Auto Transport specializes in shipping all types of vehicles, including heavy equipment and car shipping. If you’re shipping an RV, heavy equipment or boats, A1 Auto Transport has solutions. It has served over two million customers in 197 countries since 1997. It has a network of 40 terminals and 30 modern carriers to deliver your vehicle safely and efficiently. 

Best for: Heavy equipment shipping

Benefits: 

  • Door-to-door delivery 
  • Full insurance
  • Express service for faster delivery
  • Custom solutions for all vehicle types  
  • Free quotes
  • Overseas shipping
  • Complete protection against impact and other threats 
  • Storage solutions for vehicles
  • Reliable service

Disadvantages:  

  • Some customers complain of miscommunications. 

Easy Auto Ship

Easy Auto Ship has extensive experience and a reputation for reliability in car shipping. It has been in business for 25 years and has served over 72,000 customers shipping over 98,000 vehicles. It has an A+ accreditation from the Better Business Bureau. While it’s based in Ohio, it serves thousands of clients in California and worldwide. 

Best for: Shipping trucks 

Benefits: 

  • Free rental car if your delivery is delayed
  • Free car wash
  • Price guarantee
  • 100% insurance coverage with no deductible
  • Fully vetted carriers 

Disadvantages: 

  • Some customers complain of delays or issues in shipping. 

Things to consider when choosing a vehicle shipping company

Considering shipping your vehicle cross-country or overseas? Here are four important factors to consider.

Cost

Costs can vary widely by carrier and service provided. The cost of shipping a car from San Francisco to Los Angeles could be $230 to $400 or more. Shipping a car from New York to Los Angeles could cost $1,100 to $1,700 depending on the vehicle, whether it’s transported in an open or enclosed carrier, etc. Vehicle weight and condition can also affect final shipping costs. 

Timeframe

Vehicle shipping duration fluctuates due to location, method, weather, and distance. Shipping a sedan from SF to LA takes 3-5 days. Meanwhile, transporting an SUV from New York might require 7-10 days or more.

Several aspects influence this timeframe, including carrier availability, transport type, and weather conditions. These factors can elongate the shipping period from a few days to potentially weeks. To ensure timely delivery, seek carriers that guarantee their services, minimizing the risk of lengthy delays.

Availability

You can ship vehicles year-round, but car shipping in winter may have longer delivery times and higher prices. While summer offers more favorable conditions, there can also be less availability. For that reason, consider scheduling far in advance if you plan to ship vehicles in the summer. In winter, more space is available, but harsh weather conditions can be hard on the vehicle and lead to unavoidable delays. 

Each carrier may have a different delivery schedule, making precise timeframes carrier-specific. Check with the carriers you’re considering for scheduling times and availability. 

Insurance

Insurance for shipping a vehicle is essential as the possibilities for damage in transport are numerous. You can get away with less insurance for an older, used vehicle, but if you’re willing to pay to ship your car, you should be sure it’s insured. 

U.S. auto transporters are responsible for liability insurance according to the Department of Transportation. However, brokers aren’t required to have insurance. Read the fine print to understand your coverage; some may include a substantial deductible. 

Final tips on vehicle shipping in California:

The cost of shipping a car is often negligible compared to its value, convenience and reliability. Save costs and increase peace of mind by choosing a well-reputed carrier that offers complete insurance coverage and guaranteed rates and delivery. Whether looking for the best cross-country car shipping companies or vehicle shipping in California, consider reliability, service reviews, coverage and costs to find the best solution for any vehicle. 

FAQ

How do you calculate the cost of shipping for a car?

You can contact local carriers for an estimate of shipping costs for your car. There are also online resources to help you make an estimate. Car size, distance, location and type of transport will affect final costs. 

How much does a car cargo ship cost?

Shipping a car via cargo ship will typically cost between $1,000 and $4,000, depending on the distance and size of the vehicle.

Is shipping a car a good idea?

If you’re moving across the country or overseas and don’t want to drive your car there, shipping a car is often more affordable and simpler than purchasing a new vehicle. Depending on your situation, shipping a car can be a good idea. 

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