Moving to California
California’s notorious traffic jams and high cost of living don’t prevent Minnesotans from making their way to the Golden State. California lures snowbirds with the promise of white sandy shores of SoCal, generous palm tree shades, and what seems to be a never-ending supply of sunshine.
Silicon Valley – an international wealth and technology symbol – attracts tech talent looking for better career opportunities. Hollywood draws thousands of people looking to pursue a dream of making a name for themselves and bask in the rays of glory. Reasons for moving to the Golden State are abound. But there is one thing that unites new transplants and California natives – a car.
Car culture is big in the Golden State. The state has been the fount of auto innovation, and Californians are the world’s leading trendsetters in the automotive taste. Foreign automakers have been using California as the proving ground for new models. Prius achieved a star status thanks to Hollywood celebrities. And Tesla and the autonomous-car fever have their origin in California as well.
Today, there are over 30 million vehicles registered in the state; the number includes cars, motorcycles, trailers, and commercial trucks. It’s quite clear that California and cars are intrinsic to each other. And you’ll be much better off with a vehicle there. So let’s talk about shipping a car from Minnesota to California.
California Size and Population
California is the most populous and one of the largest states in the US. If you ever decided to go on a cross-California trip, it would take you approximately 15 hours to drive from its southern most tip, north of the Mexican border, all the way to Oregon; which is roughly 800 miles of road that takes you through deserts, flat lands, mountains, and forests.
California’s six largest metropolitan areas by population are:
Los Angeles – Long Beach – Santa Ana with approximately 12.8 million inhabitants;
San Francisco – Oakland – Freemont: 4.3 million of inhabitants;
Riverside – San Bernardino – Ontario: 4.2 million people;
San Diego – Carlsbad – San Marcos: 3 million people;
Sacramento – Arden – Arcade – Roseville: approximately 2.1 million inhabitants;
San Jose – Sunnyvale – Santa Clara: about 1.8 million people
Income and Employment
Official statistics show that the median household income in California is $75,235 versus the national average of $68,703; which means that for the same amount of work in California you get paid more than in the rest of the country.
The State of California Employment Development Department is the main source for finding jobs in California private or public sector as well as locating job fairs and training events to visit. California is home to Silicon Valley, an epicenter of information and technology, a dream workplace for every IT professional. The Golden State also presents you with a wide array of employment opportunities in other lucrative industries like aerospace, agriculture, international trade, wine production, oil, renewable energy.
Things to do
California offers you a myriad of exciting opportunities when it gets to art and culture of Hispanic and Western American influence. The state boasts its diverse music scene, being the birthplace of surf rock, funk rock, and a number of experimental musical styles. Jack London, Robert Frost, John Muir – some of the most influential literary authors, also come from California.
And you can not disregard the Golden States’s food and beverage scene. You’ll get to savor the fusion dishes of Mexican, Vietnamese, Italian, and Indian cuisines which Californians claim to be the most delectable in the world. And of course, Napa valley is home to some of the best tasting wines that don’t fail to impress the pickiest connoisseurs.
Moving to California with a car
If your vehicle will be staying in California on a permanent basis, you will need to register it with California Department of Motor Vehicles. To avoid long lines, you can schedule an appointment with the California DMV online.
You will have 20 days from establishing your California residency to register your car. You will be asked for a smog/emissions inspection unless your vehicle model is 1975 or older. And as a new Golden State resident, you will have 10 days to get your CA driver’s license.