Loading...
San Diego → LA, Phoenix, Vegas, Baja
Your vehicle needs to get somewhere far from San Diego. Maybe the transmission gave out on a road trip and you need a ride home to Phoenix. Maybe you bought a car in LA and need it delivered. Long-distance towing demands the right equipment, an experienced driver, and transparent pricing. Every long-distance tow goes on a flatbed. Every one includes GPS tracking.
Servicio en Tijuana: (664) 801-9382RJ Towing transports vehicles from San Diego to Los Angeles, Phoenix, Las Vegas, and Baja California on flatbed carriers with real-time tracking. Per-mile pricing with no hidden fees. Family-owned, 15+ years in San Diego. Call (619) 872-5285 for a free quote, we answer 24/7.
Short tows sometimes use wheel-lift trucks, fast to hook up and fine for a 5-mile ride to the shop. Long-distance is a different calculation entirely.
When a vehicle rides on a wheel-lift for 100+ miles, the suspended wheels spin freely for hours. That stresses wheel bearings, CV joints, and transmission components that were never designed for continuous rotation without engine power. Automatic transmissions are especially vulnerable, the fluid pump only runs when the engine runs, and dry gears over distance means heat damage.
Flatbed transport eliminates all of that. Your vehicle sits on a level steel platform, fully off the ground, strapped and secured. No drivetrain wear. No road debris hitting the undercarriage. No vibration fatigue. Every manufacturer's towing recommendation for AWD, 4WD, and electric vehicles specifies flatbed only.
RJ Towing uses flatbed carriers for every long-distance job, regardless of vehicle type. A 2005 Civic gets the same protection as a 2025 Porsche. Not a premium add-on, standard.
The most frequent long-distance request. I-5 northbound from San Diego through Oceanside, San Clemente, Irvine, and into the LA basin. Typical transit: 2.5 to 3.5 hours depending on traffic. We schedule LA runs to avoid the 4-7 PM crawl through Orange County whenever possible.
Common reasons: vehicle purchased at auction headed to an LA buyer, breakdowns on I-5, specialty shop delivery (many high-end restoration shops are in the LA area), university move-in situations. We also service the reverse, LA to San Diego.
The second most common route. I-8 East through Alpine, the Cuyamacas, the Imperial Valley, Yuma, and into the Phoenix metro. Transit: 5.5 to 7 hours. The I-8 climb gains over 4,000 feet of elevation in 50 miles. Summer temperatures in the Imperial Valley and Yuma regularly exceed 115 degrees. We plan departure times, fuel stops, and coolant checks around these realities.
Common reasons: snowbird vehicles heading back to Arizona, breakdown recoveries from the desert stretch of I-8, military relocations between San Diego bases and Luke AFB or Fort Huachuca, insurance-required transport after accidents.
I-15 North through Escondido, Temecula, the Cajon Pass, Barstow, and into Clark County. Transit: 5 to 6.5 hours. The Cajon Pass (3,777 feet) and the Mojave stretch between Barstow and Primm are the critical segments. Wind advisories on I-15 through the desert are common and can affect tall-profile flatbed loads.
Common reasons: weekend breakdown recoveries (a lot of San Diegans drive to Vegas and not all their cars make it back), vehicle purchases from Vegas dealerships, show car transport for SEMA and other events, relocations.
This is where RJ Towing is different from every other towing company in San Diego.
We maintain a dedicated Tijuana phone line, (664) 801-9382, and our dispatch is fully bilingual. We handle cross-border tows in both directions: San Diego to Tijuana/Rosarito/Ensenada, and Baja back to San Diego.
Cross-border towing involves paperwork that standard tow companies cannot navigate. Temporary vehicle import permits, Mexican liability insurance requirements, customs coordination, and knowledge of which crossing (San Ysidro vs. Otay Mesa) works best for commercial vehicle transport. We handle all of it.
For full details on our cross-border service, see our Tijuana / Cross-Border Towing page.
You are 110 miles into a road trip to Phoenix when your transmission starts slipping. Pull over before you destroy the gearbox. Call us and we come get you.
We tow your vehicle back to San Diego or forward to Phoenix, your call, one flat rate.
You won an auction in Burbank. The seller has the car. You have an address in Scripps Ranch. You do not want to drive three hours round-trip.
Scheduled flatbed pickup in LA, delivery to San Diego. Pre-load photos shared with you.
You rented in San Diego for the winter. April arrives and you are back home in Scottsdale, but the second car is still here. Flying back to drive it is not happening.
We schedule a flatbed, pick up, deliver to your Phoenix-area driveway.
Your restored 1967 Chevelle should not be driven 350 miles on vintage tires. It should not be wheel-lifted for 6 hours either.
Flatbed only. Soft straps. Careful loading. Delivered the same way it left.
Car died in the Bellagio parking garage. You have a flight home tomorrow and need the vehicle back in San Diego, without you having to drive it.
We pick up in Las Vegas, transport flatbed down I-15, deliver to your San Diego address.
Your insurance company needs your totaled vehicle moved from a body shop in San Diego to a salvage facility in Phoenix or Tucson.
