Moving from Virginia to California may be an exciting coastal change, but there are logistics you must consider beyond finding a job and a new place to stay.
What about your car? You should ask yourself if moving cross-country makes it convenient to keep your old vehicle and how that will affect expenses, from shipping fees to registration and more.
How can I compare shipping costs for my car?
In this situation, there are usually three main vehicle transportation options. If you have the time and want to enjoy the diverse scenery, drive it across the country yourself to avoid a carrier fee.
However, you will have to pay for lodging along the way, as it is a multi-day trip. You’ll need to eat, pay for fuel, and your car may likely suffer wear and tear, especially as it deals with changing terrain across regions.
Another option is open-carrier shipping, which is the most ecological option for standard vehicles. Then there’s enclosed shipping, which provides more protection for your car, but you can expect to pay more out of pocket. You may want to use an enclosed carrier for sports and vintage rides.
Whether you’re using open-carrier or enclosed shipping, your final cost will depend on the:
- Size of your vehicle
- Transport availability at time of booking
- Scheduling flexibility
- Pickup and delivery location.
What about the car’s market condition?
Before leaving Virginia, you should get an estimate of your vehicle’s private sale or trade-in value.
Factors affecting the potential sale price include the:
- Year
- Model
- Mileage
- Make
- Condition
It may be worth keeping a reliable older car from Virginia that has a solid maintenance history if its market value calculation can absorb the cost of shipping and necessary repairs in California.
Whether or not your car was manufactured in 1976 or later will also affect your final cost upon arrival in California.
Is your car a classic collector ride? If so, these cars are usually exempt from smog checks. Your vintage car can often appreciate, which makes it worth relocating to the new state.
Why do California’s registration rules affect movers?
California has specific registration and emissions rules that new out-of-state residents have to comply with. Within 20 days of establishing California residency, you must register your out-of-state vehicle. You can expect to pay $250 to $450 for older models for the combination of Highway Patrol Baseline and County fees for your California DMV registration.
If you own your Virginia car for less than 12 months before moving to California, your new state will impose a 7.25% use tax on the purchase price. Don’t worry about this fee if the car was in your possession for longer than a year.
Don’t be surprised if your vehicle, which is in solid condition and runs well in Virginia, still requires extensive and expensive repairs to meet these California regulations.
Your car will have to go through a California smog inspection, which may include extensive emission system repairs to pass. A significant year is 1976, as cars manufactured in this year or later must pass the smog check before registration. If your older vehicle fails the inspection, you can expect an additional bill ranging from $1,000 to $2,500 to replace components like catalytic converters.
It’s a good idea to find out whether your specific vehicle meets California’s emission requirements before arranging its potentially costly transport to the state.
How does time affect the new resident’s wallet?
Your cross-country shipping may take about 7 to 15 days depending on the arrangement you make. The move-in date will affect final shipping prices due to seasonal demand, since certain times will have less pickup availability, and your California delivery location can also affect quotes.
If your shipped car arrives significantly after you do, you’ll have to pay for alternative transportation to be able to get around as needed.
When the car is not worth keeping in California
Maybe you’ve already made the move with your Virginia car, and you realize that you may have a lemon on your hands if you go through the California upgrade process. If an older vehicle needs costly repairs or cannot justify the expense of keeping it after a move, comparing California junk car cash offers can help owners evaluate selling locally rather than paying to transport the vehicle back across the country.
Plus, you don’t want to run the risk of operating an unregistered vehicle on public roads that has failed its smog check. Evaluate what cash offers you can get for your old ride and put it towards a new car in California.
Enjoy California car life
California has its own unique car culture where your old car may or may not fit in. Therefore, if you transport your old car to the Sunshine State, you can still benefit by cashing out and buying one that already meets smog standards.
This content is provided for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice. AFP editorial staff were not involved in the creation of this content.
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