Colorado to Montana Car Shipping (2024 Cost Guide)
Fact Checked by: Quick answer: The average cost to ship a car 780 miles from Colorado to Montana ranges from $1,004 to $1,492 and takes 2–7 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 Montana to Colorado car shipping guide.
Colorado to Montana auto transport costs and transit times
The table below details the costs and estimated transit times for shipping a car between popular cities in Colorado and Montana. The average travel distance is about 780 miles, with shipping times typically ranging from 2 to 7 days.
Cost to ship a car from Denver, CO to Montana
| From Colorado to Montana | Distance | Cost | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Denver, CO to Billings, MT | 554 miles | $881–$1,118 | 1–6 days |
| Colorado Springs, CO to Missoula, MT | 894 miles | $996–$1,515 | 2–7 days |
| Aurora, CO to Belgrade, MT | 705 miles | $942–$1,426 | 1–6 days |
| Fort Collins, CO to Bozeman, MT | 692 miles | $938–$1,410 | 1–6 days |
| Fruita, CO to Butte, MT | 777 miles | $1,033–$1,434 | 2–7 days |
Cost to ship a car from Colorado Springs, CO to Montana
| From Colorado to Montana | Distance | Cost | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Denver, CO to Billings, MT | 622 miles | $914–$1,235 | 1–6 days |
| Colorado Springs, CO to Missoula, MT | 964 miles | $997–$1,513 | 2–7 days |
| Aurora, CO to Belgrade, MT | 772 miles | $965–$1,453 | 2–7 days |
| Fort Collins, CO to Bozeman, MT | 762 miles | $1,023–$1,467 | 2–7 days |
| Fruita, CO to Butte, MT | 847 miles | $1,008–$1,508 | 2–7 days |
Cost to ship a car from Aurora, CO to Montana
| From Colorado to Montana | Distance | Cost | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Denver, CO to Billings, MT | 558 miles | $813–$1,188 | 1–6 days |
| Colorado Springs, CO to Missoula, MT | 900 miles | $987–$1,501 | 2–7 days |
| Aurora, CO to Belgrade, MT | 710 miles | $923–$1,303 | 1–6 days |
| Fort Collins, CO to Bozeman, MT | 699 miles | $910–$1,316 | 1–6 days |
| Fruita, CO to Butte, MT | 784 miles | $935–$1,507 | 2–7 days |
Cost to ship a car from Fort Collins, CO to Montana
| From Colorado to Montana | Distance | Cost | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Denver, CO to Billings, MT | 496 miles | $765–$1,028 | 1–4 days |
| Colorado Springs, CO to Missoula, MT | 840 miles | $958–$1,463 | 2–7 days |
| Aurora, CO to Belgrade, MT | 649 miles | $870–$1,345 | 1–6 days |
| Fort Collins, CO to Bozeman, MT | 639 miles | $879–$1,306 | 1–6 days |
| Fruita, CO to Butte, MT | 723 miles | $980–$1,358 | 1–6 days |
Cost to ship a car from Fruita, CO to Montana
| From Colorado to Montana | Distance | Cost | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Denver, CO to Billings, MT | 673 miles | $932–$1,365 | 1–6 days |
| Colorado Springs, CO to Missoula, MT | 793 miles | $1,004–$1,391 | 2–7 days |
| Aurora, CO to Belgrade, MT | 679 miles | $975–$1,410 | 1–6 days |
| Fort Collins, CO to Bozeman, MT | 679 miles | $891–$1,356 | 1–6 days |
| Fruita, CO to Butte, MT | 685 miles | $957–$1,289 | 1–6 days |
Shipping an SUV or truck from Colorado to Montana
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 Colorado to Montana you should expect to pay between $1,255 and $1,865.
Factors that affect the price of shipping a car from Colorado to Montana
When transporting your vehicle from the Centennial State to the Big Sky Country, 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 Montana.
- Distance and route: The journey from Colorado to Montana spans approximately 780 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 Colorado, 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 Colorado and Montana 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 Colorado to Montana should take between 2 and 7 days. Expedited services are available but come at a higher cost.
The best Colorado to Montana 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 Colorado to Montana:
- 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 Colorado to Montana
- Drive it yourself: This is straightforward but not always an option, and it will put about 780 miles on your car going from Colorado to Montana. 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 Colorado to Montana 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 Colorado to Montana?
