CaliforniaColorado
Car Shipping from California to Colorado
- Estimates clearly labeled
- Licensed carriers only
- Free, no obligation
$670 – $1,740
Estimated price (open)
2–4 days
Transit time
920 miles
Typical distance
$0.73–$1.89 per mile
Price per mile (open)
Free · No obligation · About a minute
Get a California to Colorado quote
About the California to Colorado route
Main highways: I-5, I-10, I-25
- About 920 estimated road miles from California to Colorado
- Most carriers use I-5, I-10, I-25
- Pickup is scheduled within a window; flexible dates usually lower the price
- Busy corridors run to Texas, Arizona, Nevada and the Pacific Northwest.
California to Colorado shipping rates
Estimated from published industry figures, by vehicle type.
| Vehicle | Open transport | Enclosed transport |
|---|---|---|
| Sedan | $670 – $1,740 | $860 – $2,780 |
| SUV | $715 – $1,860 | $920 – $2,970 |
| Pickup truck | $925 – $2,400 | $1,185 – $3,835 |
| Non-running vehicle | $820 – $2,040 | $1,010 – $3,080 |
Prices move with the season
No source publishes monthly prices for this route, 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.
When to ship
Transit times
Typical days in transit between major cities, after pickup.
- Los Angeles → Denver2–4 days
- Los Angeles → Colorado Springs2–4 days
- San Diego → Denver2–4 days
- San Diego → Colorado Springs2–4 days
- San Jose → Denver3–5 days
Popular pickup and delivery cities
From California
- Los Angeles$685 – $1,775
- San Diego$685 – $1,775
- San Jose$755 – $2,040
- San Francisco$770 – $2,080
- Sacramento$720 – $1,945
- Fresno$695 – $1,795
To Colorado
- Denver$700 – $1,815
- Colorado Springs$710 – $1,835
- Aurora$710 – $1,835
- Fort Collins$710 – $1,835
- Lakewood$700 – $1,815
- Pueblo$715 – $1,850
Companies to consider
Researched companies ordered by Trustpilot rating, adjusted for review count. Not ranked by route.
Services on this route
Moving to Colorado? What to do with your car
Chains have to be in the truck from September, not just in a blizzard
CDOT's rule requires commercial vehicles with a combined weight over 16,000 pounds to carry chains or alternate traction devices from 1 September to 31 May across more than 1,400 centerline miles, including I-70 and stretches of US 40, 50, 160, 285 and 550. It applies regardless of conditions on the day. Failing to carry them is a $500 fine, and blocking the road because you did not is up to $1,000 plus a surcharge. It is worth knowing because it explains a September quote that prices Colorado like winter.
The chain law is about the passes, not about the state's worst weather
NOAA counts 76 billion-dollar weather disasters in Colorado between 1980 and 2024, and just 3 of them were winter storms — against 42 severe storms, 16 droughts and 12 wildfires. The mountain rules exist because a single stuck truck closes a pass with no detour, not because Colorado winters are the costliest in the country. On the Front Range the likelier disruption to your shipment is a summer hailstorm.
Almost everyone lives on one line, and the rest is mountains
Denver, Colorado Springs, Fort Collins and Pueblo sit along I-25, where carriers run regularly and a pickup is easy to arrange. West of Denver the road climbs into the corridor the chain law governs, and mountain towns are served by drivers making a deliberate trip rather than passing through. A pickup in Aspen, Durango or Steamboat waits longer and costs more than the mileage from Denver suggests.
Sources: CDOT: Colorado's must-carry chain law; CDOT: Colorado's chain law; NOAA NCEI: billion-dollar disasters, Colorado summary. Rules change; check before you register.
Book this route safely
Authority can be checked for free
Any broker or carrier's USDOT number, operating status and insurance on file can be looked up in the FMCSA database. Source: FMCSA company snapshot
Brokers must be bonded
Auto transport brokers need FMCSA broker authority and $75,000 in financial security, usually a BMC-84 surety bond or a BMC-85 trust fund. Source: 49 CFR 387.307
The Bill of Lading is signed twice
You and the driver inspect the car at pickup and again at delivery. Note any new damage on the Bill of Lading before you sign, and photograph it before the driver leaves. Source: FMCSA: Protect your move
Related routes
Reverse direction and nearby corridors.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to ship a car from California to Colorado?
Published figures put a standard car on an open carrier at about $670 – $1,740 for the roughly 920 miles from California to Colorado. Enclosed transport is about $860 – $2,780. Your price depends on exact addresses, vehicle, season and date flexibility.
Car shipping cost calculatorWhat is the cost per mile from California to Colorado?
Published figures put open transport at about $0.73–$1.89 per mile for a trip of roughly 920 miles. The sources disagree, which is why the range is wide.
Car shipping cost per mileIs enclosed transport worth it from California to Colorado?
For everyday cars, open transport is usually enough. Enclosed transport is worth considering for luxury, classic or low-clearance cars.
Open vs. enclosed shipping
How long does it take to ship a car from California to Colorado?
Transit usually takes 2–4 days once the car is loaded, plus the pickup window, which depends on truck space on the route.
How long car shipping takesWhen is the best time to ship a car from California to Colorado?
Late fall and winter are usually cheaper than summer moving season. Booking one to three weeks ahead gives you more carrier options.
Best time to ship a carIs door-to-door shipping available from California to Colorado?
Yes, in most areas. If a large truck can't reach your street, the driver will arrange a nearby meeting point.
Door-to-door car shipping
How to ship a car from California to Colorado
A step-by-step plan: compare quotes, pick a transport type, prepare the car and know what to check at delivery.
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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