San Diego, CA car shipping
Car Shipping in San Diego, CA
- Estimates clearly labeled
- Independent company rankings
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$550 – $4,705
Typical price
Sedan, open transport
1–9 days
Transit time
Most major cities
Houston, Las Vegas
Top destinations
$240 – $660
Trips within California
Published range for an in-state trip
Free · No obligation · About a minute
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About car shipping in San Diego
San Diego is a one-road town for car carriers: I-5 runs the length of it and almost every long-haul load joins or leaves there. That makes northbound lanes cheap and frequent, and it makes anything heading east a detour through I-8. The other thing that shapes the market here is the military, which moves thousands of households a year on orders rather than on choice.
- I-5 carries nearly all long-haul traffic; eastbound loads detour via I-8
- Vehicles for Hawaii load at a terminal in the city itself
- Heavy PCS demand from Navy and Marine Corps moves
- I-5 ends at the Mexican border, so carriers will not cross it
- Main highways
- I-5, I-8, I-15
- Typical transit
- 1–9 days
- In-state trips
- $240 – $660
Car shipping rates from San Diego
Estimated from published industry figures for a standard car. Your quote depends on season, vehicle and exact addresses.
| Destination | Distance | Open transport | Enclosed transport | Transit time | Route page |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Houston, TX | 1,560 mi | $625 – $2,950 | $810 – $4,715 | 4–7 days | California to Texas |
| Las Vegas, NV | 320 mi | $255 – $705 | $310 – $1,125 | 1–2 days | California to Nevada |
| Jacksonville, FL | 2,510 mi | $880 – $4,745 | $1,140 – $7,590 | 6–11 days | California to Florida |
| New York City, NY | 2,910 mi | $1,020 – $5,500 | $1,325 – $8,800 | 6–12 days | California to New York |
| Salt Lake City, UT | 750 mi | $550 – $1,420 | $700 – $2,270 | 2–3 days | California to Utah |
| Chicago, IL | 2,080 mi | $770 – $3,930 | $1,000 – $6,290 | 5–9 days | California to Illinois |
Prices move with the season
No source publishes monthly prices by city, so this is what the studies say about timing.
Summer moving season and the holidays tighten truck space, while mid-January to February is usually the quietest stretch of the year.
Direct Connect Auto Transport reports 2026 versus 2025 running 3% to 8% higher.
Published price adjustments
- Pickup truckPickups cost about 38% more to ship than standard cars.Source: Move.org
- SUVAt 500 miles, an SUV averaged $743 against $696 for a car.Source: Move.org
- Non-running vehicleAdd $150 to $300 for a vehicle that does not run.Source: Direct Connect Auto Transport
Transit times from San Diego
Typical days on the road after pickup.
- Las Vegas, NV · 320 mi1–2 days
- Phoenix, AZ · 360 mi1–2 days
- Salt Lake City, UT · 750 mi2–3 days
- Portland, OR · 1,120 mi3–5 days
- Houston, TX · 1,560 mi4–7 days
- Chicago, IL · 2,080 mi5–9 days
- Atlanta, GA · 2,260 mi5–10 days
Popular routes from San Diego
Car shipping companies serving San Diego
Researched companies ordered by Trustpilot rating, adjusted for review count. Not ranked by city data.
Pickup areas around San Diego
Where trucks reach easily, and where a meeting point helps.
- North County (Oceanside, Carlsbad, Escondido)Right on I-5 and I-15. Among the easiest pickups in the state.
- Hillcrest, North Park, Golden HillNarrow older streets; a nearby lot is usually simpler.
- Near the basesCarriers rarely drive on base. Meeting just outside the gate is standard.
Good to know in San Diego
- Hawaii sailings leave from San Diego itselfPasha Hawaii lists a San Diego vehicle terminal, so a car going to the islands from here does not need a truck to Los Angeles or Oakland first. Ask any company quoting a Hawaii move which port they are actually sailing from.
- Orders season moves the priceNaval Base San Diego and Camp Pendleton just north of the county line generate a wave of PCS moves each summer. Carriers know it, capacity tightens from late May, and booking two or three weeks out matters more here in July than it does in February.
- Carriers stop at the borderI-5 ends at San Ysidro. A standard auto transport company will not take your car into Mexico; that is a separate customs process with its own paperwork, and a quote that casually includes it is worth questioning.
- Moving to San DiegoIf you're moving from another state, you'll generally need to register your vehicle in California. Check California's motor vehicle agency for deadlines and inspection rules.
Sources: Pasha Hawaii mainland terminals
Other California cities
Starting prices on popular routes.
Helpful guides for San Diego
Why ship from San Diego?
- Carriers already serving California
- Door-to-door pickup where trucks can reach
- Open and enclosed transport options
- Published price ranges you can compare before booking
- Common for relocations, students, military moves and car purchases
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to ship a car from San Diego?
Published figures put a standard car on an open carrier at about $550 – $4,705 from San Diego to other major cities, depending on distance, season and vehicle. Shorter trips, such as to Las Vegas, run about $255 – $705.
Car shipping cost calculatorHow long does it take to ship a car from San Diego?
About 1–2 days to Las Vegas and 6–12 days to New York City, plus the pickup window before the car is loaded.
How long car shipping takesCan the truck pick up at my home in San Diego?
Often, yes. On narrow, busy or restricted streets, the driver may ask to meet at a nearby open lot where a full-size carrier can load safely.
Door-to-door car shipping
Should I ship open or enclosed from San Diego?
Open transport suits most everyday cars and costs less. Consider enclosed for luxury, classic or exotic cars, or anything with fresh paint.
Open vs. enclosed shippingIs my car insured when shipping from San Diego?
Licensed carriers must carry liability insurance, and most carry cargo coverage for the cars they haul. Ask for the certificate of insurance before pickup.
Car shipping insuranceWhat's the cheapest way to ship a car from San Diego?
Choose open transport, be flexible with dates, book one to three weeks ahead and meet the truck near a main highway if your street is hard to reach.
Cheapest way to ship a car
Where these figures come from
Published industry studies, not Haulwide shipments. Checked Sep 16, 2026.
- SGT Auto Transport(opens in a new tab)
Published Sep 9, 2026. 30 months of the company's own shipping data (January 2024 to June 2026) across all 50 states and 1,581 state-to-state lanes, limited to completed single-vehicle open transport deliveries and mix-adjusted for distance.
- Move.org(opens in a new tab)
Published Mar 4, 2026. Nearly 800 broker quotes analyzed, priced for a running 2025 Toyota Camry with a one-week lead time using October 2025 quotes.
- Kelley Blue Book(opens in a new tab)
Published Jan 12, 2026. Quotes requested from eight transport companies for a 2025 Honda Accord on three routes from Orlando, on standard open carriers.
- Direct Connect Auto Transport(opens in a new tab)
No publication date given. The company's own carrier data for an operable sedan on open transport; the page states no publication date.
- RoadRunner Auto Transport(opens in a new tab)
Published Sep 1, 2026. The company's completed shipment history, which it describes as over 1 million vehicles delivered across 30+ years, updated September 2026. Its nationwide average is $1,215 at a median distance of 987 miles and a median $1.23 per mile.
The sources disagree, so figures are shown as the span across them rather than a single price. Pricing methodology
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