California → Arizona · About 750 miles
Ship a Car from San Francisco to Phoenix
Bay Area to the Valley of the Sun is a well-worn lane: people relocating for work, retirees trading Bay Area winters for Arizona sunshine, students heading to ASU, and snowbirds who spend the season in Scottsdale or Mesa. Dealers and online buyers move cars this way too — Arizona's dry climate keeps older vehicles rust-free, and California buyers know it.
Carriers run south on I-5, then east across CA-58 and I-40 or down through the I-10 corridor into Phoenix. Typical transit is 2–3 days door to door once your vehicle is loaded. Most cars move on open transport — the standard way the majority of vehicles travel, and every shipment includes insurance coverage. Classic, luxury, and exotic owners often step up to enclosed transport for added protection from weather and road debris along the way.
Below you'll 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 San Francisco metro or a delivery in a smaller Arizona city prices differently than metro to metro. The quote form gives you a price for your specific cities.
San Francisco to Phoenix 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 San Francisco or Phoenix 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 San Francisco to Phoenix — 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 carrier already running the San Francisco–Phoenix lane, and confirm your pickup window with you. Every shipment includes insurance coverage.
Pickup, transit & delivery
The driver inspects and loads your vehicle at your door, transits 2–3 days, and delivers in Phoenix 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 gets you 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 pickups sometimes meet on a wider street. Steep grades, tight residential streets, and limited parking can keep a full-size hauler from reaching the door in parts of the city. The driver will arrange the nearest accessible meeting spot with you — often just a few blocks away.
- Desert heat is part of this lane most of the year. Before a summer pickup, check the battery and tires — heat is hard on both — and remove anything heat-sensitive from the cabin. Vehicles ride outside on open transport through some of the hottest country in the U.S.
- Monsoon season can shuffle Phoenix deliveries. From July into September, dust storms and heavy rain cells move through the Valley quickly. A delivery may shift by a few hours so the driver isn't unloading in a storm.
- Pickup windows on this lane are usually short. Steady carrier traffic between California and Phoenix means most vehicles are picked up within a few days of booking.
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.
San Francisco to Phoenix 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 San Francisco to Phoenix?
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 San Francisco and Phoenix 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 San Francisco to Phoenix?
Typical transit is 2–3 days door to door once your vehicle is picked up. Carriers average roughly 500 miles a day over the roughly 750-mile run south and east, 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's how the large majority of cars move between San Francisco and Phoenix, and your shipment includes insurance coverage either way. Choose enclosed if you're shipping a classic, luxury, exotic, or freshly restored vehicle: the covered trailer shields it from desert sun, weather, and road debris for the whole trip.
When is the best time to book for snowbird season?
For the fall move to Arizona, book 2–3 weeks ahead — snowbird season is one of the busiest times of year on this lane, and trucks fill fast from California to Phoenix. The same goes for the spring return north. Booking early secures your pickup window before peak-season capacity tightens.
Can you pick up or deliver outside the main metro areas?
Yes. We pick up across the San Francisco area — San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose, Daly City, Berkeley, Fremont, Walnut Creek, San Mateo — and deliver throughout the Phoenix area. 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 San Francisco and Phoenix 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
San Francisco area pickups
San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose, Daly City, Berkeley, Fremont, Walnut Creek, San Mateo — and the surrounding metro.
Phoenix area deliveries
Phoenix, Scottsdale, Mesa, Tempe, Chandler, Gilbert, Glendale, Peoria — 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.