$1,333 Car Shippers from California to Alabama (2024 Guide)
Quick Answer: The average cost to ship a car the 2161 miles from California to Alabama ranges from $1,333 to $2,117 and takes 4-12 days.
Shipping a car the reverse route? We’ve got you covered with our Alabama to California car shipping guide.
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The average cost to ship a car from California to Alabama
Because the distance between California to Alabama is about 2161 miles, it’ll take from 4 to 12 days to complete your car shipment.
Cost to ship a car from Los Angeles, CA to Alabama
- Los Angeles to Huntsville: $1,373 to $2,103
- Los Angeles to Birmingham: $1,266 to $2,187
- Los Angeles to Montgomery: $1,307 to $2,159
- Los Angeles to Mobile: $1,359 to $2,041
- Los Angeles to Tuscaloosa: $1,293 to $2,083
Cost to ship a car from San Diego, CA to Alabama
- San Diego to Huntsville: $1,340 to $1,934
- San Diego to Birmingham: $1,353 to $2,014
- San Diego to Montgomery: $1,373 to $2,020
- San Diego to Mobile: $1,314 to $2,054
- San Diego to Tuscaloosa: $1,353 to $1,914
Cost to ship a car from San Jose, CA to Alabama
- San Jose to Huntsville: $1,329 to $2,166
- San Jose to Birmingham: $1,424 to $2,123
- San Jose to Montgomery: $1,347 to $2,273
- San Jose to Mobile: $1,370 to $2,080
- San Jose to Tuscaloosa: $1,343 to $2,187
Cost to ship a car from San Francisco, CA to Alabama
- San Francisco to Huntsville: $1,333 to $2,165
- San Francisco to Birmingham: $1,319 to $2,208
- San Francisco to Montgomery: $1,400 to $2,114
- San Francisco to Mobile: $1,333 to $2,122
- San Francisco to Tuscaloosa: $1,347 to $2,100
Cost to ship a car from Fresno, CA to Alabama
- Fresno to Huntsville: $1,387 to $2,032
- Fresno to Birmingham: $1,414 to $2,053
- Fresno to Montgomery: $1,329 to $2,058
- Fresno to Mobile: $1,387 to $2,074
- Fresno to Tuscaloosa: $1,307 to $2,095
Shipping an SUV or Truck from California to Alabama
Since vehicles such as SUV, trucks, and vans are larger and heavier, it’s a bit more expensive to ship them than a sedan. How much more?
If you’re shipping a larger vehicle from California to Alabama you should expect to pay between $1,666 and $2,646.
Factors that affect the price of shipping a car from California to Alabama
- Open Carrier or Enclosed Trailer – Most new cars from ports and factories are moved on open auto carriers, while race cars, vintage collector’s cars, and high-dollar luxury cars get enclosed transport. If you’re not sure, check out our guide comparing open vs enclosed car shipping.
- Time of the year – Due to demand, prices to ship your car from California to Alabama tend to be a little higher in the summer.
- Size, Weight, and Type of Vehicle – The larger and heavier your vehicle, the more shipping your car to Alabama will cost.
- Delivery Expectations – Because it’ll make their job easier, your auto shipper may give you a pricing discount if you’re flexible on delivery dates. That being said, getting your car from California to Alabama should take between 4 and 12 days.
- Pick up and Drop-Off Options – Instead of door-to-door service, consider taking your vehicle to the nearest company terminal in California and having it delivered to the one closest to your new home in Alabama. It’s more work for you, but it could save you a bundle.
Resources for Shipping a Car from California to Alabama
The following resources can help with you shipping your car from California to Alabama:
- The best car shipping companies: Don’t run the risk of using an unreliable company to transport your car from California to Alabama. Using the right company can save you many headaches.
- Best California to Alabama movers: Moving too? We’ve handpicked the best moving companies between California and Alabama.
- How much do movers cost?: Use our moving calculator to get a more accurate estimate of moving costs.
- California to Alabama movers & costs: Everything you should know about moving from California to Alabama.
Stick around for more details on costs, tips, and California car shippers you should use.
The best car shipping from California to Alabama
A good car shipping company should cover the basics. These are the things to look out for in a quality transport company:
- Insurance: Make sure the insurance covers both the company and the hauler the company contracts with to ship the car.
- Experience: Look for a company that has multiple years of experience and a good track record.
- Shipping options: Good car shipping companies will offer open and closed transport, expedited delivery, shipment tracking, and more.
- Added Perks: Damage coverage, no initial deposits, rental car assistance, free car wash, and guaranteed pricing are some additional options great car shippers offer.
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How car shipping from California to Alabama works
- After you’ve received your quote, book your vehicle transport from California to Alabama.
- Once booked, you’ll schedule your vehicle to be picked up in California where it will be loaded onto the carrier.
- Your vehicle will be safely unloaded from the carrier in Alabama on your delivery date.
What else should you know about shipping a car from California to Alabama?
- Car Insurance requirements: Alabama state government requires motorists possess liability insurance, which must provide a minimum coverage of 25/50/25. This specification includes coverage for bodily injury per person, bodily injury per accident, and property damage per accident.
- Vehicle Inspection: In Alabama, a safety inspection must be completed prior to selling a vehicle and a VIN inspection is mandatory when registering an out-of-state vehicle. Emissions inspections are not required by the state, though cities and municipalities may have their own laws mandating them.
- Driver’s License: When you move to Alabama with an out-of-state driver's license, you have 30 days to surrender it and obtain an Alabama license.
- Additional Taxes: In Alabama, a 2% state sales tax is levied on the purchase of vehicles, including off-road motorcycles and ATVs. With the addition of city and county vehicle sales taxes, the total sales tax owed will amount to between 3.375% and 4% of the vehicle's cost.
Alternative ways to ship your car from California to Alabama
- Drive it yourself: Straightforward but not always an option and it will put about 2161 miles on your car going from California to Alabama. If you’re not sure, here are the pros and cons of driving your car vs shipping it.
- Ship it with your movers: If you hire a moving company, they also work with reputable car shippers. Otherwise, there may be the option of even shipping your car with your household belongings!
- Hire a driver: Hire someone to drive the car from California to Alabama for you. It’s an option…
- Ship by train: If this is an option for you, it’s an affordable and secure way of shipping your vehicle. Shipping a car by train is actually the cheapest way to ship your car!
Learn more with our car shipping checklist
Shipping Your Car from California to Alabama FAQs
Does someone have to be present when picking up my car in California and when dropping off my car in Alabama?
Most companies will require someone that is at least 18-years-old to be present when picking up your car in California and when dropping it off in Alabama.
Do you need car insurance when shipping your car from California to Alabama?
If you’re not driving the vehicle from California to Alabama, it’s not required to have typical car insurance. Your car hauler should have adequate insurance if an accident happened on the drive to Alabama, which you should verify before loading your car in California.
How long does it take to ship a car from California to Alabama?
Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. With the trip from California to Alabama being about 2161 miles, that’s as fast as about 5 days. But most car transporting companies will take 4-12 days to go from California to Alabama.