Michigan to Maine Car Shipping (2024 Cost Guide)
Fact Checked by: Quick answer: The average cost to ship a car 1,002 miles from Michigan to Maine ranges from $1,000 to $1,504 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 Michigan car shipping guide.
Michigan 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 Michigan and Maine. The average travel distance is about 1,002 miles, with shipping times typically ranging from 2 to 8 days.
Cost to ship a car from Detroit, MI to Maine
| From Michigan to Maine | Distance | Cost | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit, MI to Portland, ME | 810 miles | $1,021–$1,457 | 2–7 days |
| Grand Rapids, MI to Falmouth, ME | 817 miles | $952–$1,384 | 2–7 days |
| Ann Arbor, MI to Orono, ME | 862 miles | $1,032–$1,483 | 2–7 days |
| Lansing, MI to Kennebunk, ME | 787 miles | $964–$1,363 | 2–7 days |
| Flint, MI to Wells, ME | 782 miles | $1,003–$1,377 | 2–7 days |
Cost to ship a car from Grand Rapids, MI to Maine
| From Michigan to Maine | Distance | Cost | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit, MI to Portland, ME | 935 miles | $1,018–$1,563 | 2–7 days |
| Grand Rapids, MI to Falmouth, ME | 941 miles | $958–$1,485 | 2–7 days |
| Ann Arbor, MI to Orono, ME | 987 miles | $1,014–$1,636 | 2–7 days |
| Lansing, MI to Kennebunk, ME | 912 miles | $1,018–$1,609 | 2–7 days |
| Flint, MI to Wells, ME | 907 miles | $998–$1,548 | 2–7 days |
Cost to ship a car from Ann Arbor, MI to Maine
| From Michigan to Maine | Distance | Cost | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit, MI to Portland, ME | 848 miles | $968–$1,463 | 2–7 days |
| Grand Rapids, MI to Falmouth, ME | 855 miles | $993–$1,572 | 2–7 days |
| Ann Arbor, MI to Orono, ME | 900 miles | $1,038–$1,609 | 2–7 days |
| Lansing, MI to Kennebunk, ME | 826 miles | $949–$1,522 | 2–7 days |
| Flint, MI to Wells, ME | 820 miles | $943–$1,442 | 2–7 days |
Cost to ship a car from Lansing, MI to Maine
| From Michigan to Maine | Distance | Cost | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit, MI to Portland, ME | 877 miles | $986–$1,531 | 2–7 days |
| Grand Rapids, MI to Falmouth, ME | 884 miles | $986–$1,470 | 2–7 days |
| Ann Arbor, MI to Orono, ME | 930 miles | $1,018–$1,625 | 2–7 days |
| Lansing, MI to Kennebunk, ME | 854 miles | $953–$1,483 | 2–7 days |
| Flint, MI to Wells, ME | 848 miles | $949–$1,478 | 2–7 days |
Cost to ship a car from Flint, MI to Maine
| From Michigan to Maine | Distance | Cost | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit, MI to Portland, ME | 822 miles | $943–$1,399 | 2–7 days |
| Grand Rapids, MI to Falmouth, ME | 829 miles | $978–$1,404 | 2–7 days |
| Ann Arbor, MI to Orono, ME | 874 miles | $953–$1,423 | 2–7 days |
| Lansing, MI to Kennebunk, ME | 800 miles | $952–$1,457 | 2–7 days |
| Flint, MI to Wells, ME | 793 miles | $1,003–$1,406 | 2–7 days |
Shipping an SUV or truck from Michigan 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 Michigan to Maine you should expect to pay between $1,250 and $1,880.
Factors that affect the price of shipping a car from Michigan to Maine
When transporting your vehicle from the Wolverine 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 Michigan to Maine spans approximately 1,002 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 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 Michigan to Maine should take between 2 and 8 days. Expedited services are available but come at a higher cost.
The best Michigan to Maine 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 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 Michigan to Maine
- Drive it yourself: This is straightforward but not always an option, and it will put about 1,002 miles on your car going from Michigan 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 Michigan 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 Michigan 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 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 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 Michigan 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 Michigan and when dropping it off in Maine.
Do you need car insurance when shipping your car from Michigan to Maine?
If you’re not driving the vehicle from Michigan 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 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. 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 Michigan to Maine?
Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from Michigan to Maine is about 1002 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 Maine.
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.
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 Michigan, 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 Michigan, 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 Michigan 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 Michigan and Maine to avoid any hidden costs.
