State-to-state route
California to Washington car shipping
In October 2026, an open-carrier sedan from California to Washington typically costs $750–$1,265 by metro pair, from Sacramento to Tacoma at the short end to San Diego to Seattle at the long end. The Los Angeles to Seattle reference drive is $965–$1,200 over 1,134 miles with 3–5 days on the road, nearly all of it on I-5 and over the Siskiyou Summit near the Oregon line. Source: HaulFare price model, October 2026 edition.
Updated October 2026
$750–$1,265
Open carrier, sedan, across 12 metro pairs, October 2026
1,134 mi
Los Angeles to Seattle
1–5 days
pickup window
3–5 days
in transit
How much does it cost to ship a car from California to Washington?
1,134 miles hub to hub · October 2026 · estimates for door-to-door service, carrier pay and broker fee included.
| Vehicle | Open carrier | Enclosed |
|---|---|---|
| Sedan | $965–$1,200 | $1,370–$1,700 |
| Small SUV / crossover | $1,040–$1,295 | $1,480–$1,840 |
| Full-size SUV | $1,155–$1,440 | $1,645–$2,045 |
| Pickup truck | $1,175–$1,460 | $1,670–$2,080 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sacramento → Tacoma | 709 | $750–$935 | $1,065–$1,325 |
| Sacramento → Seattle | 738 | $760–$945 | $1,080–$1,345 |
| San Francisco → Tacoma | 773 | $785–$975 | $1,105–$1,380 |
| Sacramento → Spokane | 778 | $785–$975 | $1,110–$1,385 |
| San Francisco → Seattle | 802 | $795–$990 | $1,135–$1,410 |
| San Francisco → Spokane | 859 | $830–$1,030 | $1,180–$1,465 |
| Los Angeles → Tacoma | 1,107 | $950–$1,180 | $1,350–$1,680 |
| Los Angeles → Spokane | 1,111 | $955–$1,185 | $1,355–$1,685 |
| Los Angeles → Seattle | 1,134 | $965–$1,200 | $1,370–$1,700 |
| San Diego → Spokane | 1,218 | $1,005–$1,250 | $1,420–$1,770 |
| San Diego → Tacoma | 1,229 | $1,010–$1,255 | $1,430–$1,780 |
| San Diego → Seattle | 1,255 | $1,015–$1,265 | $1,445–$1,800 |
Sedan, October 2026. Distances are road estimates between city centres.
When is it cheapest to ship a car from California to Washington?
Jan
$1,040
Feb
$1,030
Mar
$1,070
Apr
$1,105
May
$1,138
Jun
$1,183
Jul
$1,190
Aug
$1,155
Sep
$1,105
Oct (October 2026)
$1,083
Nov
$1,060
Dec
$1,070
- October 2026
- Yearly average
Show as a table
| Month | Price (midpoint) |
|---|---|
| Jan | $1,040 |
| Feb | $1,030 |
| Mar | $1,070 |
| Apr | $1,105 |
| May | $1,138 |
| Jun | $1,183 |
| Jul | $1,190 |
| Aug | $1,155 |
| Sep | $1,105 |
| Oct | $1,083 |
| Nov | $1,060 |
| Dec | $1,070 |
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
Almost every load on this lane rides I-5, the one interstate that ties the two states together. From the Los Angeles basin, trucks climb the Grapevine over Tejon Pass and roll up the west side of the San Joaquin Valley. Sacramento is where many drivers top off a trailer with Bay Area cars before pushing north past Redding and over the Siskiyou Summit. After Medford, Eugene and Portland, the Interstate Bridge carries the truck across the Columbia River to Vancouver, Washington, a short run from Tacoma and Seattle. Spokane-bound cars often leave I-5 at Portland for I-84 through the Columbia River Gorge.
Direction shapes the price. California sends far more cars out than the Pacific Northwest does, so northbound trailers fill quickly. The squeeze comes on the way back, because a driver unloading in Kent or Tacoma wants a southbound load before the long trip home, and part of that empty-mile risk ends up in northbound quotes.
Timing and season
February is typically the cheapest month to ship north on this lane. July is typically the priciest, when summer moves and military transfers to Joint Base Lewis-McChord compete for trailer space. With no snowbird traffic, fall and spring stay calm.
The cheap February rate has a catch. Snow brings chain controls on the Siskiyou Summit and the grade past Dunsmuir, and the Grapevine can close for hours after a storm, so build in a spare day. Wildfires in Shasta County and southern Oregon have shut I-5 in past summers. Demand usually fades after August, but that fire risk can linger into early fall.
