San Diego to Chicago car shipping is $1,300 for a mid-size car on an open trailer, covering 2,080 miles in about 5 days. The same rate applies coming back from Chicago. Bigger vehicles, a single fixed pickup day, or a tight address at either end will push it higher. Enclosed trailers, non-running cars and oversized trucks are priced per vehicle.

About 5 days on the road once your car is collected, covering 2,080 miles. Pickup happens inside the date range you give us, so plan on a few extra days from booking to delivery. Federal hours-of-service rules limit how long a driver can be behind the wheel each day, which sets a practical floor on transit for a trip this length.

Carriers head out through the Inland Empire, pick up I-40 near Barstow and run east through Flagstaff, Albuquerque and Amarillo, then turn north for St. Louis and up I-55 into Chicago. It is the warm-weather way east, which matters more than it sounds in winter.

The southern route is the reliable one in winter. I-40 sits low and dry across Arizona and New Mexico, so while the northern lanes are dealing with Donner Pass and Wyoming wind closures, this one usually runs to schedule year-round.

Most of the county loads at the curb without trouble — Chula Vista, Carlsbad, Escondido and the coastal suburbs are modern and built wide. The Gaslamp Quarter's Victorian blocks downtown are the exception, along with the older streets around Balboa Park, so we normally meet a short distance away there.

Usually, yes. The suburbs are straightforward — Naperville is 30 miles out and a full carrier reaches most driveways there. It gets harder in the Loop, and on the narrow one-way blocks of Lincoln Park, Wicker Park and Old Town, where there is little turning room. In those cases we meet you at a nearby wider street or lot, at no extra charge. Scheduling also works around traffic on the Kennedy, Dan Ryan, Eisenhower and Stevenson.

No. 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. Our offices are where dispatchers book your transport and call you with updates, not storage yards. Fewer people handle your vehicle and there is no gap in coverage between pickup and delivery.

Open is what most cars travel on and what the price on this page is based on. It is the same kind of trailer that delivers new cars to dealerships. Enclosed puts your car inside, away from road spray and debris, and is usually chosen for luxury, classic, exotic or freshly painted cars. We price enclosed per vehicle rather than publishing a figure, because the difference varies by car and season.

Yes, as long as the carrier has a winch or the right equipment. Non-running cars are priced separately from the rate on this page. Tell us the true condition when you ask for a quote and the right truck turns up first time, with your price unchanged.

No. Asking for a San Diego to Chicago car shipping quote does not put you on a call list. We only use what you give us to answer you directly, and we never sell it to anyone. You are welcome to call us, though, on 213-766-0064 in California or 312-300-7773 in Chicago.