Ship Car from PA to CA

Ship Car from PA to CA

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The long drive from Pennsylvania (PA) to California (CA) takes the driver through at least eight states, depending on the route — the most direct drive, though, is along Interstate 80. The trek is for more than 2,600 miles, depending on starting and ending points, and takes several lengthy days to complete. If you need to move a vehicle between the state of Pennsylvania and California, you should look into the auto transport services offered by American Auto Transport. Contact American Auto Transport today and speak with one of our highly trained team members about transporting your vehicle today.

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Here at American Auto Transport, we are the nation’s top auto transportation company. We have moved literally thousands of vehicles across the country, securely, and have safely delivered them, on time and in excellent condition, to their destination. We have many pleased customers and would like for you to become one of them.

Possibly you’ve been thinking that you can make the drive from Pennsylvania to California, or in the reverse direction, on your own — and you’re right, you could do so. However, that means days away from home and work, dealing with traffic, road work, and weather issues, and racking up a lot of expenses for things like lodging, food, and fuel. And don’t forget the one-way airfare to get you to where the vehicle is located or back once it’s been delivered — and all of the hassles of flying, today, with the lines and security.

You’d save yourself money, simplify your life, and have much less stress if you just contact American Auto Transport.

How The Time Of Year Affects Car Transport Services In Alabama

  • Lower rates but higher risk: The low season typically offers prices 10–15% lower, although adverse weather may cause travel delays.
  • Snowbird auto transport demand impact: Although Alabama is in the South, car shipping routes that go to, from, or through the state often get very busy in late December because many people travel south for the winter.
  • Bad weather delays: Although Alabama usually has mild weather, drivers sometimes face icy or dangerous conditions in other states. This can slow down travel, lead to late pickups and deliveries, and may require schedule changes to keep everyone, including your vehicle, safe.
  • Carrier and truck driver shortages: Bad weather can mean fewer truck drivers are available on certain routes, leading to pick-up and delivery delays.
  • Holiday season: During the Christmas and New Year’s holidays, fewer carriers are available, so your delivery may be delayed.

As spring arrives in Alabama, the weather gets warmer and sometimes stormy. This change leads to more people shipping cars, especially as snowbirds travel north and the moving season begins. While improved road conditions can speed up deliveries, the higher demand usually means shipping rates go up during this busy time.

  • Higher costs and more demand: Spring marks the busiest time of year, which means more people need auto transport, and prices go up. This increase is partly due to people who spent the winter on the Gulf Coast returning.
  • Optimized safety and reliability: Warmer temperatures help make roads safer and lead to fewer weather-related delays than in winter.
  • Unpredictable or dangerous weather: While spring in Alabama is usually mild, heavy rain, strong winds, and thunderstorms can sometimes cause delays.
  • Heavy Traffic: Increased travel may cause road congestion and affect delivery schedules.

Summer is the busiest time for car shipping in Alabama, as families and college students move. More people shipping cars means higher prices and possible wait times, and the hot weather can also cause cars to overheat or slow down transport. We suggest booking 3-4 weeks early to get better and more accurate prices.

Fall is a great time to ship a car in Alabama. Costs are usually lower, and more transporters are available because demand drops after summer. The mild weather helps keep transit safe and reliable, but early seasonal changes can sometimes cause small delays.

  • Economical Costs: As demand decreases, shipping rates fall from peak summer levels.
  • Lower Demand and Better Service: When fewer people are moving, moving companies usually have more open spots. This makes it easier to book and gives you more scheduling options.
  • Good weather conditions: Compared to the very hot summer, the cooler, steadier fall weather in Alabama makes transportation easier and reduces the risk of cars overheating or of bad weather causing delays.
  • Fall transition to winter: As fall begins, the weather is usually mild. However, by November, it often gets colder and storms can happen unexpectedly. It’s a good idea to be extra careful during this time.

Alabama Has Six Main Highways For Transporting Cars

I-10 Goes east to west through southern Alabama, passing through Mobile.
I-20 Goes east to west through the middle of Alabama, passing through Birmingham and Tuscaloosa.
I-22  Runs between Birmingham and Memphis, linking the two cities.
I-59 Goes from the northeast(NE) to the southwest(SW) through central Alabama.
I-65 From north to south, crossing the state from Mobile through Montgomery and Birmingham to the Tennessee border.
I-85 Links Montgomery with the Georgia state line and extends to Atlanta.

Five Major Railroads Class 1 To Ship Cars In Alabama

1- BNSF Railway (BNSF)
2- Canadian National Railway (CN)
3- CPKC (Formerly Kansas City Southern – KCS)
4- CSX Transportation (CSX)
5- Norfolk Southern (NS)

Costs when transporting your own vehicle:

  • Plane ticket – $350-1,300
  • Food – $300-500
  • Gas – $375-500
  • Lodging – $300-500

Approximate costs: $2,500.00

Costs when you transport with AAT:

American Auto Transport offers absolutely no-obligation, free quotes to ship a car from PA to CA and we’re always happy to talk with you about the auto transport process and to answer all of your questions. You have nothing to lose — so get some more information today! Call us at (866) 327-7863 for more information about Pennsylvania to California!

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2026-02-13T01:18:23+00:00
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