Los Angeles Car Shipping & Auto Transport
Written by Richard Avery, President of Smart Auto Move · USDOT 2887232 · MC 969368
Los Angeles car shipping runs out of Los Feliz, a neighborhood whose Barnsdall Art Park holds the Hollyhock House, Frank Lloyd Wright's first Los Angeles commission and the only UNESCO World Heritage Site in the city. Smart Auto Move is a car shipping company, and we move cars, SUVs and pickup trucks to and from Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, the San Fernando Valley and every corner of California.
As of August 2026, shipping a mid-size vehicle to or from Los Angeles on an open carrier costs $900 to $1,950, with transit of 3 to 8 days after pickup. Los Angeles to Houston is $1,300 in about 4 days. Chicago to Los Angeles is $1,300 in about 5 days, and Los Angeles to Kissimmee is $1,500 in about 6.
- Door-to-door where accessible
- Open & enclosed options
- Expedited pickup available
- Student, military & senior discounts
- BBB A+ accredited
How much does it cost to ship a car to or from Los Angeles?
As of August 2026, shipping a mid-size vehicle to or from Los Angeles on an open carrier costs $900 to $1,950. Distance sets most of it. West Coast runs up to Puget Sound start near $900, Texas and Southwest routes land between $1,250 and $1,350, and cross-country lanes to Florida and the Southeast run $1,500 to $1,950.
West Coast
$900–$1,200Up to 1,200 miles along the I-5 corridor to Oregon and Washington. Typically 3 days.
Southwest & Texas
$1,250–$1,3501,400 to 1,600 miles to Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston and San Antonio. Typically 3 to 4 days.
Midwest
$1,200–$1,3001,900 to 2,100 miles to Illinois and the central states. Typically 4 to 5 days.
Cross-country
$1,500–$1,950Over 2,500 miles to Florida and the Southeast. Typically 6 to 8 days.
Shorter runs inside California and across to Nevada and Arizona price below the lowest band above. Those lanes move with local demand week to week, so we quote them live through the calculator or over the phone rather than publishing a figure that would be wrong for most bookings. Enclosed transport, inoperable vehicles, oversized pickups and modified vehicles are also priced individually.
What do popular California car shipping lanes cost?
These are our current estimates for the California lanes we run most often, open transport and a mid-size vehicle, as of August 2026. Fuel and demand move with the market, so treat every figure as an estimate and use the calculator or a phone call for a live price.
| Route | Distance | Transit | Estimated price | Network |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lakewood, WA → Los Angeles, CA | 1,110 mi | 3 days | $900–$1,200 | OFFICE TO OFFICE |
| Chicago, IL → Los Angeles, CA | 2,025 mi | 5 days | $1,300 | OFFICE TO OFFICE |
| Los Angeles, CA → Kissimmee / Orlando, FL | 2,552 mi | 6 days | $1,500 | OFFICE TO OFFICE |
| Los Angeles, CA → Houston, TX | 1,566 mi | 4 days | $1,300 | Carrier network |
| Houston, TX → Los Angeles, CA | 1,566 mi | 4 days | $1,300 | Carrier network |
| Los Angeles, CA → San Antonio, TX | 1,350 mi | 3–5 days | $1,250 | Carrier network |
| McKinney, TX → Los Angeles, CA | 1,440 mi | 3 days | $1,250 | Carrier network |
| Bloomington, IL → Los Angeles, CA | 1,931 mi | 4 days | $1,200 | Carrier network |
| San Diego, CA → San Antonio, TX | 1,250 mi | 3 days | $1,150 | Carrier network |
| Austin, TX → San Diego, CA | 1,300 mi | 3 days | $1,100 | Carrier network |
| Bakersfield, CA → Fort Worth, TX | 1,450 mi | 3 days | $1,350 | Carrier network |
| Sacramento, CA → Austin, TX | 1,750 mi | 4 days | $1,300 | Carrier network |
| San Jose, CA → McKinney, TX | 1,720 mi | 4 days | $1,300 | Carrier network |
| San Francisco, CA → Dallas, TX | 1,770 mi | 4 days | $1,450 | Carrier network |
| Fort Worth, TX → Sacramento, CA | 1,700 mi | 4 days | $1,500 | Carrier network |
| San Antonio, TX → San Francisco, CA | 1,750 mi | 4 days | $1,550 | Carrier network |
| Rockford, IL → San Diego, CA | 2,000 mi | 5 days | $1,275 | Carrier network |
| Aurora, IL → San Francisco, CA | 2,110 mi | 6 days | $1,400 | Carrier network |
| San Diego, CA → Fort Lauderdale, FL | 2,600 mi | 6 days | $1,600 | Carrier network |
| Bakersfield, CA → Tampa, FL | 2,620 mi | 6 days | $1,650 | Carrier network |
| Sacramento, CA → Jacksonville, FL | 2,800 mi | 7 days | $1,850 | Carrier network |
| San Francisco, CA → Miami, FL | 3,045 mi | 8 days | $1,950 | Carrier network |
Every figure above is for open transport and a mid-size, operable vehicle. Enclosed transport, inoperable vehicles, oversized pickups and modified vehicles are priced individually. Run them through the calculator or call the office.
