The cost to ship a car from Seattle to San Diego is typically $1,000 to $1,300 on an open trailer, and takes between three to five days in transit time. That is for a mid-size car in running order. Tacoma, Lakewood, Everett and Olympia price the same. Vancouver, Washington starts a little lower, and Bellingham a little higher.

Plan on three to five days on the road for about 1,255 miles. Before that comes your pickup window, which is six days on Standard or three on Expedited. It starts on the first date you choose.

Yes. Every Puget Sound town on the I-5 line shares the $1,000 to $1,300 range, from Everett down to Olympia. They sit within an hour of each other on the same road, so the truck barely changes course to reach you.

Spokane sits east of the Cascades, far from I-5. A truck headed for San Diego has to go out of its way to reach it, so we price Spokane from live carrier rates when you ask. Call us and we will give you a real number.

Five things: the size of the vehicle, open or enclosed trailer, whether it runs, the time of year and how flexible your dates are. A pickup truck costs more than a sedan. Summer costs more than winter. A wide pickup window costs less than a fixed day.

Give us a wide pickup window. A driver with one open spot will often take a car close to his route over one farther away. A few flexible days give us more chances to catch that truck. Booking two to three weeks ahead helps too.

May through August. That is when military moves, college moves and family moves all happen at once. Book three to four weeks ahead in summer. Late fall and early spring are usually the easiest times to ship.

Open is the right call for most daily drivers, and it is what our prices show. Plan on about 80 percent more for enclosed. A $1,000 open move is roughly $1,800 enclosed. It is worth it for a classic, an exotic, fresh paint or a car too low for a ramp.

Yes. The carrier's Carrier Cargo Insurance covers your car from loading in Washington to delivery in California. Once we assign a truck, we can send you the carrier's certificate of insurance right away.

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.

Wash it so the inspection is easy, and take a few dated photos. Leave about a quarter tank of gas. Take off your Good To Go toll pass and any loose parts like a bike rack. Tell the driver about any alarm or trick to starting it.

Yes, wherever a car hauler can safely stop. The truck is about 75 feet long. On steep Seattle hills or narrow beach streets, the driver meets you a few minutes away in a wide lot. There is no extra charge for that.

Yes. Bremerton, Silverdale and Port Orchard are reached by land over the Tacoma Narrows Bridge. For Bainbridge, Vashon or Whidbey, we usually meet on the mainland side near the ferry, which keeps the trip simple for the driver.

Yes. Coronado is reached by one bridge, and many of its streets are tight for a big truck. The driver meets you at a nearby spot you agree on ahead of time. The price stays the same.

$1,000 to $1,300 on an open trailer, three to five days on the road. That covers Naval Base San Diego, North Island, MCAS Miramar, MCRD San Diego and Camp Pendleton. Our Lakewood office sits right next to JBLM.

Yes, please do that first. Some orders cover shipping a vehicle and some pay you to drive it. Your installation transportation office can tell you what yours cover. Once you know, we can help with the rest.

Yes. Name the person at each end when you book and give us their phone numbers. A spouse, a friend or a sponsor can sign the condition report for you. That helps a lot when a sailor is already at sea.

Two to three weeks ahead works well most of the year. In summer, give it three to four weeks. If your date is close, Expedited cuts the pickup window to three days.

A deposit holds your spot when you book. The rest is paid to the driver at delivery, usually by cashier's check, money order or cash. You can also put the full amount on a credit card at booking.

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.

Look us up. We hold USDOT 2887232 and MC 969368, which you can check on the FMCSA SAFER site. We have an A+ rating with the BBB and have been accredited since 2016. Be careful with any quote far below the rest, and ask that company if it is a confirmed rate.

Yes. It rides on a truck with a winch. Expect $200 or more on top of the running price. The exact figure depends on the car, so call us and we will work it out with you.

Yes. The California DMV gives new residents 20 days to register. Most gas cars from another state need a smog check first. Electric cars are exempt, so they skip that step.

A little, now and then. The one high point is the Siskiyou Summit at the Oregon line, which can get chain controls in a storm. It clears fast. A spare day from December to February covers it.

Yes, in a few ways. You get the driver's phone number to call or text. We send email updates. When the carrier's truck supports GPS, you can follow it that way too.

We do not make sales calls. Your quote comes to you, and you decide what happens next. If you want to talk, call our Lakewood office at 253-200-5645 or our national line at 888-709-9078.

Yes, at both ends of the West Coast. Our staffed Lakewood office is south of Tacoma, and our staffed Los Angeles office is about two hours north of San Diego on I-5.