San Jose, CA Car Shipping: 2025 Costs & Routes

Our team has been in the car shipping industry for a long time. We worked for some of the largest brokers and knew there was a better way to do things.

So we set out to create a company that would be different. We want to walk you through how the process works and we guarantee to match any price you hear from a competitor.

We’re a scrappy team that looks forward to earning your business.

See our Vehicle Shipping Tips for more details about how to prepare your vehicle for shipping. In San Jose, be sure to remove any FasTrak toll tags, clear out any loose interior or exterior accessories, and leave the keys with the carrier; the mild Bay Area climate means you don’t need to worry about winterizing, but you should still check for any local permits or parking restrictions at the pickup location.

Yes, your vehicle is fully insured when shipped to or from San Jose. All carriers we work with must carry at least $1,000,000 in liability insurance and $100,000 in cargo insurance, meeting California’s state requirements. We verify each carrier’s policy is active and in good standing for the entire time your car is in transit.

The sooner, the better. In San Jose we recommend booking at least two weeks ahead, but scheduling as early as possible lets us bundle your car with other shipments leaving the Bay Area, which can lower costs and secure a spot. Because the San Jose market sees high demand from the Silicon Valley corridor and nearby ports, early booking gives you the most flexibility and best pricing options.

We accept all forms of payment. We can arrange credit cards or arrange for you to pay the carrier directly through cash/certified check. We even accept payment via Cash/Zelle/Venmo.

Your shipment with SAKAEM includes up to 100 lbs of personal items or household goods stored in the trunk area or secured below the window line. If your shipment includes ocean transit (Hawaii shipments), your vehicle must be emptied of all items. SAKAEM and your assigned carrier are not responsible for personal items left inside your vehicle. See our Auto Transport Process Article for more details.

A designated (adult) must be present at pickup and delivery. This designated person plays an important role in the shipping process including documenting the state of the vehicle and signing the Bill of Lading, which acts as a receipt of the vehicle’s condition.

In San Jose, open trailers are the most common and cost‑effective way to ship a vehicle, but they expose the car to road dust, wind and debris along the I‑880 and Highway 101 corridors. Enclosed transport, which typically costs about 50% more, protects high‑value cars—such as classic, exotic or custom‑painted models—from those hazards and from the occasional salty air coming from the nearby Bay Area ports. Choose enclosed service if you need extra security for a prized vehicle; otherwise open transport is a reliable, budget‑friendly option for most drivers in the Silicon Valley area.

Door-to-door auto transport service is available throughout San Jose, CA, giving you the easiest way to ship your vehicle. When you book, we ask for your exact pickup and delivery addresses, and the carrier will pick up and drop off at those locations whenever possible. If local traffic rules, narrow streets, or safety concerns prevent a direct door delivery, we’ll arrange a nearby safe spot such as a gas station or parking lot, and we’ve been handling shipments reliably since 2012 with strong customer reviews.

We transport sedans, SUVs, pickup trucks, electric vehicles, vans and motorcycles across all 48 continental states + Hawaii. Our services even provide shipment for golf carts, ATVs, or RVs. We can ship vehicles that don’t run so long as the vehicle can roll, brake, and steer, and that you can provide the carrier with a key to the vehicle. The only exception is boats, which we do not transport.

Visit SAKAEM Logistics’ FAQ page to learn more about car shipping!