We handle insurance-directed long-distance moves with documentation for the carrier.
Long-distance towing is quoted per job based on distance, vehicle type and weight, running or non-running status, route conditions, and scheduling (planned transport is less expensive than same-day emergency).
| Service | Starting Price |
|---|---|
San Diego → Los Angeles ~120 miles via I-5 North | $350 - $550 |
San Diego → Phoenix ~355 miles via I-8 East | $800 - $1,200 |
San Diego → Las Vegas ~330 miles via I-15 North | $750 - $1,100 |
San Diego → Tijuana ~20 miles + border crossing logistics | Quote required |
San Diego → Ensenada ~80 miles + border crossing logistics | Quote required |
Estimates for standard passenger vehicles. Your actual quote depends on your specific vehicle and situation. Call (619) 872-5285 for a firm number, no obligation, no pressure.
Vehicles on flatbeds can be loaded, transported, and unloaded at any hour. Remove cash, electronics, registration documents, garage openers, and personal items before we load. We recommend clearing out everything you would not want in a carrier over 5+ hours.
Non-running vehicles being winched onto the bed move more safely with less weight. A quarter tank also avoids fuel slosh during transport. For running vehicles, we manage fuel as needed during the trip.
Leave at least one key with the vehicle. Our driver may need to unlock the steering, shift into neutral for loading, or engage transport mode (EVs). If keys are not available, tell us in advance so we bring the right tools.
Photograph the vehicle yourself from all angles before we arrive. Note existing scratches, dents, or interior conditions. Our driver also photographs, dual documentation protects both parties.
Active alarms can trigger during transport, winch motion, strap tension, or road vibration can set them off. Disable the alarm or give our driver the fob to silence it en route.
Anywhere in California, Arizona, Nevada, and Baja California, Mexico. We regularly run routes to LA, Phoenix, Las Vegas, Bakersfield, Tucson, Ensenada, and everywhere in between. For destinations beyond those states, call (619) 872-5285 and we either handle it directly or connect you with a trusted carrier in our network.
Transit times depend on distance and traffic. San Diego to LA: 2.5-3.5 hours. San Diego to Phoenix: 5.5-7 hours. San Diego to Las Vegas: 5-6.5 hours. Driving times, total job time includes pickup, loading, and unloading.
Yes. Non-running vehicles are winch-loaded onto the flatbed. Adds 15-20 minutes at pickup but does not change the transport process. Non-running is a significant portion of our long-distance work.
RJ Towing carries cargo insurance that covers your vehicle while on our truck. We are licensed and insured for commercial towing operations in California. If you want additional documentation of coverage, we provide it on request.
No. Most long-distance customers do not ride in the truck. We coordinate pickup and delivery times with you (or your designee at the destination) and keep you updated by phone or text during transit. You are welcome to ride along if you prefer.
Cash, all major credit cards, and Zelle. Payment is due upon delivery. For scheduled transport, we may require a deposit at booking, applied to the total. No hidden fees, no fuel surcharges after the quote is given.
Yes, one of our specialties. RJ Towing is the only San Diego towing company with a dedicated Tijuana phone line and bilingual cross-border expertise. Call (619) 872-5285 for US-side coordination or (664) 801-9382 for the Tijuana line. See our Tijuana Towing page.
Scheduled long-distance pickups work best with 24-48 hours advance notice, lets us assign the right truck and driver, and lets you prep the vehicle. Same-day long-distance is possible but priced higher. Emergency long-distance (breakdown on the road): we dispatch as fast as possible.
One call to RJ Towing covers more than a single service. If your situation includes any of these, we handle it on the same dispatch.
Zero-wheel-contact transport for Teslas, luxury, AWD, lowered, and classic vehicles.
Learn MoreCompassionate post-collision recovery with insurance documentation and coordination.
Learn MoreBinational towing between San Diego and Tijuana with dedicated (664) line and border logistics.
Learn MoreBox trucks, RVs, shuttle vans, and commercial vehicles up to 26,000 lbs GVWR.
Learn MoreSpecialized soft-strap flatbed transport for cruisers, sport bikes, and Harleys.
Learn More24/7 urgent tow dispatch anywhere in San Diego County. 15-30 minute response.
Learn MoreWe pick up from anywhere in San Diego County for long-distance transport.
Freeways We Cover Daily
I-5 · I-8 · I-15 · I-805 · SR-163 · SR-94 · SR-52 · SR-54 · SR-125 · SR-75 · SR-56 · SR-905
Cross-Border Service, The Only One in San Diego
Tijuana Direct Line: (664) 801-9382
You do not need to figure out the logistics yourself. Call RJ Towing, tell us where the vehicle is and where it needs to go, and we handle the rest. One price, one truck, one phone call.
We answer 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Flatbed-only. GPS-tracked. Pre-load photos. No hidden fees.
¿Necesitas transporte de larga distancia desde San Diego? Llámanos al (619) 872-5285. Hablamos tu idioma. Para destinos en Baja California: (664) 801-9382.
Servicio en Tijuana: (664) 801-9382