Pickup and delivery in California and Washington
San Francisco is the toughest California pickup here. Steep grades on Russian Hill or Bernal Heights and no room to double-park keep a 75-foot hauler off most residential blocks, so drivers meet owners at a big lot in Emeryville or San Leandro. Sacramento suburbs like Elk Grove and Roseville have wider streets, though HOA rules still apply. A pickup far from I-5, such as in the Sierra foothills, can add up to $175.
The pickup window usually runs 1 to 5 days from your first available date. Have the keys and registration ready, leave about a quarter tank, clear out personal items, and note every ding on the bill of lading.
In Seattle, the hills of Queen Anne and Capitol Hill make curbside drop-offs hard, so drivers often meet near Southcenter in Tukwila. Many avoid the tolled SR 520 bridge, which sends Bellevue deliveries up I-405. Island addresses on Bainbridge or Vashon usually mean meeting the truck on the mainland, since carriers rarely take a loaded hauler onto a state ferry.
What moves the price on this lane
In October 2026, an open-carrier sedan from Los Angeles to Seattle typically runs $965 to $1,200. An SUV typically runs $1,155 to $1,440 and a pickup $1,175 to $1,460, while enclosed sedan transport runs $1,370 to $1,700. Starting in Northern California lowers the bill: Sacramento to Tacoma typically runs $750 to $935, and San Francisco to Seattle $795 to $990. Eastern Washington costs more for the extra miles, with San Francisco to Spokane at $830 to $1,030.
July rates sit near the top of each range, and a snowy Siskiyou week can thin out trucks. A non-running car has to be winched on and off, for an extra $150 in our model. HaulFare is a price guide that owns no trucks and books no loads, and requests for the Pacific Northwest go to one licensed auto transport broker. Before handing over a deposit, find out which carrier accepted your car and look up its authority and cargo insurance on FMCSA.
Lane facts
- Carriers run I-5 north from Los Angeles over the Grapevine, up the Central Valley past Sacramento and Redding, then through Portland and across the Columbia into the Seattle-Tacoma area.
- Loads build in the Los Angeles basin, the Bay Area and Sacramento, pass through Portland, and break down in Seattle, Tacoma, the Kent Valley and Spokane.
- Northbound demand peaks in July with summer relocations, while February is typically the cheapest month, even though Siskiyou Pass snow can slow winter trucks.
- A Sacramento pickup trims the run to about 738 miles to Seattle, and Spokane-bound cars often leave I-5 at Portland for I-84 along the Columbia River Gorge.
Related routes
Sources
- Caltrans: Winter driving tips and chain controls, dot.ca.gov
- Washington State Department of Transportation: SR 520 Bridge tolling, wsdot.wa.gov
- Washington State Department of Ecology: Emission check program ended in 2020, ecology.wa.gov
- Car shipping cost by distance, vehicle and month (HaulFare price model), haulfare.com
California to Washington FAQ
How much does it cost to ship a car from California to Washington?
For the Los Angeles to Seattle run, an open-carrier sedan typically costs $965 to $1,200 in October 2026. SUVs typically run $1,155 to $1,440, pickups $1,175 to $1,460, and an enclosed sedan $1,370 to $1,700. These are typical ranges rather than a fixed price, so ask the broker you are referred to for the actual Seattle figure before booking.
How long does it take to ship a car from California to Seattle?
Most cars spend 3 to 5 days on I-5 once loaded for the 1,134-mile trip from Los Angeles. Before that, allow a 1 to 5 day pickup window while the driver fills the trailer. Bay Area and Sacramento cars usually land at the short end, since they start about 400 miles farther north.
What is the best month to ship a car from California to Washington?
February is typically the cheapest month on this northbound lane, and July is typically the most expensive. The February savings come with winter risk, since chain controls on the Siskiyou Summit and near Mount Shasta can add a day or two. Late spring and early fall are a fair middle ground.
Can a carrier pick up my car at my home in San Francisco or Los Angeles?
Sometimes. San Francisco hills, tight corners and double-parking rules keep most 75-foot haulers off residential blocks, so owners often meet the driver at a large lot near I-80 in Emeryville or I-880 in Oakland. In Los Angeles, a lot near an I-5 on-ramp saves the driver time before the Grapevine climb.
Do I need to register my car in Washington after moving from California?
Yes. Washington expects new residents to register their vehicles within 30 days at a county or subagent vehicle licensing office. The state ended its emissions testing program in 2020, so there is no smog check to schedule. Bring your California title, or your lienholder contact if the car is financed.