Why do two destinations the same distance apart cost different amounts?
Because what sets the rate is whether a load is waiting at the delivery point. Los Angeles to San Antonio and Bakersfield to Fort Worth are within 100 miles of each other in distance, yet Fort Worth costs $100 more. Busy two-way markets send a vehicle back with the driver. Quieter ones mean empty miles before the next load.
Los Angeles is a strong origin
Southern California generates more outbound vehicle movement than almost anywhere in the country, and the I-5, I-10, I-15 and I-40 corridors all start or pass through here. Trucks are plentiful in both directions, which is why an LA pickup usually prices better than the same distance out of a smaller market.
Flexible dates genuinely save money
A driver filling the last space on a trailer will often take a nearby vehicle rather than travel further to reach another. A three-day pickup window gives us far more chances to catch one of those, and it is the single easiest way to lower your price. Tell us the widest window you can live with.
Vehicle and season
SUVs and full-size pickups take more deck space and weight than a mid-size car. Summer tightens capacity across the southern corridors, and the snowbird runs east each autumn do the same. Both are quoted up front rather than added later.
Why does shipping from Los Angeles price the way it does?
Because four major interstates converge here and the region moves more vehicles than any other in the country. I-5 runs the length of the West Coast, I-10 crosses to Florida, I-15 climbs to Las Vegas and Salt Lake, and I-40 cuts east through Arizona. Carriers pass through daily in every direction.
Four corridors, one metro
A truck leaving Los Angeles can fill its deck without leaving the region, then run east, north or south on a single interstate. That is the practical reason our Texas lanes hold steady at $1,250 to $1,350 while comparable distances out of thinner markets swing with the season.
The ports and the dealer trade
Los Angeles and Long Beach together form the largest port complex in the country, and the region has decades of vehicle logistics built around it. Constant carrier presence is good for anyone shipping one car, not just for anyone importing thousands.
Two-way traffic keeps rates level
Vehicles arrive in Southern California in the same volume they leave it, so drivers rarely run empty in either direction. That balance is why Houston to Los Angeles and Los Angeles to Houston both estimate at $1,300 rather than one direction carrying a premium.
When is the best time to book a Los Angeles car shipment?
Book six to eight weeks ahead for a summer move and for the autumn run east, and two to three weeks ahead for a student move. Los Angeles to Kissimmee is $1,500 in about 6 days, and that lane fills first every October. Capacity tightens before prices do, so the date you book matters more than the date you travel.
Summer is the busiest season
June through August is peak relocation season across the whole Southwest, and the I-10 and I-40 corridors carry the load. Book early and you get the date you want at the rate you expected.
Autumn east, spring west
California to Florida runs $1,500 to $1,950 and demand concentrates into a few weeks each October and again each April. Book the return when you book the outbound if your dates are settled.
Student weeks are late August and mid-May
UCLA, USC, Cal State Northridge, Cal State Long Beach and Occidental all turn over in the same fortnight. Two to three weeks of notice makes a real difference to both price and pickup date.
