California to Illinois Car Shipping (2025 Cost Guide)
Fact Checked by: Quick answer: The average cost to ship a car 2,083 miles from California to Illinois ranges from $1,663 to $2,573 and takes four–twelve days depending on factors like the transport type and season. For a more detailed quote, use our car shipping cost calculator.
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Shipping a car the reverse route? We’ve got you covered with our Illinois to California car shipping guide.
The best California to Illinois car shipping companies
We’ve done the research and these are the best car shipping companies to help transport your vehicle from California to Illinois:
- Best for accurate pricing: Sherpa Auto Transport
- Best for discounts: AmeriFreight Car Transport
- Best cross-country shipper: Montway Auto Transport
- Best for overall value: SGT Auto Transport
- Best for quick pickup: Easy Auto Ship
- Price Lock Promise
- Pay by credit card
- Free car wash at delivery
- No upfront deposit
- Door-to-door service
- Competitive pricing
- Last-minute car shipments
- Guaranteed & expedited shipments
- Gap insurance coverage
- Multiple discounts
- Competitive pricing & $0 upfront
- GPS tracking
- Multiple insurance options
- Guaranteed pickup dates available
- Door-to-door service
- No hidden fees
- Free online quotes
- Door-to-door service in 48 states
- Exact pickup dates
- Ships to & from HI
- No upfront deposit
- Expedited shipping
- No hidden fees
- Ships motorcycles & RVs
- Discount for cash payments
Alternative ways to ship your car from California to Illinois
- Drive it yourself. This is straightforward but not always an option, and it will put about 2,083 miles on your car going from California to Illinois. 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 need to ship your car from California for a move to Illinois, you may want to hire a moving company that can handle car shipping, as well. Many long-distance moving companies work with reputable car shippers to coordinate auto transport.
- Hire a driver. Hire someone to drive the car from California to Illinois for you. It’s an option, but will probably be a very costly one and involve trusting a driver to safely get your car to its destination.
- 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!
CA to IL auto transport costs and transit times
The tables below detail the costs and estimated transit times for shipping a car between popular cities in California and Illinois. The average travel distance is about 2,083 miles, with shipping times typically ranging from four to twelve days .
Cost to ship a car from Los Angeles, CA to Illinois
| From California to Illinois | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles, CA to Chicago, IL | $1,631 – $2,524 | 2,015 miles | 4 – 12 days |
| Los Angeles, CA to Aurora, IL | $1,561 – $2,464 | 1,982 miles | 3 – 11 days |
| Los Angeles, CA to Elgin, IL | $1,608 – $2,393 | 1,989 miles | 3 – 11 days |
| Los Angeles, CA to Champaign, IL | $1,647 – $2,499 | 2,006 miles | 4 – 12 days |
| Los Angeles, CA to Cicero, IL | $1,568 – $2,450 | 2,012 miles | 4 – 12 days |
Cost to ship a car from Bakersfield, CA to Illinois
| From California to Illinois | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bakersfield, CA to Chicago, IL | $1,568 – $2,475 | 2,031 miles | 4 – 12 days |
| Bakersfield, CA to Aurora, IL | $1,530 – $2,275 | 1,995 miles | 3 – 11 days |
| Bakersfield, CA to Elgin, IL | $1,600 – $2,450 | 2,003 miles | 4 – 12 days |
| Bakersfield, CA to Champaign, IL | $1,647 – $2,450 | 2,021 miles | 4 – 12 days |
| Bakersfield, CA to Cicero, IL | $1,568 – $2,524 | 2,026 miles | 4 – 12 days |
Cost to ship a car from Fresno, CA to Illinois
| From California to Illinois | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fresno, CA to Chicago, IL | $1,665 – $2,540 | 2,140 miles | 4 – 12 days |
| Fresno, CA to Aurora, IL | $1,681 – $2,540 | 2,104 miles | 4 – 12 days |
| Fresno, CA to Elgin, IL | $1,633 – $2,490 | 2,112 miles | 4 – 12 days |
| Fresno, CA to Champaign, IL | $1,681 – $2,490 | 2,131 miles | 4 – 12 days |
| Fresno, CA to Cicero, IL | $1,520 – $2,641 | 2,135 miles | 4 – 12 days |
Cost to ship a car from Long Beach, CA to Illinois
| From California to Illinois | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Long Beach, CA to Chicago, IL | $1,600 – $2,475 | 2,029 miles | 4 – 12 days |
| Long Beach, CA to Aurora, IL | $1,577 – $2,275 | 1,993 miles | 3 – 11 days |
| Long Beach, CA to Elgin, IL | $1,536 – $2,376 | 2,001 miles | 4 – 12 days |
| Long Beach, CA to Champaign, IL | $1,615 – $2,400 | 2,017 miles | 4 – 12 days |
| Long Beach, CA to Cicero, IL | $1,647 – $2,524 | 2,024 miles | 4 – 12 days |
Cost to ship a car from Oakland, CA to Illinois
| From California to Illinois | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oakland, CA to Chicago, IL | $1,520 – $2,591 | 2,126 miles | 4 – 12 days |
| Oakland, CA to Aurora, IL | $1,615 – $2,376 | 2,086 miles | 4 – 12 days |
| Oakland, CA to Elgin, IL | $1,663 – $2,400 | 2,098 miles | 4 – 12 days |
| Oakland, CA to Champaign, IL | $1,681 – $2,540 | 2,123 miles | 4 – 12 days |
| Oakland, CA to Cicero, IL | $1,681 – $2,465 | 2,121 miles | 4 – 12 days |
Shipping an SUV or truck from California to Illinois
Since vehicles like SUVs, 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 Illinois you should expect to pay between $2,079 and $3,216.
