Michigan to California Car Shipping

Since 2023 the middle half of our Michigan to California open-carrier car orders ran $1,150 to $1,450, and the typical order sat toward the upper end. Spread over about 2,250 to 2,400 road miles, that is roughly 50 to 65 cents a mile. Enclosed transport is quoted at about a third more than open; this lane has no enclosed bookings of its own to band.

Our Michigan customers booked a week to a month ahead. The carrier was named three to nine days after booking, or just before the ready date for the car booked a month out. On the road, allow about four to seven days, more if Wyoming or Donner Pass closes; that is our estimate for the distance, not a figure from our records.

Interstate 94 to Chicago, then Interstate 80 across Iowa, Nebraska, Wyoming, Utah and Nevada and over Donner Pass into Sacramento and the Bay Area. In winter, wind and snow close Interstate 80 across southern Wyoming for hours at a time and chain controls go up over Donner, so a driver may lose a day. A load bound for Southern California usually leaves that line in the Midwest and crosses the desert to Los Angeles.

Yes. Our Michigan cars went between late September and mid-December. Wash off the road salt before pickup so the inspection report shows the real paint, leave winter-grade washer fluid in, and expect the car to meet snow in Wyoming or the Sierra before it reaches California sunshine.

Ann Arbor has been our most frequent pickup, with Keego Harbor and Romulus also in the file; Detroit, Grand Rapids, Lansing, Flint and the rest of the state are served the same way. Every car we dispatched went to the Bay Area, to Los Altos, Los Gatos, Fremont and Redwood City, and Los Angeles, San Diego or Sacramento deliveries are booked on the same terms.

Yes, if it rolls and steers: a 1979 Ford Bronco that did not run booked inside our band. An electric car that cannot be driven is loaded with a winch in its transport or tow mode, and a Tesla Model X in that state priced just above the band. Say so at the quote; our electric vehicle shipping page covers the details.

Yes, priced separately from cars. We moved a Sea Ray Sundancer cruiser from St. Clair Shores on Lake St. Clair to Stockton on the California Delta, and it is left out of the car figures on this page. Length, beam, height and the trailer set a boat price; see our boat shipping page.