Arizona → California · About 750 miles
Ship a Car from Phoenix to San Francisco
Desert to the Bay — this lane carries tech and healthcare relocations between the Phoenix metro's growing east-valley employers and the Bay Area, students, military families, and Californians and Arizonans trading places in both directions. Dealers move inventory on it too, especially trucks and SUVs headed for Bay Area lots.
Carriers run I-10 west out of Phoenix, then turn north on I-5 through California's Central Valley into the Bay Area — some loads route through Bakersfield on CA-58 depending on the truck's schedule. Typical transit is 2–3 days door to door once your vehicle is loaded. Most cars move on open transport, and every shipment includes insurance coverage. Classic, luxury, and exotic owners often step up to enclosed transport for full protection from weather and road debris.
Below you will find the typical price ranges for this route, how the process works, and the details that actually move the price. The ranges below are a guide — your exact price depends on your specific pickup and delivery cities, since a pickup well outside the Phoenix metro or a delivery deep in the East Bay or Silicon Valley prices differently than metro to metro. The quote form gives you a price for your specific cities.
Phoenix to San Francisco car shipping cost
Typical ranges for a standard sedanOpen transport
typically $800–$1,200
Enclosed transport
typically $1,200–$1,800
Typical ranges for a standard sedan in running condition. Season is a factor too: prices run higher when demand peaks — snowbird season in the fall and spring, the summer moving season, and the year-end holidays — and lower in quieter months. Your exact price depends on your specific pickup and delivery cities — locations well outside the Phoenix or San Francisco metros can price differently than metro to metro. Use the quote form for your free quote.
Get a shipping quote
Enter your vehicle and dates to get your free quote for Phoenix to San Francisco — no obligation, and no payment due to get the number.
How it works
Three steps from quote to delivery — we handle the carrier, the scheduling, and the updates.
Get your quote & book
Get a shipping quote and book.
We assign your carrier
We match your vehicle with a vetted, insured carrier already running the Phoenix–San Francisco lane, and confirm your pickup window with you.
Pickup, transit & delivery
The driver inspects and loads your vehicle at your door, transits 2–3 days, and delivers in San Francisco with updates along the way.
What we ship on this route
Cars & SUVs
Daily drivers, family SUVs, and crossovers.
Pickup trucks
Half-ton through heavy-duty, priced by size and weight.
Classic & collector cars
Enclosed transport recommended for full protection.
Motorcycles
Enclosed only, for full weather and road protection.
Vans & heavy-duty trucks
Quoted by our team — call for a quote.
What affects the price on this route
The typical ranges above are for a standard sedan shipping metro to metro. Here’s what moves your quote within — or outside — those ranges.
Distance — about 750 miles
Mileage is the backbone of every quote. Your specific pickup and delivery cities set the exact distance — and metro-to-metro moves price better than remote or hard-to-reach endpoints, where a carrier has to travel out of its way to reach you.
Vehicle size & weight
A compact sedan takes one standard slot. Large SUVs, trucks, and heavy vehicles take more trailer space and weight capacity, so they price higher.
Running condition
A vehicle that runs, steers, and brakes loads in minutes. A non-running vehicle needs a winch and extra handling, which adds to the price.
Open vs. enclosed
Open transport (typically $800–$1,200) is the standard for everyday vehicles. Enclosed (typically $1,200–$1,800) puts your car inside a covered trailer.
Season & timing
Demand on this lane climbs in summer and during snowbird season, when carriers fill up fast and prices follow. If your dates are flexible — even by a day or two — you’ll usually price better than a fixed, must-move date.
Ways to save on this route
- Stay flexible on pickup dates. Carriers fill trucks around their own schedules and reward flexibility — even a day or two of give usually prices better than a fixed, must-move date.
- Book 1–2 weeks ahead in peak season. Summer and snowbird months fill trucks on this lane fast — booking early secures a better price and a wider choice of pickup days.
- Ship metro to metro when you can. Pickup and delivery in metro areas price better than remote or hard-to-reach locations, where a carrier has to deadhead to reach you.
- Choose open unless the car calls for enclosed. Open transport (typically $800–$1,200) is the best value for everyday vehicles — save enclosed for a classic, exotic, or high-value car.
