What shipping a car to or from Los Angeles really costs
Los Angeles car shipping prices track three variables above all else: distance, season, and carrier supply on the day you book. A short West Coast hop such as Los Angeles to Seattle can start near $650, while a coast-to-coast lane to New York or Miami commonly runs $1,300 to $1,550 on an open carrier. Per-mile pricing falls as distance grows, so long hauls cost more in total but less per mile than a short regional move.
Open transport is the default for most Los Angeles vehicles and carries the lowest price because carriers move up to nine or ten cars per load. Enclosed transport, the standard for exotics, classics, and low-clearance vehicles common in the LA scene, adds roughly 40 to 60 percent because those trailers carry fewer cars and offer full weather and debris protection.
Transit windows out of Los Angeles depend on the corridor. Carriers generally cover several hundred miles per day, so a run to Dallas often delivers in 3 to 5 days, Chicago in 4 to 6 days, and East Coast destinations like New York or Miami in 5 to 9 days after pickup. A separate 1 to 3 day pickup window applies once the order is dispatched to a driver.
Road Runner Vehicle Transports is a federally licensed and bonded broker, not a carrier, operating under MC #1151143-B and USDOT #3494344 with a $75,000 surety bond. As a broker, Road Runner matches your Los Angeles shipment to vetted carriers in a national network, which widens the pool of trucks running LA lanes and helps hold pickup times and pricing steady.
Popular Los Angeles routes, distances & open-carrier prices
| Route from Los Angeles | Distance | Transit (open) | Est. open price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle, WA | 1,135 mi | 2 to 4 days | $650–$900 |
| Dallas, TX | 1,435 mi | 3 to 5 days | $900–$1,150 |
| Chicago, IL | 2,015 mi | 4 to 6 days | $999–$1,299 |
| Miami, FL | 2,735 mi | 5 to 8 days | $1,250–$1,500 |
| New York, NY | 2,789 mi | 5 to 9 days | $1,300–$1,550 |
Ranges are 2026 market estimates for a running vehicle on an open carrier. Your firm price depends on the exact addresses, vehicle, and live carrier availability the week you ship.
Why the Los Angeles number is easy to get wrong
Los Angeles is one of the most active vehicle origin and destination points in the country, which works in a shipper's favor: heavy truck traffic on LA lanes means more available carriers competing for loads and fewer long waits for a pickup.
Season swings the number more than most shippers expect. Summer months, roughly May through September, bring peak relocation and vacation demand in Los Angeles and can push rates 15 to 25 percent above winter lows, so booking timing directly affects the final price.
Vehicle type and condition change the quote. SUVs and pickups typically add $150 to $250 over a standard sedan, and a non-running vehicle carries an inoperable surcharge of roughly $150 to $300 for the extra equipment and time to load it.
How to ship a car to or from Los Angeles for the best price
- 1
Book one to three weeks ahead
Los Angeles carriers price partly on how quickly a load must move. Giving a one to three week lead time and a flexible pickup window lets Road Runner place the vehicle with a carrier already running your lane, which usually beats a rush booking on price.
- 2
Match the carrier type to the vehicle
A daily-driver sedan leaving the Valley or Downtown LA belongs on open transport, the lowest-cost option. Reserve enclosed transport for exotics, low-clearance sports cars, and collector vehicles where the 40 to 60 percent premium buys full protection from road debris and weather.
- 3
Plan pickup access in advance
Many Los Angeles streets are too narrow or restricted for a full 75-foot car carrier. Arranging to meet the driver at a nearby open lot, near LAX, Burbank, or Long Beach, keeps the pickup on schedule and avoids delays from blocked or permit-only blocks.
- 4
Use flexible dates on cross-country lanes
East Coast routes from Los Angeles to New York or Miami span more than 2,700 miles, so a rigid delivery date narrows the pool of qualifying carriers and raises the rate. Flexible dates on these long hauls open more trucks and lower the quote.
- 5
Get one accurate quote, not a lowball
A quote far below the LA market average is often a bid that no carrier will accept, leaving the car sitting. Road Runner prices to the median so the load actually moves, which matters most in peak summer months when trucks fill quickly.
Open vs Enclosed Carrier Pricing on Los Angeles Lanes (2026)
| Route from Los Angeles | Open carrier | Enclosed carrier |
|---|---|---|
| Dallas, TX (1,435 mi) | $900 to $1,150 | $1,300 to $1,700 |
| Chicago, IL (2,015 mi) | $999 to $1,299 | $1,450 to $2,000 |
| New York, NY (2,789 mi) | $1,300 to $1,550 | $1,850 to $2,600 |
The Los Angeles market, by the numbers
Los Angeles route pricing rests on real 2026 lane data: Los Angeles to New York covers roughly 2,789 miles and prices near $1,300 to $1,550 open, Los Angeles to Chicago runs about 2,015 miles, and carriers average close to 500 miles per day, which sets the 5 to 9 day East Coast delivery windows.
