Illinois to Maryland Car Shipping (2024 Cost Guide)

Quick answer: The average cost to ship a car 790 miles from Illinois to Maryland ranges from $825 to $1,143 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.

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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 Maryland to Illinois car shipping guide.

The best Illinois to Maryland car shipping companies

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

Best for accurate pricing
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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
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Check prices (833) 775-1461
Best cross-country shipper
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moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.5 / 5
Check prices (224) 206-5633
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  • No upfront payment
  • GPS tracking
  • Multiple insurance options
  • Competitive pricing
  • Door-to-door shipping
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Check prices (224) 206-5633
Best for discounts
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moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.3 / 5
Check prices (770) 501-9057
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  • Competitive pricing
  • Last-minute car shipments
  • Guaranteed & expedited shipments
  • Gap insurance coverage
  • Multiple discounts
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Check prices (770) 501-9057
Best for overall value
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moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.9 / 5
Check prices (864) 492-1221
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  • No hidden fees
  • Free online quotes
  • Door-to-door service in 48 states
  • Exact pickup dates
  • Ships to & from HI
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Check prices (864) 492-1221
Best for quick pickup
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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
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Check prices (888) 259-6046

Alternative ways to ship your car from Illinois to Maryland

  • Drive it yourself. This is straightforward but not always an option, and it will put about 790 miles on your car going from Illinois to Maryland. 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 Maryland, 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 Maryland 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 MD 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 Maryland. The average travel distance is about 790 miles, with shipping times typically ranging from two to seven days .

Cost to ship a car from Chicago, IL to Maryland

From Illinois to Maryland Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Chicago, IL to Washington DC, MD $748 – $1,060 696 miles 1 – 6 days
Chicago, IL to Baltimore, MD $736 – $1,172 703 miles 1 – 6 days
Chicago, IL to Columbia, MD $801 – $1,114 695 miles 1 – 6 days
Chicago, IL to Germantown, MD $781 – $1,089 672 miles 1 – 6 days
Chicago, IL to Silver Spring, MD $756 – $1,038 692 miles 1 – 6 days

Cost to ship a car from Aurora, IL to Maryland

From Illinois to Maryland Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Aurora, IL to Washington DC, MD $800 – $1,115 733 miles 1 – 6 days
Aurora, IL to Baltimore, MD $792 – $1,081 741 miles 1 – 6 days
Aurora, IL to Columbia, MD $808 – $1,172 733 miles 1 – 6 days
Aurora, IL to Germantown, MD $813 – $1,138 710 miles 1 – 6 days
Aurora, IL to Silver Spring, MD $816 – $1,172 729 miles 1 – 6 days

Cost to ship a car from Joliet, IL to Maryland

From Illinois to Maryland Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Joliet, IL to Washington DC, MD $736 – $1,083 707 miles 1 – 6 days
Joliet, IL to Baltimore, MD $743 – $1,071 715 miles 1 – 6 days
Joliet, IL to Columbia, MD $759 – $1,138 706 miles 1 – 6 days
Joliet, IL to Germantown, MD $778 – $1,049 684 miles 1 – 6 days
Joliet, IL to Silver Spring, MD $767 – $1,083 703 miles 1 – 6 days

Cost to ship a car from Naperville, IL to Maryland

From Illinois to Maryland Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Naperville, IL to Washington DC, MD $805 – $1,060 721 miles 1 – 6 days
Naperville, IL to Baltimore, MD $769 – $1,161 728 miles 1 – 6 days
Naperville, IL to Columbia, MD $767 – $1,094 721 miles 1 – 6 days
Naperville, IL to Germantown, MD $748 – $1,104 698 miles 1 – 6 days
Naperville, IL to Silver Spring, MD $736 – $1,127 717 miles 1 – 6 days

Cost to ship a car from Rockford, IL to Maryland

From Illinois to Maryland Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Rockford, IL to Washington DC, MD $761 – $1,179 789 miles 2 – 7 days
Rockford, IL to Baltimore, MD $761 – $1,226 795 miles 2 – 7 days
Rockford, IL to Columbia, MD $841 – $1,132 788 miles 2 – 7 days
Rockford, IL to Germantown, MD $801 – $1,205 766 miles 2 – 7 days
Rockford, IL to Silver Spring, MD $833 – $1,226 784 miles 2 – 7 days

Shipping an SUV or truck from Illinois to Maryland

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 Maryland you should expect to pay between $1,031 and $1,429.

Factors that affect car shipping costs from IL to MD

When transporting your vehicle from the Land of Lincoln to the Old Line 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 Maryland.
  • Distance and route: The journey from Illinois to Maryland spans approximately 790 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 Maryland 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 Maryland should take between two and seven days. Expedited services are available but come at a higher cost.

Maryland vehicle regulations you need to know

  • Car insurance requirements: All vehicles in Maryland must maintain insurance coverage from a Maryland-licensed insurance company at all times, with mandatory minimum coverage of $30,000 for bodily injury per person, $60,000 for multiple people, and $15,000 for property damage.
  • Vehicle inspection: If you recently relocated to Maryland or bought a vehicle, you must get it inspected at an authorized inspection station before registering the vehicle. New residents are mandated to undergo a vehicle safety inspection before obtaining car registration.
  • Driver’s license: As a new resident of Maryland, it's mandatory to obtain a Maryland driver's license within 60 days. You need to surrender your previous state's driver's license before obtaining a Maryland one.
  • Additional taxes: The sales tax in Maryland is set at 6%. This applies to both new and used car purchases, adding an additional 6% to the cost. Fortunately for Maryland residents, there is no sales tax imposed by any other governing level 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 Maryland

About 22 million people are living in the Old Line State. Maryland has a wide array of climates, due to local variances in elevation, proximity to water, and protection from colder weather due to downslope winds. The eastern half of Maryland — which includes the cities of Ocean City, Salisbury, Annapolis, and the southern and eastern suburbs of Washington, D.C., and Baltimore — lies on the Atlantic Coastal Plain, with flat topography and sandy or muddy soil. This region has a humid subtropical climate, with hot, humid summers and a short, mild-to-cool winter

FAQ

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

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 Maryland.

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

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

All vehicles in Maryland must maintain insurance coverage from a Maryland-licensed insurance company at all times, with mandatory minimum coverage of $30,000 for bodily injury per person, $60,000 for multiple people, and $15,000 for property damage.

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

Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from Illinois to Maryland is about 790 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 Maryland.

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.

If you recently relocated to Maryland or bought a vehicle, you must get it inspected at an authorized inspection station before registering the vehicle. New residents are mandated to undergo a vehicle safety inspection before obtaining car registration.

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

As a new resident of Maryland, it's mandatory to obtain a Maryland driver's license within 60 days. You need to surrender your previous state's driver's license before obtaining a Maryland one.

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

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

The sales tax in Maryland is set at 6%. This applies to both new and used car purchases, adding an additional 6% to the cost. Fortunately for Maryland residents, there is no sales tax imposed by any other governing level in the state.

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

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

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

Shipping a car from Illinois to Maryland costs $825 to $1,143.

Helpful Illinois resources