South Carolina to Maine Car Shipping (2024 Cost Guide)
Fact Checked by: Quick answer: The average cost to ship a car 1,166 miles from South Carolina to Maine ranges from $1,132 to $1,687 and takes 2–8 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 Maine to South Carolina car shipping guide.
South Carolina to Maine auto transport costs and transit times
The table below details the costs and estimated transit times for shipping a car between popular cities in South Carolina and Maine. The average travel distance is about 1,166 miles, with shipping times typically ranging from 2 to 8 days.
Cost to ship a car from Charleston, SC to Maine
| From South Carolina to Maine | Distance | Cost | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston, SC to Portland, ME | 1,068 miles | $1,040–$1,679 | 2–8 days |
| Columbia, SC to Falmouth, ME | 1,075 miles | $970–$1,583 | 2–8 days |
| Rock Hill, SC to Orono, ME | 1,206 miles | $1,176–$1,709 | 2–8 days |
| Greenville, SC to Kennebunk, ME | 1,045 miles | $990–$1,679 | 2–8 days |
| Spartanburg, SC to Wells, ME | 1,041 miles | $1,020–$1,663 | 2–8 days |
Cost to ship a car from Columbia, SC to Maine
| From South Carolina to Maine | Distance | Cost | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston, SC to Portland, ME | 1,016 miles | $960–$1,583 | 2–8 days |
| Columbia, SC to Falmouth, ME | 1,022 miles | $1,030–$1,535 | 2–8 days |
| Rock Hill, SC to Orono, ME | 1,152 miles | $1,056–$1,738 | 2–8 days |
| Greenville, SC to Kennebunk, ME | 995 miles | $1,034–$1,605 | 2–7 days |
| Spartanburg, SC to Wells, ME | 988 miles | $964–$1,605 | 2–7 days |
Cost to ship a car from Rock Hill, SC to Maine
| From South Carolina to Maine | Distance | Cost | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston, SC to Portland, ME | 961 miles | $1,037–$1,545 | 2–7 days |
| Columbia, SC to Falmouth, ME | 968 miles | $966–$1,513 | 2–7 days |
| Rock Hill, SC to Orono, ME | 1,097 miles | $1,010–$1,519 | 2–8 days |
| Greenville, SC to Kennebunk, ME | 939 miles | $968–$1,594 | 2–7 days |
| Spartanburg, SC to Wells, ME | 933 miles | $1,048–$1,563 | 2–7 days |
Cost to ship a car from Greenville, SC to Maine
| From South Carolina to Maine | Distance | Cost | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston, SC to Portland, ME | 1,033 miles | $980–$1,615 | 2–8 days |
| Columbia, SC to Falmouth, ME | 1,042 miles | $960–$1,679 | 2–8 days |
| Rock Hill, SC to Orono, ME | 1,169 miles | $1,121–$1,738 | 2–8 days |
| Greenville, SC to Kennebunk, ME | 1,010 miles | $960–$1,567 | 2–8 days |
| Spartanburg, SC to Wells, ME | 1,004 miles | $1,050–$1,567 | 2–8 days |
Cost to ship a car from Spartanburg, SC to Maine
| From South Carolina to Maine | Distance | Cost | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston, SC to Portland, ME | 1,005 miles | $1,040–$1,663 | 2–8 days |
| Columbia, SC to Falmouth, ME | 1,014 miles | $1,010–$1,567 | 2–8 days |
| Rock Hill, SC to Orono, ME | 1,141 miles | $1,121–$1,653 | 2–8 days |
| Greenville, SC to Kennebunk, ME | 984 miles | $954–$1,557 | 2–7 days |
| Spartanburg, SC to Wells, ME | 978 miles | $984–$1,589 | 2–7 days |
Shipping an SUV or truck from South Carolina to Maine
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 South Carolina to Maine you should expect to pay between $1,415 and $2,109.
Factors that affect the price of shipping a car from South Carolina to Maine
When transporting your vehicle from the Palmetto State to the Pine Tree 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 Maine.
- Distance and route: The journey from South Carolina to Maine spans approximately 1,166 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 South Carolina, 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 South Carolina and Maine 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 South Carolina to Maine should take between 2 and 8 days. Expedited services are available but come at a higher cost.
The best South Carolina to Maine car shipping companies
|
|
|
|
rating
We’ve done the research and these are the best car shipping companies to help transport your vehicle from South Carolina to Maine:
- 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 South Carolina to Maine
- Drive it yourself: This is straightforward but not always an option, and it will put about 1,166 miles on your car going from South Carolina to Maine. 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 South Carolina to Maine 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 South Carolina to Maine?
