Delaware to Kentucky Car Shipping (2024 Cost Guide)

Quick answer: The average cost to ship a car 612 miles from Delaware to Kentucky ranges from $693 to $1,035 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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  • Services all 50 states
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Shipping a car the reverse route? We’ve got you covered with our Kentucky to Delaware car shipping guide.

The best Delaware to Kentucky car shipping companies

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

Best for accurate pricing
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moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.5 / 5
Check prices (833) 775-1461
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  • 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
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  • 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 Kentucky

  • Drive it yourself. This is straightforward but not always an option, and it will put about 612 miles on your car going from Delaware to Kentucky. 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 Kentucky, 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 Kentucky 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 KY 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 Kentucky. The average travel distance is about 612 miles, with shipping times typically ranging from one to six days .

Cost to ship a car from Wilmington, DE to Kentucky

From Delaware to Kentucky Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Wilmington, DE to Louisville, KY $794 – $1,071 680 miles 1 – 6 days
Wilmington, DE to Lexington, KY $751 – $964 608 miles 1 – 6 days
Wilmington, DE to Bowling Green, KY $769 – $1,171 768 miles 2 – 7 days
Wilmington, DE to Owensboro, KY $825 – $1,155 784 miles 2 – 7 days
Wilmington, DE to Covington, KY $717 – $986 569 miles 1 – 6 days

Cost to ship a car from Dover, DE to Kentucky

From Delaware to Kentucky Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Dover, DE to Louisville, KY $801 – $1,060 692 miles 1 – 6 days
Dover, DE to Lexington, KY $708 – $975 621 miles 1 – 6 days
Dover, DE to Bowling Green, KY $833 – $1,214 780 miles 2 – 7 days
Dover, DE to Owensboro, KY $841 – $1,191 795 miles 2 – 7 days
Dover, DE to Covington, KY $699 – $967 593 miles 1 – 6 days

Cost to ship a car from Newark, DE to Kentucky

From Delaware to Kentucky Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Newark, DE to Louisville, KY $781 – $1,068 667 miles 1 – 6 days
Newark, DE to Lexington, KY $706 – $967 596 miles 1 – 6 days
Newark, DE to Bowling Green, KY $825 – $1,101 756 miles 2 – 7 days
Newark, DE to Owensboro, KY $825 – $1,124 771 miles 2 – 7 days
Newark, DE to Covington, KY $675 – $986 569 miles 1 – 6 days

Cost to ship a car from Middletown, DE to Kentucky

From Delaware to Kentucky Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Middletown, DE to Louisville, KY $794 – $1,125 692 miles 1 – 6 days
Middletown, DE to Lexington, KY $744 – $1,035 621 miles 1 – 6 days
Middletown, DE to Bowling Green, KY $793 – $1,238 780 miles 2 – 7 days
Middletown, DE to Owensboro, KY $785 – $1,191 796 miles 2 – 7 days
Middletown, DE to Covington, KY $727 – $1,026 593 miles 1 – 6 days

Cost to ship a car from Bear, DE to Kentucky

From Delaware to Kentucky Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Bear, DE to Louisville, KY $778 – $1,071 677 miles 1 – 6 days
Bear, DE to Lexington, KY $737 – $1,066 606 miles 1 – 6 days
Bear, DE to Bowling Green, KY $825 – $1,171 765 miles 2 – 7 days
Bear, DE to Owensboro, KY $809 – $1,143 780 miles 2 – 7 days
Bear, DE to Covington, KY $713 – $967 578 miles 1 – 6 days

Shipping an SUV or truck from Delaware to Kentucky

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 Kentucky you should expect to pay between $866 and $1,294.

Factors that affect car shipping costs from DE to KY

When transporting your vehicle from the First State to the Bluegrass 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 Kentucky.
  • Distance and route: The journey from Delaware to Kentucky spans approximately 612 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 Kentucky 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 Kentucky should take between one and six days. Expedited services are available but come at a higher cost.

Kentucky vehicle regulations you need to know

  • Car insurance requirements: The insurance coverage includes Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability with limits of $25,000 per person/$50,000 per accident and $25,000 respectively; Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist coverage (not required); Personal Injury Protection with a limit of $10,000; and optional Collision and Comprehensive coverage for vehicle repair or replacement expenses, with no requirement.
  • Vehicle inspection: When moving to Kentucky from another state, a one-time Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) inspection is required. To complete the VIN inspection, bring the vehicle and its title to the Sheriff's office in the county where the car will be registered.
  • Driver’s license: New residents in Kentucky have a 30-day time frame to obtain a Kentucky driver's license.
  • Additional taxes: In Kentucky, a 6% motor vehicle usage tax is imposed on the retail price of vehicles registered for the first time in the state.

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 Kentucky

About 22 million people are living in the Bluegrass State. Kentucky has relatively hot, humid, rainy summers, and moderately cold and rainy winters. Kansas rarely experiences the extremes cold of the northern states nor the heat of the state in the Deep South.

FAQ

Does someone have to be present when you ship a car for pickup in Delaware and delivery in Kentucky?

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 Kentucky.

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

If you’re not driving the vehicle from Delaware to Kentucky, you aren't required to have typical car insurance. Your car hauler should have adequate insurance if an accident happened on the drive to Kentucky, 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 insurance coverage includes Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability with limits of $25,000 per person/$50,000 per accident and $25,000 respectively; Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist coverage (not required); Personal Injury Protection with a limit of $10,000; and optional Collision and Comprehensive coverage for vehicle repair or replacement expenses, with no requirement.

How long does it take to ship a car from Delaware to Kentucky?

Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from Delaware to Kentucky is about 612 miles, and that’s as fast as about 2 days. However, most car transport companies will take one to six days to travel from Delaware to Kentucky.

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.

When moving to Kentucky from another state, a one-time Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) inspection is required. To complete the VIN inspection, bring the vehicle and its title to the Sheriff's office in the county where the car will be registered.

If I have a driver’s license in Delaware, will I need one in Kentucky?

New residents in Kentucky have a 30-day time frame to obtain a Kentucky driver's license.

If I bought a car in Delaware, will I be required to pay sales tax in Kentucky after shipping it there?

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

In Kentucky, a 6% motor vehicle usage tax is imposed on the retail price of vehicles registered for the first time in the state.

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

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

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

Shipping a car from Delaware to Kentucky costs $693 to $1,035.

Helpful Delaware resources