Illinois to Kentucky Car Shipping (2025 Cost Guide)

Quick answer: The average cost to ship a car 409 miles from Illinois to Kentucky ranges from $644 to $856 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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  • Price lock promise
  • Free car wash
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  • Door-to-door service
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  • Services all 50 states
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Shipping a car the reverse route? We’ve got you covered with our Kentucky to Illinois car shipping guide.

The best Illinois to Kentucky car shipping companies

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

Best for accurate pricing
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moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.5 / 5
Get a quote (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
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Get a quote (833) 775-1461
Best cross-country shipper
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moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.5 / 5
Get a quote (224) 206-5633
At A Glance
  • Competitive pricing & $0 upfront
  • GPS tracking
  • Multiple insurance options
  • Guaranteed pickup dates available
  • Door-to-door service
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Get a quote (224) 206-5633
Best for discounts
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moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.3 / 5
Get a quote (770) 501-9057
At A Glance
  • Competitive pricing
  • Last-minute car shipments
  • Guaranteed & expedited shipments
  • Gap insurance coverage
  • Multiple discounts
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Get a quote (770) 501-9057
Best for overall value
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moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.9 / 5
Get a quote (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
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Get a quote (864) 492-1221
Best for quick pickup
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moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.9 / 5
Get a quote (888) 259-6046
At A Glance
  • No upfront deposit
  • Expedited shipping
  • No hidden fees
  • Ships motorcycles & RVs
  • Discount for cash payments
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Get a quote (888) 259-6046

Alternative ways to ship your car from Illinois to Kentucky

  • Drive it yourself. This is straightforward but not always an option, and it will put about 409 miles on your car going from Illinois to Kentucky. 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 Kentucky, 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 Kentucky 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 KY 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 Kentucky. The average travel distance is about 409 miles, with shipping times typically ranging from one to four days .

Cost to ship a car from Chicago, IL to Kentuckytoggle

From Illinois to Kentucky Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Chicago, IL to Louisville, KY $480 – $696 298 miles 1 – 4 days
Chicago, IL to Lexington, KY $577 – $805 368 miles 1 – 4 days
Chicago, IL to Bowling Green, KY $631 – $865 412 miles 1 – 4 days
Chicago, IL to Owensboro, KY $566 – $789 373 miles 1 – 4 days
Chicago, IL to Covington, KY $515 – $642 296 miles 1 – 4 days

Cost to ship a car from Aurora, IL to Kentuckytoggle

From Illinois to Kentucky Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Aurora, IL to Louisville, KY $520 – $777 331 miles 1 – 4 days
Aurora, IL to Lexington, KY $625 – $873 406 miles 1 – 4 days
Aurora, IL to Bowling Green, KY $624 – $847 445 miles 1 – 4 days
Aurora, IL to Owensboro, KY $625 – $823 406 miles 1 – 4 days
Aurora, IL to Covington, KY $547 – $710 330 miles 1 – 4 days

Cost to ship a car from Joliet, IL to Kentuckytoggle

From Illinois to Kentucky Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Joliet, IL to Louisville, KY $515 – $710 305 miles 1 – 4 days
Joliet, IL to Lexington, KY $588 – $812 380 miles 1 – 4 days
Joliet, IL to Bowling Green, KY $655 – $907 426 miles 1 – 4 days
Joliet, IL to Owensboro, KY $563 – $710 334 miles 1 – 4 days
Joliet, IL to Covington, KY $535 – $710 304 miles 1 – 4 days

Cost to ship a car from Naperville, IL to Kentuckytoggle

From Illinois to Kentucky Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Naperville, IL to Louisville, KY $530 – $703 318 miles 1 – 4 days
Naperville, IL to Lexington, KY $599 – $804 392 miles 1 – 4 days
Naperville, IL to Bowling Green, KY $630 – $890 431 miles 1 – 4 days
Naperville, IL to Owensboro, KY $611 – $772 393 miles 1 – 4 days
Naperville, IL to Covington, KY $504 – $724 316 miles 1 – 4 days

Cost to ship a car from Rockford, IL to Kentuckytoggle

From Illinois to Kentucky Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Rockford, IL to Louisville, KY $588 – $820 385 miles 1 – 4 days
Rockford, IL to Lexington, KY $651 – $893 460 miles 1 – 4 days
Rockford, IL to Bowling Green, KY $657 – $938 499 miles 1 – 4 days
Rockford, IL to Owensboro, KY $589 – $814 403 miles 1 – 4 days
Rockford, IL to Covington, KY $611 – $845 384 miles 1 – 4 days

Shipping an SUV or truck from Illinois to Kentuckytoggle

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 Kentucky you should expect to pay between $805 and $1,070.

Factors that affect car shipping costs from IL to KY

When transporting your vehicle from the Land of Lincoln to the Bluegrass 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 Kentucky.
  • Distance and route: The journey from Illinois to Kentucky spans approximately 409 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 Kentucky 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 Kentucky should take between one and four days. Expedited services are available but come at a higher cost.

Kentucky vehicle regulations you need to know

  • Car insurance requirements: The insurance coverage includes Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability with limits of $25,000 per person/$50,000 per accident and $25,000 respectively; Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist coverage (not required); Personal Injury Protection with a limit of $10,000; and optional Collision and Comprehensive coverage for vehicle repair or replacement expenses, with no requirement.
  • Vehicle inspection: When moving to Kentucky from another state, a one-time Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) inspection is required. To complete the VIN inspection, bring the vehicle and its title to the Sheriff's office in the county where the car will be registered.
  • Driver’s license: New residents in Kentucky have a 30-day time frame to obtain a Kentucky driver's license.
  • Additional taxes: In Kentucky, a 6% motor vehicle usage tax is imposed on the retail price of vehicles registered for the first time in the state.

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 Kentucky

About 22 million people are living in the Bluegrass State. Kentucky has relatively hot, humid, rainy summers, and moderately cold and rainy winters. Kansas rarely experiences the extremes cold of the northern states nor the heat of the state in the Deep South.

FAQ

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

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 Kentucky.

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

If you’re not driving the vehicle from Illinois to Kentucky, you aren't required to have typical car insurance. Your car hauler should have adequate insurance if an accident happened on the drive to Kentucky, 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.

The insurance coverage includes Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability with limits of $25,000 per person/$50,000 per accident and $25,000 respectively; Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist coverage (not required); Personal Injury Protection with a limit of $10,000; and optional Collision and Comprehensive coverage for vehicle repair or replacement expenses, with no requirement.

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

Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from Illinois to Kentucky is about 409 miles, and that’s as fast as about 1 day. However, most car transport companies will take one to four days to travel from Illinois to Kentucky.

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

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.

When moving to Kentucky from another state, a one-time Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) inspection is required. To complete the VIN inspection, bring the vehicle and its title to the Sheriff's office in the county where the car will be registered.

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

New residents in Kentucky have a 30-day time frame to obtain a Kentucky driver's license.

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

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

In Kentucky, a 6% motor vehicle usage tax is imposed on the retail price of vehicles registered for the first time in the state.

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

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

The cheapest way to ship a car from Illinois to Kentucky 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 Kentucky?toggle

Shipping a car from Illinois to Kentucky costs $644 to $856.

Helpful Illinois resources