Sprinter Van Shipping in Action: Pennsylvania to Los Angeles in Three Days

Vans are one of the fastest-growing categories we ship — dealers restocking inventory, businesses relocating work vans, and buyers picking up auction and out-of-state purchases. Here are two recent Sprinter moves, including one that crossed the country in three days.

Job one: high-roof Sprinter, Manheim, PA to Los Angeles

Vehicle: Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, high-roof passenger configuration.
Route: Manheim, PA to Los Angeles, CA — about 2,700 miles, coast to coast.
Transit: picked up May 11, delivered May 14 — three days, door to door.
Transport: open carrier, $0 upfront, condition photos at pickup and delivery.

Black high-roof Mercedes Sprinter van at pickup-condition inspection in Manheim, Pennsylvania — Pickup condition — Manheim, PA. The high roof puts this van near 9 feet tall, which decides where it rides on the carrier.

Manheim, Pennsylvania is a name every dealer knows — it's home to the largest wholesale auto auction in the country, and vehicles bought there need to get to their new lots fast. Auction and dealer-trade moves run on a clock: every day a purchased unit sits, it costs money instead of making it. That's why this van was on a carrier within days of purchase and rolling into a Los Angeles showroom the same week.

High-roof Mercedes Sprinter delivered at a Los Angeles dealership, rear view with Sprinter badge — Delivery condition — Los Angeles, CA, three days after pickup. Same angles photographed at both ends.

The number that matters: roof height

When you ship a Sprinter, the first question is standard roof or high roof. A high-roof Sprinter stands roughly 9 feet tall — too tall for the upper deck of a standard double-decker carrier — so it rides in a single-deck or top-rack-free slot. A standard-roof van fits more carrier configurations and often costs a bit less to move. Neither is a problem; the carrier just has to know before showing up. Tell us the roof type and we match the equipment the first time.

Job two: cargo Sprinter out of Sacramento

White standard-roof Mercedes Sprinter cargo van at pickup-condition inspection in Antelope, California near Sacramento — Pickup condition — Antelope, CA (Sacramento area). A standard-roof cargo Sprinter, photographed before loading.

Same week, different coast: a standard-roof Sprinter cargo van picked up in Antelope, California, outside Sacramento. Work vans like this one are the backbone of the category — contractors, couriers, and fleets buying and selling them across state lines every day. Empty cargo vans load like any other vehicle; if yours has shelving, racks, or gear inside, flag it up front — added weight and loose contents are the two things carriers need to plan around.

Open car hauler loaded with pickup trucks and SUVs on a palm-lined California street — How your van rides: an open carrier working a California lane. Vans share deck space with trucks and SUVs sized to fit.

What a Sprinter costs to ship

Van shipping is priced like any vehicle — distance, size, and running condition — with roof height as the swing factor. A standard-roof van prices close to a large SUV on the same lane; a high-roof or extended van carries a size premium because it takes a specific carrier slot. Cross-country moves like this Manheim-to-LA run are the best value per mile; short regional hops cost more per mile but less overall. For the full breakdown — measurements, carrier types, and prep — see our guide on shipping a Sprinter van cross-country.

Buying a van at auction or out of state?

We move vans for dealers restocking from auction purchases, businesses relocating work fleets, and individual buyers who found the right van three states away. Tell us the roof height and whether it runs, and we'll handle the rest — van transport is one of our core lanes, coast to coast. Get an instant quote in under a minute.