Illinois to Maine Car Shipping (2024 Cost Guide)
Fact Checked by: Quick answer: The average cost to ship a car 1,343 miles from Illinois to Maine ranges from $986 to $1,583 and takes three–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 Maine to Illinois car shipping guide.
The best Illinois to Maine car shipping companies
We’ve done the research and these are the best car shipping companies to help transport your vehicle from Illinois to Maine:
- Best for accurate pricing: Sherpa Auto Transport
- Best cross-country shipper: Montway Auto Transport
- Best for quick pickup: Easy Auto Ship
- Best for discounts: AmeriFreight Car Transport
- Best for overall value: SGT Auto Transport
- 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
- No upfront deposit
- Expedited shipping
- No hidden fees
- Ships motorcycles & RVs
- Discount for cash payments
- 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
Alternative ways to ship your car from Illinois to Maine
- Drive it yourself. This is straightforward but not always an option, and it will put about 1,343 miles on your car going from Illinois to Maine. 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 Maine, 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 Maine 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 ME 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 Maine. The average travel distance is about 1,343 miles, with shipping times typically ranging from three to eight days .
Cost to ship a car from Chicago, IL to Maine
| From Illinois to Maine | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago, IL to Portland, ME | $848 – $1,251 | 1,082 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Chicago, IL to Lewiston, ME | $888 – $1,404 | 1,112 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Chicago, IL to Bangor, ME | $929 – $1,452 | 1,210 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Chicago, IL to South Portland, ME | $807 – $1,304 | 1,083 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Chicago, IL to Auburn, ME | $879 – $1,347 | 1,111 miles | 2 – 8 days |
Cost to ship a car from Aurora, IL to Maine
| From Illinois to Maine | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aurora, IL to Portland, ME | $888 – $1,333 | 1,120 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Aurora, IL to Lewiston, ME | $932 – $1,474 | 1,150 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Aurora, IL to Bangor, ME | $920 – $1,556 | 1,247 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Aurora, IL to South Portland, ME | $923 – $1,361 | 1,120 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Aurora, IL to Auburn, ME | $932 – $1,390 | 1,148 miles | 2 – 8 days |
Cost to ship a car from Joliet, IL to Maine
| From Illinois to Maine | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joliet, IL to Portland, ME | $782 – $1,370 | 1,094 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Joliet, IL to Lewiston, ME | $888 – $1,446 | 1,123 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Joliet, IL to Bangor, ME | $978 – $1,452 | 1,221 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Joliet, IL to South Portland, ME | $807 – $1,251 | 1,094 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Joliet, IL to Auburn, ME | $896 – $1,432 | 1,122 miles | 2 – 8 days |
Cost to ship a car from Naperville, IL to Maine
| From Illinois to Maine | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Naperville, IL to Portland, ME | $861 – $1,347 | 1,107 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Naperville, IL to Lewiston, ME | $879 – $1,474 | 1,137 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Naperville, IL to Bangor, ME | $939 – $1,467 | 1,235 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Naperville, IL to South Portland, ME | $861 – $1,390 | 1,109 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Naperville, IL to Auburn, ME | $932 – $1,460 | 1,136 miles | 2 – 8 days |
Cost to ship a car from Rockford, IL to Maine
| From Illinois to Maine | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rockford, IL to Portland, ME | $905 – $1,474 | 1,175 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Rockford, IL to Lewiston, ME | $1,016 – $1,526 | 1,204 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Rockford, IL to Bangor, ME | $1,027 – $1,614 | 1,302 miles | 3 – 8 days |
| Rockford, IL to South Portland, ME | $896 – $1,432 | 1,176 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Rockford, IL to Auburn, ME | $968 – $1,511 | 1,204 miles | 2 – 8 days |
Shipping an SUV or truck from Illinois to Maine
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 Maine you should expect to pay between $1,233 and $1,979.
Factors that affect car shipping costs from IL to ME
When transporting your vehicle from the Land of Lincoln to the Pine Tree 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 Maine.
- Distance and route: The journey from Illinois to Maine spans approximately 1,343 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 Maine 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 Maine should take between three and eight days. Expedited services are available but come at a higher cost.
Maine vehicle regulations you need to know
- Car insurance requirements: In Maine, drivers must carry a minimum liability coverage of 50/100/25, requiring $50,000 for bodily injury per person, $100,000 for all injuries per accident, and $25,000 for property damage, as per car insurance laws.
- Vehicle inspection: The State of Maine requires annual safety inspections for all vehicles used on public roads to ensure they are in proper working condition and safe to operate. Safety inspections in Maine can be carried out at any official service station of the Maine Department of Transportation.
- Driver’s license: New residents of Maine are required to obtain a new state license within 30 days of establishing residency. If you are moving to Maine and possess a valid or recently expired (within the past 5 years) out-of-state driver's license from another US state, you can obtain a Class C license, including a REAL ID license, by visiting a Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles office.
- Additional taxes: Maine requires registered car owners to pay an annual excise tax for motor vehicles, trailers, mobile homes, and stock vehicles. This tax is calculated by multiplying the current Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of the vehicle by the mileage rate.
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 Maine
About 22 million people are living in the Pine Tree State. Maine has a humid continental climate. with warm and sometimes humid summers, and long, cold and very snowy winters. Winters are especially severe in the Northern and Western parts of Maine, while coastal areas are moderated slightly by the Atlantic Ocean, resulting in marginally milder winters and cooler summers than inland regions.
FAQ
Does someone have to be present when you ship a car for pickup in Illinois and delivery in Maine?
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 Maine.
Do you need car insurance when shipping your car from Illinois to Maine?
If you’re not driving the vehicle from Illinois to Maine, you aren't required to have typical car insurance. Your car hauler should have adequate insurance if an accident happened on the drive to Maine, 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.
In Maine, drivers must carry a minimum liability coverage of 50/100/25, requiring $50,000 for bodily injury per person, $100,000 for all injuries per accident, and $25,000 for property damage, as per car insurance laws.
How long does it take to ship a car from Illinois to Maine?
Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from Illinois to Maine is about 1,343 miles, and that’s as fast as about 3 days. However, most car transport companies will take three to eight days to travel from Illinois to Maine.
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.
The State of Maine requires annual safety inspections for all vehicles used on public roads to ensure they are in proper working condition and safe to operate. Safety inspections in Maine can be carried out at any official service station of the Maine Department of Transportation.
If I have a driver’s license in Illinois, will I need one in Maine?
New residents of Maine are required to obtain a new state license within 30 days of establishing residency. If you are moving to Maine and possess a valid or recently expired (within the past 5 years) out-of-state driver's license from another US state, you can obtain a Class C license, including a REAL ID license, by visiting a Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles office.
If I bought a car in Illinois, will I be required to pay sales tax in Maine after shipping it there?
It’s important to understand any tax implications if you’re having a car shipped from Illinois to Maine after purchasing it.
Maine requires registered car owners to pay an annual excise tax for motor vehicles, trailers, mobile homes, and stock vehicles. This tax is calculated by multiplying the current Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of the vehicle by the mileage rate.
We recommend that you always check for updated tax information in both Illinois and Maine to avoid any hidden costs.
What is the cheapest way to ship a car from Illinois to Maine?
The cheapest way to ship a car from Illinois to Maine 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 Maine?
Shipping a car from Illinois to Maine costs $986 to $1,583.
