Michigan to Louisiana Car Shipping (2024 Cost Guide)
Fact Checked by: Quick answer: The average cost to ship a car 1,186 miles from Michigan to Louisiana ranges from $1,110 to $1,620 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 Louisiana to Michigan car shipping guide.
Michigan 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 Michigan and Louisiana. The average travel distance is about 1,186 miles, with shipping times typically ranging from 2 to 8 days.
Cost to ship a car from Detroit, MI to Louisiana
| From Michigan to Louisiana | Distance | Cost | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit, MI to New Orleans, LA | 1,067 miles | $950–$1,504 | 2–8 days |
| Grand Rapids, MI to Baton Rouge, LA | 1,122 miles | $1,121–$1,721 | 2–8 days |
| Ann Arbor, MI to Shreveport, LA | 1,072 miles | $1,019–$1,615 | 2–8 days |
| Lansing, MI to Lafayette, LA | 1,176 miles | $1,056–$1,704 | 2–8 days |
| Flint, MI to Lake Charles, LA | 1,247 miles | $1,187–$1,871 | 2–8 days |
Cost to ship a car from Grand Rapids, MI to Louisiana
| From Michigan to Louisiana | Distance | Cost | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit, MI to New Orleans, LA | 1,070 miles | $960–$1,552 | 2–8 days |
| Grand Rapids, MI to Baton Rouge, LA | 1,058 miles | $1,029–$1,647 | 2–8 days |
| Ann Arbor, MI to Shreveport, LA | 996 miles | $964–$1,557 | 2–7 days |
| Lansing, MI to Lafayette, LA | 1,112 miles | $1,132–$1,654 | 2–8 days |
| Flint, MI to Lake Charles, LA | 1,182 miles | $1,078–$1,603 | 2–8 days |
Cost to ship a car from Ann Arbor, MI to Louisiana
| From Michigan to Louisiana | Distance | Cost | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit, MI to New Orleans, LA | 1,053 miles | $970–$1,600 | 2–8 days |
| Grand Rapids, MI to Baton Rouge, LA | 1,109 miles | $1,089–$1,755 | 2–8 days |
| Ann Arbor, MI to Shreveport, LA | 1,060 miles | $1,000–$1,615 | 2–8 days |
| Lansing, MI to Lafayette, LA | 1,163 miles | $1,067–$1,603 | 2–8 days |
| Flint, MI to Lake Charles, LA | 1,234 miles | $1,117–$1,835 | 2–8 days |
Cost to ship a car from Lansing, MI to Louisiana
| From Michigan to Louisiana | Distance | Cost | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit, MI to New Orleans, LA | 1,071 miles | $1,000–$1,552 | 2–8 days |
| Grand Rapids, MI to Baton Rouge, LA | 1,099 miles | $950–$1,552 | 2–8 days |
| Ann Arbor, MI to Shreveport, LA | 1,036 miles | $1,029–$1,584 | 2–8 days |
| Lansing, MI to Lafayette, LA | 1,153 miles | $1,099–$1,637 | 2–8 days |
| Flint, MI to Lake Charles, LA | 1,223 miles | $1,176–$1,817 | 2–8 days |
Cost to ship a car from Flint, MI to Louisiana
| From Michigan to Louisiana | Distance | Cost | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit, MI to New Orleans, LA | 1,109 miles | $1,089–$1,772 | 2–8 days |
| Grand Rapids, MI to Baton Rouge, LA | 1,153 miles | $1,110–$1,704 | 2–8 days |
| Ann Arbor, MI to Shreveport, LA | 1,091 miles | $980–$1,600 | 2–8 days |
| Lansing, MI to Lafayette, LA | 1,207 miles | $1,117–$1,799 | 2–8 days |
| Flint, MI to Lake Charles, LA | 1,278 miles | $1,222–$1,853 | 3–8 days |
Shipping an SUV or truck from Michigan 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 Michigan to Louisiana you should expect to pay between $1,388 and $2,025.
Factors that affect the price of shipping a car from Michigan to Louisiana
When transporting your vehicle from the Wolverine State 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 Michigan to Louisiana spans approximately 1,186 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 Michigan, 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 Michigan 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 Michigan to Louisiana should take between 2 and 8 days. Expedited services are available but come at a higher cost.
The best Michigan 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 Michigan 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 Michigan to Louisiana
- Drive it yourself: This is straightforward but not always an option, and it will put about 1,186 miles on your car going from Michigan 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 Michigan 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 Michigan 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 Michigan
Over 39 million people call Michigan home. Nicknamed the Wolverine State, Michigan has a continental climate, although there are two distinct regions. The southern and central parts of the Lower Peninsula (south of Saginaw Bay and from the Grand Rapids area southward) have a warmer climate with hot summers and cold winters. The northern part of the Lower Peninsula and the entire Upper Peninsula has a more severe climate (Köppen Dfb), with warm, but shorter summers and longer, cold to very cold winters. Some parts of the state average high temperatures below freezing from December through February, and into early March in the far northern parts. During the winter through the middle of February, the state is frequently subjected to heavy lake-effect snow. The state averages 30 days of thunderstorm activity per year. These can be severe, especially in the southern part of the state. The state averages 17 tornadoes per year, which are more common in the state's extreme southern section.
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 Michigan 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 Michigan and when dropping it off in Louisiana.
Do you need car insurance when shipping your car from Michigan to Louisiana?
If you’re not driving the vehicle from Michigan 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 Michigan.
If you’re driving your car at all in either state, you should understand the requirements. Michigan requires a minimum auto insurance coverage of $50,000/$100,000 for bodily injury and $10,000 for property damage in case of an 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 Michigan to Louisiana?
Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from Michigan to Louisiana is about 1186 miles, and that’s as fast as about 3 days. However, most car transport companies will take 2-8 days to travel from Michigan to Louisiana.
Will I be required to have a vehicle inspection in either state?
Michigan does not require vehicle inspections for registration purposes. There is no state mandate for car safety inspections or emissions testing.
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 Michigan, 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 Michigan, 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 Michigan 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 Michigan and Louisiana to avoid any hidden costs.
