Car Shipping From Seattle to Los Angeles
AutoMove arranges car transport from Seattle to Los Angeles — auction pickups at Manheim, ADESA, Copart and IAA yards on both ends, one unit or several on the same order. It is a 1,135-mile run, typically 2 to 3 days in transit once the vehicle is loaded.
How much does it cost to ship a car from Seattle to Los Angeles?
Current market range $650-$800 ▼ down
Four things move the number on this lane, and a rate card that ignores them is guessing:
- Vehicle size and condition. A sedan prices below a three-row SUV or a dually. A unit that will not roll, steer or brake needs winch service and prices above a runner.
- Open or enclosed. Enclosed equipment is scarcer and prices well above open on a run this long.
- How busy the lane is that week. Seattle to Los Angeles competes with every other load moving the same direction; when carriers are short, the rate follows.
- Where exactly it sits. A yard right off the interstate is cheaper to service than one an hour out.
We price per unit and quote the lane rather than reading off a chart. Get a quote for the actual vehicle, or call or text (708) 888-0557.
How long does it take?
The route runs about 1,135 road miles, roughly 22 hours of steady driving. Car carriers cover somewhere around 400 to 500 miles a day once hours-of-service and multi-stop loading are accounted for, so plan on 2 to 3 days in transit after the vehicle is picked up.
Pickup itself is a separate window. Auction releases depend on payment clearing and the gate pass being in the driver's name, which is the single most common reason a load sits. We confirm the driver is authorized on your buyer account before dispatch.
Where we pick up in Seattle
Dealer-only auctions in the Seattle area:
We also pick up from every Seattle-area salvage and insurance yard:
- Copart North Seattle — Arlington, WA
- Copart Spanaway — Spanaway, WA
- IAA Seattle — Puyallup, WA
Where we deliver around Los Angeles
Dealer-only auctions in the Los Angeles area:
- ADESA Los AngelesMira Loma, CADealer only
- Manheim CaliforniaAnaheim, CADealer only
- Manheim Southern CaliforniaFontana, CADealer only
- Manheim RiversideRiverside, CADealer only
Plus every Los Angeles-area Copart and IAA yard:
- Copart Adelanto — Adelanto, CA
- Copart San Bernardino — Colton, CA
- Copart Los Angeles — Los Angeles, CA
- Copart Mentone — Mentone, CA
- Copart Rancho Cucamonga — Rancho Cucamonga, CA
- Copart Sun Valley — Sun Valley, CA
- Copart Van Nuys — Van Nuys, CA
- Copart Long Beach — Wilmington, CA
- IAA Anaheim — Anaheim, CA
- IAA Anaheim Consolidated — Anaheim, CA
- IAA Fontana — Fontana, CA
- IAA ACE - Carson — Gardena, CA
- IAA Los Angeles — Gardena, CA
- IAA High Desert — Hesperia, CA
- IAA ACE - Perris — Perris, CA
- IAA ACE - Perris 2 — Perris, CA
- IAA Riverside — Riverside, CA
- IAA Santa Clarita — Santa Clarita, CA
Delivery does not have to be an auction. Most of what we move on this lane goes to a dealership lot, a driveway or a body shop — give us the address and we will run it there.
Open or enclosed on this lane
Open transport
The default, and what the great majority of this lane moves on. Your car rides on an open multi-car carrier, exposed to weather and road grime the same way it would be if you drove it.
Enclosed transport
Worth it for low-clearance, collectible, freshly restored or high-value units. Fewer trailers run enclosed, so book earlier and expect a materially higher rate over this distance.
Common questions
How much does it cost to ship a car from Seattle to Los Angeles?
It depends on the vehicle, whether it runs, open versus enclosed, and how tight carrier supply is that week. We quote the specific unit rather than publish a fixed figure — send the details and you will get a real number for the actual car.
How long does shipping take from Seattle to Los Angeles?
About 2 to 3 days in transit over roughly 1,135 road miles, plus a pickup window that depends on how quickly the vehicle is released.
Can you pick up from an auction I bought at?
Yes — that is most of what we do. We handle Manheim and ADESA dealer sales as well as Copart and IAA, and we confirm the driver is authorized on your buyer account so the yard actually releases the unit.
Do I need to be there for pickup or delivery?
Someone does — you or anyone you nominate. They release or receive the vehicle and sign the bill of lading, which is the condition record at both ends. At an auction the yard handles release against the gate pass.
Can you move a car that does not run?
Yes. Tell us up front that it will not drive, steer or brake so we assign a carrier with a winch. A non-runner discovered at the gate means a failed pickup and a re-dispatch.
Is my car insured while it is being transported?
The assigned carrier holds cargo insurance covering the vehicle in transit, and we verify it is active before the unit is dispatched. Ask us for the certificate on your load and we will send it.
Other lanes we run
Routes that share an end with Seattle to Los Angeles:
- Houston to Los Angeles1,546 road miles
- Chicago to Los Angeles2,018 road miles
- Los Angeles to New York2,794 road miles
Shipping dealer inventory rather than a single car? See vehicle transport for dealers — we run Seattle to Los Angeles for franchise and independent stores on the same trucks.