Michigan to Tennessee Car Shipping (2024 Cost Guide)
Fact Checked by: Quick answer: The average cost to ship a car 710 miles from Michigan to Tennessee ranges from $980 to $1,317 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 Tennessee to Michigan car shipping guide.
Michigan to Tennessee 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 Tennessee. The average travel distance is about 710 miles, with shipping times typically ranging from 1 to 6 days.
Cost to ship a car from Detroit, MI to Tennessee
| From Michigan to Tennessee | Distance | Cost | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit, MI to Nashville, TN | 534 miles | $791–$1,128 | 1–6 days |
| Grand Rapids, MI to Memphis, TN | 744 miles | $964–$1,413 | 1–6 days |
| Ann Arbor, MI to Clarksville, TN | 540 miles | $840–$1,139 | 1–6 days |
| Lansing, MI to Knoxville, TN | 513 miles | $768–$1,100 | 1–6 days |
| Flint, MI to Chattanooga, TN | 621 miles | $923–$1,235 | 1–6 days |
Cost to ship a car from Grand Rapids, MI to Tennessee
| From Michigan to Tennessee | Distance | Cost | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit, MI to Nashville, TN | 543 miles | $808–$1,071 | 1–6 days |
| Grand Rapids, MI to Memphis, TN | 679 miles | $901–$1,356 | 1–6 days |
| Ann Arbor, MI to Clarksville, TN | 539 miles | $783–$1,116 | 1–6 days |
| Lansing, MI to Knoxville, TN | 608 miles | $905–$1,272 | 1–6 days |
| Flint, MI to Chattanooga, TN | 674 miles | $914–$1,365 | 1–6 days |
Cost to ship a car from Ann Arbor, MI to Tennessee
| From Michigan to Tennessee | Distance | Cost | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit, MI to Nashville, TN | 520 miles | $776–$1,111 | 1–6 days |
| Grand Rapids, MI to Memphis, TN | 730 miles | $983–$1,399 | 1–6 days |
| Ann Arbor, MI to Clarksville, TN | 526 miles | $857–$1,116 | 1–6 days |
| Lansing, MI to Knoxville, TN | 499 miles | $757–$1,061 | 1–4 days |
| Flint, MI to Chattanooga, TN | 607 miles | $897–$1,223 | 1–6 days |
Cost to ship a car from Lansing, MI to Tennessee
| From Michigan to Tennessee | Distance | Cost | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit, MI to Nashville, TN | 537 miles | $840–$1,184 | 1–6 days |
| Grand Rapids, MI to Memphis, TN | 718 miles | $895–$1,358 | 1–6 days |
| Ann Arbor, MI to Clarksville, TN | 532 miles | $848–$1,083 | 1–6 days |
| Lansing, MI to Knoxville, TN | 570 miles | $838–$1,177 | 1–6 days |
| Flint, MI to Chattanooga, TN | 668 miles | $950–$1,261 | 1–6 days |
Cost to ship a car from Flint, MI to Tennessee
| From Michigan to Tennessee | Distance | Cost | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit, MI to Nashville, TN | 575 miles | $851–$1,237 | 1–6 days |
| Grand Rapids, MI to Memphis, TN | 773 miles | $926–$1,453 | 2–7 days |
| Ann Arbor, MI to Clarksville, TN | 587 miles | $816–$1,141 | 1–6 days |
| Lansing, MI to Knoxville, TN | 554 miles | $855–$1,223 | 1–6 days |
| Flint, MI to Chattanooga, TN | 662 miles | $959–$1,235 | 1–6 days |
Shipping an SUV or truck from Michigan to Tennessee
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 Tennessee you should expect to pay between $1,225 and $1,646.
Factors that affect the price of shipping a car from Michigan to Tennessee
When transporting your vehicle from the Wolverine State to the Volunteer 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 Tennessee.
- Distance and route: The journey from Michigan to Tennessee spans approximately 710 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 Tennessee 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 Tennessee should take between 1 and 6 days. Expedited services are available but come at a higher cost.
