Alabama to Iowa Car Shipping (2024 Cost Guide)
Fact Checked by: Quick answer: The average cost to ship a car 935 miles from Alabama to Iowa ranges from $837 to $1,284 and takes two–seven days depending on factors like the transport type and season. For a more detailed quote, use our car shipping cost calculator.
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Shipping a car the reverse route? We’ve got you covered with our Iowa to Alabama car shipping guide.
The best Alabama to Iowa car shipping companies
We’ve done the research and these are the best car shipping companies to help transport your vehicle from Alabama to Iowa:
- Best for accurate pricing: Sherpa Auto Transport
- Best cross-country shipper: Montway Auto Transport
- Best for discounts: AmeriFreight Car Transport
- Best for overall value: SGT Auto Transport
- Best for quick pickup: Easy Auto Ship
- Price Lock Promise
- Pay by credit card
- Free car wash at delivery
- No upfront deposit
- Door-to-door service
- No upfront payment
- GPS tracking
- Multiple insurance options
- Competitive pricing
- Door-to-door shipping
- Competitive pricing
- Last-minute car shipments
- Guaranteed & expedited shipments
- Gap insurance coverage
- Multiple discounts
- No hidden fees
- Free online quotes
- Door-to-door service in 48 states
- Exact pickup dates
- Ships to & from HI
- No upfront deposit
- Expedited shipping
- No hidden fees
- Ships motorcycles & RVs
- Discount for cash payments
Alternative ways to ship your car from Alabama to Iowa
- Drive it yourself. This is straightforward but not always an option, and it will put about 935 miles on your car going from Alabama to Iowa. 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 need to ship your car from Alabama for a move to Iowa, you may want to hire a moving company that can handle car shipping, as well. Many long-distance moving companies work with reputable car shippers to coordinate auto transport.
- Hire a driver. Hire someone to drive the car from Alabama to Iowa 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!
AL to IA auto transport costs and transit times
The tables below detail the costs and estimated transit times for shipping a car between popular cities in Alabama and Iowa. The average travel distance is about 935 miles, with shipping times typically ranging from two to seven days .
Cost to ship a car from Huntsville, AL to Iowa
| From Alabama to Iowa | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Huntsville, AL to Des Moines, IA | $817 – $1,136 | 758 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Huntsville, AL to Cedar Rapids, IA | $759 – $1,161 | 702 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Huntsville, AL to Davenport, IA | $766 – $1,015 | 651 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Huntsville, AL to Sioux City, IA | $837 – $1,208 | 941 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Huntsville, AL to Iowa City, IA | $778 – $1,049 | 677 miles | 1 – 6 days |
Cost to ship a car from Birmingham, AL to Iowa
| From Alabama to Iowa | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham, AL to Des Moines, IA | $853 – $1,215 | 839 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Birmingham, AL to Cedar Rapids, IA | $785 – $1,132 | 782 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Birmingham, AL to Davenport, IA | $824 – $1,184 | 733 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Birmingham, AL to Sioux City, IA | $852 – $1,296 | 972 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Birmingham, AL to Iowa City, IA | $793 – $1,182 | 759 miles | 2 – 7 days |
Cost to ship a car from Montgomery, AL to Iowa
| From Alabama to Iowa | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Montgomery, AL to Des Moines, IA | $796 – $1,208 | 928 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Montgomery, AL to Cedar Rapids, IA | $800 – $1,255 | 871 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Montgomery, AL to Davenport, IA | $815 – $1,257 | 821 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Montgomery, AL to Sioux City, IA | $822 – $1,275 | 1,061 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Montgomery, AL to Iowa City, IA | $820 – $1,202 | 847 miles | 2 – 7 days |
Cost to ship a car from Mobile, AL to Iowa
| From Alabama to Iowa | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mobile, AL to Des Moines, IA | $835 – $1,308 | 971 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Mobile, AL to Cedar Rapids, IA | $804 – $1,209 | 914 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Mobile, AL to Davenport, IA | $779 – $1,209 | 909 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Mobile, AL to Sioux City, IA | $895 – $1,373 | 1,117 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Mobile, AL to Iowa City, IA | $835 – $1,208 | 890 miles | 2 – 7 days |
Cost to ship a car from Tuscaloosa, AL to Iowa
| From Alabama to Iowa | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuscaloosa, AL to Des Moines, IA | $783 – $1,257 | 820 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Tuscaloosa, AL to Cedar Rapids, IA | $801 – $1,159 | 763 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Tuscaloosa, AL to Davenport, IA | $793 – $1,202 | 788 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Tuscaloosa, AL to Sioux City, IA | $778 – $1,296 | 966 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Tuscaloosa, AL to Iowa City, IA | $776 – $1,081 | 739 miles | 1 – 6 days |
Shipping an SUV or truck from Alabama to Iowa
Since vehicles like SUVs, 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 Alabama to Iowa you should expect to pay between $1,046 and $1,605.
