Delaware to Illinois Car Shipping (2024 Cost Guide)

Quick answer: The average cost to ship a car 861 miles from Delaware to Illinois ranges from $840 to $1,169 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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  • Price lock promise
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  • Established in 2007
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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 Delaware car shipping guide.

The best Delaware to Illinois car shipping companies

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

Best for accurate pricing
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moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.5 / 5
Check prices (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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Check prices (833) 775-1461
Best cross-country shipper
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moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.5 / 5
Check prices (224) 206-5633
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  • No upfront payment
  • GPS tracking
  • Multiple insurance options
  • Competitive pricing
  • Door-to-door shipping
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Check prices (224) 206-5633
Best for discounts
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moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.3 / 5
Check prices (770) 501-9057
At A Glance
  • Competitive pricing
  • Last-minute car shipments
  • Guaranteed & expedited shipments
  • Gap insurance coverage
  • Multiple discounts
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Check prices (770) 501-9057
Best for overall value
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moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.9 / 5
Check prices (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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Check prices (864) 492-1221
Best for quick pickup
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moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.9 / 5
Check prices (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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Check prices (888) 259-6046

Alternative ways to ship your car from Delaware to Illinois

  • Drive it yourself. This is straightforward but not always an option, and it will put about 861 miles on your car going from Delaware 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 Delaware 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 Delaware 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!

DE 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 Delaware and Illinois. The average travel distance is about 861 miles, with shipping times typically ranging from two to seven days .

Cost to ship a car from Wilmington, DE to Illinois

From Delaware to Illinois Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Wilmington, DE to Chicago, IL $761 – $1,194 752 miles 2 – 7 days
Wilmington, DE to Aurora, IL $809 – $1,155 790 miles 2 – 7 days
Wilmington, DE to Joliet, IL $809 – $1,171 763 miles 2 – 7 days
Wilmington, DE to Naperville, IL $801 – $1,120 775 miles 2 – 7 days
Wilmington, DE to Rockford, IL $780 – $1,202 839 miles 2 – 7 days

Cost to ship a car from Dover, DE to Illinois

From Delaware to Illinois Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Dover, DE to Chicago, IL $793 – $1,167 784 miles 2 – 7 days
Dover, DE to Aurora, IL $839 – $1,221 822 miles 2 – 7 days
Dover, DE to Joliet, IL $761 – $1,120 795 miles 2 – 7 days
Dover, DE to Naperville, IL $767 – $1,221 808 miles 2 – 7 days
Dover, DE to Rockford, IL $816 – $1,181 871 miles 2 – 7 days

Cost to ship a car from Newark, DE to Illinois

From Delaware to Illinois Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Newark, DE to Chicago, IL $816 – $1,138 734 miles 1 – 6 days
Newark, DE to Aurora, IL $817 – $1,171 772 miles 2 – 7 days
Newark, DE to Joliet, IL $761 – $1,081 745 miles 1 – 6 days
Newark, DE to Naperville, IL $761 – $1,101 757 miles 2 – 7 days
Newark, DE to Rockford, IL $767 – $1,173 821 miles 2 – 7 days

Cost to ship a car from Middletown, DE to Illinois

From Delaware to Illinois Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Middletown, DE to Chicago, IL $809 – $1,238 784 miles 2 – 7 days
Middletown, DE to Aurora, IL $767 – $1,197 822 miles 2 – 7 days
Middletown, DE to Joliet, IL $833 – $1,167 796 miles 2 – 7 days
Middletown, DE to Naperville, IL $839 – $1,185 808 miles 2 – 7 days
Middletown, DE to Rockford, IL $848 – $1,231 871 miles 2 – 7 days

Cost to ship a car from Bear, DE to Illinois

From Delaware to Illinois Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Bear, DE to Chicago, IL $801 – $1,182 769 miles 2 – 7 days
Bear, DE to Aurora, IL $775 – $1,161 807 miles 2 – 7 days
Bear, DE to Joliet, IL $801 – $1,191 780 miles 2 – 7 days
Bear, DE to Naperville, IL $809 – $1,214 793 miles 2 – 7 days
Bear, DE to Rockford, IL $816 – $1,292 856 miles 2 – 7 days

Shipping an SUV or truck from Delaware to Illinois

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 Delaware to Illinois you should expect to pay between $1,050 and $1,461.

Factors that affect car shipping costs from DE to IL

When transporting your vehicle from the First 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 Delaware to Illinois spans approximately 861 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 Delaware, 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 Delaware 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 Delaware to Illinois should take between two and seven 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 Delaware

More than 39 million people call Delaware home. Nicknamed the First State, Almost all of Delaware is a part of the Atlantic coastal plain, the effects of the ocean moderate its climate. The southern portion of the state has a milder climate than the northern portion of the state.

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 Delaware and delivery in Illinois?

Most companies will require that an adult of at least 18 years of age be present when picking up your car in Delaware and when dropping it off in Illinois.

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

If you’re not driving the vehicle from Delaware 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 Delaware.

If you’re driving your car at all in either state, you should understand the requirements. Delaware mandates that vehicle owners carry a minimum of liability car insurance of $25,000 per person for bodily injury, $50,000 total for bodily injury liability in case of an accident involving multiple people and $10,000 for property damage per 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 Delaware to Illinois?

Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from Delaware to Illinois is about 861 miles, and that’s as fast as about 2 days. However, most car transport companies will take two to seven days to travel from Delaware to Illinois.

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

In Delaware, vehicles are required to undergo an emissions inspection every two years, unless the vehicle is less than seven years old. Additionally, a vehicle inspection is required every time you register or re-register your vehicle, but it must be completed within 90 days of the registration date to be valid.

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 Delaware, will I need one in Illinois?

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 Delaware, will I be required to pay sales tax in Illinois after shipping it there?

It’s important to understand any tax implications if you’re having a car shipped from Delaware 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 Delaware and Illinois to avoid any hidden costs.

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

The cheapest way to ship a car from Delaware 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 Delaware to Illinois?

Shipping a car from Delaware to Illinois costs $840 to $1,169.

Helpful Delaware resources