Michigan to California Car Shipping

Preparing your vehicle for transport from Michigan to California is simple. Follow these key steps:

Remove Personal Items: Clear out all belongings from inside your car. Carriers aren’t insured for personal items, and extra weight can increase shipping costs.

Clean Your Vehicle: Wash your car thoroughly. This makes it easier to document any existing damage during the pre-transport inspection.

Check for Leaks and Mechanical Issues: Ensure your vehicle runs properly and has no fluid leaks. Check tire pressure and battery charge.

Remove or Secure Accessories: Take off custom antennas, spoilers, bike racks, and toll transponders. Retract or remove mirrors if possible.

Document the Condition: Take photos of your vehicle from all angles before shipping. This protects you if any damage occurs during transit.

Provide Keys: Have a spare key ready for the driver. Keep the gas tank about 1/4 full to reduce weight while ensuring the vehicle can be loaded and unloaded.

For complete preparation guidelines, visit our Vehicle Shipping Tips page. Following these steps ensures a smooth shipping experience from Michigan to California.

Yes, your vehicle is fully insured during transport from Michigan 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 your shipment begins, 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 an extra layer of protection throughout your Michigan to California transport.

You’ll receive the carrier’s insurance details before pickup. We recommend taking photos of your vehicle before and after transport for your records.

We recommend scheduling your pickup at least 1-2 weeks in advance for the best results. However, booking earlier gives you more options and often better rates.

Here’s why early booking helps:

• Better carrier availability – Carriers can plan routes and combine shipments more efficiently
• More competitive pricing – Last-minute bookings typically cost more
• Flexible pickup windows – You’ll have more control over your schedule

If you need faster service, we offer expedited shipping options that can arrange pickup in as little as 24-48 hours, though this comes at a premium price.

For the smoothest experience on your Michigan to California route, book as soon as you know your moving dates. This cross-country route is popular, so planning ahead ensures your vehicle ships when you need it to.

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 auto transport is the most common and affordable option for shipping your car from Michigan to California. Your vehicle is loaded onto an open-air carrier (the kind you see on highways), which exposes it to weather and road debris but is perfectly safe for most vehicles. This method typically costs 40-60% less than enclosed transport.

Enclosed auto transport protects your vehicle inside a covered trailer, shielding it from weather, dust, and road debris during the cross-country journey. This option costs at least 50% more but is worth considering for luxury cars, classics, exotic vehicles, or cars with custom paint jobs.

For most Michigan to California shipments, open transport is the smart choice—it’s reliable, cost-effective, and used for over 90% of vehicle shipments nationwide. Choose enclosed transport if your vehicle is high-value or requires extra protection. Learn more in our open vs enclosed auto transport guide.

Yes! We offer door-to-door auto transport service for your Michigan to California car shipment. This means we’ll pick up your vehicle at your home or office in Michigan and deliver it directly to your destination in California.

When you book, simply provide your preferred pickup and delivery addresses. Our carrier will come to these exact locations whenever possible. This saves you time and eliminates the hassle of driving to a terminal.

What if the truck can’t access my location? Large car carriers may face restrictions on narrow streets, low-hanging trees, or residential areas with tight turns. If this happens, our driver will contact you to arrange a convenient nearby meeting spot, like a shopping center parking lot or gas station.

Door-to-door service is included in most quotes at no extra charge. It’s the most popular option for customers shipping cars from Michigan to California because it offers maximum convenience for your cross-country move.

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!