Good to know for this route
- San Francisco streets are the delivery challenge. Steep grades, narrow streets, and tight parking in the city itself mean some deliveries meet at a nearby accessible spot in a flatter, wider area. East Bay and Peninsula deliveries are usually straightforward door to door. The driver confirms the plan with you before arrival.
- Strong volume keeps this lane quick. At about 750 miles with heavy truck traffic between Arizona and California, pickups in the Phoenix metro are often arranged within a few days of booking, with delivery 2–3 days later.
- Desert heat at the Phoenix end. The first leg crosses open desert on I-10. Remove anything heat-sensitive from the car, and check the battery before pickup — Valley heat is the top cause of no-start loading delays.
- Bay Area delivery timing. Drivers plan around I-5, I-580, and bridge traffic. A reachable phone number on delivery day matters — Bay Area stops are often one of several on the truck's run.
Preparing your car for pickup
A few quick steps before the driver arrives make pickup smooth — and protect you if anything comes up in transit.
- Keep the fuel tank about a quarter full. That’s plenty for loading and unloading, without the extra weight of a full tank.
- Remove personal items and loose accessories. Carriers aren’t insured for belongings left inside the vehicle, so clear out anything you can’t replace.
- Wash the car before pickup. A clean car makes the pre-shipment inspection photos accurate, so any existing marks are documented clearly.
- Note any existing damage with the driver. Walk the car together at pickup and make sure it’s recorded on the bill of lading before you sign.
- Disable alarms and remove toll tags. It prevents surprise alarms in transit and toll charges piling up along the way.
- Have a spare key ready if possible. The driver needs a working key for loading and unloading at both ends.
Phoenix to San Francisco car shipping FAQs
The questions we hear most on this lane, answered with this route’s typical ranges.
How much does it cost to ship a car from Phoenix to San Francisco?
For a standard sedan in running condition, open transport typically runs $800–$1,200 and enclosed transport typically runs $1,200–$1,800 on this route of about 750 miles. The exact number depends on the specific cities and ZIPs on both ends — pickups or deliveries well outside the Phoenix and San Francisco metros can price differently. Larger vehicles, non-running condition, and tight timelines can also move the price. Your price comes from the quote form — get your free quote with the quote tool above or by calling 800-507-2629.
How long does it take to ship a car from Phoenix to San Francisco?
Typical transit is 2–3 days door to door once your vehicle is picked up. Carriers average roughly 500 miles a day, and the wait for pickup after booking is usually short on this lane as well.
Is open or enclosed transport better for this route?
For most everyday vehicles, open transport is the right call — it is how the large majority of cars move between Phoenix and San Francisco, and every shipment includes insurance coverage either way. Choose enclosed if you are shipping a classic, luxury, exotic, or freshly restored vehicle: the covered trailer shields it from weather and road debris for the whole trip.
Can a carrier deliver on San Francisco's steep streets?
Often, yes — but not always to the exact curb. Full-size carriers handle many San Francisco neighborhoods, but the steepest and narrowest streets can be unsafe or illegal for a loaded hauler. When that is the case, the driver arranges the nearest accessible meeting spot with you — typically a flatter, wider street or lot a few minutes away — and the delivery inspection happens there. Deliveries in Oakland, Berkeley, Daly City, San Mateo, and Fremont are usually door to door without any change of plan.
Can you pick up or deliver outside the main metro areas?
Yes. We pick up across the Phoenix area — Phoenix, Scottsdale, Mesa, Tempe, Chandler, Gilbert, Glendale, Peoria — and deliver throughout the San Francisco area, including Oakland, Berkeley, Daly City, San Mateo, Fremont, and Walnut Creek. Service is door to door to your exact address wherever a full-size carrier can safely and legally reach it — and if a street is too tight, the driver will arrange the nearest accessible meeting spot with you. Keep in mind the figures on this page are based on the Phoenix and San Francisco metro areas — pickups or deliveries well outside those metros can price differently, which is why the quote form asks for your specific cities.
Areas served on this lane
Phoenix area pickups
Phoenix, Scottsdale, Mesa, Tempe, Chandler, Gilbert, Glendale, Peoria — and the surrounding metro.
San Francisco area deliveries
San Francisco, Oakland, Berkeley, Daly City, San Mateo, Fremont, Walnut Creek, Richmond — and the surrounding metro.
Service is door to door — the truck comes to your address wherever it can safely and legally park. If a street is too tight for a full-size hauler, the driver will arrange the nearest accessible meeting spot with you.