MaineCalifornia
Car Shipping from Maine to California
- Estimates clearly labeled
- Licensed carriers only
- Free, no obligation
$1,040 – $5,955
Estimated price (open)
7–13 days
Transit time
3,150 miles
Typical distance
$0.33–$1.89 per mile
Price per mile (open)
Free · No obligation · About a minute
Get a Maine to California quote
About the Maine to California route
Main highways: I-95, I-295, I-5
- About 3,150 estimated road miles from Maine to California
- Most carriers use I-95, I-295, I-5
- Pickup is scheduled within a window; flexible dates usually lower the price
- Most carriers reach Maine on I-95, and winter weather can slow northern routes.
Maine to California shipping rates
Estimated from published industry figures, by vehicle type.
| Vehicle | Open transport | Enclosed transport |
|---|---|---|
| Sedan | $1,040 – $5,955 | $1,350 – $9,525 |
| SUV | $1,110 – $6,360 | $1,440 – $10,175 |
| Pickup truck | $1,435 – $8,220 | $1,865 – $13,145 |
| Non-running vehicle | $1,190 – $6,255 | $1,500 – $9,825 |
Winter weather affects pickup, not just price
No source publishes monthly prices for this route, so this is what the studies say about timing.
Storms and mountain passes can delay a truck that is already on the road, so a wider pickup window matters more here than a slightly lower quote.
When to ship
Transit times
Typical days in transit between major cities, after pickup.
- Portland → Los Angeles7–13 days
- Portland → San Diego7–13 days
- Lewiston → Los Angeles7–13 days
- Lewiston → San Diego7–13 days
- Bangor → Los Angeles7–13 days
Popular pickup and delivery cities
From Maine
To California
- Los Angeles$1,060 – $6,065
- San Diego$1,060 – $6,065
- San Jose$1,085 – $6,220
- San Francisco$1,090 – $6,235
- Sacramento$1,060 – $6,065
- Fresno$1,055 – $6,030
Companies to consider
Researched companies ordered by Trustpilot rating, adjusted for review count. Not ranked by route.
Services on this route
Moving to California? What to do with your car
Check the emissions label before you book, not after the car lands
California law bars introducing a new motor vehicle into the state for registration unless it has been certified to California standards (Health and Safety Code 43151), and section 43156 treats any car reading under 7,500 miles as still new for that purpose. A car built to the federal standard the other forty-nine states use is therefore refusable. The exemptions are narrow — replacing a car stolen or wrecked while you were out of state, inheritance, a divorce decree — so the time to read the emissions label under the hood is before the carrier is booked.
Wildfire is the disruption that has no season you can book around
NOAA counts 46 billion-dollar weather disasters in California between 1980 and 2024, and 19 of them were wildfires: 41% of the events and about 65% of the total cost, far more than flooding, drought and storms together. Fire closes a specific road at short notice rather than slowing a whole region, so the practical effect on a shipment is a reroute and a lost day rather than a canceled week, and it is the reason a California carrier will not promise a delivery hour.
The state is long, and the price follows the length
San Diego to Sacramento is about 470 miles in a straight line and a good deal more by road, so a move within California can cost and take what an interstate trip does elsewhere. I-5 carries most of it, with US-101 the slower coastal alternative and I-15 heading out towards Las Vegas. A quote that looks high for a "local" move is usually just being honest about the mileage.
Sources: California Health and Safety Code 43151: uncertified vehicles; California Health and Safety Code 43156: the 7,500-mile presumption; NOAA NCEI: billion-dollar disasters, California 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 Maine to California?
Published figures put a standard car on an open carrier at about $1,040 – $5,955 for the roughly 3,150 miles from Maine to California. Enclosed transport is about $1,350 – $9,525. Your price depends on exact addresses, vehicle, season and date flexibility.
Car shipping cost calculatorWhat is the cost per mile from Maine to California?
Published figures put open transport at about $0.33–$1.89 per mile for a trip of roughly 3,150 miles. The sources disagree, which is why the range is wide.
Car shipping cost per mileIs enclosed transport worth it from Maine to California?
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 Maine to California?
Transit usually takes 7–13 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 Maine to California?
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 Maine to California?
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 Maine to California
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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