Arkansas to Illinois Car Shipping (2025 Cost Guide)

Quick answer: The average cost to ship a car 471 miles from Arkansas to Illinois ranges from $651 to $858 and takes one–four 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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  • Door-to-door service
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  • Services all 50 states
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Shipping a car the reverse route? We’ve got you covered with our Illinois to Arkansas car shipping guide.

The best Arkansas to Illinois car shipping companies

We’ve done the research and these are the best car shipping companies to help transport your vehicle from Arkansas to Illinois:

Best for accurate pricing
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moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.5 / 5
Get a quote (833) 775-1461
At A Glance
  • Price Lock Promise
  • Pay by credit card
  • Free car wash at delivery
  • No upfront deposit
  • Door-to-door service
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Get a quote (833) 775-1461
Best cross-country shipper
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moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.5 / 5
Get a quote (224) 206-5633
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  • Competitive pricing & $0 upfront
  • GPS tracking
  • Multiple insurance options
  • Guaranteed pickup dates available
  • Door-to-door service
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Best for discounts
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moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.3 / 5
Get a quote (770) 501-9057
At A Glance
  • Competitive pricing
  • Last-minute car shipments
  • Guaranteed & expedited shipments
  • Gap insurance coverage
  • Multiple discounts
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Get a quote (770) 501-9057
Best for overall value
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moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.9 / 5
Get a quote (864) 492-1221
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  • No hidden fees
  • Free online quotes
  • Door-to-door service in 48 states
  • Exact pickup dates
  • Ships to & from HI
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Get a quote (864) 492-1221
Best for quick pickup
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moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.9 / 5
Get a quote (888) 259-6046
At A Glance
  • No upfront deposit
  • Expedited shipping
  • No hidden fees
  • Ships motorcycles & RVs
  • Discount for cash payments
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Get a quote (888) 259-6046

Alternative ways to ship your car from Arkansas to Illinois

  • Drive it yourself. This is straightforward but not always an option, and it will put about 471 miles on your car going from Arkansas to Illinois. 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 Illinois, 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 Illinois 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 IL 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 Illinois. The average travel distance is about 471 miles, with shipping times typically ranging from one to four days .

Cost to ship a car from Little Rock, AR to Illinoistoggle

From Arkansas to Illinois Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Little Rock, AR to Chicago, IL $738 – $1,050 652 miles 1 – 6 days
Little Rock, AR to Aurora, IL $710 – $988 617 miles 1 – 6 days
Little Rock, AR to Joliet, IL $769 – $1,040 605 miles 1 – 6 days
Little Rock, AR to Naperville, IL $725 – $1,081 620 miles 1 – 6 days
Little Rock, AR to Rockford, IL $755 – $1,025 640 miles 1 – 6 days

Cost to ship a car from Fayetteville, AR to Illinoistoggle

From Arkansas to Illinois Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Fayetteville, AR to Chicago, IL $730 – $1,127 657 miles 1 – 6 days
Fayetteville, AR to Aurora, IL $770 – $1,067 632 miles 1 – 6 days
Fayetteville, AR to Joliet, IL $777 – $1,081 620 miles 1 – 6 days
Fayetteville, AR to Naperville, IL $747 – $1,035 634 miles 1 – 6 days
Fayetteville, AR to Rockford, IL $761 – $1,083 656 miles 1 – 6 days

Cost to ship a car from Fort Smith, AR to Illinoistoggle

From Arkansas to Illinois Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Fort Smith, AR to Chicago, IL $769 – $1,109 714 miles 1 – 6 days
Fort Smith, AR to Aurora, IL $774 – $1,164 687 miles 1 – 6 days
Fort Smith, AR to Joliet, IL $750 – $1,108 675 miles 1 – 6 days
Fort Smith, AR to Naperville, IL $789 – $1,074 690 miles 1 – 6 days
Fort Smith, AR to Rockford, IL $817 – $1,189 710 miles 1 – 6 days

Cost to ship a car from Springdale, AR to Illinoistoggle

From Arkansas to Illinois Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Springdale, AR to Chicago, IL $807 – $1,116 651 miles 1 – 6 days
Springdale, AR to Aurora, IL $732 – $1,092 624 miles 1 – 6 days
Springdale, AR to Joliet, IL $718 – $1,019 613 miles 1 – 6 days
Springdale, AR to Naperville, IL $785 – $1,035 627 miles 1 – 6 days
Springdale, AR to Rockford, IL $755 – $1,067 649 miles 1 – 6 days

