California to Texas
- Distance
- 1,500 mi
- Transit
- 3–6 days
- Open from
- $1,000
California · I-5
Car Shipping San Diego, CA
Door-to-door auto transport from $525 · Pickup in 1–3 days · Open and enclosed carriers
- Dallas: from $1,125
- New York City: from $1,500
- Phoenix: from $525
888-706-8784Specialists answer 7 days a week
Quote from San Diego
Compare quotes from licensed, bonded carriers.
- 1. Route
- 2. Vehicle
- 3. Contact
No obligation · Takes 60 seconds · We never sell your data
- Insured carriers
- 1–5 day pickup
- No deposit to us
- Interstates
- I-5, I-8, I-15
- Nearest terminal or port
- Port of San Diego (National City) and yards in Otay Mesa
- Typical pickup lead time
- 1–3 days
- after booking
- To Dallas
- $1,125 – $1,475
- 3–5 days · open
- To New York City
- $1,500 – $1,975
- 7–11 days · open
- To Phoenix
- $525 – $700
- 1–3 days · open
Car shipping in San Diego: Navy town on the California lanes
San Diego ships more cars on military orders than any city on the West Coast. Naval Base San Diego, North Island, Miramar and Camp Pendleton move families in and out every week, and the summer PCS season is the busiest stretch of the year. Add relocations to the biotech and defense employers, students at UCSD and San Diego State, retirees leaving for Arizona and Texas, and a coastal collector-car culture that ships enclosed, and the county keeps the lane busy in every month. The yards in Otay Mesa and National City turn loads around, and San Diego cars join the Los Angeles lanes on I-15 or head east on I-8 through Yuma to I-10.
The county is two kinds of place for a truck. The inland suburbs, Chula Vista, Eastlake, Santee, El Cajon, Poway, Rancho Bernardo, Carlsbad, San Marcos and Escondido, are wide and easy. The coast, from Imperial Beach to Oceanside, and the older neighborhoods around Balboa Park are narrow, hilly or both, and the handover happens at a lot on a main road. The quote form above is set to San Diego; add the other end of the trip and your vehicle for a range.
Pickup and delivery around San Diego County
Inland is a driveway pickup. Chula Vista, Otay Ranch, Eastlake, Bonita, Santee, El Cajon, La Mesa, Poway, Rancho Bernardo, Scripps Ranch, Carmel Valley's newer streets, Carlsbad, San Marcos, Vista and Escondido take a 75-foot truck wherever the street lets it turn without reversing. Gated communities in Rancho Santa Fe, Carmel Valley and the newer developments admit a delivery truck with a call from the resident or meet the driver at the gate; it does not change the price.
The coast and the old neighborhoods are meeting points. Ocean Beach, Pacific Beach, Mission Beach, La Jolla's hills and village, Point Loma's slopes, Coronado's village, Hillcrest, North Park, South Park, Kensington and downtown have narrow streets, hills and no room to turn, and the driver names a big-box lot off I-5, I-8, I-805 or the 163. Regulars include the lots in Mission Valley, the Sports Arena area and Kearny Mesa. San Diego International's hotel lots on Harbor Drive and Pacific Highway are the usual handover for anyone flying the same day.
The installations set their own rules. Carriers do not enter Naval Base San Diego, North Island, Miramar or Pendleton; the driver meets you at a lot outside the gate or at your off-base address, and your specialist confirms the spot when the truck is assigned. Put the report date on the booking; until a carrier is dispatched, dates move with your orders at no charge. Base decals come off before pickup.
Belongings stay under about 100 pounds, below the window line, uninsured; on a PCS move the household goods shipment takes the boxes. A car leaving California keeps its title and registration with you, and a financed or leased car crosses state lines without lender approval. The border comes up because it is fifteen minutes away; cross-border shipments are a separate service with customs paperwork.
Outbound
Top routes from San Diego
Where San Diego customers ship most. Each route page has a full price table by vehicle.
California to Florida
- Distance
- 2,730 mi
- Transit
- 6–9 days
- Open from
- $1,400
California to New York
- Distance
- 2,790 mi
- Transit
- 7–10 days
- Open from
- $1,450
Price examples
What it costs to ship a car from San Diego
Sedan, running, standard pickup window. Reverse direction prices are usually within 10% of these.
