South Carolina to Montana Car Shipping (2024 Cost Guide)
Fact Checked by: Quick answer: The average cost to ship a car 2,134 miles from South Carolina to Montana ranges from $1,568 to $2,465 and takes 4–12 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 South Carolina car shipping guide.
South Carolina 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 South Carolina and Montana. The average travel distance is about 2,134 miles, with shipping times typically ranging from 4 to 12 days.
Cost to ship a car from Charleston, SC to Montana
| From South Carolina to Montana | Distance | Cost | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston, SC to Billings, MT | 2,121 miles | $1,617–$2,465 | 4–12 days |
| Columbia, SC to Missoula, MT | 2,462 miles | $1,551–$2,693 | 5–13 days |
| Rock Hill, SC to Belgrade, MT | 2,271 miles | $1,676–$2,446 | 5–13 days |
| Greenville, SC to Bozeman, MT | 2,261 miles | $1,644–$2,624 | 5–13 days |
| Spartanburg, SC to Butte, MT | 2,346 miles | $1,616–$2,598 | 5–13 days |
Cost to ship a car from Columbia, SC to Montana
| From South Carolina to Montana | Distance | Cost | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston, SC to Billings, MT | 2,012 miles | $1,504–$2,499 | 4–12 days |
| Columbia, SC to Missoula, MT | 2,354 miles | $1,633–$2,624 | 5–13 days |
| Rock Hill, SC to Belgrade, MT | 2,162 miles | $1,536–$2,591 | 4–12 days |
| Greenville, SC to Bozeman, MT | 2,152 miles | $1,536–$2,440 | 4–12 days |
| Spartanburg, SC to Butte, MT | 2,236 miles | $1,611–$2,675 | 4–12 days |
Cost to ship a car from Rock Hill, SC to Montana
| From South Carolina to Montana | Distance | Cost | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston, SC to Billings, MT | 1,983 miles | $1,623–$2,393 | 3–11 days |
| Columbia, SC to Missoula, MT | 2,325 miles | $1,681–$2,470 | 5–13 days |
| Rock Hill, SC to Belgrade, MT | 2,134 miles | $1,649–$2,490 | 4–12 days |
| Greenville, SC to Bozeman, MT | 2,124 miles | $1,617–$2,440 | 4–12 days |
| Spartanburg, SC to Butte, MT | 2,208 miles | $1,563–$2,675 | 4–12 days |
Cost to ship a car from Greenville, SC to Montana
| From South Carolina to Montana | Distance | Cost | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston, SC to Billings, MT | 1,917 miles | $1,483–$2,464 | 3–11 days |
| Columbia, SC to Missoula, MT | 2,259 miles | $1,692–$2,471 | 5–13 days |
| Rock Hill, SC to Belgrade, MT | 2,067 miles | $1,536–$2,425 | 4–12 days |
| Greenville, SC to Bozeman, MT | 2,057 miles | $1,504–$2,450 | 4–12 days |
| Spartanburg, SC to Butte, MT | 2,141 miles | $1,601–$2,540 | 4–12 days |
Cost to ship a car from Spartanburg, SC to Montana
| From South Carolina to Montana | Distance | Cost | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston, SC to Billings, MT | 1,923 miles | $1,483–$2,417 | 3–11 days |
| Columbia, SC to Missoula, MT | 2,265 miles | $1,595–$2,675 | 5–13 days |
| Rock Hill, SC to Belgrade, MT | 2,074 miles | $1,504–$2,400 | 4–12 days |
| Greenville, SC to Bozeman, MT | 2,064 miles | $1,536–$2,450 | 4–12 days |
| Spartanburg, SC to Butte, MT | 2,148 miles | $1,617–$2,414 | 4–12 days |
Shipping an SUV or truck from South Carolina 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 South Carolina to Montana you should expect to pay between $1,960 and $3,081.
Factors that affect the price of shipping a car from South Carolina to Montana
When transporting your vehicle from the Palmetto State 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 South Carolina to Montana spans approximately 2,134 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 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 South Carolina to Montana should take between 4 and 12 days. Expedited services are available but come at a higher cost.
The best South Carolina 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 South Carolina 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 South Carolina to Montana
- Drive it yourself: This is straightforward but not always an option, and it will put about 2,134 miles on your car going from South Carolina 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 South Carolina 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 South Carolina 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 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 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 South Carolina 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 South Carolina and when dropping it off in Montana.
Do you need car insurance when shipping your car from South Carolina to Montana?
If you’re not driving the vehicle from South Carolina 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 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 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 South Carolina to Montana?
Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from South Carolina to Montana is about 2134 miles, and that’s as fast as about 5 days. However, most car transport companies will take 4-12 days to travel from South Carolina to Montana.
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.
If you are moving to Montana, you are not required to have your vehicle inspected.
If I have a driver’s license in South Carolina, 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 South Carolina, 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 South Carolina 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 South Carolina and Montana to avoid any hidden costs.