Why ship your vehicle instead of driving it?
Los Angeles to Orlando is roughly 2,550 miles and five to six days behind the wheel, before fuel, motels, meals and the wear you put on the car. Shipping hands those miles to someone whose job is covering them, and you keep your week.
Your time back
Five or six driving days on a cross-country move is a week of annual leave. Fly instead and meet the car at the other end.
No miles on the odometer
A cross-country run is a full service interval, a set of tyres closer to replacement, and real resale value on a newer vehicle.
Covered the whole way
Your vehicle travels under Carrier Cargo Insurance from pickup to delivery. Driving it yourself, that risk is entirely your own.
Desert crossings handled
The Mojave stretch of I-15 and I-40 runs well over 100 degrees through the summer. Drivers who cover it weekly plan the timing and the stops around it.
More than one vehicle
Two cars and one driver means two trips or a tow. We load both on the same carrier and deliver them together.
Discounts that apply here
Student, military and senior discounts are available in either direction. Worth asking about before you book.
Your car never sits anywhere. It goes from your address straight onto the carrier and stays covered under Carrier Cargo Insurance for the entire trip.
What should you know about vehicle pickup in Los Angeles?
Hillside streets and switchbacks
Silver Lake, Echo Park, Laurel Canyon, the Hollywood Hills and Mount Washington have narrow switchbacks, steep grades and low branches. Where a full-size carrier cannot turn comfortably we arrange a meet-point on a wider through-street below, usually minutes away, and the handover happens there at no extra cost.
Permit blocks and dense parking
Koreatown, Venice, Santa Monica and much of Downtown have resident permit zones and continuous parked cars with no gap long enough to load safely. A nearby retail lot or wider cross-street is faster than waiting for curb space, and we plan it when you book rather than at the curb.
Freeway timing is real
The 5, 10, 110 and 405 shape when a driver can realistically reach you. Pickups scheduled outside peak congestion hold their times better, which is part of why this office opens at 6:00 AM Pacific.
The Valley is straightforward
Burbank, Glendale, Pasadena, Sherman Oaks, Van Nuys, Woodland Hills and most of the San Fernando Valley have wide streets and driveway access. Valley pickups are among the simplest we handle and usually happen at the door.
Dealerships and auctions
Los Angeles is a major auction and dealer market, and we move vehicles for both. Give us the lot address, gate hours and any buyer or lot numbers, and we will confirm release requirements before scheduling.
Students and campus moves
UCLA in Westwood, USC near Exposition Park, Cal State Northridge, Cal State Long Beach and Occidental in Eagle Rock. Late August and mid-May are the tightest weeks of the year, so booking two to three weeks ahead makes a real difference to both price and pickup date.
Which parts of California do you serve?
All fifty-eight California counties, from the Oregon line to the Mexican border. The Los Angeles office coordinates the Southern California end of every lane, and pickups anywhere in the state route through the same team.
Southern California
Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego, Riverside, San Bernardino, Ventura, Santa Barbara, Kern and Imperial counties: Los Angeles, Long Beach, Anaheim, Santa Ana, Irvine, San Diego, Riverside, San Bernardino, Bakersfield, Oxnard, Pasadena, Glendale, Burbank, Torrance and the San Fernando Valley.
Central and Northern California
San Francisco, Alameda, Santa Clara, San Mateo, Contra Costa, Sacramento, Fresno, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Monterey, Sonoma and the far north: San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose, Sacramento, Fresno, Stockton, Modesto, Salinas, Santa Rosa, Chico and Redding.
Where is the Smart Auto Move Los Angeles office?
Los Angeles is one of four staffed Smart Auto Move offices, alongside Lakewood, Chicago and Kissimmee. That matters in a practical way rather than a promotional one: the people scheduling your carrier and calling you with updates work here, on Pacific time, and they book the Southern California corridors every day. Three of the lanes above run office to office, which means a Smart Auto Move team at each end of the route.
