Car shipping from Maryland to California.

Most shipments from Maryland to California take 5 to 8 days and cost $1,650 to $2,350 for open transport.

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Shipping a sedan from Maryland to California takes 5 to 8 days and costs $1,650 to $2,350 on an open carrier in October 2026.

Reference pricing by specific origin and destination. Your price holds for 28 days.

Updated November 2026
Route Open price Enclosed price
Baltimore to San Francisco $1,700 to $2,050 $2,900 to $3,500
Columbia to San Francisco $1,700 to $2,050 $2,900 to $3,500
Germantown to San Francisco $1,700 to $2,050 $2,900 to $3,500
Baltimore to Los Angeles $1,650 to $2,000 $2,850 to $3,400
Columbia to Los Angeles $1,750 to $2,100 $2,950 to $3,550
Baltimore to San Diego $1,950 to $2,350 $3,300 to $3,950

All 6 priced routes from Maryland to California are in the full price list, open and enclosed.

Pricing refreshed monthly based on current carrier rates.

Why another company can quote you 40% less.

Quotes well below the typical range are almost always bait-and-switch. You are quoted a low price to pay the deposit, and then the price is bumped at the last minute.

Four things that set us apart.

Insured Transport

Insured under federal cargo liability requirements. Coverage is part of the quote, not an add-on.

The Price is the Price

Your price holds for 28 days. Cancel free until 7 days before pickup.

Door-to-Door

Most shipments run door to door. If access is tight (narrow streets, low clearance), we will arrange a nearby meeting point.

1% for the Planet

One percent of every booking funds Clean Air Task Force, a nonprofit working on transport and energy emissions.

Trusted by people who've shipped a car before.

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Reviews on Google
Muhammad, customer of Sequoia

Great experience! It was very personalized and attentive. I had an emergency move and they managed to pick up the car just the next day after booking.

Muhammad Dodge Charger | MN → NJ
James, customer of Sequoia

I'm really happy with the service!!! Fili is a really nice person and a professional.

James Toyota Camry TRD | AZ → MN
Andrew, customer of Sequoia

Really nice company, the whole process was fast and easy peasy.

Andrew Morris Mini Cooper | WA → CA

Cars we've moved

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Ship your car from Maryland to California.

Your price holds for 28 days. Cancel free until 7 days before pickup.

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What to know about shipping a car from Maryland to California.

California is one of the five states Marylanders move to most, and the furthest of them by a long way. Baltimore to San Francisco is close to 2,800 miles. For a car bought nearly new, though, the paperwork at the California end is simpler than from most states, because Maryland and California work to the same emission rules.

Does a low-mileage car from Maryland count as new in California?

A car first sold new in Maryland since the 2011 model year had to be certified to California’s emission standards.

That matters because California counts a car with under 7,500 miles as new when a California resident buys it, and a new car must be California-certified to register there. A low-mileage car bought from a Maryland owner normally clears that. It was certified when it was first sold. And if you’re moving rather than buying, none of this applies, because California registers a car you first registered yourself in Maryland, whatever its label.

The exception is a brand-new car from a Maryland dealer, sold to a buyer who already lives in California. Maryland lets a dealer sell a car for registration in another state without California certification, so that one can be a 49-state model. The emissions label under the hood says which. Read it before you pay.

What does a car need after it arrives in California?

If the move makes you a California resident, these are the state's rules for the car.

Deadline
Register within 20 days of becoming a resident or taking a job in California.
VIN check
The car is checked in person before California will register it, by a DMV employee, a police officer or a licensed vehicle verifier. It has to have arrived first.
Emissions
A smog certificate from a California smog station for most cars, including gasoline cars from 1976 on. Electric cars are exempt.
Tax
A California resident who buys a car out of state and brings it in within 12 months owes California use tax, usually paid at registration, less sales tax paid to the other state.

Checked September 2026 against California DMV, California Department of Tax and Fee Administration. Rules change; the state's own site has the final word.

Car hauling burns diesel. We fund the work to clean it up.

One percent of every booking goes to Clean Air Task Force, a nonprofit working on policy and technology to clean up transport and energy emissions.

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Common questions, plainly answered.

How much does it cost to ship a car from Maryland to California?

Open transport from Maryland to California runs $1,650 to $2,350. Baltimore to Los Angeles is $1,650 to $2,000, and Baltimore to San Diego comes in highest, at $1,950 to $2,350.

How long does it take to ship a car from Maryland to California?

From Baltimore, Columbia or Germantown, a car reaches the Bay Area, Los Angeles or San Diego in 5 to 8 days.

Is my car insured during transport?

Every shipment is insured by the carrier under federal cargo liability requirements.

How do I prepare my car for pickup?

Wash the car so its condition is easy to record, photograph it from each corner, and leave about a quarter tank of fuel. Take out anything above the 100 pound personal item allowance, and take your toll transponder such as FasTrak, E-ZPass or SunPass off the windshield, because toll gantries can read it while the car rides the truck. Have a working key ready for the driver.

Are tolls included in the price?

Yes. Every toll, bridge and congestion charge the truck pays on the way is already in your quote, and nothing is added for them after you book.

What happens if weather delays my shipment?

The truck waits until the road is safe to drive, and your pickup or delivery date moves with it. We'll confirm the driver's new window with you as soon as the road reopens. Snow on the mountain passes and in the northern states, and hurricanes along the Gulf and Atlantic coasts, are the usual causes.

When am I charged?

The deposit is charged 7 days before your pickup window opens; for a pickup inside 7 days it is held on your card at booking and charged when your driver is confirmed. The remaining balance is paid to the driver at delivery.

How do I ship a car?

To ship a car, request a quote with your origin, destination, and vehicle details. Sequoia matches you with a driver according to your pickup window, the driver picks up your vehicle, and delivers it at your destination.

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Your price holds for 28 days. Cancel free until 7 days before pickup.

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