New York to California Car Shipping

Preparing your vehicle for shipping from New York to California is simple but important. Here’s what you need to do:

Clean and inspect your car: Wash your vehicle inside and out. Take photos of any existing damage for your records.

Remove personal items: Take out all belongings, toll passes, and fragile items. Carriers are not responsible for personal property left in vehicles.

Check fluids and battery: Ensure your car has less than a quarter tank of gas. Check that the battery is secure and fluids aren’t leaking.

Remove or secure accessories: Take off custom parts, antennas, spoilers, or anything that could get damaged during transport.

Have keys ready: Make sure you have working keys to give the driver for loading and unloading.

For complete details, visit our Vehicle Shipping Tips page. Following these steps helps ensure your car arrives safely in California.

Yes, your vehicle is fully insured during transport from New York to California. Every carrier in our network must carry a minimum of $1,000,000 in liability insurance and $100,000 in cargo insurance.

Before we assign your shipment, we verify that the carrier’s insurance is active and valid. We also require all carriers to add Sherpa Auto Transport as a Certificate Holder on their policy. This gives you extra protection throughout your cross-country move.

Our quotes include all insurance coverage at no extra cost to you. You can ship your car from New York to California with complete peace of mind knowing your vehicle is protected every mile of the journey.

For car shipping from New York to California, we recommend scheduling your pickup at least 2-3 weeks in advance. This gives carriers enough time to plan efficient routes and bundle your vehicle with other shipments heading west.

Booking early offers several benefits:

• Better pricing: More time allows carriers to optimize their loads
• Flexible scheduling: You’ll have more pickup date options
• Less stress: Avoid last-minute rush fees and limited availability

If you’re moving during peak seasons (summer months or winter holidays), consider booking 3-4 weeks ahead. These busy periods see higher demand for cross-country shipping.

Need to ship with shorter notice? We can often accommodate rush orders, though expect higher costs and fewer scheduling options.

No payment is due at the time of booking. We do require a payment method on file so that it is available to charge once a carrier is secured. We accept all major debit and credit cards, including Mastercard, Visa, Discover and American Express. The most convenient option is to pay for your shipment in full by credit card at the time a carrier is secured.

We also allow you to pay for your Initial Payment via credit or debit card and then pay the outstanding balance on delivery day via cash or a certified check made out to the carrier.

Your Sherpa shipment includes up to 100 lbs of personal items or household goods stored in the trunk area or secured below the window line. If you are shipping to or from a port or your shipment includes ocean transit, your vehicle must be emptied of all items. Sherpa and your assigned carrier cannot be responsible for personal items left inside the vehicle. See our Vehicle Shipping Tips for more details.

Yes. It is important that you, or another adult that you trust, is there for pickup and delivery of your vehicle. This designated person plays an important role in the shipping process including documenting the state of the vehicle and signing the Bill of Lading, which acts as a receipt of the vehicle’s condition.

Open transport uses open-air trailers that expose your car to weather and road debris. It’s the most common and affordable option, costing about 50% less than enclosed transport.

Enclosed transport protects your vehicle inside a covered trailer, shielding it from weather, dust, and road debris during the long trip from New York to California.

Choose open transport if you have a standard daily driver and want to save money. Choose enclosed transport if you’re shipping a luxury car, classic vehicle, or any car with custom paint that needs extra protection on the 3,000-mile cross-country journey.

Most customers shipping from New York to California choose open transport because it’s reliable and cost-effective. See our complete open vs enclosed auto transport guide for detailed comparisons and pricing.

Yes, we offer door-to-door auto transport service from New York to California. This means we pick up your car from your home, office, or any address you choose in New York and deliver it directly to your specified location in California.

Here’s how it works: When you book your shipment, simply provide us with your pickup address in New York and delivery address in California. Our carrier will come to you at both ends of the journey.

Important note: In some cases, large car carriers cannot access certain streets due to low bridges, narrow roads, or parking restrictions. If this happens, our driver will work with you to find a safe, nearby meeting spot like a shopping center or gas station – usually within a few blocks of your address.

Door-to-door service is included in most of our New York to California car shipping quotes at no extra cost. It saves you time and eliminates the need to drive to a terminal.

Many Auto Transport companies try to tease customers with lower rates, only to surprise you with “hidden costs” later. At Sherpa Auto Transport, we do things differently. We provide one locked-in price upfront and stick to it. If unexpected costs arise, we pay them out of our own pocket.

While we may not always be the cheapest option at first glance, our commitment to transparency and reliability offers exceptional value. As a premium service, we ensure an stress-free experience from start to finish.

We transport sedans, SUVs, pickup trucks, vans and motorcycles across the nation, including service to Alaska and Hawaii. At this time, we do not service boats, golf carts, ATVs, or RVs. We can ship both operable and inoperable vehicles so long as the vehicle can roll, brake, and steer, and that you can provide the carrier with a key to the vehicle. We can also ship electric vehicles.

Visit Sherpa’s FAQ page to learn more about car shipping!