Smart Auto Move Inc
Address: 5111 Harold Way Suite 301, Los Angeles, CA 90027
Local: 213-766-0064
National: 888-709-9078
Rating: 4.8 out of 5 across 34 Google reviews
| Mon – Thu | 6:00 AM – 6:00 PM |
| Friday | 6:00 AM – 3:00 PM |
| Saturday | 7:00 AM – 1:00 PM |
| Sunday | Closed |
| Mon – Thu | 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM |
| Friday | 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM |
| Saturday | 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM |
| Sunday | Closed |
What happens at this office
Los Angeles is a logistics office. Our dispatchers schedule transport with carriers, call customers with updates, and sort out anything that comes up mid-route. Booking happens online or over the phone, and visits are by appointment.
Vehicles are never stored here, and that is deliberate. Your car goes from your address straight onto the carrier and stays covered under Carrier Cargo Insurance for the entire trip, with no terminal, no holding lot and no gap in coverage.
Where the office sits
Harold Way runs just off Hollywood Boulevard near the 101, which puts the office within practical reach of Hollywood, Los Feliz, Silver Lake, Echo Park, Koreatown, West Hollywood and Downtown for pickup coordination, and close enough to the 5, 10, 110 and 405 for carriers building routes out of the region.
Our other offices
Lakewood, WA · 5607 Boston Ave SW · 253-200-5645
Chicago, IL · 742 E 87th Pl · 312-300-7773
Kissimmee, FL · 2095 E Irlo Bronson Memorial Hwy · 407-377-6073
Corporate headquarters: 4208 Six Forks Rd Ste 1000, Raleigh, NC 27609. Smart Auto Move has moved vehicles for over ten years under USDOT 2887232 and MC 969368.
Open, enclosed and expedited Los Angeles auto transport
Open transport
The basis for every estimate on this page and the right choice for most cars, SUVs and pickup trucks. Best value on any lane, and the widest carrier availability out of Southern California.
Enclosed transport
Full protection from road debris and weather for classic, collector, exotic, restored, luxury and low-clearance vehicles. Los Angeles has real demand for this, so enclosed capacity books further ahead than open. Priced individually.
Expedited pickup
Narrows the pickup window when priority scheduling is available. Transit days stay the same, since federal driving-hour limits do not move.
How does Los Angeles car shipping work, step by step?
1. Request your quote
Enter your pickup and delivery ZIP codes, vehicle details, first available date and preferred service, or call and we will do it with you.
2. Confirm the shipment
Review route, transport type, timing, access and your confirmed price before anything is booked.
3. Plan the pickup point
We confirm whether a carrier can reach your street or whether a nearby meet-point makes more sense, before the day rather than on it.
4. Carrier pickup
The assigned carrier documents vehicle condition on a Bill of Lading and loads at your address or the agreed meet-point.
5. Delivery coordination
The driver contacts you as the truck approaches and confirms a safe, legal delivery point.
6. Final inspection
Compare the vehicle against the pickup condition report and note anything before signing the handoff.
What our customers say
More than 120 Google reviews across our offices, averaging 4.7. Our Los Angeles office holds 4.8 out of 5 across 34 of them.
Crystal Evans was very helpful.
Los Angeles car shipping FAQs
How much does it cost to ship a car to or from Los Angeles?
Shipping a mid-size vehicle to or from Los Angeles on an open carrier costs $900 to $1,950 as of August 2026. West Coast runs to Puget Sound start near $900, Texas and Southwest routes land between $1,250 and $1,350, and cross-country lanes to Florida run $1,500 to $1,950. Los Angeles to Houston is $1,300 and Chicago to Los Angeles is $1,300.
How long does Los Angeles car shipping take?
Transit takes 3 to 8 days after pickup, depending on distance. Lakewood to Los Angeles is about 3 days, Los Angeles to Houston about 4, Chicago to Los Angeles about 5, and Los Angeles to Kissimmee about 6. San Francisco to Miami, the longest lane we publish from California, runs about 8 days.
How much is it to ship a car from Los Angeles to Texas?