Factors that affect car shipping costs from AL to IA
When transporting your vehicle from the Heart of Dixie to the Hawkeye 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 Iowa.
- Distance and route: The journey from Alabama to Iowa spans approximately 935 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 Alabama, 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 Alabama and Iowa 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 Alabama to Iowa should take between two and seven days. Expedited services are available but come at a higher cost.
Iowa vehicle regulations you need to know
- Car insurance requirements: Iowa requires minimum liability insurance, covering $20,000 for individual injury or death, $40,000 for multiple individuals, and $15,000 for property damage in an accident.
- Vehicle inspection: In Iowa, car owners are not obligated to undergo emissions, VIN, or safety inspections.
- Driver’s license: New residents with an out-of-state license must obtain an Iowa license within 30 days of establishing permanent residency. To do so, visit the DMV with your former state license, as it will need to be surrendered for the new license.
- Additional taxes: In Iowa, sales of vehicles requiring registration are exempt from sales tax but subject to a 5% fee for new registration.
Learn more with our car shipping checklist.
Transporting your vehicle from Alabama
More than 39 million people call Alabama home. Nicknamed the Heart of Dixie, 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.
Transporting your vehicle to Iowa
About 22 million people are living in the Hawkeye State. Iowa has a humid continental climate throughout the state. Snowfall is common in Iowa. Spring brings in severe weather season. Iowa has about 50 thunderstorm days per year and has a tornado season. Iowa is known for hot and humid summers. Be sure to check the weather before your move, especially during the springtime.
FAQ
Does someone have to be present when you ship a car for pickup in Alabama and delivery in Iowa?
Most companies will require that an adult of at least 18 years of age be present when picking up your car in Alabama and when dropping it off in Iowa.
Do you need car insurance when shipping your car from Alabama to Iowa?
If you’re not driving the vehicle from Alabama to Iowa, you aren't required to have typical car insurance. Your car hauler should have adequate insurance if an accident happened on the drive to Iowa, which you should verify before loading your car in Alabama.
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.
Iowa requires minimum liability insurance, covering $20,000 for individual injury or death, $40,000 for multiple individuals, and $15,000 for property damage in an accident.
How long does it take to ship a car from Alabama to Iowa?
Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from Alabama to Iowa is about 935 miles, and that’s as fast as about 2 days. However, most car transport companies will take two to seven days to travel from Alabama to Iowa.
Will I be required to have a vehicle inspection in either state?
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.
In Iowa, car owners are not obligated to undergo emissions, VIN, or safety inspections.
If I have a driver’s license in Alabama, will I need one in Iowa?
New residents with an out-of-state license must obtain an Iowa license within 30 days of establishing permanent residency. To do so, visit the DMV with your former state license, as it will need to be surrendered for the new license.
If I bought a car in Alabama, will I be required to pay sales tax in Iowa after shipping it there?
It’s important to understand any tax implications if you’re having a car shipped from Alabama to Iowa after purchasing it.
In Iowa, sales of vehicles requiring registration are exempt from sales tax but subject to a 5% fee for new registration.
We recommend that you always check for updated tax information in both Alabama and Iowa to avoid any hidden costs.
What is the cheapest way to ship a car from Alabama to Iowa?
The cheapest way to ship a car from Alabama to Iowa is to ship it on a train or choose an open trailer transport method, avoid expedited shipping, and be flexible with your pickup dates.
How much does it cost to ship a car from Alabama to Iowa?
Shipping a car from Alabama to Iowa costs $837 to $1,284.
