Illinois to Louisiana Car Shipping (2024 Cost Guide)
Fact Checked by: Quick answer: The average cost to ship a car 854 miles from Illinois to Louisiana ranges from $953 to $1,498 and takes 2–7 days depending on factors like the transport type and season. For a more detailed quote, use our car shipping cost calculator.
Shipping a car the reverse route? We’ve got you covered with our Louisiana to Illinois car shipping guide.
Illinois to Louisiana auto transport costs and transit times
The table below details the costs and estimated transit times for shipping a car between popular cities in Illinois and Louisiana. The average travel distance is about 854 miles, with shipping times typically ranging from 2 to 7 days.
Cost to ship a car from Chicago, IL to Louisiana
| From Illinois to Louisiana | Distance | Cost | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago, IL to New Orleans, LA | 928 miles | $1,008–$1,594 | 2–7 days |
| Rockford, IL to Baton Rouge, LA | 916 miles | $968–$1,532 | 2–7 days |
| Springfield, IL to Shreveport, LA | 854 miles | $953–$1,513 | 2–7 days |
| Peoria, IL to Lafayette, LA | 970 miles | $1,017–$1,483 | 2–7 days |
| Round Lake Beach, IL to Lake Charles, LA | 1,041 miles | $960–$1,631 | 2–8 days |
Cost to ship a car from Rockford, IL to Louisiana
| From Illinois to Louisiana | Distance | Cost | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago, IL to New Orleans, LA | 971 miles | $1,047–$1,623 | 2–7 days |
| Rockford, IL to Baton Rouge, LA | 959 miles | $987–$1,545 | 2–7 days |
| Springfield, IL to Shreveport, LA | 850 miles | $943–$1,557 | 2–7 days |
| Peoria, IL to Lafayette, LA | 1,013 miles | $1,029–$1,647 | 2–8 days |
| Round Lake Beach, IL to Lake Charles, LA | 1,084 miles | $940–$1,615 | 2–8 days |
Cost to ship a car from Springfield, IL to Louisiana
| From Illinois to Louisiana | Distance | Cost | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago, IL to New Orleans, LA | 774 miles | $984–$1,453 | 2–7 days |
| Rockford, IL to Baton Rouge, LA | 761 miles | $917–$1,382 | 2–7 days |
| Springfield, IL to Shreveport, LA | 652 miles | $868–$1,287 | 1–6 days |
| Peoria, IL to Lafayette, LA | 815 miles | $943–$1,428 | 2–7 days |
| Round Lake Beach, IL to Lake Charles, LA | 886 miles | $1,006–$1,561 | 2–7 days |
Cost to ship a car from Peoria, IL to Louisiana
| From Illinois to Louisiana | Distance | Cost | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago, IL to New Orleans, LA | 846 miles | $998–$1,522 | 2–7 days |
| Rockford, IL to Baton Rouge, LA | 833 miles | $968–$1,493 | 2–7 days |
| Springfield, IL to Shreveport, LA | 725 miles | $1,002–$1,343 | 1–6 days |
| Peoria, IL to Lafayette, LA | 887 miles | $1,046–$1,485 | 2–7 days |
| Round Lake Beach, IL to Lake Charles, LA | 958 miles | $967–$1,530 | 2–7 days |
Cost to ship a car from Round Lake Beach, IL to Louisiana
| From Illinois to Louisiana | Distance | Cost | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago, IL to New Orleans, LA | 977 miles | $1,004–$1,573 | 2–7 days |
| Rockford, IL to Baton Rouge, LA | 964 miles | $977–$1,483 | 2–7 days |
| Springfield, IL to Shreveport, LA | 882 miles | $986–$1,576 | 2–7 days |
| Peoria, IL to Lafayette, LA | 1,018 miles | $1,000–$1,631 | 2–8 days |
| Round Lake Beach, IL to Lake Charles, LA | 1,089 miles | $1,039–$1,600 | 2–8 days |
Shipping an SUV or truck from Illinois to Louisiana
Since vehicles like SUV, trucks, and vans are larger and heavier, it’s a bit more expensive to ship them than a sedan. How much more?
If you’re shipping a larger vehicle from Illinois to Louisiana you should expect to pay between $1,191 and $1,873.
Factors that affect the price of shipping a car from Illinois to Louisiana
When transporting your vehicle from the Land of Lincoln to the Pelican State, these factors will influence your final price:
- Type of transport: Options like open, enclosed, or top-loaded transport cater to different needs. Open carriers are cost-effective, while enclosed transport provides added protection for luxury or classic cars. If you’re not sure, check out our guide comparing open vs. enclosed car shipping.
- Vehicle size and type: The dimensions and weight of your vehicle directly affect shipping costs. The larger and heavier your vehicle, the more it will cost to ship your car to Louisiana.
- Distance and route: The journey from Illinois to Louisiana spans approximately 854 miles, influencing fuel and labor costs. The longer the distance, the bigger the price tag.
- Time of the year: Seasonal demand impacts the price of getting your car out of Illinois, with summer and winter holidays often seeing a spike due to increased moving and travel activity.
- Fuel prices: Fluctuating fuel prices can significantly affect transport costs. This is an important consideration given the distance between Illinois and Louisiana and the varying gas prices across the country.
