Car shipping in Yakima and Central Washington
Yakima is the center of Central Washington — the largest city between the Cascades and Spokane, the hub of the Yakima Valley's agricultural economy, and the crossroads of I-82, US-97, and US-12. Families relocate here for work in agriculture, healthcare, and the Yakima Training Center; Yakima Valley College and Central Washington University students in nearby Ellensburg come and go every semester; and a lot of residents head south to Arizona and California for the winter. All of them need a reliable way to move a vehicle without driving it. Evergreen Car Shipping's Yakima office, on North 3rd Street downtown, is the local point of contact.
We are a licensed and bonded auto transport broker working with a vetted network of FMCSA-registered carriers that run I-82 and I-90 between the Puget Sound and the rest of the country, US-97 north to Wenatchee and south to Oregon, and the lanes toward Boise and the Southwest. When you book with our Yakima team, we match your vehicle with a carrier already scheduled through Central Washington, verify their insurance and safety record, lock in an all-in price, and stay with you until delivery.
Why Yakima customers choose Evergreen Car Shipping
Central Washington is a different shipping market than the I-5 corridor. Fewer carriers originate here, so who you book with matters. A national call center doesn't know that a Seattle-to-Boise truck comes right through Yakima on I-82, or that a Tri-Cities load can be combined with one from Sunnyside. Our Yakima team does — and that local knowledge turns into shorter pickup windows and better prices. Every shipment comes with one local number — (509) 428-7152 — that reaches someone who knows your car.
- Local lane knowledge. We know which carriers run I-82 and when, so we can give you an honest pickup window instead of a guess.
- All-in pricing. The quote is the price. No pass-crossing surcharges, no dispatch fees, no surprise balance at delivery.
- Door-to-door across the valley. Yakima, Selah, Union Gap, West Valley, Terrace Heights, Moxee, the Lower Valley, Ellensburg, and the Tri-Cities.
- Open and enclosed carriers. Affordable open transport for daily drivers and farm trucks; enclosed trailers for classics and collector cars.
- Fully insured, fully documented. Cargo insurance on every truck and a bill of lading inspection at pickup and delivery.
Yakima neighborhoods and Central Washington communities we serve
Our Yakima auto transport service covers the city, all of Yakima County, and the surrounding region. Carriers regularly pick up and deliver in Downtown Yakima, West Valley, Terrace Heights, Nob Hill, Union Gap, Selah, Moxee, Naches, Wapato, Toppenish, Zillah, Sunnyside, Grandview, Prosser, Ellensburg, Cle Elum, Goldendale, Tri-Cities, Richland, and Kennewick, and the orchard and ranch country in between. The valley floor is flat with wide streets, so most addresses are easy for a full-size hauler. For orchard or ranch addresses with narrow or gravel access roads, the driver will arrange to meet you on the nearest paved highway, at a fruit-stand lot, or in town — it's routine.
Because our Yakima office covers such a large area, we frequently combine pickups. A car leaving Sunnyside and one leaving Yakima often ride the same truck, which keeps costs down for both. If you're in the Tri-Cities, Ellensburg, Goldendale, or Wenatchee, call us — we'll tell you honestly what pickup timing looks like for your area.
Popular car shipping routes from Yakima
Yakima's strongest lanes run west over the passes to Seattle and Portland, east to Spokane, and south along I-82 and I-84 toward Boise, Salt Lake City, and the Southwest. Carriers crossing the state on I-90 and I-82 pass through regularly. Typical transit times once your vehicle is loaded:
| Route | Distance | Transit time |
|---|---|---|
| Yakima → Seattle, WA | 145 mi | 1 day |
| Yakima → Portland, OR | 185 mi | 1–2 days |
| Yakima → Spokane, WA | 200 mi | 1–2 days |
| Yakima → Boise, ID | 400 mi | 1–3 days |
| Yakima → San Francisco Bay Area | 780 mi | 2–4 days |
| Yakima → Los Angeles, CA | 1,070 mi | 3–5 days |
| Yakima → Phoenix, AZ | 1,360 mi | 4–6 days |
| Yakima → Denver, CO | 1,180 mi | 3–5 days |
| Yakima → Dallas, TX | 1,950 mi | 6–8 days |
| Yakima → Chicago, IL | 1,950 mi | 6–8 days |
Shipping a car to Yakima? Inbound lanes from Seattle, Portland, California, and Arizona are just as common — new residents, returning snowbirds, and vehicles purchased in larger markets all arrive through our Yakima office.
