Iowa to Massachusetts Car Shipping (2024 Cost Guide)
Fact Checked by: Quick answer: The average cost to ship a car 1,271 miles from Iowa to Massachusetts ranges from $1,004 to $1,479 and takes three–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 Massachusetts to Iowa car shipping guide.
The best Iowa to Massachusetts car shipping companies
We’ve done the research and these are the best car shipping companies to help transport your vehicle from Iowa to Massachusetts:
- 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 Massachusetts
- Drive it yourself. This is straightforward but not always an option, and it will put about 1,271 miles on your car going from Iowa to Massachusetts. 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 Massachusetts, 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 Massachusetts 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 MA 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 Massachusetts. The average travel distance is about 1,271 miles, with shipping times typically ranging from three to eight days .
Cost to ship a car from Des Moines, IA to Massachusetts
| From Iowa to Massachusetts | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines, IA to Boston, MA | $1,005 – $1,610 | 1,301 miles | 3 – 8 days |
| Des Moines, IA to Worcester, MA | $976 – $1,391 | 1,262 miles | 3 – 8 days |
| Des Moines, IA to Springfield, MA | $928 – $1,523 | 1,219 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Des Moines, IA to Cambridge, MA | $937 – $1,508 | 1,297 miles | 3 – 8 days |
| Des Moines, IA to Lowell, MA | $1,015 – $1,503 | 1,304 miles | 3 – 8 days |
Cost to ship a car from Cedar Rapids, IA to Massachusetts
| From Iowa to Massachusetts | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cedar Rapids, IA to Boston, MA | $947 – $1,435 | 1,215 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Cedar Rapids, IA to Worcester, MA | $850 – $1,359 | 1,176 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Cedar Rapids, IA to Springfield, MA | $930 – $1,318 | 1,132 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Cedar Rapids, IA to Cambridge, MA | $918 – $1,537 | 1,212 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Cedar Rapids, IA to Lowell, MA | $937 – $1,523 | 1,217 miles | 2 – 8 days |
Cost to ship a car from Davenport, IA to Massachusetts
| From Iowa to Massachusetts | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Davenport, IA to Boston, MA | $912 – $1,456 | 1,134 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Davenport, IA to Worcester, MA | $822 – $1,301 | 1,095 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Davenport, IA to Springfield, MA | $822 – $1,262 | 1,052 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Davenport, IA to Cambridge, MA | $895 – $1,359 | 1,131 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Davenport, IA to Lowell, MA | $868 – $1,331 | 1,137 miles | 2 – 8 days |
Cost to ship a car from Sioux City, IA to Massachusetts
| From Iowa to Massachusetts | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sioux City, IA to Boston, MA | $1,114 – $1,610 | 1,478 miles | 3 – 8 days |
| Sioux City, IA to Worcester, MA | $1,071 – $1,626 | 1,438 miles | 3 – 8 days |
| Sioux City, IA to Springfield, MA | $1,066 – $1,549 | 1,396 miles | 3 – 8 days |
| Sioux City, IA to Cambridge, MA | $1,082 – $1,658 | 1,475 miles | 3 – 8 days |
| Sioux City, IA to Lowell, MA | $1,039 – $1,594 | 1,480 miles | 3 – 8 days |
Cost to ship a car from Iowa City, IA to Massachusetts
| From Iowa to Massachusetts | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa City, IA to Boston, MA | $930 – $1,456 | 1,190 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Iowa City, IA to Worcester, MA | $850 – $1,428 | 1,151 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Iowa City, IA to Springfield, MA | $921 – $1,373 | 1,107 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Iowa City, IA to Cambridge, MA | $859 – $1,415 | 1,186 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Iowa City, IA to Lowell, MA | $877 – $1,428 | 1,192 miles | 2 – 8 days |
Shipping an SUV or truck from Iowa to Massachusetts
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 Massachusetts you should expect to pay between $1,255 and $1,849.
Factors that affect car shipping costs from IA to MA
When transporting your vehicle from the Hawkeye State to the Bay 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 Massachusetts.
- Distance and route: The journey from Iowa to Massachusetts spans approximately 1,271 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 Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts should take between three and eight days. Expedited services are available but come at a higher cost.
Massachusetts vehicle regulations you need to know
- Car insurance requirements: Massachusetts mandates minimum car insurance coverage, including $20,000/$40,000 for bodily injury liability, $5,000 for property damage, $20,000/$40,000 for uninsured motorist bodily injury, and $8,000 for personal injury protection.
- Vehicle inspection: Every year, all vehicles in Massachusetts must undergo a safety inspection. New cars registered in the state must be inspected within 7 days of their registration date.
- Driver’s license: As a new resident in Massachusetts, you must convert your out-of-state vehicle registration to the state within 30 days of establishing residency. The vehicle can be titled and registered at the same time.
- Additional taxes: As a buyer, transferee, or user of a motor vehicle or trailer in Massachusetts, you are responsible for paying a sales or use tax of 6.25%.
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 Massachusetts
About 22 million people are living in the Bay State. Most of Massachusetts has a humid continental climate, with cold winters and warm summers. Far southeast coastal areas are the broad transition zone to Humid Subtropical climates. The warm to hot summers render the oceanic climate rare in this transition, only applying to exposed coastal areas such as on the peninsula of Barnstable County. The climate of Boston is quite representative for the commonwealth, characterized by summer highs of around 81 °F (27 °C) and winter highs of 35 °F (2 °C), and is quite wet. Frosts are frequent all winter, even in coastal areas due to prevailing inland winds. Due to its location near the Atlantic, Massachusetts is vulnerable to nor'easters, hurricanes, and tropical storms.
FAQ
Does someone have to be present when you ship a car for pickup in Iowa and delivery in Massachusetts?
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 Massachusetts.
Do you need car insurance when shipping your car from Iowa to Massachusetts?
If you’re not driving the vehicle from Iowa to Massachusetts, you aren't required to have typical car insurance. Your car hauler should have adequate insurance if an accident happened on the drive to Massachusetts, 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.
Massachusetts mandates minimum car insurance coverage, including $20,000/$40,000 for bodily injury liability, $5,000 for property damage, $20,000/$40,000 for uninsured motorist bodily injury, and $8,000 for personal injury protection.
How long does it take to ship a car from Iowa to Massachusetts?
Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from Iowa to Massachusetts is about 1,271 miles, and that’s as fast as about 3 days. However, most car transport companies will take three to eight days to travel from Iowa to Massachusetts.
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.
Every year, all vehicles in Massachusetts must undergo a safety inspection. New cars registered in the state must be inspected within 7 days of their registration date.
If I have a driver’s license in Iowa, will I need one in Massachusetts?
As a new resident in Massachusetts, you must convert your out-of-state vehicle registration to the state within 30 days of establishing residency. The vehicle can be titled and registered at the same time.
If I bought a car in Iowa, will I be required to pay sales tax in Massachusetts after shipping it there?
It’s important to understand any tax implications if you’re having a car shipped from Iowa to Massachusetts after purchasing it.
As a buyer, transferee, or user of a motor vehicle or trailer in Massachusetts, you are responsible for paying a sales or use tax of 6.25%.
We recommend that you always check for updated tax information in both Iowa and Massachusetts to avoid any hidden costs.
What is the cheapest way to ship a car from Iowa to Massachusetts?
The cheapest way to ship a car from Iowa to Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts?
Shipping a car from Iowa to Massachusetts costs $1,004 to $1,479.
