Illinois to Montana Car Shipping (2024 Cost Guide)
Fact Checked by: Quick answer: The average cost to ship a car 1,370 miles from Illinois to Montana ranges from $1,285 to $1,903 and takes 3–8 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 Montana to Illinois car shipping guide.
Illinois to Montana 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 Montana. The average travel distance is about 1,370 miles, with shipping times typically ranging from 3 to 8 days.
Cost to ship a car from Chicago, IL to Montana
| From Illinois to Montana | Distance | Cost | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago, IL to Billings, MT | 1,246 miles | $1,199–$1,709 | 2–8 days |
| Rockford, IL to Missoula, MT | 1,589 miles | $1,329–$2,039 | 3–9 days |
| Springfield, IL to Belgrade, MT | 1,397 miles | $1,272–$1,941 | 3–8 days |
| Peoria, IL to Bozeman, MT | 1,388 miles | $1,310–$1,922 | 3–8 days |
| Round Lake Beach, IL to Butte, MT | 1,471 miles | $1,316–$1,998 | 3–8 days |
Cost to ship a car from Rockford, IL to Montana
| From Illinois to Montana | Distance | Cost | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago, IL to Billings, MT | 1,171 miles | $1,089–$1,721 | 2–8 days |
| Rockford, IL to Missoula, MT | 1,514 miles | $1,441–$1,939 | 3–9 days |
| Springfield, IL to Belgrade, MT | 1,324 miles | $1,248–$1,790 | 3–8 days |
| Peoria, IL to Bozeman, MT | 1,313 miles | $1,310–$1,865 | 3–8 days |
| Round Lake Beach, IL to Butte, MT | 1,397 miles | $1,297–$1,790 | 3–8 days |
Cost to ship a car from Springfield, IL to Montana
| From Illinois to Montana | Distance | Cost | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago, IL to Billings, MT | 1,255 miles | $1,164–$1,709 | 3–8 days |
| Rockford, IL to Missoula, MT | 1,599 miles | $1,399–$1,919 | 3–9 days |
| Springfield, IL to Belgrade, MT | 1,407 miles | $1,396–$2,018 | 3–8 days |
| Peoria, IL to Bozeman, MT | 1,397 miles | $1,210–$1,865 | 3–8 days |
| Round Lake Beach, IL to Butte, MT | 1,482 miles | $1,276–$2,057 | 3–8 days |
Cost to ship a car from Peoria, IL to Montana
| From Illinois to Montana | Distance | Cost | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago, IL to Billings, MT | 1,184 miles | $1,089–$1,653 | 2–8 days |
| Rockford, IL to Missoula, MT | 1,528 miles | $1,385–$2,019 | 3–9 days |
| Springfield, IL to Belgrade, MT | 1,336 miles | $1,185–$1,941 | 3–8 days |
| Peoria, IL to Bozeman, MT | 1,326 miles | $1,272–$1,847 | 3–8 days |
| Round Lake Beach, IL to Butte, MT | 1,411 miles | $1,329–$1,979 | 3–8 days |
Cost to ship a car from Round Lake Beach, IL to Montana
| From Illinois to Montana | Distance | Cost | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago, IL to Billings, MT | 1,196 miles | $1,121–$1,772 | 2–8 days |
| Rockford, IL to Missoula, MT | 1,539 miles | $1,441–$2,099 | 3–9 days |
| Springfield, IL to Belgrade, MT | 1,348 miles | $1,248–$1,809 | 3–8 days |
| Peoria, IL to Bozeman, MT | 1,338 miles | $1,185–$1,922 | 3–8 days |
| Round Lake Beach, IL to Butte, MT | 1,422 miles | $1,290–$1,861 | 3–8 days |
Shipping an SUV or truck from Illinois to Montana
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 Montana you should expect to pay between $1,606 and $2,379.
Factors that affect the price of shipping a car from Illinois to Montana
When transporting your vehicle from the Land of Lincoln to the Big Sky Country, 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 Montana.
- Distance and route: The journey from Illinois to Montana spans approximately 1,370 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 Montana 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 Montana should take between 3 and 8 days. Expedited services are available but come at a higher cost.
The best Illinois to Montana 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 Montana:
- 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 Montana
- Drive it yourself: This is straightforward but not always an option, and it will put about 1,370 miles on your car going from Illinois to Montana. 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 Montana 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 Montana?
- Car insurance requirements: In Montana, drivers must meet legal requirements for minimum car insurance liability coverage to ensure financial responsibility in accidents. Mandated by state regulations, this includes $25,000 per person for bodily injury and $50,000 per accident for bodily injury, covering collective medical expenses in case of multiple injuries, capped at $50,000 for the entire incident. Additionally, there's a required minimum of $20,000 per accident for property damage, crucial for addressing costs related to damage to another party's vehicle or property. Adhering to these insurance requirements is imperative for all motorists, ensuring compliance with state laws and contributing to a secure and responsible driving environment on Montana roadways.
- Vehicle inspection: If you are moving to Montana, you are not required to have your vehicle inspected.
- Driver’s license: New residents in Montana must start their driver’s license application process within 60 days of moving to the state.
- Additional taxes: In Montana, there is no state-level sales tax on vehicles, however, local governments in Montana may impose their own taxes and fees on vehicles.
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 Montana
About 22 million people are living in the Big Sky Country of Montana. Montana has a lot of variation in geography, topography, and elevation, and the climate is equally varied. The western half is mountainous, interrupted by numerous large valleys. Eastern Montana comprises plains and badlands, broken by hills and isolated mountain ranges, The Continental Divide has a considerable effect on the climate, as it restricts the flow of warmer air from the Pacific from moving east, and drier continental air from moving west. The area west of the divide has a modified northern Pacific Coast climate, with milder winters, cooler summers, less wind, and a longer growing season. Low clouds and fog often form in the valleys west of the divide in winter, but this is rarely seen in the east.
FAQ
Does someone have to be present when picking up my car in Illinois and when dropping off my car in Montana?
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 Montana.
Do you need car insurance when shipping your car from Illinois to Montana?
If you’re not driving the vehicle from Illinois to Montana, you aren't required to have typical car insurance. Your car hauler should have adequate insurance if an accident happened on the drive to Montana, 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. In Montana, drivers must meet legal requirements for minimum car insurance liability coverage to ensure financial responsibility in accidents. Mandated by state regulations, this includes $25,000 per person for bodily injury and $50,000 per accident for bodily injury, covering collective medical expenses in case of multiple injuries, capped at $50,000 for the entire incident. Additionally, there's a required minimum of $20,000 per accident for property damage, crucial for addressing costs related to damage to another party's vehicle or property. Adhering to these insurance requirements is imperative for all motorists, ensuring compliance with state laws and contributing to a secure and responsible driving environment on Montana roadways.
How long does it take to ship a car from Illinois to Montana?
Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from Illinois to Montana is about 1370 miles, and that’s as fast as about 3 days. However, most car transport companies will take 3-8 days to travel from Illinois to Montana.
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.
If you are moving to Montana, you are not required to have your vehicle inspected.
If I have a driver’s license in Illinois, will I need one in Montana?
New residents in Montana must start their driver’s license application process within 60 days of moving to the state.
If I bought a car in Illinois, will I be required to pay sales tax in Montana after shipping it there?
It’s important to understand any tax implications if you’re having a car shipped from Illinois to Montana after purchasing it.
In Montana, there is no state-level sales tax on vehicles, however, local governments in Montana may impose their own taxes and fees on vehicles.
We recommend that you always check for updated tax information in both Illinois and Montana to avoid any hidden costs.
