Illinois to Colorado Car Shipping (2024 Cost Guide)

Quick answer: The average cost to ship a car 1,010 miles from Illinois to Colorado ranges from $799 to $1,357 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.

moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.5 / 5
Licensedcheckmark
Insuredcheckmark
Price dollar sign dollar sign dollar sign dollar sign
  • Price lock promise
  • Free car wash
moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.5 / 5
Licensedcheckmark
Insuredcheckmark
Price dollar sign dollar sign dollar sign dollar sign
  • Established in 2007
  • No upfront payment
moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.9 / 5
Licensedcheckmark
Insuredcheckmark
Price dollar sign dollar sign dollar sign dollar sign
  • No deposit
  • Quick pickup

Shipping a car the reverse route? We’ve got you covered with our Colorado to Illinois car shipping guide.

The best Illinois to Colorado car shipping companies

We’ve done the research and these are the best car shipping companies to help transport your vehicle from Illinois to Colorado:

Best for accurate pricing
Licensedcheckmark
Insuredcheckmark
Price dollar sign dollar sign dollar sign dollar sign
moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.5 / 5
Check prices (833) 775-1461
At A Glance
  • Price Lock Promise
  • Pay by credit card
  • Free car wash at delivery
  • No upfront deposit
  • Door-to-door service
read our full review
Check prices (833) 775-1461
Best cross-country shipper
Licensedcheckmark
Insuredcheckmark
Price dollar sign dollar sign dollar sign dollar sign
moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.5 / 5
Check prices (224) 206-5633
At A Glance
  • No upfront payment
  • GPS tracking
  • Multiple insurance options
  • Competitive pricing
  • Door-to-door shipping
read our full review
Check prices (224) 206-5633
Best for quick pickup
Licensedcheckmark
Insuredcheckmark
Price dollar sign dollar sign dollar sign dollar sign
moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.9 / 5
Check prices (888) 259-6046
At A Glance
  • No upfront deposit
  • Expedited shipping
  • No hidden fees
  • Ships motorcycles & RVs
  • Discount for cash payments
read our full review
Check prices (888) 259-6046
Best for discounts
Licensedcheckmark
Insuredcheckmark
Price dollar sign dollar sign dollar sign dollar sign
moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.3 / 5
Check prices (770) 501-9057
At A Glance
  • Competitive pricing
  • Last-minute car shipments
  • Guaranteed & expedited shipments
  • Gap insurance coverage
  • Multiple discounts
read our full review
Check prices (770) 501-9057
Best for overall value
Licensedcheckmark
Insuredcheckmark
Price dollar sign dollar sign dollar sign dollar sign
moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.9 / 5
Check prices (864) 492-1221
At A Glance
  • No hidden fees
  • Free online quotes
  • Door-to-door service in 48 states
  • Exact pickup dates
  • Ships to & from HI
read our full review
Check prices (864) 492-1221

Alternative ways to ship your car from Illinois to Colorado

  • Drive it yourself. This is straightforward but not always an option, and it will put about 1,010 miles on your car going from Illinois to Colorado. 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 Illinois for a move to Colorado, 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 Illinois to Colorado 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!

IL to CO auto transport costs and transit times

The tables below detail the costs and estimated transit times for shipping a car between popular cities in Illinois and Colorado. The average travel distance is about 1,010 miles, with shipping times typically ranging from two to eight days .

Cost to ship a car from Chicago, IL to Colorado

From Illinois to Colorado Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Chicago, IL to Denver, CO $831 – $1,317 1,002 miles 2 – 8 days
Chicago, IL to Colorado Springs, CO $782 – $1,343 1,072 miles 2 – 8 days
Chicago, IL to Aurora, CO $815 – $1,304 1,003 miles 2 – 8 days
Chicago, IL to Fort Collins, CO $794 – $1,282 981 miles 2 – 7 days
Chicago, IL to Lakewood, CO $807 – $1,304 1,008 miles 2 – 8 days

Cost to ship a car from Aurora, IL to Colorado

From Illinois to Colorado Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Aurora, IL to Denver, CO $812 – $1,324 966 miles 2 – 7 days
Aurora, IL to Colorado Springs, CO $840 – $1,330 1,038 miles 2 – 8 days
Aurora, IL to Aurora, CO $837 – $1,246 968 miles 2 – 7 days
Aurora, IL to Fort Collins, CO $838 – $1,325 946 miles 2 – 7 days
Aurora, IL to Lakewood, CO $829 – $1,246 973 miles 2 – 7 days

Cost to ship a car from Joliet, IL to Colorado

From Illinois to Colorado Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Joliet, IL to Denver, CO $852 – $1,308 977 miles 2 – 7 days
Joliet, IL to Colorado Springs, CO $782 – $1,251 1,048 miles 2 – 8 days
Joliet, IL to Aurora, CO $835 – $1,308 979 miles 2 – 7 days
Joliet, IL to Fort Collins, CO $837 – $1,233 956 miles 2 – 7 days
Joliet, IL to Lakewood, CO $852 – $1,374 984 miles 2 – 7 days

Cost to ship a car from Naperville, IL to Colorado

From Illinois to Colorado Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Naperville, IL to Denver, CO $860 – $1,295 976 miles 2 – 7 days
Naperville, IL to Colorado Springs, CO $790 – $1,291 1,047 miles 2 – 8 days
Naperville, IL to Aurora, CO $860 – $1,269 977 miles 2 – 7 days
Naperville, IL to Fort Collins, CO $846 – $1,350 955 miles 2 – 7 days
Naperville, IL to Lakewood, CO $802 – $1,256 982 miles 2 – 7 days

Cost to ship a car from Rockford, IL to Colorado

From Illinois to Colorado Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Rockford, IL to Denver, CO $870 – $1,259 956 miles 2 – 7 days
Rockford, IL to Colorado Springs, CO $848 – $1,357 1,027 miles 2 – 8 days
Rockford, IL to Aurora, CO $837 – $1,233 957 miles 2 – 7 days
Rockford, IL to Fort Collins, CO $788 – $1,325 935 miles 2 – 7 days
Rockford, IL to Lakewood, CO $837 – $1,298 963 miles 2 – 7 days

Shipping an SUV or truck from Illinois to Colorado

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 Illinois to Colorado you should expect to pay between $999 and $1,696.

