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California to Minnesota car shipping
Shipping a car from California to Minnesota costs roughly $1,520–$1,730 and takes 5–7 days over 1,908 road miles (Los Angeles to Minneapolis). Below is what moves that number, and how to get real quotes for this lane.
| Vehicle & trailer | Price | Transit |
|---|---|---|
| Sedan, open trailer | $1,520–$1,730 | 5–7 days |
| SUV or crossover, open | $1,630–$1,850 | 5–7 days |
| Any vehicle, enclosed | $2,110–$2,400 | 5–7 days |
Estimates from distance and vehicle type. Actual price depends on how busy the lane is the week you ship.
When to ship it
This lane runs against the retiree migration. southern California fills up from October and empties from March, so the direction you are going is the cheap one in autumn and the dear one in spring — trucks come back out of it needing a load.
| Month | Sedan, open trailer | vs year-round |
|---|---|---|
| January | $1,670–$1,900 | +10% |
| March | $1,830–$2,080 | +20% |
| May | $1,520–$1,730 | level |
| July | $1,700–$1,940 | +12% |
| October | $1,340–$1,520 | -12% |
Indicative only. Fuel is indexed to the U.S. weekly retail diesel average, last read 2026-09-07.
What drives the price on this lane
- Distance. 1,908 miles puts this lane at about $0.85 a mile. Coast to coast is the cheapest per mile and the slowest in days. Trucks fill up completely before departing, so flexible dates are worth real money here.
- Season. This is a snowbird lane. Southbound fills from October and northbound from April, and in those windows a week of lead time is worth more than any amount of haggling. Running north, it fills up in spring when the same vehicles go home.
- Direction. Minnesota is a thinner freight market than California, so a carrier coming this way prices in the odds of driving back out empty. Expect this direction to run a little above the reverse lane — and expect more movement in the quotes, because it depends on whether the driver already has a load home.
- Trailer. Enclosed protects from weather and road debris and costs about 39% more here ($2,110–$2,400). The premium grows with distance — an enclosed trailer carries fewer cars, so the longer the run the more deck revenue the carrier gives up. Worth it for low-clearance, classic or high-value cars; rarely worth it otherwise.
- Condition. A car that does not run needs a winch at both ends and adds about $200. Tell the broker up front — a driver who finds out at pickup can refuse the load.
Pickup and delivery on this lane
The companies that run California to Minnesota are registered in these cities. A carrier based near either end is the one most likely to already be heading your way, which is what makes the difference between a quote and a quote you can actually book.
Picking up around California
- Los Angeles12
- San Diego10
- Fontana9
- Chula Vista8
- Hesperia8
- Jurupa Valley8
- Riverside8
- Stockton7
- Burbank6
- Corona6
Delivering around Minnesota
- Saint Paul3
- Elk River2
- Farmington2
- Minneapolis2
- Afton1
- Andover1
- Anoka1
- Audubon1
- Austin1
- Avon1
Counts are companies with active FMCSA authority registered in each city.
Licensed companies based in California
303 companies with active FMCSA authority are registered in California.
- AA UNITED AUTO TRANSPORTS INCGLENDALE, CA · broker · bonded
- ABC AUTO SHIPPINGIRVINE, CA · broker · bonded
- STAR CAR SHIPPINGLOS ANGELES, CA · broker · bonded
- ALL STAR DIRECT AUTO SHIPPING, LLCSANTA MONICA, CA · broker · bonded
- ALPHA AUTO TRANSPORT LLCDUBLIN, CA · broker · bonded
- AMAX AUTO TRANSPORTATION INC.BUENA PARK, CA · broker · bonded
All California auto transport companies →
California to Minnesota: common questions
How much does it cost to ship a car from California to Minnesota?+
Expect $1,520 to $1,730 for a running sedan on an open trailer. An SUV on the same lane runs about $1,630–$1,850, and an enclosed trailer about $2,110–$2,400.
How long does it take to ship a car from California to Minnesota?+
About 5 to 7 days in transit over 1,908 miles, plus one to three days to schedule pickup after you book.
Can the carrier pick up and deliver to my door?+
Yes on almost every lane. The truck gets as close as it legally and physically can — on a narrow residential street the driver will ask you to meet at a nearby lot.
How do I ship my car from California to Minnesota?+
Give the two ZIP codes and what you drive, and the request goes to a panel of licensed companies at once instead of you calling down a list. They quote, you compare side by side, and you deal directly with whoever you pick — we take no commission and nobody gets your number until you hand it over. You do not travel with the car: the driver collects it, you both sign an inspection report, and the same happens at the far end.
More lanes from California
More lanes to Minnesota
Where is the car going?
Two ZIP codes. No account, no obligation.
Shipping somewhere else in Minnesota? Minnesota car transport →