Shipping Cost from San Francisco, California to Lexington-Fayette, Kentucky

The cost to ship a car from California to Kentucky typically ranges between $1,100 and $2,200, depending on factors such as the type of vehicle, distance, and desired level of service. For instance, shorter routes like Los Angeles to Louisville usually cost between $912 and $1,425 for standard vehicles.

Driving is usually cheaper for shorter distances, but for long cross-country moves, the cost difference shrinks, and shipping often becomes more cost-effective when factoring in gas, food, lodging, wear-and-tear, and time, making it worth paying a carrier to avoid the hassle and expense of a long solo trip, though driving saves on carrier fees but adds travel time and costs.

It's often cheaper to ship a car by train, especially for long distances on specific routes like Amtrak's Auto Train (DC to Florida), offering enclosed protection for potentially less than an open truck carrier; however, for general cross-country moves not on Amtrak routes, truck (open carrier) is usually the most economical, though trains offer better protection and environmental benefits if available.