Leaving California, or sending a car out of state? Here are the tips that make the biggest difference, from timing to routes to paperwork.
1. Know Which Way Carriers Are Heading
Carriers leave California on three main interstates: I-10 across the South toward Texas and Florida, I-40 through the middle toward Tennessee and the Carolinas, and I-80 across the north toward Chicago and the Northeast. The closer your pickup is to one of these, and to a major metro, the easier it is to schedule.
2. Plan Around California Geography
- Southern California (LA, Orange County, San Diego, the Inland Empire) has the most carrier traffic.
- The Bay Area and Sacramento connect east on I-80, which crosses the Sierra Nevada. Winter storms over Donner Pass can delay trips.
- Rural and mountain areas take longer to schedule. Meeting the carrier in a nearby town on a main highway can help.
3. Expect Some Street-Level Planning
Hillside neighborhoods in LA and San Francisco, narrow coastal streets and gated communities often can’t take a full-size carrier. Pick a meeting spot nearby, like a wide street or a store lot, and tell the company about access when you book. See Los Angeles car shipping.
4. Time It Right
- Book two to three weeks ahead, more in summer moving season.
- Be flexible by a few days on pickup.
- Heading to Florida or Arizona in the fall? You’re competing with snowbird demand. Book earlier.
5. Take Care of Paperwork
- Keep the car’s registration and insurance current until it’s registered in your new state.
- Find out your new state’s deadline for registering a car after you move. Our state pages cover Texas, Florida, Arizona, Georgia and more.
- If you have a FasTrak or other toll transponder, remove it before pickup.
6. Prepare the Car
Wash it, take dated photos, leave a quarter tank of fuel, remove personal items, and inspect it with the driver at pickup. Step by step in How Do I Ship My Car?
7. Get a Real Quote
Prices out of California vary widely by destination and season. Get an exact quote for your move, and see California car shipping for more.