Iowa to Louisiana Car Shipping (2024 Cost Guide)
Fact Checked by: Quick answer: The average cost to ship a car 1,027 miles from Iowa to Louisiana ranges from $854 to $1,367 and takes two–eight 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 Louisiana to Iowa car shipping guide.
The best Iowa to Louisiana car shipping companies
We’ve done the research and these are the best car shipping companies to help transport your vehicle from Iowa to Louisiana:
- 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 Louisiana
- Drive it yourself. This is straightforward but not always an option, and it will put about 1,027 miles on your car going from Iowa to Louisiana. 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 Louisiana, 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 Louisiana 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 LA 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 Louisiana. The average travel distance is about 1,027 miles, with shipping times typically ranging from two to eight days .
Cost to ship a car from Des Moines, IA to Louisiana
| From Iowa to Louisiana | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines, IA to New Orleans, LA | $846 – $1,249 | 1,000 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Des Moines, IA to Baton Rouge, LA | $852 – $1,347 | 956 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Des Moines, IA to Shreveport, LA | $816 – $1,184 | 737 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Des Moines, IA to Metairie, LA | $784 – $1,254 | 995 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Des Moines, IA to Lafayette, LA | $786 – $1,244 | 951 miles | 2 – 7 days |
Cost to ship a car from Cedar Rapids, IA to Louisiana
| From Iowa to Louisiana | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cedar Rapids, IA to New Orleans, LA | $820 – $1,310 | 945 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Cedar Rapids, IA to Baton Rouge, LA | $853 – $1,322 | 934 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Cedar Rapids, IA to Shreveport, LA | $788 – $1,263 | 827 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Cedar Rapids, IA to Metairie, LA | $796 – $1,246 | 940 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Cedar Rapids, IA to Lafayette, LA | $841 – $1,267 | 987 miles | 2 – 7 days |
Cost to ship a car from Davenport, IA to Louisiana
| From Iowa to Louisiana | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Davenport, IA to New Orleans, LA | $796 – $1,335 | 940 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Davenport, IA to Baton Rouge, LA | $845 – $1,272 | 929 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Davenport, IA to Shreveport, LA | $847 – $1,161 | 822 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Davenport, IA to Metairie, LA | $804 – $1,233 | 935 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Davenport, IA to Lafayette, LA | $825 – $1,357 | 983 miles | 2 – 7 days |
Cost to ship a car from Sioux City, IA to Louisiana
| From Iowa to Louisiana | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sioux City, IA to New Orleans, LA | $877 – $1,442 | 1,124 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Sioux City, IA to Baton Rouge, LA | $805 – $1,275 | 1,043 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Sioux City, IA to Shreveport, LA | $791 – $1,197 | 823 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Sioux City, IA to Metairie, LA | $850 – $1,415 | 1,118 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Sioux City, IA to Lafayette, LA | $830 – $1,236 | 1,038 miles | 2 – 8 days |
Cost to ship a car from Iowa City, IA to Louisiana
| From Iowa to Louisiana | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa City, IA to New Orleans, LA | $804 – $1,272 | 920 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Iowa City, IA to Baton Rouge, LA | $820 – $1,272 | 909 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Iowa City, IA to Shreveport, LA | $823 – $1,173 | 802 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Iowa City, IA to Metairie, LA | $828 – $1,221 | 915 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Iowa City, IA to Lafayette, LA | $786 – $1,296 | 963 miles | 2 – 7 days |
Shipping an SUV or truck from Iowa to Louisiana
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 Louisiana you should expect to pay between $1,068 and $1,709.
Factors that affect car shipping costs from IA to LA
When transporting your vehicle from the Hawkeye State to the Pelican 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 Louisiana.
- Distance and route: The journey from Iowa to Louisiana spans approximately 1,027 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 Louisiana 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 Louisiana should take between two and eight days. Expedited services are available but come at a higher cost.
Louisiana vehicle regulations you need to know
- Car insurance requirements: The insurance limit represents the maximum payout for a claim, and in Louisiana, the minimum liability limits are $15,000 for bodily injury per person, $30,000 for bodily injury per accident, and $25,000 for property damage; these limits can be raised beyond the state-mandated minimums.
- Vehicle inspection: In Louisiana, the annual safety and emissions inspection includes checks on the vehicle's safety equipment, anti-tampering of emissions systems, and a test on the integrity of the gas cap.
- Driver’s license: New residents in Louisiana must transfer their out-of-state driver's license within 30 days of establishing residency in the state.
- Additional taxes: In Louisiana, a 4% tax is levied on all car sales by the state, with additional taxes charged by individual counties and cities.
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 Louisiana
About 22 million people are living in the Pelican State. Louisiana has long hot humid summers and short mild winters. Rain is frequent throughout the year, although from April to September is slightly wetter than the rest of the year. Louisiana is often affected by tropical cyclones and is very vulnerable to major hurricanes, particularly around the New Orleans area. Lousiana averages about 27 tornadoes annually; they are most common from January through March in the south and from February through March in the North.
FAQ
Does someone have to be present when you ship a car for pickup in Iowa and delivery in Louisiana?
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 Louisiana.
Do you need car insurance when shipping your car from Iowa to Louisiana?
If you’re not driving the vehicle from Iowa to Louisiana, you aren't required to have typical car insurance. Your car hauler should have adequate insurance if an accident happened on the drive to Louisiana, 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 limit represents the maximum payout for a claim, and in Louisiana, the minimum liability limits are $15,000 for bodily injury per person, $30,000 for bodily injury per accident, and $25,000 for property damage; these limits can be raised beyond the state-mandated minimums.
How long does it take to ship a car from Iowa to Louisiana?
Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from Iowa to Louisiana is about 1,027 miles, and that’s as fast as about 3 days. However, most car transport companies will take two to eight days to travel from Iowa to Louisiana.
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 Louisiana, the annual safety and emissions inspection includes checks on the vehicle's safety equipment, anti-tampering of emissions systems, and a test on the integrity of the gas cap.
If I have a driver’s license in Iowa, will I need one in Louisiana?
New residents in Louisiana must transfer their out-of-state driver's license within 30 days of establishing residency in the state.
If I bought a car in Iowa, will I be required to pay sales tax in Louisiana after shipping it there?
It’s important to understand any tax implications if you’re having a car shipped from Iowa to Louisiana after purchasing it.
In Louisiana, a 4% tax is levied on all car sales by the state, with additional taxes charged by individual counties and cities.
We recommend that you always check for updated tax information in both Iowa and Louisiana to avoid any hidden costs.
What is the cheapest way to ship a car from Iowa to Louisiana?
The cheapest way to ship a car from Iowa to Louisiana 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 Louisiana?
Shipping a car from Iowa to Louisiana costs $854 to $1,367.
