Iowa to Maine Car Shipping (2024 Cost Guide)
Fact Checked by: Quick answer: The average cost to ship a car 1,517 miles from Iowa to Maine ranges from $1,129 to $1,597 and takes three–nine 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 Maine to Iowa car shipping guide.
The best Iowa to Maine car shipping companies
We’ve done the research and these are the best car shipping companies to help transport your vehicle from Iowa to Maine:
- 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 Maine
- Drive it yourself. This is straightforward but not always an option, and it will put about 1,517 miles on your car going from Iowa to Maine. 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 Maine, 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 Maine 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 ME 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 Maine. The average travel distance is about 1,517 miles, with shipping times typically ranging from three to nine days .
Cost to ship a car from Des Moines, IA to Maine
| From Iowa to Maine | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines, IA to Portland, ME | $1,038 – $1,567 | 1,399 miles | 3 – 8 days |
| Des Moines, IA to Lewiston, ME | $1,095 – $1,678 | 1,429 miles | 3 – 8 days |
| Des Moines, IA to Bangor, ME | $1,106 – $1,630 | 1,527 miles | 3 – 9 days |
| Des Moines, IA to South Portland, ME | $1,040 – $1,581 | 1,400 miles | 3 – 8 days |
| Des Moines, IA to Auburn, ME | $1,095 – $1,549 | 1,429 miles | 3 – 8 days |
Cost to ship a car from Cedar Rapids, IA to Maine
| From Iowa to Maine | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cedar Rapids, IA to Portland, ME | $1,068 – $1,614 | 1,313 miles | 3 – 8 days |
| Cedar Rapids, IA to Lewiston, ME | $1,079 – $1,583 | 1,343 miles | 3 – 8 days |
| Cedar Rapids, IA to Bangor, ME | $1,106 – $1,549 | 1,441 miles | 3 – 8 days |
| Cedar Rapids, IA to South Portland, ME | $1,048 – $1,567 | 1,314 miles | 3 – 8 days |
| Cedar Rapids, IA to Auburn, ME | $1,017 – $1,567 | 1,342 miles | 3 – 8 days |
Cost to ship a car from Davenport, IA to Maine
| From Iowa to Maine | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Davenport, IA to Portland, ME | $939 – $1,408 | 1,233 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Davenport, IA to Lewiston, ME | $997 – $1,437 | 1,263 miles | 3 – 8 days |
| Davenport, IA to Bangor, ME | $1,058 – $1,614 | 1,361 miles | 3 – 8 days |
| Davenport, IA to South Portland, ME | $958 – $1,541 | 1,233 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Davenport, IA to Auburn, ME | $978 – $1,437 | 1,262 miles | 3 – 8 days |
Cost to ship a car from Sioux City, IA to Maine
| From Iowa to Maine | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sioux City, IA to Portland, ME | $1,141 – $1,564 | 1,576 miles | 3 – 9 days |
| Sioux City, IA to Lewiston, ME | $1,163 – $1,777 | 1,606 miles | 3 – 9 days |
| Sioux City, IA to Bangor, ME | $1,266 – $1,837 | 1,704 miles | 3 – 9 days |
| Sioux City, IA to South Portland, ME | $1,129 – $1,712 | 1,577 miles | 3 – 9 days |
| Sioux City, IA to Auburn, ME | $1,259 – $1,777 | 1,606 miles | 3 – 9 days |
Cost to ship a car from Iowa City, IA to Maine
| From Iowa to Maine | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa City, IA to Portland, ME | $1,007 – $1,541 | 1,288 miles | 3 – 8 days |
| Iowa City, IA to Lewiston, ME | $976 – $1,567 | 1,318 miles | 3 – 8 days |
| Iowa City, IA to Bangor, ME | $1,117 – $1,565 | 1,416 miles | 3 – 8 days |
| Iowa City, IA to South Portland, ME | $987 – $1,497 | 1,289 miles | 3 – 8 days |
| Iowa City, IA to Auburn, ME | $1,017 – $1,521 | 1,317 miles | 3 – 8 days |
Shipping an SUV or truck from Iowa to Maine
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 Maine you should expect to pay between $1,411 and $1,996.
