Alaska to California Car Shipping — AK to CA Auto Transport

What moves the price: the distance of the mainland leg, vessel schedules, vehicle size, whether you drop off at the port yourself, and season.

Many cars can also travel by the Alaska Marine Highway ferry or be driven up the Alaska Highway through Canada — see shipping a car to Hawaii or Alaska for the trade-offs.

Ocean carriers have stricter rules than truck carriers:

• Keep fuel at a quarter tank or less.
• Remove all personal items except standard equipment — most ocean carriers require an empty car.
• Wash the car and check for leaks; ports may refuse leaking vehicles.
• Bring the title or registration, a photo ID and, for financed vehicles, a letter from your lender authorizing the shipment.
• Electric vehicles: confirm acceptance first — some ocean carriers restrict EVs and plug-in hybrids.

See personal items in car shipping and car shipping documents.

California gives new residents 20 days to register with the DMV. Most vehicles need a smog check and a VIN verification, and out-of-state cars must meet California emissions standards.

Check the official agency website for current rules before you arrive.

Alaska is reached by ocean from the lower 48, with most vehicles moving between the Tacoma, Washington, area and Anchorage. From Anchorage, the Glenn and Parks highways connect to the Mat-Su Valley and Fairbanks, while Southeast Alaska towns like Juneau and Ketchikan rely on ferries and barges. Military moves to Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson and Fort Wainwright, seasonal workers and new residents make up much of the traffic, and summer is the busiest season.

See Alaska car shipping for more.

California is the largest car shipping market in the country. Los Angeles, San Diego, the Bay Area and Sacramento generate constant traffic in every direction along I-5, I-10, I-15, I-40 and I-80. Relocations out of state, online car purchases, dealer moves and port traffic keep carriers busy year-round, which keeps California pricing among the most competitive anywhere. Mountain passes on I-80 and I-5 can see winter delays.

See California car shipping for more.

Ocean-and-truck routes like this one are used most often by:

• Military families with orders to or from Alaska
• Residents leaving Alaska for the mainland
• Seasonal workers and long-term contractors
• Families shipping a second car after the move
• Buyers who purchased a vehicle out of state

• Mainland truck leg: About 1,140 miles between Los Angeles and the port; longer legs cost more.
• Vessel schedule: Sailings aren't daily, so flexible dates help.
• Vehicle size: Larger SUVs, pickups and vans cost more to ship by sea.
• Container vs. roll-on/roll-off: Containers add protection and cost more.
• Season: Summer is the busiest time for military and family moves.
• Port services: Port drop-off yourself can lower the total; door delivery adds cost.

• Book two to four weeks ahead for vessel space.
• Confirm EV or plug-in hybrid acceptance in writing before booking.
• Wash the car inside and out.
• Keep fuel at a quarter tank or less.
• Remove personal items; most ocean carriers require an empty vehicle.
• Bring title or registration, ID and a lienholder letter if financed.
• Keep your Bill of Lading for registration after arrival.

Driving between the lower 48 and Alaska means roughly 2,300 miles from Seattle to Anchorage on the Alaska Highway through British Columbia and Yukon — usually a week or more on the road, plus the distance between Los Angeles and Seattle. You'll need a passport or other accepted document for the Canadian border, and services can be far apart in the north. Add fuel, lodging, meals and wear on the car, and shipping is often comparable in cost while saving more than a week of travel. Many families ship the car and fly, or drive one vehicle and ship the other.

Most vehicles moving between Alaska and the lower 48 sail between the Tacoma, Washington, area and the Port of Alaska in Anchorage, typically about 5–7 days at sea. From Anchorage, cars can be delivered locally or trucked onward on the road system to the Mat-Su Valley, the Kenai Peninsula and Fairbanks. Southeast Alaska communities such as Juneau and Ketchikan are served by ferries and barges rather than roads.

• Booking and vessel scheduling: A few days to two weeks, depending on sailing dates.
• Truck leg (1,140 miles from the port): About 2–4 days on the road once loaded.
• Port processing: Typically a few days at each port for inspection, staging and release.
• Ocean transit: About 5–7 days at sea.
• Final pickup or delivery: Scheduled once the car clears the arrival port.

Add a few days if you're shipping during the summer peak, and plan around vessel schedules rather than a fixed delivery date.

For a side-by-side look at both states, costs, timelines and rules, read shipping a car to Hawaii or Alaska. Military members should also see PCS vehicle shipping.

• Texas to California: $900–$1,500
• Michigan to California: $1,000–$1,800
• Illinois to California: $1,000–$1,700
• New York to California: $1,100–$1,700
• Florida to California: $1,000–$1,600
• North Carolina to California: $1,150–$1,850
• Indiana to California: $1,000–$1,700
• Louisiana to California: $950–$1,450