| From San Diego to | Distance | Transit | Open carrier | Enclosed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas, TX | 1,360 mi | 3–5 days | $1,125 – $1,475 | $1,625 – $2,150 |
| New York City, NY | 2,760 mi | 7–11 days | $1,500 – $1,975 | $2,175 – $2,875 |
| Phoenix, AZ | 360 mi | 1–3 days | $525 – $700 | $750 – $1,000 |
| Houston, TX | 1,470 mi | 4–6 days | $1,200 – $1,600 | $1,750 – $2,325 |
| Chicago, IL | 2,080 mi | 5–8 days | $1,350 – $1,800 | $1,950 – $2,600 |
- Distance1,360 miTransit3–5 daysOpen carrier$1,125 – $1,475Enclosed$1,625 – $2,150
- Distance2,760 miTransit7–11 daysOpen carrier$1,500 – $1,975Enclosed$2,175 – $2,875
- Distance360 miTransit1–3 daysOpen carrier$525 – $700Enclosed$750 – $1,000
- Distance1,470 miTransit4–6 daysOpen carrier$1,200 – $1,600Enclosed$1,750 – $2,325
- Distance2,080 miTransit5–8 daysOpen carrier$1,350 – $1,800Enclosed$1,950 – $2,600
Services
Car shipping services in San Diego
The services San Diego customers book most, with the low end of each typical range.
- from $1,400
Cross-Country Shipping
Coast to coast in 7–10 days on I-40, I-70 or I-80. Priced per mile far below short hauls.
Learn more - from $800
Enclosed Transport
Hard-sided trailers for classic, exotic, luxury and low-clearance cars. Weather and road-debris protection.
Learn more - from $550
Open Transport
The standard for 9 in 10 shipments. Two-level open trailers, lowest cost, fastest pickup.
Learn more
Why AutoShippingUS
Why San Diego drivers choose AutoShippingUS
PCS moves planned around the report date
The Navy and Marine Corps gates have lots and hours of their own. Your report date goes on the booking, the handover outside the gate is agreed when the truck is assigned, and dates move with your orders at no charge.
Coast and canyon handovers confirmed in advance
Whether the address is a beach cottage in OB, a hillside in La Jolla or a cul-de-sac in Eastlake, your specialist confirms the handover spot when the truck is assigned, not on the morning.
Enclosed capacity checked before you commit
Rancho Santa Fe, La Jolla and Del Mar ship classics and exotics enclosed. Before you book, your specialist checks that a hard-sided carrier with a liftgate is available for your dates, so a collector car is not waiting a week for a trailer.
Questions
San Diego car shipping questions
Not covered here? A specialist can answer route-specific questions in a couple of minutes.
888-706-8784Roughly $950–$1,325 to Dallas, $1,450–$2,000 to New York, $450–$650 to Phoenix, $1,050–$1,450 to Houston and $1,300–$1,750 to Chicago for a running sedan on an open carrier. Enclosed adds 40–60%; SUVs and pickups 12–20%.
One to three days. San Diego cars join the Los Angeles lanes via I-15 or head east on I-8 through Yuma to I-10, and the yards in Otay Mesa and National City turn loads around.
Constantly. Naval Base San Diego, North Island, Miramar and Camp Pendleton generate PCS shipments every week. Carriers do not enter the installations; the driver meets you outside the gate or at your off-base address.
The beach communities, La Jolla's hills, Hillcrest, North Park, downtown and Coronado's village. Chula Vista, Eastlake, Santee, El Cajon, Poway, Rancho Bernardo, Carlsbad, San Marcos and Escondido are direct to the door.
More than most cities. Rancho Santa Fe, La Jolla and the coastal communities ship classics and exotics enclosed, and the sea air makes owners careful about paint.
Summer, when PCS season and relocations overlap. November through February is cheapest apart from the holiday weeks.
Not on a domestic carrier. Cross-border shipments involve customs and a different service; we can point you to one. Within the US, San Diego is served like any other city.
Guides
Before you ship from San Diego
8 min read
Military PCS Car Shipping: Rules, Reimbursement and Timing
The government ships one privately owned vehicle for OCONUS moves; for CONUS PCS you drive or pay to ship. Second vehicles and most stateside moves are out of pocket, and a monetary allowance may offset part of the cost. Book as soon as orders are in hand.
Read the guide7 min read
How to Prepare a Car for Shipping: 12-Point Checklist
Wash the car, photograph every panel, leave a quarter tank of fuel, remove personal items and toll tags, fold in mirrors, note existing damage on the Bill of Lading, and hand over one set of keys.
Read the guide
8 min read
Car Shipping Insurance: What Is Covered and How Claims Work
Your car is covered by the carrier’s cargo insurance while it is on the truck, typically $100,000–$250,000 per load on open carriers and more on enclosed. The Bill of Lading inspection at pickup and delivery is what makes a claim provable.
Read the guide
Ready to ship a car from San Diego?
Carriers pick up across San Diego in 1–3 days. Enter your route and vehicle and a specialist confirms a firm price within business hours.
Average response time under 5 minutes during business hours (Mon–Sun 7am–9pm ET).
Last updated September 12, 2026 · Written by the AutoShippingUS Editorial Team · Reviewed by Christofer Whiteman, Editor · Industry review by Sarah Williams, Independent auto transport consultant, 20 years in the industry