Iowa to Kentucky Car Shipping (2024 Cost Guide)
Fact Checked by: Quick answer: The average cost to ship a car 666 miles from Iowa to Kentucky ranges from $760 to $1,038 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 Kentucky to Iowa car shipping guide.
The best Iowa to Kentucky car shipping companies
We’ve done the research and these are the best car shipping companies to help transport your vehicle from Iowa to Kentucky:
- Best for accurate pricing: Sherpa Auto Transport
- Best cross-country shipper: Montway Auto Transport
- Best for quick pickup: Easy Auto Ship
- Best for discounts: AmeriFreight Car Transport
- Best for overall value: SGT Auto Transport
- 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
- No upfront deposit
- Expedited shipping
- No hidden fees
- Ships motorcycles & RVs
- Discount for cash payments
- 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
Alternative ways to ship your car from Iowa to Kentucky
- Drive it yourself. This is straightforward but not always an option, and it will put about 666 miles on your car going from Iowa 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 Iowa 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 Iowa 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!
IA 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 Iowa and Kentucky. The average travel distance is about 666 miles, with shipping times typically ranging from one to six days .
Cost to ship a car from Des Moines, IA to Kentucky
| From Iowa to Kentucky | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines, IA to Louisville, KY | $686 – $1,039 | 588 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Des Moines, IA to Lexington, KY | $783 – $1,102 | 662 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Des Moines, IA to Bowling Green, KY | $753 – $1,007 | 616 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Des Moines, IA to Owensboro, KY | $665 – $910 | 544 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Des Moines, IA to Covington, KY | $708 – $1,029 | 587 miles | 1 – 6 days |
Cost to ship a car from Cedar Rapids, IA to Kentucky
| From Iowa to Kentucky | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cedar Rapids, IA to Louisville, KY | $665 – $878 | 501 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Cedar Rapids, IA to Lexington, KY | $679 – $969 | 576 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Cedar Rapids, IA to Bowling Green, KY | $711 – $969 | 564 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Cedar Rapids, IA to Owensboro, KY | $643 – $927 | 493 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Cedar Rapids, IA to Covington, KY | $685 – $942 | 501 miles | 1 – 6 days |
Cost to ship a car from Davenport, IA to Kentucky
| From Iowa to Kentucky | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Davenport, IA to Louisville, KY | $588 – $797 | 421 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Davenport, IA to Lexington, KY | $675 – $909 | 496 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Davenport, IA to Bowling Green, KY | $669 – $847 | 484 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Davenport, IA to Owensboro, KY | $612 – $871 | 412 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Davenport, IA to Covington, KY | $582 – $871 | 421 miles | 1 – 4 days |
Cost to ship a car from Sioux City, IA to Kentucky
| From Iowa to Kentucky | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sioux City, IA to Louisville, KY | $811 – $1,114 | 765 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Sioux City, IA to Lexington, KY | $846 – $1,254 | 839 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Sioux City, IA to Bowling Green, KY | $833 – $1,175 | 802 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Sioux City, IA to Owensboro, KY | $754 – $1,175 | 730 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Sioux City, IA to Covington, KY | $779 – $1,197 | 764 miles | 2 – 7 days |
Cost to ship a car from Iowa City, IA to Kentucky
| From Iowa to Kentucky | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa City, IA to Louisville, KY | $662 – $847 | 477 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Iowa City, IA to Lexington, KY | $669 – $930 | 551 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Iowa City, IA to Bowling Green, KY | $692 – $910 | 539 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Iowa City, IA to Owensboro, KY | $656 – $883 | 467 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Iowa City, IA to Covington, KY | $649 – $909 | 476 miles | 1 – 4 days |
Shipping an SUV or truck from Iowa 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 Iowa to Kentucky you should expect to pay between $950 and $1,298.
Factors that affect car shipping costs from IA to KY
When transporting your vehicle from the Hawkeye 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 Iowa to Kentucky spans approximately 666 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 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 Iowa 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 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 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 Iowa 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 Iowa and when dropping it off in Kentucky.
Do you need car insurance when shipping your car from Iowa to Kentucky?
If you’re not driving the vehicle from Iowa 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 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 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 Iowa to Kentucky?
Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from Iowa to Kentucky is about 666 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 Kentucky.
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.
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 Iowa, 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 Iowa, 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 Iowa 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 Iowa and Kentucky to avoid any hidden costs.
What is the cheapest way to ship a car from Iowa to Kentucky?
The cheapest way to ship a car from Iowa 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 Iowa to Kentucky?
Shipping a car from Iowa to Kentucky costs $760 to $1,038.
