Illinois to Louisiana Car Shipping (2024 Cost Guide)

Quick answer: The average cost to ship a car 853 miles from Illinois to Louisiana ranges from $850 to $1,295 and takes two–seven 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 Louisiana to Illinois car shipping guide.

The best Illinois to Louisiana car shipping companies

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

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 Louisiana

  • Drive it yourself. This is straightforward but not always an option, and it will put about 853 miles on your car going from Illinois to Louisiana. 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 Louisiana, 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 Louisiana 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 LA 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 Louisiana. The average travel distance is about 853 miles, with shipping times typically ranging from two to seven days .

Cost to ship a car from Chicago, IL to Louisiana

From Illinois to Louisiana Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Chicago, IL to New Orleans, LA $788 – $1,287 926 miles 2 – 7 days
Chicago, IL to Baton Rouge, LA $821 – $1,313 915 miles 2 – 7 days
Chicago, IL to Shreveport, LA $801 – $1,295 864 miles 2 – 7 days
Chicago, IL to Metairie, LA $788 – $1,211 920 miles 2 – 7 days
Chicago, IL to Lafayette, LA $821 – $1,285 969 miles 2 – 7 days

Cost to ship a car from Aurora, IL to Louisiana

From Illinois to Louisiana Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Aurora, IL to New Orleans, LA $822 – $1,261 949 miles 2 – 7 days
Aurora, IL to Baton Rouge, LA $863 – $1,261 938 miles 2 – 7 days
Aurora, IL to Shreveport, LA $781 – $1,192 826 miles 2 – 7 days
Aurora, IL to Metairie, LA $788 – $1,300 943 miles 2 – 7 days
Aurora, IL to Lafayette, LA $818 – $1,256 991 miles 2 – 7 days

Cost to ship a car from Joliet, IL to Louisiana

From Illinois to Louisiana Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Joliet, IL to New Orleans, LA $821 – $1,287 903 miles 2 – 7 days
Joliet, IL to Baton Rouge, LA $845 – $1,235 892 miles 2 – 7 days
Joliet, IL to Shreveport, LA $849 – $1,151 816 miles 2 – 7 days
Joliet, IL to Metairie, LA $870 – $1,286 898 miles 2 – 7 days
Joliet, IL to Lafayette, LA $797 – $1,248 946 miles 2 – 7 days

Cost to ship a car from Naperville, IL to Louisiana

From Illinois to Louisiana Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Naperville, IL to New Orleans, LA $788 – $1,338 934 miles 2 – 7 days
Naperville, IL to Baton Rouge, LA $863 – $1,300 922 miles 2 – 7 days
Naperville, IL to Shreveport, LA $797 – $1,291 831 miles 2 – 7 days
Naperville, IL to Metairie, LA $797 – $1,351 928 miles 2 – 7 days
Naperville, IL to Lafayette, LA $802 – $1,361 976 miles 2 – 7 days

Cost to ship a car from Rockford, IL to Louisiana

From Illinois to Louisiana Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Rockford, IL to New Orleans, LA $829 – $1,350 969 miles 2 – 7 days
Rockford, IL to Baton Rouge, LA $829 – $1,285 958 miles 2 – 7 days
Rockford, IL to Shreveport, LA $793 – $1,183 851 miles 2 – 7 days
Rockford, IL to Metairie, LA $812 – $1,233 963 miles 2 – 7 days
Rockford, IL to Lafayette, LA $864 – $1,251 1,011 miles 2 – 8 days

Shipping an SUV or truck from Illinois to Louisiana

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 Louisiana you should expect to pay between $1,063 and $1,619.

Factors that affect car shipping costs from IL to LA

When transporting your vehicle from the Land of Lincoln to the Pelican 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 Louisiana.
  • Distance and route: The journey from Illinois to Louisiana spans approximately 853 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 Louisiana 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 Louisiana should take between two and seven days. Expedited services are available but come at a higher cost.

Louisiana vehicle regulations you need to know

  • Car insurance requirements: The insurance limit represents the maximum payout for a claim, and in Louisiana, the minimum liability limits are $15,000 for bodily injury per person, $30,000 for bodily injury per accident, and $25,000 for property damage; these limits can be raised beyond the state-mandated minimums.
  • Vehicle inspection: In Louisiana, the annual safety and emissions inspection includes checks on the vehicle's safety equipment, anti-tampering of emissions systems, and a test on the integrity of the gas cap.
  • Driver’s license: New residents in Louisiana must transfer their out-of-state driver's license within 30 days of establishing residency in the state.
  • Additional taxes: In Louisiana, a 4% tax is levied on all car sales by the state, with additional taxes charged by individual counties and cities.

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 Louisiana

About 22 million people are living in the Pelican State. Louisiana has long hot humid summers and short mild winters. Rain is frequent throughout the year, although from April to September is slightly wetter than the rest of the year. Louisiana is often affected by tropical cyclones and is very vulnerable to major hurricanes, particularly around the New Orleans area. Lousiana averages about 27 tornadoes annually; they are most common from January through March in the south and from February through March in the North.

FAQ

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

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 Louisiana.

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

If you’re not driving the vehicle from Illinois to Louisiana, you aren't required to have typical car insurance. Your car hauler should have adequate insurance if an accident happened on the drive to Louisiana, 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 limit represents the maximum payout for a claim, and in Louisiana, the minimum liability limits are $15,000 for bodily injury per person, $30,000 for bodily injury per accident, and $25,000 for property damage; these limits can be raised beyond the state-mandated minimums.

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

Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from Illinois to Louisiana is about 853 miles, and that’s as fast as about 2 days. However, most car transport companies will take two to seven days to travel from Illinois to Louisiana.

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.

In Louisiana, the annual safety and emissions inspection includes checks on the vehicle's safety equipment, anti-tampering of emissions systems, and a test on the integrity of the gas cap.

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

New residents in Louisiana must transfer their out-of-state driver's license within 30 days of establishing residency in the state.

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

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

In Louisiana, a 4% tax is levied on all car sales by the state, with additional taxes charged by individual counties and cities.

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

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

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

Shipping a car from Illinois to Louisiana costs $850 to $1,295.

Helpful Illinois resources