Los Angeles to Houston is $1,300 for a mid-size vehicle on an open carrier, taking about 4 days over roughly 1,566 miles. Los Angeles to San Antonio is $1,250 over 1,350 miles. The reverse direction prices the same: Houston to Los Angeles is also $1,300, because vehicles move both ways on that corridor in similar volume.
What does a shorter run inside California cost?
Shorter California, Nevada and Arizona lanes price below the lowest band published on this page, but they move with local demand week to week. Rather than publish a figure that would be wrong for most bookings, we quote those routes live through the calculator or over the phone. Call 213-766-0064 and we will price it with you.
Why do two destinations the same distance away cost different amounts?
Because what sets the rate is whether there is a load waiting at the delivery point. A driver dropping into a busy two-way market picks up a return vehicle on the same trip, so the lane prices at the average. A quieter destination means empty miles before the next load, and that shows up in the price. Distance matters, but two-way demand matters more.
Can a transport truck reach my street in Los Angeles?
Often yes, and where it cannot we come to you a different way. Burbank, Glendale, Pasadena and most of the San Fernando Valley take a full-size carrier without difficulty. On hillside streets in Silver Lake, Echo Park or the Hollywood Hills, and on permit blocks in Koreatown, Venice or Downtown, we arrange a meet-point minutes away at no extra cost.
Does Smart Auto Move have an office in Los Angeles?
Yes. Smart Auto Move Inc has an office at 5111 Harold Way Suite 301, Los Angeles, California 90027, with a local line on 213-766-0064. It is a logistics office where dispatchers schedule carriers and update customers, and visits are by appointment. Pacific hours are Monday to Thursday 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM, Friday 6:00 AM to 3:00 PM and Saturday 7:00 AM to 1:00 PM.
Is my vehicle insured while it is being shipped?
Yes. Your car never sits anywhere. It goes from your address straight onto the carrier and stays covered under Carrier Cargo Insurance for the entire trip. There is no terminal, no holding lot and no gap in coverage between pickup and delivery, and you can verify any carrier's active authority and insurance through the FMCSA SAFER system before your vehicle is loaded.
Do you offer enclosed transport in Los Angeles?
Yes. Enclosed transport is common on Southern California lanes for luxury, exotic, classic, collector and low-clearance vehicles. Enclosed trailers carry fewer vehicles and are in shorter supply, so the premium varies by vehicle value, route and season and we price it individually rather than publishing a figure that would be wrong for most vehicles.
Can you pick up from a Los Angeles dealership or auction?
Yes. Dealership, auction and online-purchase pickups are routine work for this office, and Los Angeles is one of the largest auction markets in the country. Provide the lot address, gate hours and any buyer or lot numbers when you book, and we will confirm release requirements before scheduling the carrier.
Can you ship an inoperable or non-running vehicle?
Yes, when the assigned carrier has a winch or the equipment needed to load it. Inoperable vehicles are priced separately from the open transport estimates on this page. Enter the vehicle's true condition when you request a quote, because a vehicle listed as running that will not roll, steer or brake at pickup will need to be re-rated at the curb.
How can I get a lower price on my Los Angeles shipment?
Give the widest pickup window you can. A driver filling the last space on a trailer will often take a nearby vehicle rather than travel further to reach another, and a three-day window gives us far more chances to catch one of those. Los Angeles is a strong origin market, so flexible dates pay off here as much as anywhere.
Do I need to be present at pickup and delivery?
Someone must be present to release and receive the vehicle and sign the Bill of Lading condition report, but it does not have to be you. You may designate any responsible adult over 18. A spouse, family member, neighbor, coworker or dealership representative can hand over and accept the vehicle on your behalf. Give us their name and number when you book.
Will Smart Auto Move call or text me after I ask for a quote?
No. We do not call or text quote-form leads. Your quote comes back to you and the next move is yours. If you would rather talk it through, call the Los Angeles office on 213-766-0064 or the national line on 888-709-9078 and we will quote you over the phone.
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View California PageReady to ship a car to or from Los Angeles?
Start with your pickup and delivery ZIP codes, vehicle details and preferred date, or call the Los Angeles office and we will quote you over the phone.