Iowa to Montana Car Shipping (2024 Cost Guide)
Fact Checked by: Quick answer: The average cost to ship a car 1,129 miles from Iowa to Montana ranges from $877 to $1,331 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.
|
|
|
|
rating
Shipping a car the reverse route? We’ve got you covered with our Montana to Iowa car shipping guide.
The best Iowa to Montana car shipping companies
We’ve done the research and these are the best car shipping companies to help transport your vehicle from Iowa to Montana:
- 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 Montana
- Drive it yourself. This is straightforward but not always an option, and it will put about 1,129 miles on your car going from Iowa to Montana. 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 Montana, 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 Montana 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 MT 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 Montana. The average travel distance is about 1,129 miles, with shipping times typically ranging from two to eight days .
Cost to ship a car from Des Moines, IA to Montana
| From Iowa to Montana | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines, IA to Billings, MT | $853 – $1,233 | 939 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Des Moines, IA to Missoula, MT | $909 – $1,391 | 1,281 miles | 3 – 8 days |
| Des Moines, IA to Great Falls, MT | $895 – $1,318 | 1,167 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Des Moines, IA to Bozeman, MT | $846 – $1,262 | 1,079 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Des Moines, IA to Butte, MT | $850 – $1,415 | 1,164 miles | 2 – 8 days |
Cost to ship a car from Cedar Rapids, IA to Montana
| From Iowa to Montana | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cedar Rapids, IA to Billings, MT | $854 – $1,301 | 1,012 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Cedar Rapids, IA to Missoula, MT | $1,035 – $1,533 | 1,353 miles | 3 – 8 days |
| Cedar Rapids, IA to Great Falls, MT | $985 – $1,449 | 1,243 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Cedar Rapids, IA to Bozeman, MT | $859 – $1,401 | 1,153 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Cedar Rapids, IA to Butte, MT | $1,004 – $1,391 | 1,237 miles | 2 – 8 days |
Cost to ship a car from Davenport, IA to Montana
| From Iowa to Montana | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Davenport, IA to Billings, MT | $830 – $1,288 | 1,091 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Davenport, IA to Missoula, MT | $1,039 – $1,626 | 1,433 miles | 3 – 8 days |
| Davenport, IA to Great Falls, MT | $964 – $1,487 | 1,322 miles | 3 – 8 days |
| Davenport, IA to Bozeman, MT | $937 – $1,420 | 1,232 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Davenport, IA to Butte, MT | $975 – $1,610 | 1,315 miles | 3 – 8 days |
Cost to ship a car from Sioux City, IA to Montana
| From Iowa to Montana | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sioux City, IA to Billings, MT | $753 – $1,195 | 743 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Sioux City, IA to Missoula, MT | $797 – $1,288 | 1,084 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Sioux City, IA to Great Falls, MT | $778 – $1,219 | 970 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Sioux City, IA to Bozeman, MT | $794 – $1,246 | 883 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Sioux City, IA to Butte, MT | $795 – $1,257 | 967 miles | 2 – 7 days |
Cost to ship a car from Iowa City, IA to Montana
| From Iowa to Montana | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa City, IA to Billings, MT | $805 – $1,249 | 1,039 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Iowa City, IA to Missoula, MT | $1,035 – $1,503 | 1,381 miles | 3 – 8 days |
| Iowa City, IA to Great Falls, MT | $928 – $1,435 | 1,269 miles | 3 – 8 days |
| Iowa City, IA to Bozeman, MT | $886 – $1,331 | 1,179 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Iowa City, IA to Butte, MT | $947 – $1,508 | 1,263 miles | 3 – 8 days |
Shipping an SUV or truck from Iowa to Montana
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 Montana you should expect to pay between $1,096 and $1,664.
Factors that affect car shipping costs from IA to MT
When transporting your vehicle from the Hawkeye State to the Big Sky Country, 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 Montana.
- Distance and route: The journey from Iowa to Montana spans approximately 1,129 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 Montana 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 Montana should take between two and eight days. Expedited services are available but come at a higher cost.
Montana vehicle regulations you need to know
- Car insurance requirements: In Montana, drivers must meet legal requirements for minimum car insurance liability coverage to ensure financial responsibility in accidents. Mandated by state regulations, this includes $25,000 per person for bodily injury and $50,000 per accident for bodily injury, covering collective medical expenses in case of multiple injuries, capped at $50,000 for the entire incident. Additionally, there's a required minimum of $20,000 per accident for property damage, crucial for addressing costs related to damage to another party's vehicle or property. Adhering to these insurance requirements is imperative for all motorists, ensuring compliance with state laws and contributing to a secure and responsible driving environment on Montana roadways.
- Vehicle inspection: If you are moving to Montana, you are not required to have your vehicle inspected.
- Driver’s license: New residents in Montana must start their driver’s license application process within 60 days of moving to the state.
- Additional taxes: In Montana, there is no state-level sales tax on vehicles, however, local governments in Montana may impose their own taxes and fees on vehicles.
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 Montana
About 22 million people are living in the Big Sky Country. Montana has a lot of variation in geography, topography, and elevation, and the climate is equally varied. The western half is mountainous, interrupted by numerous large valleys. Eastern Montana comprises plains and badlands, broken by hills and isolated mountain ranges, The Continental Divide has a considerable effect on the climate, as it restricts the flow of warmer air from the Pacific from moving east, and drier continental air from moving west. The area west of the divide has a modified northern Pacific Coast climate, with milder winters, cooler summers, less wind, and a longer growing season. Low clouds and fog often form in the valleys west of the divide in winter, but this is rarely seen in the east.
FAQ
Does someone have to be present when you ship a car for pickup in Iowa and delivery in Montana?
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 Montana.
Do you need car insurance when shipping your car from Iowa to Montana?
If you’re not driving the vehicle from Iowa to Montana, you aren't required to have typical car insurance. Your car hauler should have adequate insurance if an accident happened on the drive to Montana, 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 Montana, drivers must meet legal requirements for minimum car insurance liability coverage to ensure financial responsibility in accidents. Mandated by state regulations, this includes $25,000 per person for bodily injury and $50,000 per accident for bodily injury, covering collective medical expenses in case of multiple injuries, capped at $50,000 for the entire incident. Additionally, there's a required minimum of $20,000 per accident for property damage, crucial for addressing costs related to damage to another party's vehicle or property. Adhering to these insurance requirements is imperative for all motorists, ensuring compliance with state laws and contributing to a secure and responsible driving environment on Montana roadways.
How long does it take to ship a car from Iowa to Montana?
Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from Iowa to Montana is about 1,129 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 Montana.
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.
If you are moving to Montana, you are not required to have your vehicle inspected.
If I have a driver’s license in Iowa, will I need one in Montana?
New residents in Montana must start their driver’s license application process within 60 days of moving to the state.
If I bought a car in Iowa, will I be required to pay sales tax in Montana after shipping it there?
It’s important to understand any tax implications if you’re having a car shipped from Iowa to Montana after purchasing it.
In Montana, there is no state-level sales tax on vehicles, however, local governments in Montana may impose their own taxes and fees on vehicles.
We recommend that you always check for updated tax information in both Iowa and Montana to avoid any hidden costs.
What is the cheapest way to ship a car from Iowa to Montana?
The cheapest way to ship a car from Iowa to Montana 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 Montana?
Shipping a car from Iowa to Montana costs $877 to $1,331.
