Best Car Shipping Companies in Los Angeles (2026 Comparison)
A 2026 comparison of the best car shipping companies in Los Angeles, starting with our top pick. Costs, open vs enclosed transport, broker vs direct carrier, and how to avoid scams.
Los Angeles is one of the busiest car shipping markets in the country: roughly 40% of all U.S. auto transport shipments start or end in California. That demand, combined with strict CARB emissions rules that thin out the available carrier pool, makes choosing the right auto transport company in Los Angeles both important and confusing. This guide compares the best car shipping companies serving Los Angeles, starting with our top pick, and explains costs, carrier types, and how to avoid scams.
The best car shipping companies in Los Angeles
Each company below is profiled by its core strength so you can match the carrier to your shipment, whether you want the lowest price, the strongest insurance, guaranteed pickup, or a bundled move.
USA Auto Transport: best Los Angeles broker for transparent, flexible car shipping
FMCSA: MC#320733, USDOT 3016637. Based in: Tarzana, CA. Reputation: BBB A+, 4.7/5 Yelp.
A licensed property broker that dispatches your vehicle to vetted, FMCSA-compliant carriers across the country. USA Auto Transport is known for flat-rate quotes with no bait-and-switch, rapid carrier dispatch (often within hours), and flexible service. It offers open and enclosed transport, door-to-door and terminal-to-terminal delivery, ships inoperable vehicles, and uniquely lets you pack up to 100 pounds of personal belongings in the trunk during transit. Quotes are valid for two days, and payment is fully refundable until the vehicle is dispatched.Montway Auto Transport: largest carrier network
Reputation: BBB A+, 4.6/5 Trustpilot. Over 250,000 shipments a year across a network of 15,000+ vetted carriers. Montway provides $250,000 in contingent cargo insurance, the strongest secondary coverage in the industry, and excels at concierge logistics for inoperable, modified, or oversized vehicles out of Los Angeles.Sherpa Auto Transport: best price protection
Reputation: BBB A+, 4.9/5 Trustpilot. Sherpa’s Price Lock Promise guarantees the quoted price is the final price, absorbing the difference if carrier rates spike. Its Clean Car Guarantee reimburses up to $20 for a car wash on delivery. The strongest choice if you want zero bait-and-switch risk.AmeriFreight: best insurance and discounts
Reputation: BBB A+, 4.8/5 Trustpilot. Operating since 2004, AmeriFreight’s AFTA gap protection covers out-of-pocket deductibles up to $2,000 if a carrier’s insurance fails, and it offers discounts for students, seniors, military, and first responders.SGT Auto Transport: guaranteed pickup dates
Reputation: 4.5/5 Trustpilot. A price match guarantee plus, unusually, guaranteed pickup dates rather than the standard 3 to 5 day window. A good fit when your schedule is tight.uShip: peer-to-peer marketplace
Reputation: BBB A+, 4.4/5 Trustpilot. Rather than a traditional broker, uShip is a bidding marketplace where 35,000+ active carriers compete for your shipment, with transparent pricing and a mobile tracking app. Best for price-driven shippers comfortable comparing multiple quotes.
Recommended pick: USA Auto Transport
For most car shipping out of Los Angeles, USA Auto Transport is the strongest default: a transparent, FMCSA-licensed broker with fast dispatch, flat-rate pricing, and unusually flexible policies.
How much does it cost to ship a car to or from Los Angeles?
Car shipping cost is driven by distance, vehicle size, carrier type, and season. The industry uses a regressive per-mile structure: the total goes up with distance, but the cost per mile drops on long hauls. SUVs and pickups cost more than sedans, inoperable vehicles add a $150 to $200 winch surcharge, and CARB rules add a regulatory premium to LA routes.
