Illinois to Alabama Car Shipping (2024 Cost Guide)
Fact Checked by: Quick answer: The average cost to ship a car 731 miles from Illinois to Alabama ranges from $954 to $1,330 and takes 1–6 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 Alabama to Illinois car shipping guide.
Illinois to Alabama 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 Alabama. The average travel distance is about 731 miles, with shipping times typically ranging from 1 to 6 days.
Cost to ship a car from Chicago, IL to Alabama
| From Illinois to Alabama | Distance | Cost | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago, IL to Huntsville, AL | 586 miles | $859–$1,201 | 1–6 days |
| Rockford, IL to Birmingham, AL | 662 miles | $932–$1,248 | 1–6 days |
| Springfield, IL to Montgomery, AL | 750 miles | $984–$1,453 | 2–7 days |
| Peoria, IL to Mobile, AL | 917 miles | $998–$1,532 | 2–7 days |
| Round Lake Beach, IL to Tuscaloosa, AL | 717 miles | $905–$1,358 | 1–6 days |
Cost to ship a car from Rockford, IL to Alabama
| From Illinois to Alabama | Distance | Cost | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago, IL to Huntsville, AL | 673 miles | $950–$1,313 | 1–6 days |
| Rockford, IL to Birmingham, AL | 749 miles | $993–$1,357 | 1–6 days |
| Springfield, IL to Montgomery, AL | 838 miles | $1,028–$1,448 | 2–7 days |
| Peoria, IL to Mobile, AL | 936 miles | $958–$1,609 | 2–7 days |
| Round Lake Beach, IL to Tuscaloosa, AL | 804 miles | $992–$1,442 | 2–7 days |
Cost to ship a car from Springfield, IL to Alabama
| From Illinois to Alabama | Distance | Cost | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago, IL to Huntsville, AL | 487 miles | $749–$1,104 | 1–4 days |
| Rockford, IL to Birmingham, AL | 563 miles | $805–$1,212 | 1–6 days |
| Springfield, IL to Montgomery, AL | 652 miles | $923–$1,339 | 1–6 days |
| Peoria, IL to Mobile, AL | 739 miles | $993–$1,454 | 1–6 days |
| Round Lake Beach, IL to Tuscaloosa, AL | 618 miles | $870–$1,272 | 1–6 days |
Cost to ship a car from Peoria, IL to Alabama
| From Illinois to Alabama | Distance | Cost | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago, IL to Huntsville, AL | 559 miles | $838–$1,212 | 1–6 days |
| Rockford, IL to Birmingham, AL | 635 miles | $852–$1,217 | 1–6 days |
| Springfield, IL to Montgomery, AL | 724 miles | $933–$1,426 | 1–6 days |
| Peoria, IL to Mobile, AL | 811 miles | $972–$1,457 | 2–7 days |
| Round Lake Beach, IL to Tuscaloosa, AL | 690 miles | $929–$1,330 | 1–6 days |
Cost to ship a car from Round Lake Beach, IL to Alabama
| From Illinois to Alabama | Distance | Cost | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago, IL to Huntsville, AL | 641 miles | $870–$1,268 | 1–6 days |
| Rockford, IL to Birmingham, AL | 718 miles | $942–$1,344 | 1–6 days |
| Springfield, IL to Montgomery, AL | 807 miles | $1,011–$1,413 | 2–7 days |
| Peoria, IL to Mobile, AL | 973 miles | $977–$1,545 | 2–7 days |
| Round Lake Beach, IL to Tuscaloosa, AL | 773 miles | $1,004–$1,354 | 2–7 days |
Shipping an SUV or truck from Illinois to Alabama
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 Alabama you should expect to pay between $1,193 and $1,663.
Factors that affect the price of shipping a car from Illinois to Alabama
When transporting your vehicle from the Land of Lincoln to the Heart of Dixie, 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 Alabama.
- Distance and route: The journey from Illinois to Alabama spans approximately 731 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 Alabama 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 Alabama should take between 1 and 6 days. Expedited services are available but come at a higher cost.
The best Illinois to Alabama 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 Alabama:
- 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 Alabama
- Drive it yourself: This is straightforward but not always an option, and it will put about 731 miles on your car going from Illinois to Alabama. 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 Alabama 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 Alabama?
- Car insurance requirements: Alabama state government requires motorists possess liability insurance, which must provide a minimum coverage of 25/50/25. This specification includes coverage for bodily injury per person, bodily injury per accident, and property damage per accident.
- Vehicle inspection: In Alabama, a safety inspection must be completed prior to selling a vehicle and a VIN inspection is mandatory when registering an out-of-state vehicle. Emissions inspections are not required by the state, though cities and municipalities may have their own laws mandating them.
- Driver’s license: When you move to Alabama with an out-of-state driver's license, you have 30 days to surrender it and obtain an Alabama license.
- Additional taxes: In Alabama, a 2% state sales tax is levied on the purchase of vehicles, including off-road motorcycles and ATVs. With the addition of city and county vehicle sales taxes, the total sales tax owed will amount to between 3.375% and 4% of the vehicle's cost.
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 Alabama
About 22 million people are living in the Heart of Dixie of Alabama. Alabama has one of the hottest summers in the US and mild winters with copious amounts of precipitation throughout the year. Areas around the Gulf in Alabama are prone to tropical storms and hurricanes. Alabama also has tornado activity, which typically occurs in the spring It would be a good idea to check for tornado activity in the area you are looking to move to.
FAQ
Does someone have to be present when picking up my car in Illinois and when dropping off my car in Alabama?
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 Alabama.
Do you need car insurance when shipping your car from Illinois to Alabama?
If you’re not driving the vehicle from Illinois to Alabama, you aren't required to have typical car insurance. Your car hauler should have adequate insurance if an accident happened on the drive to Alabama, 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. Alabama state government requires motorists possess liability insurance, which must provide a minimum coverage of 25/50/25. This specification includes coverage for bodily injury per person, bodily injury per accident, and property damage per accident.
How long does it take to ship a car from Illinois to Alabama?
Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from Illinois to Alabama is about 731 miles, and that’s as fast as about 2 days. However, most car transport companies will take 1-6 days to travel from Illinois to Alabama.
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 Alabama, a safety inspection must be completed prior to selling a vehicle and a VIN inspection is mandatory when registering an out-of-state vehicle. Emissions inspections are not required by the state, though cities and municipalities may have their own laws mandating them.
If I have a driver’s license in Illinois, will I need one in Alabama?
When you move to Alabama with an out-of-state driver's license, you have 30 days to surrender it and obtain an Alabama license.
If I bought a car in Illinois, will I be required to pay sales tax in Alabama after shipping it there?
It’s important to understand any tax implications if you’re having a car shipped from Illinois to Alabama after purchasing it.
In Alabama, a 2% state sales tax is levied on the purchase of vehicles, including off-road motorcycles and ATVs. With the addition of city and county vehicle sales taxes, the total sales tax owed will amount to between 3.375% and 4% of the vehicle's cost.
We recommend that you always check for updated tax information in both Illinois and Alabama to avoid any hidden costs.
