From New Jersey to the West Coast in 7 to 10 days, for less than it costs to drive, with licensed carriers that run the route every day.
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Shipping a car from New Jersey to the West Coast is a 2,800-mile, week-long job for a carrier and a three-hour flight for you. It is the single most common reason people call us who have never shipped a car before, and it is more routine than it sounds: carriers run the I-80 and I-40 corridors from the Northeast to California every day of the year.
Most westbound loads from New Jersey follow I-80 through Pennsylvania, Ohio, and the Plains to Salt Lake City, then on to Northern California or down to Los Angeles, or take I-70 and I-40 through St. Louis, Oklahoma City, and Albuquerque to Phoenix and Southern California. Southern destinations (Texas, Arizona) go down I-81 and across I-40. The driver is picking up and dropping off other vehicles along the way, which is why a ten-car open carrier can move your car 2,800 miles for less than the cost of driving it.
| Destination | Miles | Transit after pickup |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago, IL | ~800 | 3–5 days |
| Dallas / Houston, TX | ~1,500 | 4–6 days |
| Denver, CO | ~1,750 | 5–8 days |
| Phoenix, AZ | ~2,400 | 6–8 days |
| Las Vegas, NV | ~2,500 | 7–9 days |
| Los Angeles / San Diego, CA | ~2,750 | 7–10 days |
| San Francisco / Bay Area, CA | ~2,900 | 7–10 days |
| Seattle / Portland | ~2,850 | 8–10 days |
Open transport is the right call for most vehicles, even over 2,800 miles. The exposure is the same as a week of driving. Enclosed is worth it for luxury, exotic, and classic cars, or if the car is going through winter weather on I-80 in December and you'd rather it didn't. Enclosed cross-country from New Jersey typically runs $2,200 to $3,000.
Book 10 to 14 days ahead when you can. Carriers plan long routes around full loads, and a few days of flexibility on pickup gets you a better price and a truck that's already heading your way. If you're flying, plan to ship the car three to five days before you leave so it arrives shortly after you do; we can deliver to a friend, a leasing office, or a storage facility if it beats you there.
Vehicle transport is separate from household moving, but we coordinate with your moving dates. Many customers ship the car the day the movers load the house, hand the keys to the driver, and fly out that evening. Tell your dispatcher your move-out date and we'll build around it.
Relocating to the New York or Philadelphia metro from the West Coast? Same process in reverse, and our eleven New Jersey offices mean there is a local team on the receiving end to coordinate delivery to a Bayonne apartment block, a Princeton campus address, or a Shore driveway.
From New Jersey to California, Washington, or Oregon, typically 7 to 10 days after pickup. Arizona and Colorado run 6 to 8 days. Expedited shipments can shave a day or two.
Open transport for a sedan typically runs $1,400 to $1,900; SUVs and trucks $1,550 to $2,150; enclosed $2,200 to $3,000. Season and flexibility move the number; the quote tool gives an exact price.
Rarely, once you count fuel (roughly $350 to $500 for a sedan), five to six nights of hotels, meals, and 2,800 miles of wear and depreciation. And you lose a week.
Usually, yes. On very long routes the carrier may transfer the vehicle to another of its trucks at a terminal; your dispatcher will tell you if that's planned.
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