State-to-state route
California to New York car shipping
In October 2026, an open-carrier sedan from California to New York typically costs $1,395–$1,885 depending on the metro pair, from San Diego to Buffalo up to Los Angeles to Long Island. The reference haul, Los Angeles to New York City, is $1,500–$1,865 over 2,885 miles and 7 to 10 days in transit, with Bay Area cars crossing Donner Pass on I-80 and Southern California cars mostly taking I-40. Source: HaulFare price model, October 2026 edition.
Updated October 2026
$1,395–$1,885
Open carrier, sedan, across 12 metro pairs, October 2026
2,885 mi
Los Angeles to New York City
1–5 days
pickup window
7–10 days
in transit
How much does it cost to ship a car from California to New York?
2,885 miles hub to hub · October 2026 · estimates for door-to-door service, carrier pay and broker fee included.
| Vehicle | Open carrier | Enclosed |
|---|---|---|
| Sedan | $1,500–$1,865 | $2,130–$2,650 |
| Small SUV / crossover | $1,620–$2,015 | $2,300–$2,860 |
| Full-size SUV | $1,800–$2,240 | $2,550–$3,175 |
| Pickup truck | $1,825–$2,275 | $2,595–$3,230 |
HaulFare price model 2026.09-seed, October 2026. Ranges, not quotes; the licensed transport partner confirms the actual price.
City pairs on this route
| City pair | Miles | Open carrier | Enclosed |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego → Buffalo | 2,576 | $1,395–$1,735 | $1,985–$2,470 |
| Los Angeles → Buffalo | 2,588 | $1,400–$1,740 | $1,990–$2,475 |
| Sacramento → Buffalo | 2,627 | $1,415–$1,760 | $2,005–$2,500 |
| San Francisco → Buffalo | 2,708 | $1,440–$1,790 | $2,050–$2,550 |
| San Diego → New York City | 2,864 | $1,495–$1,860 | $2,120–$2,640 |
| San Diego → Albany | 2,881 | $1,500–$1,865 | $2,125–$2,645 |
| Los Angeles → New York City | 2,885 | $1,500–$1,865 | $2,130–$2,650 |
| Los Angeles → Albany | 2,895 | $1,505–$1,870 | $2,135–$2,655 |
| San Diego → Long Island | 2,919 | $1,510–$1,875 | $2,140–$2,665 |
| Sacramento → Albany | 2,934 | $1,510–$1,880 | $2,150–$2,675 |
| Los Angeles → Long Island | 2,939 | $1,515–$1,885 | $2,150–$2,675 |
| Sacramento → New York City | 2,949 | $1,515–$1,885 | $2,155–$2,680 |
Sedan, October 2026. Distances are road estimates between city centres.
When is it cheapest to ship a car from California to New York?
Jan
$1,615
Feb
$1,595
Mar
$1,668
Apr
$1,718
May
$1,768
Jun
$1,835
Jul
$1,848
Aug
$1,798
Sep
$1,718
Oct (October 2026)
$1,683
Nov
$1,645
Dec
$1,668
- October 2026
- Yearly average
Show as a table
| Month | Price (midpoint) |
|---|---|
| Jan | $1,615 |
| Feb | $1,595 |
| Mar | $1,668 |
| Apr | $1,718 |
| May | $1,768 |
| Jun | $1,835 |
| Jul | $1,848 |
| Aug | $1,798 |
| Sep | $1,718 |
| Oct | $1,683 |
| Nov | $1,645 |
| Dec | $1,668 |
Sedan, open carrier, midpoint of the range; columns rise above or fall below the lane's yearly average. Includes the national seasonal index and snowbird direction adjustment for this lane.
Route notes
By HaulFare Research Team. Car shipping price research. Updated Oct 1, 2026
The corridor
The pickup city decides the route east. Los Angeles and Inland Empire cars usually climb Cajon Pass on I-15 to Barstow, then follow I-40 through Flagstaff, Albuquerque and Oklahoma City before turning northeast on I-44 and I-70, or on I-81 through Virginia. Bay Area and Sacramento cars take I-80 over Donner Pass through Reno, Salt Lake City, Cheyenne, Omaha and Chicago. I-80 ends in Teaneck, New Jersey, near the George Washington Bridge.
A coast-to-coast trailer seldom holds only New York cars. Dispatchers add vehicles for Denver, Chicago or Ohio, and city cars come off last. Trucks with upstate cars often follow I-90 along Lake Erie to Buffalo and the Thruway east to Albany.
California has lost more residents to other states than it has gained for several years, so eastbound space fills without discounts. The return trip matters more, since a truck that empties near New York between October and December can reload with snowbird cars bound for Florida. Carriers therefore take late-fall New York deliveries more readily than spring ones.
Timing and season
On this eastbound run, February quotes are typically the lowest of the year and July quotes the highest. Few households cross the country in midwinter, while July brings summer relocations and graduates starting jobs in Manhattan.