The best Michigan to Tennessee car shipping companies
|
|
|
|
rating
We’ve done the research and these are the best car shipping companies to help transport your vehicle from Michigan to Tennessee:
- 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 Tennessee
- Drive it yourself: This is straightforward but not always an option, and it will put about 710 miles on your car going from Michigan to Tennessee. 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 Tennessee 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 Tennessee?
- Car insurance requirements: Tennessee drivers need to fulfill liability insurance criteria of 25/50/15 ($25,000 for individual bodily injury, $50,000 for total bodily injury per accident, and $15,000 for property damage per accident). Valid proof of insurance is crucial for registration and may be requested by law enforcement during traffic stops. Motorists have the flexibility to choose additional coverage for an added layer of vehicle protection.
- Vehicle inspection: In Tennessee, vehicles must pass annual safety and emissions inspection. Cost is around $15 and more information can be found at Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security's website.
- Driver’s license: To obtain a driver's license in Tennessee, individuals must be at least 15 years old (with a Learner's Permit) or 16 years old (with a regular driver's license), pass written, vision and driving tests, provide proof of identity, residency, legal presence, and social security number, pass a medical examination if required, pay the required fee, Hold the Learner's Permit for at least 180 days before taking the skills test for the driver's license and comply with the graduated licensing system restrictions for the first 6 months.
- Additional taxes: When moving to Tennessee, you will be required to pay state income tax and property tax. The state income tax rate in Tennessee is a flat rate of 3%. Property taxes in Tennessee are determined by the county in which the property is located, and can vary widely depending on the area. Additionally, sales tax in Tennessee is 7%, but varies depending on the local area. Some cities and counties in Tennessee also have additional local sales taxes.
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 Tennessee
About 22 million people are living in the Volunteer State of Tennessee. Most of Tennessee has hot and humid summers and cool to mild winters, with the exception of some of the higher elevations in the Appalachians, which has mild summers and cool winters. The state averages about 15 tornadoes a year.
FAQ
Does someone have to be present when picking up my car in Michigan and when dropping off my car in Tennessee?
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 Tennessee.
Do you need car insurance when shipping your car from Michigan to Tennessee?
If you’re not driving the vehicle from Michigan to Tennessee, you aren't required to have typical car insurance. Your car hauler should have adequate insurance if an accident happened on the drive to Tennessee, 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. Tennessee drivers need to fulfill liability insurance criteria of 25/50/15 ($25,000 for individual bodily injury, $50,000 for total bodily injury per accident, and $15,000 for property damage per accident). Valid proof of insurance is crucial for registration and may be requested by law enforcement during traffic stops. Motorists have the flexibility to choose additional coverage for an added layer of vehicle protection.
How long does it take to ship a car from Michigan to Tennessee?
Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from Michigan to Tennessee is about 710 miles, and that’s as fast as about 2 days. However, most car transport companies will take 1-6 days to travel from Michigan to Tennessee.
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 Tennessee, vehicles must pass annual safety and emissions inspection. Cost is around $15 and more information can be found at Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security's website.
If I have a driver’s license in Michigan, will I need one in Tennessee?
To obtain a driver's license in Tennessee, individuals must be at least 15 years old (with a Learner's Permit) or 16 years old (with a regular driver's license), pass written, vision and driving tests, provide proof of identity, residency, legal presence, and social security number, pass a medical examination if required, pay the required fee, Hold the Learner's Permit for at least 180 days before taking the skills test for the driver's license and comply with the graduated licensing system restrictions for the first 6 months.
If I bought a car in Michigan, will I be required to pay sales tax in Tennessee after shipping it there?
It’s important to understand any tax implications if you’re having a car shipped from Michigan to Tennessee after purchasing it.
When moving to Tennessee, you will be required to pay state income tax and property tax. The state income tax rate in Tennessee is a flat rate of 3%. Property taxes in Tennessee are determined by the county in which the property is located, and can vary widely depending on the area. Additionally, sales tax in Tennessee is 7%, but varies depending on the local area. Some cities and counties in Tennessee also have additional local sales taxes.
We recommend that you always check for updated tax information in both Michigan and Tennessee to avoid any hidden costs.