What it costs to ship a car from Yakima
Yakima car shipping cost depends on distance, vehicle size, open versus enclosed, whether the vehicle runs, and date flexibility. For a sedan on an open carrier, expect roughly $350–$550 to Seattle, Portland, or Spokane; $800–$1,100 to Boise, Salt Lake City, or Denver; $900–$1,300 to California and Arizona; and $1,300–$1,800 to Texas, the Midwest, and the East Coast. Pickups and SUVs add $100–$300 — and the valley has a lot of full-size trucks. Enclosed transport runs 40–60% more than open. A non-running vehicle adds about $150 for a winch.
One Central Washington tip: flexibility on pickup dates matters more here than in Seattle. Because fewer trucks originate in the valley, giving the carrier a 3–5 day window instead of a single day can noticeably lower your price and speed up assignment. The instant quote tool at the top of this page gives an exact, all-in number in about 30 seconds — no obligation.
Shipping over the passes in winter
Getting a car from Yakima to the west side means crossing Snoqualmie Pass on I-90 or White Pass on US-12, and both can close for hours during winter storms. Carriers run year-round, but we plan around weather honestly: if a storm is forecast, we'll tell you it might add a day rather than promise a date we can't keep. For everyday vehicles, open transport is fine; a wash on arrival is all it takes. For a classic, a collector car, or a freshly detailed vehicle, enclosed transport keeps it out of road salt, de-icer, and gravel spray on the passes.
How Yakima car shipping works
- Quote. Use the instant quote tool or call the Yakima office with your ZIP codes, vehicle, and timing.
- Book. Approve the price and we assign a vetted carrier and confirm the driver, truck, and pickup window with you. A small deposit holds your spot; the balance is paid at delivery.
- Pickup. The driver inspects the car with you, documents its condition on the bill of lading, and loads it.
- Transit. Updates as the car moves; reach the driver or our office any time.
- Delivery. Inspect, sign, pay the balance, done.
Preparing your vehicle for transport
Wash the car — orchard dust hides scratches — and photograph all sides so the inspection is accurate. Leave about a quarter tank of fuel. Remove toll tags, parking permits, and loose items. Fold in mirrors, remove roof racks, toolboxes, and bike carriers, and retract antennas. Personal items up to about 100 pounds can ride in the trunk but aren't insured. If your truck is lifted, has a canopy, or oversized tires, tell us at booking so we assign a carrier with the right clearance and deck space.
Military, student, and snowbird shipping from the Yakima Valley
The Yakima Training Center brings rotating units through the area, and we handle military moves with an active-duty discount and scheduling around orders. For Yakima Valley College, Heritage University, and CWU students, we ship cars to and from campus every August and May, coordinating with parents on the other end. Valley snowbirds heading to Arizona, Palm Springs, or Texas should book in early fall — October and November are the busiest southbound months, and March and April are busiest coming back.
Visit or call our Yakima office
Evergreen Car Shipping's Yakima location is at 307 N 3rd St, Suite 699, Yakima, WA 98901 — downtown, a few blocks from the Capitol Theatre and Yakima Avenue, minutes from I-82. Call (509) 428-7152 Monday through Saturday, or get an instant quote online any time. We also have Washington offices in Spokane, Seattle, Tacoma, and Bellevue.