Factors that affect car shipping costs from IL to CO

When transporting your vehicle from the Land of Lincoln to the Centennial 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 Colorado.
  • Distance and route: The journey from Illinois to Colorado spans approximately 1,010 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 Illinois, 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 Illinois and Colorado 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 Illinois to Colorado should take between two and eight days. Expedited services are available but come at a higher cost.

Colorado vehicle regulations you need to know

  • Car insurance requirements: To drive in Colorado, you must have insurance with minimum 25/50/10 liability limits, covering $25,000 per person for bodily injury, $50,000 per accident for bodily injury, and $15,000 for property damage. While meeting the state's minimum requirement, it's advisable to consider factors for determining optimal coverage levels.
  • Vehicle inspection: To register and title your vehicle in Colorado within 90 days of moving, you'll need to provide the DMV with an out-of-state vehicle title, proof of a valid Colorado auto insurance policy, verifiable identification, and documentation of the vehicle's weight.
  • Driver’s license: To obtain a Colorado driver's license, new residents must visit a Colorado DMV office in person. The process cannot be done online or by phone. A valid out-of-state license is required, with no suspensions, revocations, or cancellations, and must not have been deemed unfit to drive by CO DMV or a court.
  • Additional taxes: Vehicles purchased outside Colorado are not taxed, but if they are registered in Colorado, the buyer must pay use and local taxes. If the buyer has already paid taxes in the state of purchase, they may claim credit towards the use tax. No use tax applies to vehicles brought into Colorado by a nonresident becoming a resident, but rules may differ for those who lease vehicles.

Learn more with our car shipping checklist.

Transporting your vehicle from Illinois

More than 39 million people call Illinois home. Nicknamed the Land of Lincoln, Illinois' climate is clearly different in the northern and southern halves of the state. The northern half experiences cold winters and mild summers whereas the southern half experiences mild winters and hot and humid summers. Illinois is a part of "tornado alley"

Transporting your vehicle to Colorado

About 22 million people are living in the Centennial State. Colorado has a relatively complex climate. Ranging from the famous mountain region of the state to desert. Therefore, keep track of the weather of your new city on move day. The most extreme weather that happens in Colorado happens in the least populated areas of the state but you may drive through these regions to get to your new home so be wary of that too.

FAQ

Does someone have to be present when you ship a car for pickup in Illinois and delivery in Colorado?

Most companies will require that an adult of at least 18 years of age be present when picking up your car in Illinois and when dropping it off in Colorado.

Do you need car insurance when shipping your car from Illinois to Colorado?

If you’re not driving the vehicle from Illinois to Colorado, you aren't required to have typical car insurance. Your car hauler should have adequate insurance if an accident happened on the drive to Colorado, which you should verify before loading your car in Illinois.

If you’re driving your car at all in either state, you should understand the requirements. The liability insurance minimums for Illinois are $25,000 bodily injury liability per person, $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident, and $20,000 property damage liability per accident.

To drive in Colorado, you must have insurance with minimum 25/50/10 liability limits, covering $25,000 per person for bodily injury, $50,000 per accident for bodily injury, and $15,000 for property damage. While meeting the state's minimum requirement, it's advisable to consider factors for determining optimal coverage levels.

How long does it take to ship a car from Illinois to Colorado?

Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from Illinois to Colorado is about 1,010 miles, and that’s as fast as about 3 days. However, most car transport companies will take two to eight days to travel from Illinois to Colorado.

Will I be required to have a vehicle inspection in either state?

In Illinois, emissions inspections are mandatory on a yearly basis for eligible vehicles in the Chicago and East St. Louis metropolitan areas. The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency conducts tests on automobiles before residents can renew their vehicle registration with the Secretary of State's office.

To register and title your vehicle in Colorado within 90 days of moving, you'll need to provide the DMV with an out-of-state vehicle title, proof of a valid Colorado auto insurance policy, verifiable identification, and documentation of the vehicle's weight.

If I have a driver’s license in Illinois, will I need one in Colorado?

To obtain a Colorado driver's license, new residents must visit a Colorado DMV office in person. The process cannot be done online or by phone. A valid out-of-state license is required, with no suspensions, revocations, or cancellations, and must not have been deemed unfit to drive by CO DMV or a court.

If I bought a car in Illinois, will I be required to pay sales tax in Colorado after shipping it there?

It’s important to understand any tax implications if you’re having a car shipped from Illinois to Colorado after purchasing it.

Vehicles purchased outside Colorado are not taxed, but if they are registered in Colorado, the buyer must pay use and local taxes. If the buyer has already paid taxes in the state of purchase, they may claim credit towards the use tax. No use tax applies to vehicles brought into Colorado by a nonresident becoming a resident, but rules may differ for those who lease vehicles.

We recommend that you always check for updated tax information in both Illinois and Colorado to avoid any hidden costs.

What is the cheapest way to ship a car from Illinois to Colorado?

The cheapest way to ship a car from Illinois to Colorado 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 Illinois to Colorado?

Shipping a car from Illinois to Colorado costs $799 to $1,357.

Helpful Illinois resources