Iowa to Arkansas Car Shipping (2024 Cost Guide)
Fact Checked by: Quick answer: The average cost to ship a car 598 miles from Iowa to Arkansas ranges from $678 to $1,007 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 Arkansas to Iowa car shipping guide.
The best Iowa to Arkansas car shipping companies
We’ve done the research and these are the best car shipping companies to help transport your vehicle from Iowa to Arkansas:
- 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 Iowa to Arkansas
- Drive it yourself. This is straightforward but not always an option, and it will put about 598 miles on your car going from Iowa to Arkansas. 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 Iowa for a move to Arkansas, 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 Iowa to Arkansas 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!
IA to AR auto transport costs and transit times
The tables below detail the costs and estimated transit times for shipping a car between popular cities in Iowa and Arkansas. The average travel distance is about 598 miles, with shipping times typically ranging from one to six days .
Cost to ship a car from Des Moines, IA to Arkansas
| From Iowa to Arkansas | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines, IA to Little Rock, AR | $722 – $1,035 | 616 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Des Moines, IA to Fayetteville, AR | $628 – $877 | 429 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Des Moines, IA to Fort Smith, AR | $654 – $890 | 485 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Des Moines, IA to Springdale, AR | $587 – $861 | 422 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Des Moines, IA to Jonesboro, AR | $655 – $986 | 573 miles | 1 – 6 days |
Cost to ship a car from Cedar Rapids, IA to Arkansas
| From Iowa to Arkansas | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cedar Rapids, IA to Little Rock, AR | $730 – $1,066 | 616 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Cedar Rapids, IA to Fayetteville, AR | $655 – $919 | 556 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Cedar Rapids, IA to Fort Smith, AR | $722 – $964 | 611 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Cedar Rapids, IA to Springdale, AR | $644 – $973 | 549 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Cedar Rapids, IA to Jonesboro, AR | $673 – $925 | 497 miles | 1 – 4 days |
Cost to ship a car from Davenport, IA to Arkansas
| From Iowa to Arkansas | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Davenport, IA to Little Rock, AR | $686 – $995 | 611 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Davenport, IA to Fayetteville, AR | $685 – $977 | 595 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Davenport, IA to Fort Smith, AR | $758 – $1,121 | 650 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Davenport, IA to Springdale, AR | $678 – $977 | 587 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Davenport, IA to Jonesboro, AR | $616 – $846 | 492 miles | 1 – 4 days |
Cost to ship a car from Sioux City, IA to Arkansas
| From Iowa to Arkansas | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sioux City, IA to Little Rock, AR | $774 – $1,105 | 703 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Sioux City, IA to Fayetteville, AR | $683 – $877 | 516 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Sioux City, IA to Fort Smith, AR | $668 – $967 | 571 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Sioux City, IA to Springdale, AR | $664 – $922 | 508 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Sioux City, IA to Jonesboro, AR | $758 – $1,079 | 659 miles | 1 – 6 days |
Cost to ship a car from Iowa City, IA to Arkansas
| From Iowa to Arkansas | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa City, IA to Little Rock, AR | $699 – $947 | 591 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Iowa City, IA to Fayetteville, AR | $644 – $936 | 543 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Iowa City, IA to Fort Smith, AR | $699 – $987 | 598 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Iowa City, IA to Springdale, AR | $697 – $964 | 535 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Iowa City, IA to Jonesboro, AR | $636 – $907 | 472 miles | 1 – 4 days |
Shipping an SUV or truck from Iowa to Arkansas
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 Iowa to Arkansas you should expect to pay between $848 and $1,259.
Factors that affect car shipping costs from IA to AR
When transporting your vehicle from the Hawkeye State to the Natural 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 Arkansas.
- Distance and route: The journey from Iowa to Arkansas 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 Iowa, 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 Iowa and Arkansas 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 Iowa to Arkansas should take between one and six days. Expedited services are available but come at a higher cost.
Arkansas vehicle regulations you need to know
- Car insurance 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.
- Vehicle inspection: 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.
- Driver’s license: If you establish residency in Arkansas, you are required to obtain an Arkansas driver's license within 30 days.
- Additional taxes: In Arkansas, all car sales are subject to a state tax rate of 6.5%, with the potential for additional county and local taxes up to 5%, resulting in an average total car sales tax rate of 9.133%.
Learn more with our car shipping checklist.
Transporting your vehicle from Iowa
More than 39 million people call Iowa home. Nicknamed 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.
Transporting your vehicle to Arkansas
About 22 million people are living in 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.
FAQ
Does someone have to be present when you ship a car for pickup in Iowa and delivery in Arkansas?
Most companies will require that an adult of at least 18 years of age be present when picking up your car in Iowa and when dropping it off in Arkansas.
Do you need car insurance when shipping your car from Iowa to Arkansas?
If you’re not driving the vehicle from Iowa to Arkansas, you aren't required to have typical car insurance. Your car hauler should have adequate insurance if an accident happened on the drive to Arkansas, which you should verify before loading your car in Iowa.
If you’re driving your car at all in either state, you should understand the 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.
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.
How long does it take to ship a car from Iowa to Arkansas?
Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from Iowa to Arkansas 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 Iowa to Arkansas.
Will I be required to have a vehicle inspection in either state?
In Iowa, car owners are not obligated to undergo emissions, VIN, or safety inspections.
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.
If I have a driver’s license in Iowa, will I need one in Arkansas?
If you establish residency in Arkansas, you are required to obtain an Arkansas driver's license within 30 days.
If I bought a car in Iowa, will I be required to pay sales tax in Arkansas after shipping it there?
It’s important to understand any tax implications if you’re having a car shipped from Iowa to Arkansas after purchasing it.
In Arkansas, all car sales are subject to a state tax rate of 6.5%, with the potential for additional county and local taxes up to 5%, resulting in an average total car sales tax rate of 9.133%.
We recommend that you always check for updated tax information in both Iowa and Arkansas to avoid any hidden costs.
What is the cheapest way to ship a car from Iowa to Arkansas?
The cheapest way to ship a car from Iowa to Arkansas 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 Iowa to Arkansas?
Shipping a car from Iowa to Arkansas costs $678 to $1,007.
