Price ranges by vehicle class for the main lanes into California. The carrier sets the price.
Key facts
Who sets the price
The carrier
How distance is measured
Approximate road distance: the straight line plus 20%
As of 2026-11-10. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 state population centers; approximate road distance is straight-line distance increased by 20%
Routes into Los Angeles, CA, using the largest city in each origin state. Distances are approximate.
Route
Vehicle
Open transport
Enclosed transport
Texas
Sedan or compact car
$801–$1,220
$1,201–$1,830
Texas
SUV or crossover
$847–$1,291
$1,271–$1,937
Texas
Pickup or large SUV
$961–$1,464
$1,441–$2,196
Texas
Van or minivan
$856–$1,305
$1,284–$1,957
Texas
Heavy-duty or oversized vehicle
$895–$1,364
$1,343–$2,046
Texas
Motorcycle
$758–$1,155
$1,137–$1,733
Arizona
Sedan or compact car
$434–$661
$651–$991
Arizona
SUV or crossover
$459–$700
$689–$1,049
Arizona
Pickup or large SUV
$520–$793
$781–$1,189
Arizona
Van or minivan
$464–$707
$696–$1,060
Arizona
Heavy-duty or oversized vehicle
$485–$739
$727–$1,108
Arizona
Motorcycle
$411–$626
$616–$939
Washington
Sedan or compact car
$678–$1,034
$1,017–$1,551
Washington
SUV or crossover
$718–$1,094
$1,077–$1,641
Washington
Pickup or large SUV
$814–$1,240
$1,221–$1,860
Washington
Van or minivan
$725–$1,105
$1,088–$1,658
Washington
Heavy-duty or oversized vehicle
$758–$1,156
$1,138–$1,733
Washington
Motorcycle
$642–$979
$964–$1,468
New York
Sedan or compact car
$1,045–$1,593
$1,568–$2,389
New York
SUV or crossover
$1,106–$1,686
$1,659–$2,529
New York
Pickup or large SUV
$1,254–$1,911
$1,881–$2,867
New York
Van or minivan
$1,118–$1,703
$1,677–$2,555
New York
Heavy-duty or oversized vehicle
$1,169–$1,781
$1,753–$2,671
New York
Motorcycle
$990–$1,508
$1,485–$2,263
Nevada
Sedan or compact car
$376–$573
$564–$859
Nevada
SUV or crossover
$398–$606
$597–$909
Nevada
Pickup or large SUV
$451–$687
$676–$1,031
Nevada
Van or minivan
$402–$612
$603–$919
Nevada
Heavy-duty or oversized vehicle
$420–$640
$630–$960
Nevada
Motorcycle
$356–$542
$534–$814
Within the state, from San Diego
Sedan or compact car
$376–$573
$564–$859
Within the state, from San Diego
SUV or crossover
$398–$606
$597–$909
Within the state, from San Diego
Pickup or large SUV
$451–$687
$676–$1,031
Within the state, from San Diego
Van or minivan
$402–$612
$603–$919
Within the state, from San Diego
Heavy-duty or oversized vehicle
$420–$640
$630–$960
Within the state, from San Diego
Motorcycle
$356–$542
$534–$814
As of 2026-11-09. RideShipper estimate, updated 2026-11-09, based on 3,588 prices that customers reported paying in MoveAdvisor reviews, adjusted for U.S. diesel at $6.13 a gallon for that week (U.S. Energy Information Administration). In testing, the typical difference between an estimate and a reported price was about 20% of the estimate. This is an estimate, not a quote: the carrier sets the price. No pickup date was supplied, so this estimate uses November 2026. There is no seasonal direction adjustment for this route and month.
According to Census ACS 2024, the largest inflow is from Texas, 45,447 people (margin of error 6,640), then Arizona and Washington. The largest outflow is also to Texas, 77,161 (margin of error 9,059), then Nevada and Arizona. Those pairs are truck lanes in the route list. California to Texas is the single largest person-flow out of the state in that table. Texas to California is the largest inflow. Palm Springs and Palm Desert are listed as a winter destination. That is not a separate snowbird census.
Mountain chain controls
Caltrans says to check chain controls on QuickMap before a mountain trip. When signs require chains, you must stop and put them on. The speed limit is 25 or 30 miles an hour. Under Requirement 1 (R-1), chains are required except on passenger vehicles and light-duty trucks under 6,000 pounds with snow tires on at least two drive wheels, and those vehicles must still carry chains. A vehicle towing a trailer needs chains on one drive axle. R-2 and R-3 are stricter, and a highway is often closed before R-3. A car carrier is not a light passenger car. Ask how the carrier handles an active control. Caltrans also posts winter closure history for passes such as Ebbetts Pass on State Route 4 and the Grapevine on Interstate 5.
Ports, auctions, bases, and campuses
The West Coast vehicle departure ports page groups those docks and does not list each terminal. A car on a ship is an ocean leg, not the truck rate on a Texas lane. Auction areas include Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, San Diego, the Bay Area, the Inland Empire, Fresno, and Stockton-Lodi. Confirm the yard's release time. Listed installations include Naval Base San Diego, Camp Pendleton, Travis Air Force Base, and Edwards Air Force Base. Inside the contiguous United States, Military OneSource says moving a privately owned vehicle is largely the member's responsibility. Large campuses include UCLA, UC Berkeley, USC, and San Diego State. A multi-car truck often cannot stop on a dense street. Common practice is a meeting point the driver names.
Smog Check and the 20-day clock
The DMV says you have 20 days after you become a resident or get a job in California to register. The Bureau of Automotive Repair requires a Smog Check to register a vehicle for the first time, including one last registered in another state. Read the registration page before you rely on an exception.