Factors that affect car shipping costs from IA to ME
When transporting your vehicle from the Hawkeye State to the Pine Tree 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 Maine.
- Distance and route: The journey from Iowa to Maine spans approximately 1,517 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 Maine 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 Maine should take between three and nine days. Expedited services are available but come at a higher cost.
Maine vehicle regulations you need to know
- Car insurance requirements: In Maine, drivers must carry a minimum liability coverage of 50/100/25, requiring $50,000 for bodily injury per person, $100,000 for all injuries per accident, and $25,000 for property damage, as per car insurance laws.
- Vehicle inspection: The State of Maine requires annual safety inspections for all vehicles used on public roads to ensure they are in proper working condition and safe to operate. Safety inspections in Maine can be carried out at any official service station of the Maine Department of Transportation.
- Driver’s license: New residents of Maine are required to obtain a new state license within 30 days of establishing residency. If you are moving to Maine and possess a valid or recently expired (within the past 5 years) out-of-state driver's license from another US state, you can obtain a Class C license, including a REAL ID license, by visiting a Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles office.
- Additional taxes: Maine requires registered car owners to pay an annual excise tax for motor vehicles, trailers, mobile homes, and stock vehicles. This tax is calculated by multiplying the current Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of the vehicle by the mileage rate.
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 Maine
About 22 million people are living in the Pine Tree State. Maine has a humid continental climate. with warm and sometimes humid summers, and long, cold and very snowy winters. Winters are especially severe in the Northern and Western parts of Maine, while coastal areas are moderated slightly by the Atlantic Ocean, resulting in marginally milder winters and cooler summers than inland regions.
FAQ
Does someone have to be present when you ship a car for pickup in Iowa and delivery in Maine?
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 Maine.
Do you need car insurance when shipping your car from Iowa to Maine?
If you’re not driving the vehicle from Iowa to Maine, you aren't required to have typical car insurance. Your car hauler should have adequate insurance if an accident happened on the drive to Maine, 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 Maine, drivers must carry a minimum liability coverage of 50/100/25, requiring $50,000 for bodily injury per person, $100,000 for all injuries per accident, and $25,000 for property damage, as per car insurance laws.
How long does it take to ship a car from Iowa to Maine?
Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from Iowa to Maine is about 1,517 miles, and that’s as fast as about 4 days. However, most car transport companies will take three to nine days to travel from Iowa to Maine.
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.
The State of Maine requires annual safety inspections for all vehicles used on public roads to ensure they are in proper working condition and safe to operate. Safety inspections in Maine can be carried out at any official service station of the Maine Department of Transportation.
If I have a driver’s license in Iowa, will I need one in Maine?
New residents of Maine are required to obtain a new state license within 30 days of establishing residency. If you are moving to Maine and possess a valid or recently expired (within the past 5 years) out-of-state driver's license from another US state, you can obtain a Class C license, including a REAL ID license, by visiting a Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles office.
If I bought a car in Iowa, will I be required to pay sales tax in Maine after shipping it there?
It’s important to understand any tax implications if you’re having a car shipped from Iowa to Maine after purchasing it.
Maine requires registered car owners to pay an annual excise tax for motor vehicles, trailers, mobile homes, and stock vehicles. This tax is calculated by multiplying the current Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of the vehicle by the mileage rate.
We recommend that you always check for updated tax information in both Iowa and Maine to avoid any hidden costs.
What is the cheapest way to ship a car from Iowa to Maine?
The cheapest way to ship a car from Iowa to Maine 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 Maine?
Shipping a car from Iowa to Maine costs $1,129 to $1,597.
