Las Vegas to Los Angeles car shipping with Smart Auto Move

Las Vegas to Los Angeles Car Shipping

Smart Price Promise — the price you agree to is the price you pay. How it works

Get a Las Vegas to Los Angeles Car Shipping Quote

Destination
  1. 1Destination
  2. 2Date
  3. 3Vehicle

Your details stay with Smart Auto Move. We do not sell your information.

Las Vegas to Los Angeles Car Shipping & Auto Transport Updated October 2026

Written by Richard Avery, President of Smart Auto Move  ·  USDOT 2887232  ·  MC 969368

The cost to ship a car from Las Vegas to Los Angeles is typically $450 to $900 on an open trailer, and takes 1 day in transit time. The trip is about 270 miles straight down I-15, and our closest staffed office is in Los Angeles.

$450 to $900Open trailer, mid-size car
1 dayDays on the road
About 270 milesI-15
Straight down I-15About 270 miles
Smart Price Promise 16,000+ vetted carriers Door to door Carrier Cargo Insurance Open & enclosed BBB A+ accredited

Smart Auto Move provides nationwide car shipping throughout the lower 48 states, backed by four strategically located staffed offices, six additional service areas, and a trusted carrier network of more than 16,000 transport professionals nationwide. Our extensive network allows us to serve customers across the continental U.S. with reliable vehicle transport from coast to coast.

Service is not currently available in Alaska, Hawaii, or Puerto Rico.

Las Vegas to Los Angeles Car Shipping Prices

Every row is a running mid-size car on an open trailer. Plan on about 80 percent more for enclosed. Your quote gives the exact figure for your dates.

RouteAlso coversDistanceDays on the roadOpen transport
LAS VEGAS TO SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Las Vegas to RiversideSan Bernardino, OntarioAbout 230 miles1 day$450 to $900
Las Vegas to Los Angeles THIS ROUTEPasadena, Glendale, BurbankAbout 270 miles1 day$450 to $900
Las Vegas to Orange CountyIrvine, AnaheimAbout 270 miles1 day$450 to $900
Las Vegas to Long BeachTorrance, CarsonAbout 285 miles1 day$450 to $900
Las Vegas to San DiegoChula Vista, OceansideAbout 330 miles1 day$450 to $900

Where these figures come from. This route uses our national range for trips under 500 miles, $450 to $900. Your quote gives the exact figure for your dates.

One price for the LA area

Los Angeles, Orange County, Long Beach and the Inland Empire share the same range.

Henderson ships the same

Henderson, North Las Vegas and Summerlin cost the same as Las Vegas.

Enclosed

Plan on about 80 percent more than open.

Should you ship or drive from Las Vegas to Los Angeles?

Often driving is simpler. It is about four or five hours on I-15, without traffic. Shipping makes sense in a few cases.

Two cars, one driver

Drive one and ship the other, and you skip a second trip across the desert.

The car does not run

A winch carrier picks it up and drops it off. Tell us when you book.

Summer heat and weekend traffic

I-15 is hot in summer and slow on Sunday afternoons. Shipping skips both.

Las Vegas to Los Angeles Car Shipping Questions

The questions we get asked most on this route, answered plainly.

How much does it cost to ship a car from Las Vegas to Los Angeles?

The cost to ship a car from Las Vegas to Los Angeles is typically $450 to $900 on an open trailer, and takes 1 day in transit time. The trip is about 270 miles straight down I-15, and our closest staffed office is in Los Angeles. Your quote gives the real figure for your dates.

What sets the price of Las Vegas to Los Angeles car shipping?

Distance comes first. Then the size of the vehicle, whether it runs, open or enclosed, the time of year, and how easily a truck can reach both addresses. A wider pickup window helps the most, because it gives us more trucks to fit your car onto.

How long does it take to ship a car from Las Vegas to Los Angeles?

Most Las Vegas to Los Angeles moves take 1 day on the road. The trip is about 270 miles, mostly on I-15. Pickup comes first, inside a window that starts on your date.

How soon will a truck pick up my car in Las Vegas?

Pickup happens inside a window that starts on the date you ask for. Standard service is a 6-day window. Expedited service is a 3-day window.

Is it worth shipping a car from Las Vegas to Los Angeles?

Often driving is simpler. Shipping makes sense with two cars and one driver, a car that does not run, or when you would rather skip the desert drive.

