Shipping a Car from Los Angeles, CA to Newark, NJ
Moving a car from Los Angeles to Newark means about 2,900 miles northeastbound, across 11 states, from California to New Jersey. Allow 5–8 days after pickup, in line with roughly 58 hours of highway time. Demand is moderate, so pickup windows are usually easy to fill.
The Route and Corridor
A carrier on this lane works through California, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Missouri: I-70, I-44 and I-55 run through St. Louis and Kansas City, with hilly Ozark sections. In New Jersey, the tolled New Jersey Turnpike and the Newark port area create heavy truck traffic. Expect heavy mountain snow on I-70 and Front Range storms in Colorado. Metros near that straight-line path include Springfield (IL), Fort Wayne (IN) and Pittsburgh (PA), although the actual interstate routing may bend around them. Pickup is on Pacific time and delivery on Eastern time, so a driver's call can come an hour off your clock. Toll roads in Kansas, Illinois and Indiana are built into carrier pricing.
Pickup and Delivery Details
Pickup in Los Angeles. Los Angeles International Airport is the usual reference point for staging in the area. Carriers usually load around I-10, I-405 and I-5. Los Angeles has port activity, so imported or exported vehicles may need extra release time.
Delivery in Newark. Port and airport city with the largest auto-import terminal on the East Coast, in the heart of the New York metro. Drivers often use the Newark Liberty International Airport area as a staging reference. A working port in the Newark area means customs and terminal release can affect timing for some vehicles. Tight streets mean a meet-up at a nearby wide lot is common.
What Los Angeles to Newark Costs
A sedan on an open trailer is priced at roughly $1,160–$1,740 on this run, or $0.50 for each of the 2,900 miles. Long distances dilute fixed costs, so the per-mile rate drops. For a larger vehicle plan on $1,300–$1,950, and for enclosed carriage of a sedan plan on $1,680–$2,525 (about 45% above open). Ending in Jersey City instead (10 mi from Newark) is estimated at $1,165–$1,745. A comparable-length trip, New York City, NY to San Jose, CA (3,033 mi), is priced at $1,215–$1,820.
| Trailer | Vehicle | Typical Price | Why Choose It |
|---|---|---|---|
| Open | Sedan / Coupe | $1,160–$1,740 | Budget-friendly default |
| Open | SUV / Truck | $1,300–$1,950 | Bigger cars, same open trailers |
| Open | Minivan | $1,300–$1,950 | Bigger cars, same open trailers |
| Enclosed | Sedan / Coupe | $1,680–$2,525 | Luxury, classic and low-clearance cars |
Estimates are for a standard sedan; actual quotes vary with pickup and drop-off points, condition and season.
Timing and Seasonality
Mountain passes along the way can close in winter storms, adding a day or two between December and March. Desert heat rarely stops trucks, but midday loading can be hard, so early-morning pickups are common. Four weeks of lead time works well for 2,900 miles. Across California expect mild coastal weather but snow on the Sierra passes in winter; across New Jersey, snow and coastal storms.
Practical Tips for This Lane
- Choose the trailer deliberately. Open at $1,160–$1,740 fits most cars; enclosed at $1,680–$2,525 suits luxury, classic or low cars.
- Plan the meeting point. In Newark, agree early on a wide lot because curbside loading is often impossible.
- Remove loose items. Personal belongings are usually not insured in transit; clear the cabin before pickup in Los Angeles.