Arkansas to Iowa Car Shipping (2024 Cost Guide)
Fact Checked by: Quick answer: The average cost to ship a car 598 miles from Arkansas to Iowa ranges from $671 to $1,036 and takes one–six 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 Arkansas car shipping guide.
The best Arkansas to Iowa car shipping companies
We’ve done the research and these are the best car shipping companies to help transport your vehicle from Arkansas 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 Arkansas to Iowa
- Drive it yourself. This is straightforward but not always an option, and it will put about 598 miles on your car going from Arkansas 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 Arkansas 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 Arkansas 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!
AR 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 Arkansas and Iowa. The average travel distance is about 598 miles, with shipping times typically ranging from one to six days .
Cost to ship a car from Little Rock, AR to Iowa
| From Arkansas to Iowa | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Little Rock, AR to Des Moines, IA | $686 – $975 | 616 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Little Rock, AR to Cedar Rapids, IA | $751 – $985 | 618 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Little Rock, AR to Davenport, IA | $715 – $985 | 613 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Little Rock, AR to Sioux City, IA | $767 – $1,138 | 703 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Little Rock, AR to Iowa City, IA | $720 – $997 | 594 miles | 1 – 6 days |
Cost to ship a car from Fayetteville, AR to Iowa
| From Arkansas to Iowa | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fayetteville, AR to Des Moines, IA | $634 – $835 | 430 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Fayetteville, AR to Cedar Rapids, IA | $682 – $996 | 557 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Fayetteville, AR to Davenport, IA | $671 – $1,016 | 598 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Fayetteville, AR to Sioux City, IA | $677 – $913 | 517 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Fayetteville, AR to Iowa City, IA | $664 – $899 | 544 miles | 1 – 6 days |
Cost to ship a car from Fort Smith, AR to Iowa
| From Arkansas to Iowa | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Smith, AR to Des Moines, IA | $667 – $916 | 483 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Fort Smith, AR to Cedar Rapids, IA | $751 – $1,015 | 611 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Fort Smith, AR to Davenport, IA | $773 – $1,047 | 652 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Fort Smith, AR to Sioux City, IA | $710 – $967 | 571 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Fort Smith, AR to Iowa City, IA | $713 – $987 | 598 miles | 1 – 6 days |
Cost to ship a car from Springdale, AR to Iowa
| From Arkansas to Iowa | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Springdale, AR to Des Moines, IA | $569 – $804 | 421 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Springdale, AR to Cedar Rapids, IA | $697 – $936 | 548 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Springdale, AR to Davenport, IA | $699 – $1,016 | 589 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Springdale, AR to Sioux City, IA | $618 – $939 | 508 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Springdale, AR to Iowa City, IA | $637 – $936 | 535 miles | 1 – 6 days |
Cost to ship a car from Jonesboro, AR to Iowa
| From Arkansas to Iowa | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jonesboro, AR to Des Moines, IA | $710 – $1,005 | 571 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Jonesboro, AR to Cedar Rapids, IA | $629 – $925 | 499 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Jonesboro, AR to Davenport, IA | $641 – $890 | 493 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Jonesboro, AR to Sioux City, IA | $788 – $1,015 | 659 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Jonesboro, AR to Iowa City, IA | $641 – $916 | 475 miles | 1 – 4 days |
Shipping an SUV or truck from Arkansas 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 Arkansas to Iowa you should expect to pay between $839 and $1,295.
Factors that affect car shipping costs from AR to IA
When transporting your vehicle from the Natural State 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 Arkansas to Iowa spans approximately 598 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 Arkansas, 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 Arkansas 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 Arkansas to Iowa should take between one and six 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 Arkansas
More than 39 million people call Arkansas home. Nicknamed the Natural State, Arkansas has hot, humid summers and slightly drier, mild to cool winters. Arkansas is known for extreme weather and frequent storms. A typical year brings thunderstorms, tornadoes, hail, snow, and ice storms. Between both the Great Plains and the Gulf States, Arkansas receives around 60 days of thunderstorms. Movers should check their local weather station to make sure they are not being caught in any of these storms.
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 Arkansas 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 Arkansas and when dropping it off in Iowa.
Do you need car insurance when shipping your car from Arkansas to Iowa?
If you’re not driving the vehicle from Arkansas 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 Arkansas.
If you’re driving your car at all in either state, you should understand the requirements. In Arkansas, all drivers must maintain liability insurance that meets the state's minimum requirements, which are $25,000 per person for bodily injury or death in one accident, $50,000 for bodily injury or death of two or more persons in one accident, and $25,000 for property damage caused by an auto 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 Arkansas to Iowa?
Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from Arkansas to Iowa is about 598 miles, and that’s as fast as about 2 days. However, most car transport companies will take one to six days to travel from Arkansas to Iowa.
Will I be required to have a vehicle inspection in either state?
Arkansas does not require mandatory safety or emissions inspections, but the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality encourages voluntary emissions testing for the benefit of the environment. This means that while getting your car tested for emissions is optional, it is strongly encouraged.
In Iowa, car owners are not obligated to undergo emissions, VIN, or safety inspections.
If I have a driver’s license in Arkansas, 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 Arkansas, 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 Arkansas 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 Arkansas and Iowa to avoid any hidden costs.
What is the cheapest way to ship a car from Arkansas to Iowa?
The cheapest way to ship a car from Arkansas 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 Arkansas to Iowa?
Shipping a car from Arkansas to Iowa costs $671 to $1,036.