Can a carrier reach my Los Angeles street?

Often yes. Hillside streets and apartment buildings may mean a nearby lot instead, at no extra cost.

Does Orange County cost the same as Los Angeles?

Yes. Los Angeles, Orange County, Long Beach and the Inland Empire share the same range from Las Vegas.

Should I ship or drive from Las Vegas to Los Angeles?

Drive it if you want the car with you and have the days to spare. At about 270 miles, that is about four or five hours behind the wheel plus motels, meals and fuel. Ship it when you would rather fly, when you have two cars and one driver, or when the car does not run.

Should I pick open or enclosed transport?

Open is the right call for most cars. Plan on about 80 percent more than open for enclosed. A $1,000 open move is roughly $1,800 enclosed. A hard-sided trailer holds two to six cars where an open one holds ten, so each car carries more of the cost. Worth it for a classic, an exotic, fresh paint, or a car too low to clear a ramp. For a daily driver, open is the right call.

Is my car insured while it ships?

Yes. Your car is covered by the carrier's Carrier Cargo Insurance from pickup to delivery. Once your order is assigned to a truck and carrier, we can send you the certificate of insurance right away.

Who is going to ship my car?

Smart Auto Move is. We place your car with a carrier we have vetted and worked with, and we stay with the move from pickup to delivery. We will get your car moved, or your money back.

Can I leave personal items in the car?

Usually yes, within reason. Most drivers will take a few things as a courtesy. Keep it under about 100 pounds, pack it neatly, and keep it out of sight from outside the car. Think a few boxes in the trunk rather than a carload. The one thing to know is that you are paying to move the vehicle, so the carrier's insurance covers the car itself. Keep anything you would hate to lose with you.

How do I get my car ready to ship?

Wash it so the inspection is clear. Take photos from every side. Leave about a quarter tank of fuel. Take out toll tags, garage openers and loose valuables. Tell us about any leaks or problems with starting. Then hand over one key.

How far ahead should I book Las Vegas to Los Angeles car shipping?

One to two weeks is enough for most moves. Give a little more in the busy summer season. Booking earlier does not cost more. It gives us more trucks to choose from.

How does payment work?

We take a deposit when you book and the balance is due at delivery. Drivers usually take a cashier's check, money order or cash. You can also put the full amount on a credit card, but only at the time of booking, so the funds are ready for the carrier.

Can I cancel if my plans change?

Cancel any time before we assign a carrier and your deposit comes back to you. Once we assign one and send you the driver's details, that money is spoken for. It is not gone, though. You can push the move back and use it on a later shipment.

How do I know a car shipping company is legitimate?

Check its USDOT and MC numbers on the FMCSA site, and read its reviews on the BBB and Google. Smart Auto Move is USDOT 2887232 and MC 969368, with a BBB A+ rating. Be careful of a quote far below the others. Ask that company if the rate is confirmed, then look for complaints about the price going up later.

Why do you take a deposit?

A deposit means we only work with committed customers, and it shows we are confident we can book a carrier at the price we quoted. A company that takes nothing up front is often not sure it can. Those are often the ones that come back later with a higher rate.

What do I need to register a car in California?

You have 20 days to avoid late fees. Most cars need a California smog certificate, and a DMV employee inspects the VIN. Bring your old title, registration and proof of insurance.

Do you have an office near Las Vegas or Los Angeles?

Yes. Our closest staffed office is in Los Angeles at 5111 Harold Way Suite 301, at the delivery end. Your car goes straight from your address onto the carrier.

Can you ship a car that does not run?

Yes. A non-running car needs a winch or a carrier with a lift, so it usually costs $200 or more above the same car running. Tell us when you book. We will talk it through and give you an accurate price.

Can I track my car while it ships?

You get the driver's phone number for calls or texts, plus email updates from us. GPS tracking is there when the carrier and the truck support it. We will tell you which applies once your carrier is assigned.

What happens on delivery day?

The driver calls ahead with a time. You walk around the car together and compare it with the pickup report. You note anything new on the Bill of Lading, sign, and pay the balance. Then the car is yours.

Delivering a car in Los Angeles?

Plan the meeting spot ahead in the tighter neighborhoods.

Hillside streets

Silver Lake, Echo Park and the canyons have narrow, winding streets. We often meet at a nearby lot.