Factors that affect car shipping costs from CA to IL
When transporting your vehicle from the Golden State to the Land of Lincoln, these factors will influence your final price:
- Type of transport: Options like open, enclosed, or top-loaded transport cater to different needs. Open carriers are cost-effective, while enclosed transport provides added protection for luxury or classic cars. If you’re not sure, check out our guide comparing open vs. enclosed car shipping.
- Vehicle size and type: The dimensions and weight of your vehicle directly affect shipping costs. The larger and heavier your vehicle, the more it will cost to ship your car to Illinois.
- Distance and route: The journey from California to Illinois spans approximately 2,083 miles, influencing fuel and labor costs. The longer the distance, the bigger the price tag.
- Time of the year: Seasonal demand impacts the price of getting your car out of California, with summer and winter holidays often seeing a spike due to increased moving and travel activity.
- Fuel prices: Fluctuating fuel prices can significantly affect transport costs. This is an important consideration given the distance between California and Illinois and the varying gas prices across the country.
- 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 Illinois should take between four and twelve days. Expedited services are available but come at a higher cost.
Illinois vehicle regulations you need to know
- Car insurance requirements: The liability insurance minimums for Illinois are $25,000 bodily injury liability per person, $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident, and $20,000 property damage liability per accident.
- Vehicle inspection: In Illinois, emissions inspections are mandatory on a yearly basis for eligible vehicles in the Chicago and East St. Louis metropolitan areas. The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency conducts tests on automobiles before residents can renew their vehicle registration with the Secretary of State's office.
- Driver’s license: Even if your out-of-state driver's license is valid, you must still pass a vision test and written exam if you are moving to Illinois. Within 90 days of becoming a resident in the state, you must convert your license to an Illinois non-commercial license.
- Additional taxes: According to Illinois law, the recipient or buyer of any vehicle transferred within the state must complete a Private Party Vehicle Tax Transaction form (form RUT-50) and pay the sales tax for the car within 30 days of the transfer of ownership.
Learn more with our car shipping checklist.
Transporting your vehicle from California
More than 39 million people call California home. Nicknamed the Golden State, California has a great Mediterranean climate throughout most of the state. In the Southeast, you may experience colder winters and hotter summers. The northern part of California experiences more rain than the rest of the state. Before your move be sure to check for rain or very hot days.
Transporting your vehicle to Illinois
About 22 million people are living in the Land of Lincoln. Illinois' climate is clearly different in the northern and southern halves of the state. The northern half experiences cold winters and mild summers whereas the southern half experiences mild winters and hot and humid summers. Illinois is a part of "tornado alley"
FAQ
Does someone have to be present when you ship a car for pickup in California and delivery in Illinois?
Most companies will require that an adult of at least 18 years of age be present when picking up your car in California and when dropping it off in Illinois.
Do you need car insurance when shipping your car from California to Illinois?
If you’re not driving the vehicle from California to Illinois, you aren't required to have typical car insurance. Your car hauler should have adequate insurance if an accident happened on the drive to Illinois, which you should verify before loading your car in California.
If you’re driving your car at all in either state, you should understand the requirements. The minimum car insurance requirement in California is $15,000 for individual injury, $30,000 per accident, and $5,000 for property damage in the case of an accident involving another driver.
The liability insurance minimums for Illinois are $25,000 bodily injury liability per person, $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident, and $20,000 property damage liability per accident.
How long does it take to ship a car from California to Illinois?
Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from California to Illinois is about 2,083 miles, and that’s as fast as about 5 days. However, most car transport companies will take four to twelve days to travel from California to Illinois.
Will I be required to have a vehicle inspection in either state?
California requires an annual safety inspection to ensure that all vehicles used on public roads are in good condition and safe to operate. The inspection can be carried out at any California Department of Transportation approved service station.
In Illinois, emissions inspections are mandatory on a yearly basis for eligible vehicles in the Chicago and East St. Louis metropolitan areas. The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency conducts tests on automobiles before residents can renew their vehicle registration with the Secretary of State's office.
If I have a driver’s license in California, will I need one in Illinois?
Even if your out-of-state driver's license is valid, you must still pass a vision test and written exam if you are moving to Illinois. Within 90 days of becoming a resident in the state, you must convert your license to an Illinois non-commercial license.
If I bought a car in California, will I be required to pay sales tax in Illinois after shipping it there?
It’s important to understand any tax implications if you’re having a car shipped from California to Illinois after purchasing it.
According to Illinois law, the recipient or buyer of any vehicle transferred within the state must complete a Private Party Vehicle Tax Transaction form (form RUT-50) and pay the sales tax for the car within 30 days of the transfer of ownership.
We recommend that you always check for updated tax information in both California and Illinois to avoid any hidden costs.
What is the cheapest way to ship a car from California to Illinois?
The cheapest way to ship a car from California to Illinois is to ship it on a train or choose an open trailer transport method, avoid expedited shipping, and be flexible with your pickup dates.
How much does it cost to ship a car from California to Illinois?
Shipping a car from California to Illinois costs $1,663 to $2,573.