Cost to ship a car from Jonesboro, AR to Illinoistoggle

From Arkansas to Illinois Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Jonesboro, AR to Chicago, IL $680 – $925 513 miles 1 – 6 days
Jonesboro, AR to Aurora, IL $670 – $947 496 miles 1 – 4 days
Jonesboro, AR to Joliet, IL $677 – $911 487 miles 1 – 4 days
Jonesboro, AR to Naperville, IL $673 – $880 501 miles 1 – 6 days
Jonesboro, AR to Rockford, IL $686 – $916 521 miles 1 – 6 days

Shipping an SUV or truck from Arkansas to Illinoistoggle

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 Illinois you should expect to pay between $814 and $1,073.

Factors that affect car shipping costs from AR to IL

When transporting your vehicle from the Natural State to the Land of Lincoln, 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 Illinois.
  • Distance and route: The journey from Arkansas to Illinois spans approximately 471 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 Illinois 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 Illinois should take between one and four days. Expedited services are available but come at a higher cost.

Illinois vehicle regulations you need to know

  • Car insurance requirements: The liability insurance minimums for Illinois are $25,000 bodily injury liability per person, $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident, and $20,000 property damage liability per accident.
  • Vehicle inspection: In Illinois, emissions inspections are mandatory on a yearly basis for eligible vehicles in the Chicago and East St. Louis metropolitan areas. The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency conducts tests on automobiles before residents can renew their vehicle registration with the Secretary of State's office.
  • Driver’s license: Even if your out-of-state driver's license is valid, you must still pass a vision test and written exam if you are moving to Illinois. Within 90 days of becoming a resident in the state, you must convert your license to an Illinois non-commercial license.
  • Additional taxes: According to Illinois law, the recipient or buyer of any vehicle transferred within the state must complete a Private Party Vehicle Tax Transaction form (form RUT-50) and pay the sales tax for the car within 30 days of the transfer of ownership.

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 Illinois

About 22 million people are living in the Land of Lincoln. Illinois' climate is clearly different in the northern and southern halves of the state. The northern half experiences cold winters and mild summers whereas the southern half experiences mild winters and hot and humid summers. Illinois is a part of "tornado alley"

FAQ

Does someone have to be present when you ship a car for pickup in Arkansas and delivery in Illinois?toggle

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 Illinois.

Do you need car insurance when shipping your car from Arkansas to Illinois?toggle

If you’re not driving the vehicle from Arkansas to Illinois, you aren't required to have typical car insurance. Your car hauler should have adequate insurance if an accident happened on the drive to Illinois, 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.

The liability insurance minimums for Illinois are $25,000 bodily injury liability per person, $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident, and $20,000 property damage liability per accident.

How long does it take to ship a car from Arkansas to Illinois?toggle

Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from Arkansas to Illinois is about 471 miles, and that’s as fast as about 1 day. However, most car transport companies will take one to four days to travel from Arkansas to Illinois.

Will I be required to have a vehicle inspection in either state?toggle

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 Illinois, emissions inspections are mandatory on a yearly basis for eligible vehicles in the Chicago and East St. Louis metropolitan areas. The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency conducts tests on automobiles before residents can renew their vehicle registration with the Secretary of State's office.

If I have a driver’s license in Arkansas, will I need one in Illinois?toggle

Even if your out-of-state driver's license is valid, you must still pass a vision test and written exam if you are moving to Illinois. Within 90 days of becoming a resident in the state, you must convert your license to an Illinois non-commercial license.

If I bought a car in Arkansas, will I be required to pay sales tax in Illinois after shipping it there?toggle

It’s important to understand any tax implications if you’re having a car shipped from Arkansas to Illinois after purchasing it.

According to Illinois law, the recipient or buyer of any vehicle transferred within the state must complete a Private Party Vehicle Tax Transaction form (form RUT-50) and pay the sales tax for the car within 30 days of the transfer of ownership.

We recommend that you always check for updated tax information in both Arkansas and Illinois to avoid any hidden costs.

What is the cheapest way to ship a car from Arkansas to Illinois?toggle

The cheapest way to ship a car from Arkansas to Illinois 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 Illinois?toggle

Shipping a car from Arkansas to Illinois costs $651 to $858.

Helpful Arkansas resources