City-to-city route
Los Angeles, CA to New York, NY car shipping
In October 2026, an open-carrier sedan from Los Angeles to New York City typically costs $1,500–$1,865 for the 2,885-mile trip, with 7 to 10 days in transit once the car is loaded. Eastbound loads are usually built in Ontario and Fontana, where I-10 meets I-15, so an Inland Empire pickup is often easier to schedule than one on the Westside. Source: HaulFare price model, October 2026 edition.
Updated October 2026
$1,500–$1,865
Open carrier, sedan, October 2026
2,885 mi
hub to hub
1–5 days
pickup window
7–10 days
in transit
How much does it cost to ship a car from Los Angeles, CA to New York, NY?
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.
Nearby metro pairs
| City pair | Miles | Open carrier | Enclosed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles → New York | 2,885 | $1,500–$1,865 | $2,130–$2,650 |
| Los Angeles → Buffalo | 2,588 | $1,400–$1,740 | $1,990–$2,475 |
| San Francisco → New York | 3,028 | $1,545–$1,920 | $2,190–$2,725 |
| San Francisco → Buffalo | 2,708 | $1,440–$1,790 | $2,050–$2,550 |
| San Diego → New York | 2,864 | $1,495–$1,860 | $2,120–$2,640 |
| San Diego → Buffalo | 2,576 | $1,395–$1,735 | $1,985–$2,470 |
Sedan, October 2026. Distances are road estimates between city centres.
When is it cheapest to ship a car from Los Angeles, CA to New York, NY?
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
Most eastbound trailers from Los Angeles are built in the Inland Empire, not in the city. Ontario and Fontana sit where I-10 crosses I-15, so carriers top off loads there before climbing Cajon Pass.
From Barstow the truck runs I-40 across the Mojave and the Texas Panhandle to Oklahoma City. Many drivers then take I-44 to St. Louis and I-70 to Breezewood, where the Pennsylvania Turnpike and I-78 lead to the Hudson. Others stay on I-40 to Knoxville and take I-81 north.
The load breaks down at lots near Newark, Elizabeth and Secaucus, and some drivers save city drops for early morning to dodge bridge traffic. A carrier that empties near New York has plenty of freight to reload, so drivers rarely pad this quote for empty miles home. The pressure sits on the Los Angeles side, where steady eastbound demand means a car competes for its slot.
Timing and season
February is typically the cheapest month to send a car from Los Angeles to New York, and July is typically the most expensive, as New York summer lease turnover pulls trailers east at full rates. Snowbird traffic runs on I-95, not this corridor, so it barely touches an eastbound Los Angeles quote.
The cheap February slot carries weather risk. Ice storms and high winds can close I-40 across the Texas Panhandle, and Allegheny snow can slow the Turnpike or I-81 on the last day. July brings heat on the Mojave climbs near Needles and Kingman. From June through November, hurricane remnants can flood low streets in New Jersey and New York City, and a driver may hold a car until the water clears.
Pickup and delivery in Los Angeles and New York
Expect the driver within 1 to 5 days of your first available date. Santa Monica and Venice have narrow streets and permit parking, so pickups there usually happen at a big retail lot near the 405 or I-10. Palos Verdes and Malibu add steep grades, and Pacific Coast Highway has nowhere for a 75-foot hauler to stop. The San Fernando Valley and much of Long Beach usually allow curbside loading. Ask for a pickup outside rush hour, because a truck stuck on the 405 at 5 p.m. can lose its slot. Leave about a quarter tank, take out any FasTrak transponder, and photograph every panel.
In New York, the truck arrives on I-95, I-278 or the Long Island Expressway. Many Manhattan owners meet the driver in Jersey City or Secaucus and drive the last miles through the Holland or Lincoln Tunnel. Long Island handoffs work well near expressway exits in Nassau County.