| Distance | Total cost (open) | Per mile | Transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Short (0 to 500 miles) | $375 to $1,100 | $1.00 to $2.00 | 1 to 3 days |
| Medium (500 to 1,500 miles) | $500 to $1,800 | $0.65 to $1.20 | 3 to 5 days |
| Long (1,500+ miles) | $1,050 to $3,000+ | $0.33 to $0.95 | 5 to 14 days |
Open vs enclosed transport
Open carrier transport is the industry standard and the most affordable option: multi-level haulers carry up to ten vehicles, with your car strapped securely to the frame but exposed to weather and road debris. Enclosed transport uses fully walled trailers that shield the vehicle from the elements and from view, typically carrying four cars and often using hydraulic lift gates for low-clearance vehicles. In Los Angeles, enclosed transport is the standard for luxury, exotic, classic, and high-value electric vehicles, and it commands up to 60% more with higher insurance limits (up to $500,000 per vehicle).
Broker vs direct carrier
Most car shipping is arranged through brokers like USA Auto Transport, Montway, and Sherpa, which match your vehicle to a national network of vetted, FMCSA-compliant owner-operators. Brokers offer the fastest pickup windows and the most competitive quotes. A direct carrier, by contrast, owns its own trucks and employs its drivers, which can offer single-source accountability but usually at a higher base cost and with less scheduling flexibility. For a standard Los Angeles car shipment, a reputable broker is the faster and more affordable route.
How car shipping works
Request a quote
Provide pickup and delivery ZIP codes, the vehicle make and model, and your target dates to get a car shipping quote.Choose your carrier type
Open transport for the best value, or enclosed transport for luxury, classic, or electric vehicles.Pick your delivery option
Door-to-door for convenience, or terminal-to-terminal to save money and gain schedule flexibility.Book and schedule pickup
A 1 to 3 day pickup window is standard once you book and the price is locked.Transit and tracking
Transit runs 1 to 14 days depending on distance. Track progress through your dispatch agent.Delivery and payment
Inspect the vehicle against the bill of lading at delivery and confirm its condition before signing.
How to avoid car shipping scams
Verify the company’s FMCSA MC and USDOT numbers in the federal SAFER database, insist on a flat-rate written quote, and check BBB accreditation and recent car shipping reviews. Be wary of quotes far below the market, never wire full payment to an unknown party before pickup, and favor companies with transparent pricing and a clear refund policy.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the most reputable car shipping company in Los Angeles?
- For Los Angeles, USA Auto Transport is a top choice: an FMCSA-licensed broker (MC#320733) with a BBB A+ rating, 4.7/5 Yelp score, flat-rate quotes, and rapid carrier dispatch. Reputability comes down to a valid FMCSA license, strong BBB and review scores, and transparent flat-rate pricing. Verify all three before you book.
- How much is it to ship a car to Los Angeles?
- Open transport ranges from about $375 for a short haul under 500 miles to $3,000+ for a long cross-country move. A standard sedan coast to coast typically runs $1,050 to $1,180, while SUVs, pickups, and enclosed transport cost more. Get a flat-rate quote based on your exact route and vehicle.
- How do I not get scammed shipping my car?
- Confirm the company’s FMCSA MC and USDOT numbers in the SAFER database, demand a flat-rate written quote, and check BBB accreditation and recent reviews. Avoid suspiciously low estimates that signal bait-and-switch, and never pay the full balance in cash to an unverified party before pickup.
- How reputable is Montway Auto Transport?
- Montway is one of the most established brokers in the country, with a BBB A+ rating, 4.6/5 Trustpilot, a network of 15,000+ vetted carriers, and $250,000 in contingent cargo insurance, among the strongest secondary coverage in the industry.
- Should I choose open or enclosed transport?
- Open transport is fine for everyday vehicles and is the most affordable option. Choose enclosed transport for luxury, exotic, classic, or high-value electric vehicles, which benefit from full protection from weather and road debris at roughly 60% more.
The bottom line
To ship a car to or from Los Angeles, verify FMCSA licensing, demand flat-rate pricing, and match the carrier type to your vehicle. For most shippers, USA Auto Transport is the strongest default: licensed, transparent, fast to dispatch, and flexible enough to handle inoperable vehicles, enclosed transport, and personal items in transit. Request a quote with your pickup and delivery ZIP codes to lock in your price.