- Delivery expectations: Because it’ll make their job easier, your auto shipper may give you a pricing discount if you’re flexible on delivery dates. That being said, getting your car from Illinois to Louisiana should take between 2 and 7 days. Expedited services are available but come at a higher cost.
The best Illinois to Louisiana car shipping companies
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We’ve done the research and these are the best car shipping companies to help transport your vehicle from Illinois to Louisiana:
- Best for Overall Value: SGT Auto Transport
- Best for Quick Pick Up: Easy Auto Ship
- Best Insurance Coverage: Ship A Car Direct
- Best for accurate pricing: Sherpa Auto Transport
- Best Cross Country: Montway Auto Transport
Alternative ways to ship your car from Illinois to Louisiana
- Drive it yourself: This is straightforward but not always an option, and it will put about 854 miles on your car going from Illinois to Louisiana. If you’re not sure, here are the pros and cons of driving your car vs shipping it.
- Ship it with your movers: If you hire a moving company, they also work with reputable car shippers. Otherwise, there may be the option of even shipping your car with your household belongings!
- Hire a driver: Hire someone to drive the car from Illinois to Louisiana for you. It’s an option, but will probably be a very costly one and involve trusting a driver to safely get your car to its destination.
- Ship by train: If this is an option for you, it’s an affordable and secure way of shipping your vehicle. Shipping a car by train is actually the cheapest way to ship your car!
What else should you know about shipping a car from Illinois to Louisiana?
- Car insurance requirements: The insurance limit represents the maximum payout for a claim, and in Louisiana, the minimum liability limits are $15,000 for bodily injury per person, $30,000 for bodily injury per accident, and $25,000 for property damage; these limits can be raised beyond the state-mandated minimums.
- Vehicle inspection: In Louisiana, the annual safety and emissions inspection includes checks on the vehicle's safety equipment, anti-tampering of emissions systems, and a test on the integrity of the gas cap.
- Driver’s license: New residents in Louisiana must transfer their out-of-state driver's license within 30 days of establishing residency in the state.
- Additional taxes: In Louisiana, a 4% tax is levied on all car sales by the state, with additional taxes charged by individual counties and cities.
Learn more with our car shipping checklist
Transporting your vehicle from Illinois
Over 39 million people call Illinois home. Nicknamed the Land of Lincoln, Illinois' climate is clearly different in the northern and southern halves of the state. The northern half experiences cold winters and mild summers whereas the southern half experiences mild winters and hot and humid summers. Illinois is a part of "tornado alley"
Transporting your vehicle to Louisiana
About 22 million people are living in the Pelican State of Louisiana. Louisiana has long hot humid summers and short mild winters. Rain is frequent throughout the year, although from April to September is slightly wetter than the rest of the year. Louisiana is often affected by tropical cyclones and is very vulnerable to major hurricanes, particularly around the New Orleans area. Lousiana averages about 27 tornadoes annually; they are most common from January through March in the south and from February through March in the North.
FAQ
Does someone have to be present when picking up my car in Illinois and when dropping off my car in Louisiana?
Most companies will require someone that is at least 18 years old to be present when picking up your car in Illinois and when dropping it off in Louisiana.
Do you need car insurance when shipping your car from Illinois to Louisiana?
If you’re not driving the vehicle from Illinois to Louisiana, you aren't required to have typical car insurance. Your car hauler should have adequate insurance if an accident happened on the drive to Louisiana, which you should verify before loading your car in Illinois.
If you’re driving your car at all in either state, you should understand the requirements. The liability insurance minimums for Illinois are $25,000 bodily injury liability per person, $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident, and $20,000 property damage liability per accident.
If you’re driving your car at all in either state, you should understand the requirements. The insurance limit represents the maximum payout for a claim, and in Louisiana, the minimum liability limits are $15,000 for bodily injury per person, $30,000 for bodily injury per accident, and $25,000 for property damage; these limits can be raised beyond the state-mandated minimums.
How long does it take to ship a car from Illinois to Louisiana?
Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from Illinois to Louisiana is about 854 miles, and that’s as fast as about 2 days. However, most car transport companies will take 2-7 days to travel from Illinois to Louisiana.
Will I be required to have a vehicle inspection in either state?
In Illinois, emissions inspections are mandatory on a yearly basis for eligible vehicles in the Chicago and East St. Louis metropolitan areas. The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency conducts tests on automobiles before residents can renew their vehicle registration with the Secretary of State's office.
In Louisiana, the annual safety and emissions inspection includes checks on the vehicle's safety equipment, anti-tampering of emissions systems, and a test on the integrity of the gas cap.
If I have a driver’s license in Illinois, will I need one in Louisiana?
New residents in Louisiana must transfer their out-of-state driver's license within 30 days of establishing residency in the state.
If I bought a car in Illinois, will I be required to pay sales tax in Louisiana after shipping it there?
It’s important to understand any tax implications if you’re having a car shipped from Illinois to Louisiana after purchasing it.
In Louisiana, a 4% tax is levied on all car sales by the state, with additional taxes charged by individual counties and cities.
We recommend that you always check for updated tax information in both Illinois and Louisiana to avoid any hidden costs.