- Car insurance requirements: In Maine, drivers must carry a minimum liability coverage of 50/100/25, requiring $50,000 for bodily injury per person, $100,000 for all injuries per accident, and $25,000 for property damage, as per car insurance laws.
- Vehicle inspection: The State of Maine requires annual safety inspections for all vehicles used on public roads to ensure they are in proper working condition and safe to operate. Safety inspections in Maine can be carried out at any official service station of the Maine Department of Transportation.
- Driver’s license: New residents of Maine are required to obtain a new state license within 30 days of establishing residency. If you are moving to Maine and possess a valid or recently expired (within the past 5 years) out-of-state driver's license from another US state, you can obtain a Class C license, including a REAL ID license, by visiting a Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles office.
- Additional taxes: Maine requires registered car owners to pay an annual excise tax for motor vehicles, trailers, mobile homes, and stock vehicles. This tax is calculated by multiplying the current Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of the vehicle by the mileage rate.
Learn more with our car shipping checklist
Transporting your vehicle from South Carolina
Over 39 million people call South Carolina home. Nicknamed the Palmetto State, South Carolina had hot and humid summers and cool to mild winters and coastal areas of the state have very mild winters. While precipitation is abundant the entire year in almost the entire state, the coast tends to have a slightly wetter summer, while inland, the spring and autumn transitions tend to be the wettest periods and winter the driest season, with November being the driest month.
Transporting your vehicle to Maine
About 22 million people are living in the Pine Tree State of Maine. Maine has a humid continental climate. with warm and sometimes humid summers, and long, cold and very snowy winters. Winters are especially severe in the Northern and Western parts of Maine, while coastal areas are moderated slightly by the Atlantic Ocean, resulting in marginally milder winters and cooler summers than inland regions.
FAQ
Does someone have to be present when picking up my car in South Carolina and when dropping off my car in Maine?
Most companies will require someone that is at least 18 years old to be present when picking up your car in South Carolina and when dropping it off in Maine.
Do you need car insurance when shipping your car from South Carolina to Maine?
If you’re not driving the vehicle from South Carolina to Maine, you aren't required to have typical car insurance. Your car hauler should have adequate insurance if an accident happened on the drive to Maine, which you should verify before loading your car in South Carolina.
If you’re driving your car at all in either state, you should understand the requirements. In South Carolina, it's a legal requirement for every driver to have liability insurance. Adhering to the state's minimum liability limits, commonly referred to as 25/50/25, entails securing coverage of at least $25,000 for bodily injury per person, $50,000 for total bodily injury per accident, and $25,000 for property damage per accident. Stay compliant with these essential insurance standards to drive confidently on South Carolina roads.
If you’re driving your car at all in either state, you should understand the requirements. In Maine, drivers must carry a minimum liability coverage of 50/100/25, requiring $50,000 for bodily injury per person, $100,000 for all injuries per accident, and $25,000 for property damage, as per car insurance laws.
How long does it take to ship a car from South Carolina to Maine?
Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from South Carolina to Maine is about 1166 miles, and that’s as fast as about 3 days. However, most car transport companies will take 2-8 days to travel from South Carolina to Maine.
Will I be required to have a vehicle inspection in either state?
Drivers in South Carolina are not required to get a safety, VIN, or emissions inspection for their vehicle.
The State of Maine requires annual safety inspections for all vehicles used on public roads to ensure they are in proper working condition and safe to operate. Safety inspections in Maine can be carried out at any official service station of the Maine Department of Transportation.
If I have a driver’s license in South Carolina, will I need one in Maine?
New residents of Maine are required to obtain a new state license within 30 days of establishing residency. If you are moving to Maine and possess a valid or recently expired (within the past 5 years) out-of-state driver's license from another US state, you can obtain a Class C license, including a REAL ID license, by visiting a Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles office.
If I bought a car in South Carolina, will I be required to pay sales tax in Maine after shipping it there?
It’s important to understand any tax implications if you’re having a car shipped from South Carolina to Maine after purchasing it.
Maine requires registered car owners to pay an annual excise tax for motor vehicles, trailers, mobile homes, and stock vehicles. This tax is calculated by multiplying the current Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of the vehicle by the mileage rate.
We recommend that you always check for updated tax information in both South Carolina and Maine to avoid any hidden costs.