- Car insurance requirements: In Montana, drivers must meet legal requirements for minimum car insurance liability coverage to ensure financial responsibility in accidents. Mandated by state regulations, this includes $25,000 per person for bodily injury and $50,000 per accident for bodily injury, covering collective medical expenses in case of multiple injuries, capped at $50,000 for the entire incident. Additionally, there's a required minimum of $20,000 per accident for property damage, crucial for addressing costs related to damage to another party's vehicle or property. Adhering to these insurance requirements is imperative for all motorists, ensuring compliance with state laws and contributing to a secure and responsible driving environment on Montana roadways.
- Vehicle inspection: If you are moving to Montana, you are not required to have your vehicle inspected.
- Driver’s license: New residents in Montana must start their driver’s license application process within 60 days of moving to the state.
- Additional taxes: In Montana, there is no state-level sales tax on vehicles, however, local governments in Montana may impose their own taxes and fees on vehicles.
Learn more with our car shipping checklist
Transporting your vehicle from Colorado
Over 39 million people call Colorado home. Nicknamed the Centennial State, Colorado has a relatively complex climate. Ranging from the famous mountain region of the state to desert. Therefore, keep track of the weather of your new city on move day. The most extreme weather that happens in Colorado happens in the least populated areas of the state but you may drive through these regions to get to your new home so be wary of that too.
Transporting your vehicle to Montana
About 22 million people are living in the Big Sky Country of Montana. Montana has a lot of variation in geography, topography, and elevation, and the climate is equally varied. The western half is mountainous, interrupted by numerous large valleys. Eastern Montana comprises plains and badlands, broken by hills and isolated mountain ranges, The Continental Divide has a considerable effect on the climate, as it restricts the flow of warmer air from the Pacific from moving east, and drier continental air from moving west. The area west of the divide has a modified northern Pacific Coast climate, with milder winters, cooler summers, less wind, and a longer growing season. Low clouds and fog often form in the valleys west of the divide in winter, but this is rarely seen in the east.
FAQ
Does someone have to be present when picking up my car in Colorado and when dropping off my car in Montana?
Most companies will require someone that is at least 18 years old to be present when picking up your car in Colorado and when dropping it off in Montana.
Do you need car insurance when shipping your car from Colorado to Montana?
If you’re not driving the vehicle from Colorado to Montana, you aren't required to have typical car insurance. Your car hauler should have adequate insurance if an accident happened on the drive to Montana, which you should verify before loading your car in Colorado.
If you’re driving your car at all in either state, you should understand the requirements. To drive in Colorado, you must have insurance with minimum 25/50/10 liability limits, covering $25,000 per person for bodily injury, $50,000 per accident for bodily injury, and $15,000 for property damage. While meeting the state's minimum requirement, it's advisable to consider factors for determining optimal coverage levels.
If you’re driving your car at all in either state, you should understand the requirements. In Montana, drivers must meet legal requirements for minimum car insurance liability coverage to ensure financial responsibility in accidents. Mandated by state regulations, this includes $25,000 per person for bodily injury and $50,000 per accident for bodily injury, covering collective medical expenses in case of multiple injuries, capped at $50,000 for the entire incident. Additionally, there's a required minimum of $20,000 per accident for property damage, crucial for addressing costs related to damage to another party's vehicle or property. Adhering to these insurance requirements is imperative for all motorists, ensuring compliance with state laws and contributing to a secure and responsible driving environment on Montana roadways.
How long does it take to ship a car from Colorado to Montana?
Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from Colorado to Montana is about 780 miles, and that’s as fast as about 2 days. However, most car transport companies will take 2-7 days to travel from Colorado to Montana.
Will I be required to have a vehicle inspection in either state?
To register and title your vehicle in Colorado within 90 days of moving, you'll need to provide the DMV with an out-of-state vehicle title, proof of a valid Colorado auto insurance policy, verifiable identification, and documentation of the vehicle's weight.
If you are moving to Montana, you are not required to have your vehicle inspected.
If I have a driver’s license in Colorado, will I need one in Montana?
New residents in Montana must start their driver’s license application process within 60 days of moving to the state.
If I bought a car in Colorado, will I be required to pay sales tax in Montana after shipping it there?
It’s important to understand any tax implications if you’re having a car shipped from Colorado to Montana after purchasing it.
In Montana, there is no state-level sales tax on vehicles, however, local governments in Montana may impose their own taxes and fees on vehicles.
We recommend that you always check for updated tax information in both Colorado and Montana to avoid any hidden costs.