Apartment buildings

Building garages rarely fit a carrier. A wide street or store lot nearby works well.

The suburbs are easier

Much of the Valley, Orange County and the Inland Empire is easy door to door.

Where can you pick up in Las Vegas and deliver in Los Angeles?

Door to door at both ends, wherever a 75-foot carrier can safely reach.

Pickup around Las Vegas

Las Vegas, Henderson, North Las Vegas, Summerlin and Boulder City. Gated communities may mean a meeting spot near the entrance.

Delivery around Los Angeles

Los Angeles, Orange County, Long Beach, Pasadena, the Valley and the Inland Empire.

Tight streets

If either street is too tight for a 75-foot carrier, we meet at a nearby lot. It costs nothing extra.

Smart Auto Move Inc
Our closest staffed office for southern Nevada is in Los Angeles: 5111 Harold Way Suite 301, Los Angeles, CA 90027  ·  213-766-0064
Mon to Thu 6 am to 6 pm, Fri 6 am to 3 pm, Sat 7 am to 1 pm (Pacific)
National line 888-709-9078
Registered business address: 4208 Six Forks Rd Ste 1000, Raleigh, NC 27609.

Your car is never stored anywhere. It goes from your address straight onto the carrier and stays covered under Carrier Cargo Insurance for the whole trip.

What do you need to register a car in California after it ships?

California asks for a few things from a car new to the state.

20 days

New residents have 20 days to register a vehicle in California to avoid late fees.

A smog certificate

Most cars need a valid California smog certificate to register.

A VIN check at the DMV

A DMV employee inspects the VIN. Bring your old title, registration and proof of insurance.

Rules change from time to time, so check the California DMV site before your visit.

How Las Vegas to Los Angeles Car Shipping Works, Step by Step

Get your price

Give us both ZIP codes, the year, make and model, whether it runs, your first date, and open or enclosed. The Smart Price Promise holds the quote.

Book with a deposit

We take a deposit and start placing your car with a vetted carrier. Pickup runs inside a 6-day window from your date, or 3 days with expedited.

Meet the driver

You get the driver's details once a carrier is assigned. The driver calls ahead. You walk around the car together and sign the pickup report.

Take delivery

The driver calls ahead again. Check the car against the pickup report, sign, and pay the balance.

Open, Enclosed and Expedited Las Vegas to Los Angeles Auto Transport

Open transport

The way most cars ship. A daily driver, an SUV or a pickup rides on an open carrier with up to ten vehicles. It is the right call for most Las Vegas to Los Angeles moves.

Enclosed transport

Plan on about 80 percent more than open. Worth it for a classic, an exotic, fresh paint or a car too low to clear a ramp.

Expedited transport

Pickup inside a 3-day window instead of 6. Good when you have a start date, a closing date, or orders to report.

Should you ship your car or drive it from Las Vegas to Los Angeles?

Drive it when

You want the car with you, you have about four or five hours to spare, and you do not mind the motels, meals and fuel along the way.

Ship it when

You would rather fly, you have two cars and one driver, the car does not run, or you need it to arrive while you handle the move.

Top 5 Reasons to ship your vehicle from Las Vegas to Los Angeles instead of driving

  1. Skip the hard driving days. Long trips across several states bring weather, traffic and roads you do not know. Hand those miles to a driver who runs them every week.
  2. Rentals add up fast. A rental while you are away costs real money, comes with rules, and never feels like your own car.
  3. Get there sooner. Driving coast to coast eats days. Fly, land, and meet your car at the other end.
  4. Keep your travel money. Gas, motels, meals, tolls and the odd repair add up to more than most people expect.
  5. Enjoy the trip you planned. Storms, closures and a check-engine light can turn a drive into a three-day delay.

What our customers say

Written by Richard Avery

President, Smart Auto Move Inc

Richard Avery founded Smart Auto Move because too many auto transport companies were treating customers badly. There was no easy way to tell an honest company from the rest. He has worked in vehicle transport for over a decade, and writes about routes, pricing and carrier coordination. The figures on this page are our national ranges for a trip of this distance.

Figures reviewed
October 2026

Ready to ship a car from Las Vegas to Los Angeles?

Start with both ZIP codes, the vehicle details and your first available date. We will give you the real figure for your route and hold it with the Smart Price Promise.