California to Montana Car Shipping (2024 Cost Guide)
Fact Checked by: Quick answer: The average cost to ship a car 1,306 miles from California to Montana ranges from $1,150 to $1,755 and takes 3–8 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 Montana to California car shipping guide.
California to Montana 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 Montana. The average travel distance is about 1,306 miles, with shipping times typically ranging from 3 to 8 days.
Cost to ship a car from Los Angeles, CA to Montana
| From California to Montana | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles, CA to Billings, MT | $1,051 – $1,726 | 1,237 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Los Angeles, CA to Missoula, MT | $1,150 – $1,760 | 1,210 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Los Angeles, CA to Belgrade, MT | $940 – $1,430 | 1,095 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Los Angeles, CA to Bozeman, MT | $922 – $1,460 | 1,095 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Los Angeles, CA to Butte, MT | $1,065 – $1,508 | 1,102 miles | 2 – 8 days |
Cost to ship a car from San Diego, CA to Montana
| From California to Montana | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego, CA to Billings, MT | $1,084 – $1,659 | 1,299 miles | 3 – 8 days |
| San Diego, CA to Missoula, MT | $1,095 – $1,609 | 1,271 miles | 3 – 8 days |
| San Diego, CA to Belgrade, MT | $973 – $1,524 | 1,158 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| San Diego, CA to Bozeman, MT | $963 – $1,635 | 1,158 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| San Diego, CA to Butte, MT | $973 – $1,667 | 1,164 miles | 2 – 8 days |
Cost to ship a car from San Jose, CA to Montana
| From California to Montana | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose, CA to Billings, MT | $963 – $1,540 | 1,199 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| San Jose, CA to Missoula, MT | $912 – $1,475 | 1,010 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| San Jose, CA to Belgrade, MT | $959 – $1,519 | 1,058 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| San Jose, CA to Bozeman, MT | $968 – $1,549 | 1,058 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| San Jose, CA to Butte, MT | $931 – $1,549 | 1,064 miles | 2 – 8 days |
Cost to ship a car from San Francisco, CA to Montana
| From California to Montana | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco, CA to Billings, MT | $983 – $1,587 | 1,167 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| San Francisco, CA to Missoula, MT | $944 – $1,435 | 979 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| San Francisco, CA to Belgrade, MT | $894 – $1,430 | 1,025 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| San Francisco, CA to Bozeman, MT | $884 – $1,475 | 1,025 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| San Francisco, CA to Butte, MT | $912 – $1,519 | 1,031 miles | 2 – 8 days |
Cost to ship a car from Fresno, CA to Montana
| From California to Montana | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fresno, CA to Billings, MT | $1,095 – $1,693 | 1,247 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Fresno, CA to Missoula, MT | $912 – $1,490 | 1,058 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Fresno, CA to Belgrade, MT | $973 – $1,524 | 1,105 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Fresno, CA to Bozeman, MT | $1,044 – $1,524 | 1,105 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Fresno, CA to Butte, MT | $1,014 – $1,603 | 1,112 miles | 2 – 8 days |
Shipping an SUV or truck from California to Montana
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 Montana you should expect to pay between $1,438 and $2,194.
Factors that affect the price of shipping a car from California to Montana
When transporting your vehicle from the Golden State to the Big Sky Country, 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 Montana.
- Distance and route: The journey from California to Montana spans approximately 1,306 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 Montana 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 Montana should take between 3 and 8 days. Expedited services are available but come at a higher cost.
The best California to Montana car shipping companies
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We’ve done the research and these are the best car shipping companies to help transport your vehicle from California to Montana:
- Best for quick pickup: Easy Auto Ship
- Best for accurate pricing: Sherpa Auto Transport
- Best insurance coverage: Ship A Car Direct
- Best cross-country shipper: Montway Auto Transport
- Best for discounts: AmeriFreight Car Transport
- No upfront deposit
- Expedited shipping
- No hidden fees
- Ships motorcycles & RVs
- Discount for cash payments
- Price Lock Promise
- Pay by credit card
- Free car wash at delivery
- No upfront deposit
- Door-to-door service
- Damage-free guarantee
- $500 damage or loss coverage
- No deposit
- Rental car assistance
- Inoperable car shipping
- No upfront payment
- GPS tracking
- Multiple insurance options
- Competitive pricing
- Door-to-door shipping
- Competitive pricing
- Last-minute car shipments
- Guaranteed & expedited shipments
- Gap insurance coverage
- Multiple discounts
Alternative ways to ship your car from California to Montana
- Drive it yourself: This is straightforward but not always an option, and it will put about 1,306 miles on your car going from California to Montana. 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 Montana 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!
