Iowa to Minnesota Car Shipping (2024 Cost Guide)
Fact Checked by: Quick answer: The average cost to ship a car 406 miles from Iowa to Minnesota ranges from $588 to $797 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 Minnesota to Iowa car shipping guide.
The best Iowa to Minnesota car shipping companies
We’ve done the research and these are the best car shipping companies to help transport your vehicle from Iowa to Minnesota:
- 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 Minnesota
- Drive it yourself. This is straightforward but not always an option, and it will put about 406 miles on your car going from Iowa to Minnesota. 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 Minnesota, 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 Minnesota 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 MN 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 Minnesota. The average travel distance is about 406 miles, with shipping times typically ranging from one to four days .
Cost to ship a car from Des Moines, IA to Minnesota
| From Iowa to Minnesota | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines, IA to Minneapolis, MN | $466 – $594 | 244 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Des Moines, IA to St. Paul, MN | $466 – $631 | 248 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Des Moines, IA to Rochester, MN | $452 – $611 | 211 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Des Moines, IA to Bloomington, MN | $440 – $600 | 233 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Des Moines, IA to Duluth, MN | $575 – $827 | 395 miles | 1 – 4 days |
Cost to ship a car from Cedar Rapids, IA to Minnesota
| From Iowa to Minnesota | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cedar Rapids, IA to Minneapolis, MN | $499 – $681 | 278 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Cedar Rapids, IA to St. Paul, MN | $494 – $694 | 282 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Cedar Rapids, IA to Rochester, MN | $389 – $529 | 169 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Cedar Rapids, IA to Bloomington, MN | $444 – $648 | 268 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Cedar Rapids, IA to Duluth, MN | $598 – $828 | 429 miles | 1 – 4 days |
Cost to ship a car from Davenport, IA to Minnesota
| From Iowa to Minnesota | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Davenport, IA to Minneapolis, MN | $587 – $788 | 357 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Davenport, IA to St. Paul, MN | $536 – $803 | 362 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Davenport, IA to Rochester, MN | $443 – $643 | 249 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Davenport, IA to Bloomington, MN | $567 – $761 | 347 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Davenport, IA to Duluth, MN | $606 – $871 | 417 miles | 1 – 4 days |
Cost to ship a car from Sioux City, IA to Minnesota
| From Iowa to Minnesota | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sioux City, IA to Minneapolis, MN | $453 – $587 | 272 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Sioux City, IA to St. Paul, MN | $499 – $648 | 280 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Sioux City, IA to Rochester, MN | $453 – $617 | 273 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Sioux City, IA to Bloomington, MN | $435 – $605 | 263 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Sioux City, IA to Duluth, MN | $648 – $862 | 425 miles | 1 – 4 days |
Cost to ship a car from Iowa City, IA to Minnesota
| From Iowa to Minnesota | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa City, IA to Minneapolis, MN | $539 – $722 | 307 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Iowa City, IA to St. Paul, MN | $493 – $722 | 311 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Iowa City, IA to Rochester, MN | $429 – $547 | 198 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Iowa City, IA to Bloomington, MN | $499 – $661 | 296 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Iowa City, IA to Duluth, MN | $631 – $831 | 458 miles | 1 – 4 days |
Shipping an SUV or truck from Iowa to Minnesota
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 Minnesota you should expect to pay between $735 and $996.
Factors that affect car shipping costs from IA to MN
When transporting your vehicle from the Hawkeye State to the North Star 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 Minnesota.
- Distance and route: The journey from Iowa to Minnesota spans approximately 406 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 Minnesota 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 Minnesota should take between one and four days. Expedited services are available but come at a higher cost.
Minnesota vehicle regulations you need to know
- Car insurance requirements: Drivers in Minnesota must maintain a minimum insurance coverage, including $30,000 per person and $60,000 per accident for bodily injury liability, and $10,000 for property damage liability, ensuring financial protection in case of accidents and aligning with state regulations for responsible driving practices.
- Vehicle inspection: Minnesota does not have a mandate for regular safety inspections on personal vehicles.
- Driver’s license: In Minnesota, you have a 60-day window after becoming a resident to obtain a Minnesota driver's license or permit. The Minnesota Department of Public Safety Driver and Vehicle Services issues driver’s licenses in the state.
- Additional taxes: When registering a vehicle in Minnesota, if it has been titled under your name for at least 60 days in another state, you are exempt from paying tax.
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 Minnesota
About 22 million people are living in the North Star State. Minnesota experiences temperature extremes characteristic of its continental climate, with cold winters and hot summers. Minnesota does experience weather such as: rain, snow, blizzards, thunderstorms, hail, derechos, tornadoes, and high-velocity straight-line winds.
FAQ
Does someone have to be present when you ship a car for pickup in Iowa and delivery in Minnesota?
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 Minnesota.
Do you need car insurance when shipping your car from Iowa to Minnesota?
If you’re not driving the vehicle from Iowa to Minnesota, you aren't required to have typical car insurance. Your car hauler should have adequate insurance if an accident happened on the drive to Minnesota, 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.
Drivers in Minnesota must maintain a minimum insurance coverage, including $30,000 per person and $60,000 per accident for bodily injury liability, and $10,000 for property damage liability, ensuring financial protection in case of accidents and aligning with state regulations for responsible driving practices.
How long does it take to ship a car from Iowa to Minnesota?
Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from Iowa to Minnesota is about 406 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 Minnesota.
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.
Minnesota does not have a mandate for regular safety inspections on personal vehicles.
If I have a driver’s license in Iowa, will I need one in Minnesota?
In Minnesota, you have a 60-day window after becoming a resident to obtain a Minnesota driver's license or permit. The Minnesota Department of Public Safety Driver and Vehicle Services issues driver’s licenses in the state.
If I bought a car in Iowa, will I be required to pay sales tax in Minnesota after shipping it there?
It’s important to understand any tax implications if you’re having a car shipped from Iowa to Minnesota after purchasing it.
When registering a vehicle in Minnesota, if it has been titled under your name for at least 60 days in another state, you are exempt from paying tax.
We recommend that you always check for updated tax information in both Iowa and Minnesota to avoid any hidden costs.
What is the cheapest way to ship a car from Iowa to Minnesota?
The cheapest way to ship a car from Iowa to Minnesota 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 Minnesota?
Shipping a car from Iowa to Minnesota costs $588 to $797.
