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 your car: Wash your vehicle inside and out. This helps you spot any existing damage during the inspection.

Remove personal items: Take out all belongings, toll passes, and loose items. Carriers are not responsible for personal property.

Check fluids and battery: Ensure your car has enough gas (about 1/4 tank), oil, and coolant. Make sure your battery is charged.

Remove or secure accessories: Take off bike racks, spoilers, or other add-ons that could get damaged. Fold in side mirrors and retract antennas.

Document everything: Take photos of your car from all angles before pickup. Note any existing scratches or dents.

Have keys ready: Provide one set of working keys to the driver. Keep a spare set for yourself.

For complete preparation guidelines, check our Vehicle Shipping Tips page. Following these steps ensures a smooth transport experience from New York to California.

Yes, your vehicle is fully insured during transport from New York to California. All Sherpa Auto Transport carriers must carry a minimum of $1,000,000 in liability insurance and $100,000 in cargo insurance.

Before your car leaves New York, we verify that your carrier’s insurance is active and valid. This coverage protects your vehicle for the entire journey to California.

For added security, all our carriers list Sherpa as a Certificate Holder on their insurance policy. This means we can directly monitor coverage and ensure your protection throughout the cross-country shipment.

What this means for you: If any damage occurs during transport, the carrier’s insurance will cover repairs or replacement costs up to your vehicle’s value.

For car shipping from New York to California, we recommend scheduling your pickup at least 2-3 weeks in advance. This gives you the best chance to secure competitive rates and preferred dates.

Here’s why early booking matters:

• Better pricing: Carriers can group your car with other vehicles heading west
• More flexibility: You’ll have more pickup date options
• Less stress: No last-minute scrambling to find available transport

If you’re moving during busy seasons (summer months or winter holidays), consider booking 4-6 weeks ahead. Need to ship with short notice? We can still help, but expect limited options and higher costs.

Pro tip: Book as soon as you know your move date. You can always adjust details later, but securing your spot early ensures smooth transport from New York to California.

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 uses open trailers that expose your car to weather and road debris. It’s the most common and affordable option, costing 40-60% less than enclosed transport. Your vehicle travels on the same multi-level trailers you see on highways every day.

Enclosed auto transport protects your car inside a covered trailer, shielding it from weather, dust, and road debris. This premium service costs more but offers maximum protection for luxury cars, classics, or vehicles with custom modifications.

For New York to California shipping: Most standard vehicles do fine with open transport on this 2,800+ mile route. Choose enclosed transport if you have a high-value car, classic vehicle, or can’t risk any exterior damage from the long cross-country journey.

Both options are safe and reliable. Your choice depends on your budget and how much protection your specific vehicle needs. See our complete open vs enclosed auto transport guide for detailed comparisons.

Yes, Sherpa Auto Transport offers convenient door-to-door auto transport service for shipments from New York to California. This means we’ll pick up your vehicle from your home, office, or preferred location in New York and deliver it directly to your new address in California.

Here’s how our door-to-door service works:

• Pickup: Our carrier will come to your specified address in New York
• Delivery: Your vehicle will be delivered to your chosen location in California
• Flexible locations: If your street has restrictions (like low-hanging branches or narrow roads), we’ll arrange pickup and delivery at a nearby safe location such as a shopping center or gas station

This service eliminates the need for you to drive to a terminal or depot, saving you time and hassle during your cross-country move. Most residential areas in both New York and California can accommodate our transport trucks, making true door-to-door delivery possible in the majority of cases.

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!