What else should you know about shipping a car from California to Montana?
- Car insurance requirements: In Montana, drivers must meet legal requirements for minimum car insurance liability coverage to ensure financial responsibility in accidents. Mandated by state regulations, this includes $25,000 per person for bodily injury and $50,000 per accident for bodily injury, covering collective medical expenses in case of multiple injuries, capped at $50,000 for the entire incident. Additionally, there's a required minimum of $20,000 per accident for property damage, crucial for addressing costs related to damage to another party's vehicle or property. Adhering to these insurance requirements is imperative for all motorists, ensuring compliance with state laws and contributing to a secure and responsible driving environment on Montana roadways.
- Vehicle inspection: If you are moving to Montana, you are not required to have your vehicle inspected.
- Driver’s license: New residents in Montana must start their driver’s license application process within 60 days of moving to the state.
- Additional taxes: In Montana, there is no state-level sales tax on vehicles, however, local governments in Montana may impose their own taxes and fees on vehicles.
Learn more with our car shipping checklist.
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Transporting your vehicle from California
Over 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 Montana
About 22 million people are living in the Big Sky Country of Montana. Montana has a lot of variation in geography, topography, and elevation, and the climate is equally varied. The western half is mountainous, interrupted by numerous large valleys. Eastern Montana comprises plains and badlands, broken by hills and isolated mountain ranges, The Continental Divide has a considerable effect on the climate, as it restricts the flow of warmer air from the Pacific from moving east, and drier continental air from moving west. The area west of the divide has a modified northern Pacific Coast climate, with milder winters, cooler summers, less wind, and a longer growing season. Low clouds and fog often form in the valleys west of the divide in winter, but this is rarely seen in the east.
FAQ
Does someone have to be present when picking up my car in California and when dropping off my car in Montana?
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 Montana.
Do you need car insurance when shipping your car from California to Montana?
If you’re not driving the vehicle from California to Montana, you aren't required to have typical car insurance. Your car hauler should have adequate insurance if an accident happened on the drive to Montana, 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.
If you’re driving your car at all in either state, you should understand the requirements. In Montana, drivers must meet legal requirements for minimum car insurance liability coverage to ensure financial responsibility in accidents. Mandated by state regulations, this includes $25,000 per person for bodily injury and $50,000 per accident for bodily injury, covering collective medical expenses in case of multiple injuries, capped at $50,000 for the entire incident. Additionally, there's a required minimum of $20,000 per accident for property damage, crucial for addressing costs related to damage to another party's vehicle or property. Adhering to these insurance requirements is imperative for all motorists, ensuring compliance with state laws and contributing to a secure and responsible driving environment on Montana roadways.
How long does it take to ship a car from California to Montana?
Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from California to Montana is about 1306 miles, and that’s as fast as about 3 days. However, most car transport companies will take 3-8 days to travel from California to Montana.
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.
If you are moving to Montana, you are not required to have your vehicle inspected.
If I have a driver’s license in California, will I need one in Montana?
New residents in Montana must start their driver’s license application process within 60 days of moving to the state.
If I bought a car in California, will I be required to pay sales tax in Montana after shipping it there?
It’s important to understand any tax implications if you’re having a car shipped from California to Montana after purchasing it.
In Montana, there is no state-level sales tax on vehicles, however, local governments in Montana may impose their own taxes and fees on vehicles.
We recommend that you always check for updated tax information in both California and Montana to avoid any hidden costs.
What is the cheapest way to ship a car from California to Montana?
The cheapest way to ship a car from California to Montana is to ship it on a train or to choose an open trailer transport method, avoid expedited shipping, and be flexible with your pick-up dates.
How much does it cost to ship a car from California to Montana?
Shipping a car from California to Montana costs $1,150 to $1,755.
