2,030 miles ยท 5 to 8 day transit
Car Shipping from
Chicago to Los Angeles
Ship a car from Illinois to California: about 2,030 miles on I-44 and I-40, 5 to 8 days in transit, with your rate set on the call.
Call to ship
Chicago to Los Angeles
Speak with a transport specialist. No forms, just call.
Phone lines Mon to Fri 8AM to 8PM, Sat 9AM to 5PM EST
Route overview
Much of this run follows old Route 66: south to St. Louis, then I-44 across Missouri and Oklahoma and I-40 the rest of the way through Texas, New Mexico and Arizona.
Leaving Chicago in winter is the slow part. Lake-country snow and cold can push a pickup back, while I-40 west of Oklahoma City is usually open, though the high country around Flagstaff does get snow. Past Missouri, weather rarely changes the plan.
Take personal things out and run the tank down to about a quarter. Carriers cross weigh stations along the way, and a lighter car helps keep the whole load under its limit.
Distance
~2,030 miles via I-44 and I-40
Transit
5 to 8 days after pickup
Typical rate
$950 to $1,350 for a sedan on an open carrier*
*Price ranges are planning estimates for a sedan on an open carrier. The actual rate is set on the call, based on your dates, the vehicle and carrier availability on this route.
The Chicago pickup starts with a walk-around inspection, and the same check happens at delivery; the Bill of Lading guide explains what you sign at each end.
Planning this corridor
Guides for a move of this type
- What Car Shipping Across the Country Costs Typical coast-to-coast car shipping ranges, what a written quote should include, and the charges that move the price: winch loading, oversize and storage.
- How Car Shipping Works: Broker vs Carrier From your call to the delivery signature: who handles each step, and why pickup and delivery come as windows rather than appointments.
- What to Get in Writing Before Pickup Day The quote details, carrier and driver contact, pickup window and delivery plan to have in writing before your car is loaded, and what to keep after.
FAQs
Illinois to California: what drives the rate?
Will a January pickup in Chicago be delayed?
Can the car come back from Los Angeles to Chicago?
Ship Chicago to Los Angeles
Have both ZIP codes and the vehicle details ready, and this run gets priced on the call.