Iowa to Illinois Car Shipping (2024 Cost Guide)
Fact Checked by: Quick answer: The average cost to ship a car 260 miles from Iowa to Illinois ranges from $438 to $641 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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Shipping a car the reverse route? We’ve got you covered with our Illinois to Iowa car shipping guide.
The best Iowa to Illinois car shipping companies
We’ve done the research and these are the best car shipping companies to help transport your vehicle from Iowa to Illinois:
- 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 Illinois
- Drive it yourself. This is straightforward but not always an option, and it will put about 260 miles on your car going from Iowa 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 Iowa 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 Iowa 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!
IA 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 Iowa and Illinois. The average travel distance is about 260 miles, with shipping times typically ranging from one to four days .
Cost to ship a car from Des Moines, IA to Illinois
| From Iowa to Illinois | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines, IA to Chicago, IL | $523 – $744 | 333 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Des Moines, IA to Aurora, IL | $469 – $679 | 298 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Des Moines, IA to Joliet, IL | $523 – $672 | 308 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Des Moines, IA to Naperville, IL | $482 – $693 | 308 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Des Moines, IA to Rockford, IL | $493 – $686 | 289 miles | 1 – 4 days |
Cost to ship a car from Cedar Rapids, IA to Illinois
| From Iowa to Illinois | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cedar Rapids, IA to Chicago, IL | $428 – $599 | 247 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Cedar Rapids, IA to Aurora, IL | $469 – $587 | 211 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Cedar Rapids, IA to Joliet, IL | $471 – $591 | 222 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Cedar Rapids, IA to Naperville, IL | $448 – $608 | 222 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Cedar Rapids, IA to Rockford, IL | $369 – $534 | 163 miles | 1 – 4 days |
Cost to ship a car from Davenport, IA to Illinois
| From Iowa to Illinois | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Davenport, IA to Chicago, IL | $389 – $553 | 175 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Davenport, IA to Aurora, IL | $360 – $505 | 139 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Davenport, IA to Joliet, IL | $350 – $524 | 141 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Davenport, IA to Naperville, IL | $348 – $533 | 150 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Davenport, IA to Rockford, IL | $370 – $525 | 130 miles | 1 – 4 days |
Cost to ship a car from Sioux City, IA to Illinois
| From Iowa to Illinois | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sioux City, IA to Chicago, IL | $644 – $939 | 510 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Sioux City, IA to Aurora, IL | $661 – $907 | 475 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Sioux City, IA to Joliet, IL | $635 – $846 | 485 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Sioux City, IA to Naperville, IL | $661 – $837 | 485 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Sioux City, IA to Rockford, IL | $568 – $793 | 391 miles | 1 – 4 days |
Cost to ship a car from Iowa City, IA to Illinois
| From Iowa to Illinois | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa City, IA to Chicago, IL | $439 – $573 | 222 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Iowa City, IA to Aurora, IL | $396 – $548 | 186 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Iowa City, IA to Joliet, IL | $415 – $574 | 196 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Iowa City, IA to Naperville, IL | $433 – $574 | 196 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Iowa City, IA to Rockford, IL | $389 – $531 | 177 miles | 1 – 4 days |
Shipping an SUV or truck from Iowa 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 Iowa to Illinois you should expect to pay between $548 and $801.
Factors that affect car shipping costs from IA to IL
When transporting your vehicle from the Hawkeye 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 Iowa to Illinois spans approximately 260 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 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 Iowa 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 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 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 Iowa 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 Iowa and when dropping it off in Illinois.
Do you need car insurance when shipping your car from Iowa to Illinois?
If you’re not driving the vehicle from Iowa 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 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.
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 Iowa to Illinois?
Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from Iowa to Illinois is about 260 miles, and that’s as fast as about 1 day. However, most car transport companies will take one to four days to travel from Iowa to Illinois.
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.
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 Iowa, 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 Iowa, 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 Iowa 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 Iowa and Illinois to avoid any hidden costs.
What is the cheapest way to ship a car from Iowa to Illinois?
The cheapest way to ship a car from Iowa 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 Iowa to Illinois?
Shipping a car from Iowa to Illinois costs $438 to $641.