What moves the price on this lane
Expect a typical October 2026 quote of $1,500 to $1,865 for an open-carrier sedan leaving Los Angeles for New York City. SUVs typically run $1,800 to $2,240, pickups $1,825 to $2,275, and an enclosed sedan $2,130 to $2,650. San Francisco to New York City is 3,028 miles at a typical $1,545 to $1,920.
Los Angeles ships many collector, exotic and lowered cars, which usually need an enclosed trailer with a liftgate or low-angle ramps. Enclosed trucks are scarcer, so booking a week or two ahead helps. A car waiting in Ontario costs a carrier less time than one on a Malibu hillside. A winch adds $150 in our model, and a mountain pickup such as Big Bear can add up to $175.
HaulFare is a price guide, not a broker or carrier. A request for this cross-country run goes to one licensed auto transport broker, who confirms the rate, the Inland Empire or Westside pickup and the New York delivery. Well-run brokers ask for no deposit before a carrier is assigned, so get the carrier’s name and check its MC number on FMCSA before you pay.
Lane facts
- From Los Angeles the usual run is I-15 to Barstow, I-40 to Oklahoma City, I-44 to St. Louis and I-70 to Breezewood, Pennsylvania, then the Pennsylvania Turnpike and I-78 through Allentown toward the Hudson.
- Trailers bound for New York fill in the Inland Empire around Ontario and Fontana and come apart at lots near Newark, Elizabeth and Secaucus before the last cars cross into the five boroughs or Long Island.
- Leaving Los Angeles, quotes are typically lowest in February and highest in July, when summer lease turnover in New York City and company transfers keep eastbound trailers full.
- New York City bans commercial vehicles from its parkways, including the FDR Drive, the Henry Hudson Parkway and the Belt Parkway, so a car hauler reaches the city only on truck routes such as I-95, I-278 and I-495.
Related routes
Sources
- FMCSA: Get operating authority (MC docket number) for carriers and brokers, fmcsa.dot.gov
- National Hurricane Center: Tropical cyclone climatology (June 1 to November 30 season), nhc.noaa.gov
- NYC Department of Transportation: Parkway truck restrictions, nyc.gov
- How much it costs to ship a car: the HaulFare price model, haulfare.com
Los Angeles, CA to New York, NY FAQ
How much does it cost to ship a car from Los Angeles to New York City?
A sedan on an open trailer from Los Angeles to New York City typically costs $1,500 to $1,865 in October 2026. SUVs typically run $1,800 to $2,240 and full-size pickups $1,825 to $2,275, while an enclosed sedan typically costs $2,130 to $2,650. These are typical ranges, and the final rate is confirmed by the licensed broker your request is sent to, since it depends on the cross-country carrier that accepts the load.
How long does it take to ship a car from Los Angeles to New York?
Once loaded, a car usually spends 7 to 10 days on the 2,885-mile drive from Los Angeles to New York City, after a pickup window of 1 to 5 days. Manhattan and Brooklyn cars often come off the trailer after the New Jersey drops, so they tend to arrive near the long end of that range.
What is the best month to ship a car from Los Angeles to New York?
February is typically the cheapest month on this eastbound lane, and July is typically the most expensive. February rates carry some risk of ice on I-40 across the Texas Panhandle, while July quotes climb with the New York summer lease season. With flexible dates, late winter usually brings the best price.
Where will the carrier pick up my car in Los Angeles?
At your address if a 75-foot truck can reach it and stop safely, which is common in the San Fernando Valley and much of Long Beach. In Santa Monica, Venice, Palos Verdes or a downtown high-rise, the driver usually meets you at a large retail lot near the 405, I-10 or I-5. Mention gates, HOA rules and street width when you book.
Can a car hauler deliver to my Manhattan apartment?
Rarely at the door. Trucks are banned from the FDR Drive and the Henry Hudson Parkway, and Manhattan side streets leave no room for a 75-foot rig to unload, so most owners meet the driver at a lot in Jersey City or Secaucus. Reserve a garage space first, since alternate side parking makes a street spot hard to keep.
