Illinois to Minnesota Car Shipping (2024 Cost Guide)

Quick answer: The average cost to ship a car 629 miles from Illinois to Minnesota ranges from $715 to $1,011 and takes one–six 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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  • Established in 2007
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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 Minnesota to Illinois car shipping guide.

The best Illinois to Minnesota car shipping companies

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

Best for accurate pricing
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moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.5 / 5
Check prices (833) 775-1461
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  • 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 Minnesota

  • Drive it yourself. This is straightforward but not always an option, and it will put about 629 miles on your car going from Illinois to Minnesota. 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 Minnesota, 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 Minnesota 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 MN 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 Minnesota. The average travel distance is about 629 miles, with shipping times typically ranging from one to six days .

Cost to ship a car from Chicago, IL to Minnesota

From Illinois to Minnesota Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Chicago, IL to Minneapolis, MN $605 – $828 409 miles 1 – 4 days
Chicago, IL to St. Paul, MN $605 – $820 401 miles 1 – 4 days
Chicago, IL to Rochester, MN $523 – $744 349 miles 1 – 4 days
Chicago, IL to Bloomington, MN $629 – $820 414 miles 1 – 4 days
Chicago, IL to Duluth, MN $623 – $821 468 miles 1 – 4 days

Cost to ship a car from Aurora, IL to Minnesota

From Illinois to Minnesota Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Aurora, IL to Minneapolis, MN $585 – $769 399 miles 1 – 4 days
Aurora, IL to St. Paul, MN $562 – $817 391 miles 1 – 4 days
Aurora, IL to Rochester, MN $529 – $708 339 miles 1 – 4 days
Aurora, IL to Bloomington, MN $575 – $779 404 miles 1 – 4 days
Aurora, IL to Duluth, MN $617 – $907 458 miles 1 – 4 days

Cost to ship a car from Joliet, IL to Minnesota

From Illinois to Minnesota Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Joliet, IL to Minneapolis, MN $615 – $801 431 miles 1 – 4 days
Joliet, IL to St. Paul, MN $605 – $828 423 miles 1 – 4 days
Joliet, IL to Rochester, MN $558 – $740 371 miles 1 – 4 days
Joliet, IL to Bloomington, MN $597 – $835 437 miles 1 – 4 days
Joliet, IL to Duluth, MN $641 – $846 490 miles 1 – 4 days

Cost to ship a car from Naperville, IL to Minnesota

From Illinois to Minnesota Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Naperville, IL to Minneapolis, MN $629 – $812 408 miles 1 – 4 days
Naperville, IL to St. Paul, MN $611 – $853 400 miles 1 – 4 days
Naperville, IL to Rochester, MN $523 – $759 348 miles 1 – 4 days
Naperville, IL to Bloomington, MN $593 – $820 414 miles 1 – 4 days
Naperville, IL to Duluth, MN $598 – $838 467 miles 1 – 4 days

Cost to ship a car from Rockford, IL to Minnesota

From Illinois to Minnesota Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Rockford, IL to Minneapolis, MN $507 – $708 334 miles 1 – 4 days
Rockford, IL to St. Paul, MN $545 – $708 327 miles 1 – 4 days
Rockford, IL to Rochester, MN $465 – $580 274 miles 1 – 4 days
Rockford, IL to Bloomington, MN $518 – $730 340 miles 1 – 4 days
Rockford, IL to Duluth, MN $574 – $753 393 miles 1 – 4 days

Shipping an SUV or truck from Illinois to Minnesota

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 Minnesota you should expect to pay between $894 and $1,264.

Factors that affect car shipping costs from IL to MN

When transporting your vehicle from the Land of Lincoln to the North Star 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 Minnesota.
  • Distance and route: The journey from Illinois to Minnesota spans approximately 629 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 Minnesota 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 Minnesota should take between one and six days. Expedited services are available but come at a higher cost.

Minnesota vehicle regulations you need to know

  • Car insurance requirements: Drivers in Minnesota must maintain a minimum insurance coverage, including $30,000 per person and $60,000 per accident for bodily injury liability, and $10,000 for property damage liability, ensuring financial protection in case of accidents and aligning with state regulations for responsible driving practices.
  • Vehicle inspection: Minnesota does not have a mandate for regular safety inspections on personal vehicles.
  • Driver’s license: In Minnesota, you have a 60-day window after becoming a resident to obtain a Minnesota driver's license or permit. The Minnesota Department of Public Safety Driver and Vehicle Services issues driver’s licenses in the state.
  • Additional taxes: When registering a vehicle in Minnesota, if it has been titled under your name for at least 60 days in another state, you are exempt from paying tax.

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 Minnesota

About 22 million people are living in the North Star State. Minnesota experiences temperature extremes characteristic of its continental climate, with cold winters and hot summers. Minnesota does experience weather such as: rain, snow, blizzards, thunderstorms, hail, derechos, tornadoes, and high-velocity straight-line winds.

FAQ

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

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 Minnesota.

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

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

Drivers in Minnesota must maintain a minimum insurance coverage, including $30,000 per person and $60,000 per accident for bodily injury liability, and $10,000 for property damage liability, ensuring financial protection in case of accidents and aligning with state regulations for responsible driving practices.

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

Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from Illinois to Minnesota is about 629 miles, and that’s as fast as about 2 days. However, most car transport companies will take one to six days to travel from Illinois to Minnesota.

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.

Minnesota does not have a mandate for regular safety inspections on personal vehicles.

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

In Minnesota, you have a 60-day window after becoming a resident to obtain a Minnesota driver's license or permit. The Minnesota Department of Public Safety Driver and Vehicle Services issues driver’s licenses in the state.

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

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

When registering a vehicle in Minnesota, if it has been titled under your name for at least 60 days in another state, you are exempt from paying tax.

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

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

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

Shipping a car from Illinois to Minnesota costs $715 to $1,011.

Helpful Illinois resources