Illinois to Colorado Car Shipping (2024 Cost Guide)
Fact Checked by: Quick answer: The average cost to ship a car 1,010 miles from Illinois to Colorado ranges from $830 to $1,275 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.
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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: 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 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 | $854 – $1,236 | 1,002 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Chicago, IL to Colorado Springs, CO | $797 – $1,301 | 1,072 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Chicago, IL to Aurora, CO | $773 – $1,288 | 1,003 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Chicago, IL to Fort Collins, CO | $792 – $1,241 | 981 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Chicago, IL to Lakewood, CO | $789 – $1,236 | 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 | $819 – $1,296 | 966 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Aurora, IL to Colorado Springs, CO | $789 – $1,327 | 1,038 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Aurora, IL to Aurora, CO | $844 – $1,296 | 968 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Aurora, IL to Fort Collins, CO | $853 – $1,272 | 946 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Aurora, IL to Lakewood, CO | $795 – $1,257 | 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 | $850 – $1,228 | 977 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Joliet, IL to Colorado Springs, CO | $822 – $1,353 | 1,048 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Joliet, IL to Aurora, CO | $809 – $1,331 | 979 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Joliet, IL to Fort Collins, CO | $852 – $1,296 | 956 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Joliet, IL to Lakewood, CO | $784 – $1,241 | 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 | $858 – $1,241 | 976 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Naperville, IL to Colorado Springs, CO | $854 – $1,249 | 1,047 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Naperville, IL to Aurora, CO | $809 – $1,344 | 977 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Naperville, IL to Fort Collins, CO | $844 – $1,283 | 955 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Naperville, IL to Lakewood, CO | $801 – $1,319 | 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 | $803 – $1,296 | 956 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Rockford, IL to Colorado Springs, CO | $773 – $1,340 | 1,027 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Rockford, IL to Aurora, CO | $786 – $1,334 | 957 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Rockford, IL to Fort Collins, CO | $828 – $1,246 | 935 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Rockford, IL to Lakewood, CO | $803 – $1,257 | 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 $1,038 and $1,594.
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 $830 to $1,275.