Winter is the main weather risk. Chain controls on Donner Pass can stall I-80 for hours, and high winds with blowing snow often close I-80 in Wyoming between Laramie and Rawlins. Before a storm, a carrier may reroute a Bay Area car south to I-40, adding miles and a day. Summer heat between Barstow and Needles is hard on tires, and lake-effect snow off Lake Erie can shut stretches of the Thruway near Buffalo.
Pickup and delivery in California and New York
Expect the driver within 1 to 5 days of your first available date. Hillside streets in the Hollywood Hills and Silver Lake leave no room for a 75-foot hauler to turn, and HOAs in Irvine and Valencia often bar big trucks, so the fallback is a retail lot near a freeway ramp. Sacramento suburbs and the San Fernando Valley usually allow curbside loading. Leave about a quarter tank, or enough battery for an electric car to drive on and off the trailer.
New York City keeps large trucks on designated truck routes, so a hauler rarely reaches a residential block in Brooklyn, Queens or the Bronx. Plan to meet at a lot along an expressway or in New Jersey, and line up a garage space before arrival. Buffalo, Rochester and Albany deliveries are simpler, with lots close to Thruway exits.
What moves the price on this lane
In October 2026 an open-carrier sedan from Los Angeles to New York City typically costs $1,500 to $1,865. An SUV typically falls at $1,800 to $2,240, a pickup at $1,825 to $2,275, and an enclosed sedan at $2,130 to $2,650. Upstate delivery typically costs less: Los Angeles to Buffalo covers 2,588 miles at $1,400 to $1,740.
Battery weight is one lane-specific driver. Electric cars are common in California, and a trailer running near the federal 80,000-pound limit fits fewer of them, so heavy EVs tend to price near the top of each range. Hudson River crossings charge a multi-axle truck steep tolls, so a borough address can cost more than a New Jersey meeting point. A winch adds $150 in our model, and a far North Coast pickup can add up to $175.
HaulFare is a price guide and referral service, not a broker: a coast-to-coast request from this page goes to one licensed auto transport broker, who confirms the price and the carrier. Ask that broker for the carrier’s MC number before any deposit, and check its authority and cargo insurance certificate on FMCSA before pickup.
Lane facts
- Southern California cars usually take I-15 over Cajon Pass to Barstow and then I-40 through Flagstaff, Albuquerque, Amarillo and Oklahoma City, while Bay Area and Sacramento cars ride I-80 through Reno, Salt Lake City, Cheyenne, Omaha and Chicago.
- Eastbound trailers fill in the Los Angeles basin, the Bay Area and Sacramento, drop Denver, Chicago and Ohio cars along the way, and finish in northern New Jersey, the five boroughs, Long Island or along the I-90 Thruway.
- Eastbound quotes typically bottom out in February, when snow on the northern passes and a slow moving season leave open slots, and peak in July, when summer relocations and new jobs in New York fill trailers.
- Federal rules cap a truck at 80,000 pounds gross weight on the interstates, so a trailer loaded with heavy electric SUVs from California may carry fewer cars, which pushes those quotes higher.
Related routes
Sources
- Caltrans: Winter driving tips and chain controls, dot.ca.gov
- New York DMV: Register an out-of-state vehicle (30 days, 10-day inspection sticker), dmv.ny.gov
- Federal Highway Administration: Commercial vehicle size and weight program (80,000-pound Interstate limit), ops.fhwa.dot.gov
- How much it costs to ship a car: the HaulFare price model, haulfare.com
California to New York FAQ
How much does it cost to ship a car from California to New York?
In October 2026 an open-carrier sedan from Los Angeles to New York City typically costs $1,500 to $1,865. An SUV typically runs $1,800 to $2,240, a pickup $1,825 to $2,275, and an enclosed sedan $2,130 to $2,650. San Diego to New York City is 2,864 miles and typically $1,495 to $1,860.
How long does it take to ship a car from California to New York?
After loading, most cars spend 7 to 10 days covering the 2,885 miles from Los Angeles to New York City. Add the 1 to 5 day pickup window, and the full span from your first available date to delivery is typically 8 to 15 days. A winter storm on I-80 in the Sierra or Wyoming can add a day or two.
What is the cheapest month to ship a car from California to New York?
February is typically the cheapest month for this eastbound move, and July is typically the most expensive. Midwinter brings few cross-country relocations, so trucks leave California with open slots, while summer job moves and family relocations fill trailers in July. Shoulder months in spring and fall usually price between those two extremes.
Can a car carrier pick up at my home in Los Angeles or the Bay Area?
Often, if the street is wide and flat enough for a 75-foot rig. Steep lanes in the Hollywood Hills, Silver Lake and the Oakland hills cannot take a loaded hauler, and many Irvine and Valencia HOAs keep big trucks out, so the driver may meet you at a large retail lot near the freeway. Mention hills, gates and parking rules when you book.
What does New York require after my car arrives from California?
New York expects new residents to register a car within 30 days, and the DMV wants proof of New York insurance along with the California title. After registration, the car needs a New York State inspection within 10 days. The carrier only moves the vehicle, so the title and registration steps stay with you.