National anchors hold across sources for 2026: the average vehicle move is about $1,200, enclosed transport adds a 40 to 60 percent premium, and inoperable loading adds roughly $150 to $300. Road Runner Vehicle Transports books these Los Angeles lanes as a federally licensed and bonded broker under MC #1151143-B, USDOT #3494344, and a $75,000 surety bond.
Common Los Angeles car shipping mistakes
- Assuming a full car carrier can reach a narrow Los Angeles residential street. Many blocks in Downtown LA and the hillside neighborhoods cannot fit a 75-foot trailer, so failing to arrange a nearby meet-up lot causes avoidable delays.
- Shipping a low-clearance exotic on an open carrier to save money. LA's exotic and modified-car scene runs low ground clearance that open trailers can scrape, so enclosed transport with liftgate loading is the safer match.
- Booking a cross-country LA move during peak summer without lead time. June through August demand out of Los Angeles is high, and a last-minute East Coast order can cost 15 to 25 percent more than a booking placed two to three weeks earlier.
- Chasing the cheapest Los Angeles quote. A rate well under the market median often will not attract a carrier, leaving the vehicle unassigned while the quoted savings never materialize.
- Not disclosing a non-running vehicle up front. An inoperable car needs winch loading and adds roughly $150 to $300, and omitting it at booking can force a re-quote and a missed pickup.
Best fit for
Open transport out of Los Angeles is the best fit for a standard running sedan, SUV, or pickup on a common lane like Dallas, Chicago, or New York, where the shipper has a one to three week lead time and can meet the driver at an accessible lot. That combination lands the lowest per-mile price and the most reliable pickup window.
When it may not fit
Enclosed transport, not open, is the right call when the Los Angeles vehicle is a high-value exotic, a low-clearance sports car, or a collector vehicle where road debris exposure is unacceptable, even though it adds 40 to 60 percent. For a trip under a few hundred miles, driving or a local tow can also beat the fixed cost of a long-haul carrier booking.
Los Angeles car shipping: frequently asked questions
- How much does it cost to ship a car to or from Los Angeles in 2026?
- Open-carrier Los Angeles shipments typically run about $650 to $1,550 depending on distance, season, and vehicle size. Short West Coast lanes start near $650, while cross-country runs to New York or Miami commonly land between $1,300 and $1,550.
- How long does car shipping from Los Angeles take?
- Transit runs roughly 2 to 4 days to Seattle, 3 to 5 days to Dallas, 4 to 6 days to Chicago, and 5 to 9 days to East Coast cities like New York and Miami. A 1 to 3 day pickup window applies once your order is dispatched to a carrier.
- Is enclosed transport worth it for a Los Angeles exotic or luxury car?
- For high-value exotics, low-clearance sports cars, and collectors common in the LA market, enclosed transport is the standard choice. It adds roughly 40 to 60 percent over the open rate in exchange for full protection from weather and road debris and, on many trailers, liftgate loading for low clearance.
- Can a car carrier pick up on my street in Los Angeles?
- Not always. A full car carrier is about 75 feet long and cannot navigate many narrow or permit-only Los Angeles streets, so drivers often arrange to meet at a nearby open lot near LAX, Burbank, or Long Beach. Setting this up in advance keeps the pickup on schedule.
- Why are Los Angeles car shipping quotes cheaper in winter?
- Los Angeles demand peaks in summer, roughly May through September, from relocations and vacation travel, which can push rates 15 to 25 percent above winter lows. Booking in the off-season, or one to three weeks ahead with flexible dates, generally lowers the price.
- Does Road Runner ship non-running vehicles out of Los Angeles?
- Yes. An inoperable vehicle can be shipped with winch or liftgate loading, which adds roughly $150 to $300 for the extra equipment and time. Disclose the condition when booking so the right carrier and equipment are assigned to your LA pickup.
- Is Road Runner a carrier or a broker?
- Road Runner Vehicle Transports is a federally licensed and bonded auto transport broker under MC #1151143-B and USDOT #3494344, backed by a $75,000 surety bond. As a broker, Road Runner matches your Los Angeles shipment to vetted carriers rather than driving the truck itself.
Ready to ship to or from Los Angeles?
Los Angeles car shipping in 2026 runs about $650 to $1,550 on an open carrier, driven by distance, season, and carrier supply, with enclosed transport adding 40 to 60 percent for exotics and luxury vehicles. Booking one to three weeks ahead, matching the carrier type to the vehicle, and planning an accessible pickup spot are the levers that most affect the final price. Call (888) 430-5866 or request your quote for an exact Los Angeles number.