Illinois to New Jersey Car Shipping (2024 Cost Guide)

Quick answer: The average cost to ship a car 897 miles from Illinois to New Jersey ranges from $837 to $1,324 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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  • Established in 2007
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  • No deposit
  • Quick pickup

Shipping a car the reverse route? We’ve got you covered with our New Jersey to Illinois car shipping guide.

The best Illinois to New Jersey car shipping companies

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

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
At A Glance
  • 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 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
Best for discounts
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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
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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
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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Check prices (864) 492-1221

Alternative ways to ship your car from Illinois to New Jersey

  • Drive it yourself. This is straightforward but not always an option, and it will put about 897 miles on your car going from Illinois to New Jersey. 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 New Jersey, 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 New Jersey 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 NJ 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 New Jersey. The average travel distance is about 897 miles, with shipping times typically ranging from two to seven days .

Cost to ship a car from Chicago, IL to New Jersey

From Illinois to New Jersey Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Chicago, IL to Trenton, NJ $770 – $1,253 779 miles 2 – 7 days
Chicago, IL to Newark, NJ $818 – $1,181 780 miles 2 – 7 days
Chicago, IL to Jersey City, NJ $818 – $1,193 788 miles 2 – 7 days
Chicago, IL to Paterson, NJ $843 – $1,217 779 miles 2 – 7 days
Chicago, IL to Elizabeth, NJ $851 – $1,205 789 miles 2 – 7 days

Cost to ship a car from Aurora, IL to New Jersey

From Illinois to New Jersey Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Aurora, IL to Trenton, NJ $817 – $1,200 816 miles 2 – 7 days
Aurora, IL to Newark, NJ $817 – $1,272 818 miles 2 – 7 days
Aurora, IL to Jersey City, NJ $855 – $1,291 825 miles 2 – 7 days
Aurora, IL to Paterson, NJ $792 – $1,272 816 miles 2 – 7 days
Aurora, IL to Elizabeth, NJ $838 – $1,168 826 miles 2 – 7 days

Cost to ship a car from Joliet, IL to New Jersey

From Illinois to New Jersey Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Joliet, IL to Trenton, NJ $843 – $1,217 790 miles 2 – 7 days
Joliet, IL to Newark, NJ $770 – $1,133 792 miles 2 – 7 days
Joliet, IL to Jersey City, NJ $826 – $1,241 799 miles 2 – 7 days
Joliet, IL to Paterson, NJ $835 – $1,217 790 miles 2 – 7 days
Joliet, IL to Elizabeth, NJ $792 – $1,200 800 miles 2 – 7 days

Cost to ship a car from Naperville, IL to New Jersey

From Illinois to New Jersey Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Naperville, IL to Trenton, NJ $792 – $1,272 803 miles 2 – 7 days
Naperville, IL to Newark, NJ $776 – $1,236 804 miles 2 – 7 days
Naperville, IL to Jersey City, NJ $849 – $1,212 812 miles 2 – 7 days
Naperville, IL to Paterson, NJ $784 – $1,200 802 miles 2 – 7 days
Naperville, IL to Elizabeth, NJ $776 – $1,236 812 miles 2 – 7 days

Cost to ship a car from Rockford, IL to New Jersey

From Illinois to New Jersey Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Rockford, IL to Trenton, NJ $817 – $1,295 872 miles 2 – 7 days
Rockford, IL to Newark, NJ $826 – $1,208 873 miles 2 – 7 days
Rockford, IL to Jersey City, NJ $787 – $1,223 880 miles 2 – 7 days
Rockford, IL to Paterson, NJ $817 – $1,233 871 miles 2 – 7 days
Rockford, IL to Elizabeth, NJ $812 – $1,286 881 miles 2 – 7 days

Shipping an SUV or truck from Illinois to New Jersey

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 New Jersey you should expect to pay between $1,046 and $1,655.

Factors that affect car shipping costs from IL to NJ

When transporting your vehicle from the Land of Lincoln to the Garden 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 New Jersey.
  • Distance and route: The journey from Illinois to New Jersey spans approximately 897 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 New Jersey 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 New Jersey should take between two and seven days. Expedited services are available but come at a higher cost.

New Jersey vehicle regulations you need to know

  • Car insurance requirements: In New Jersey, meet the minimum auto insurance requirements: $15,000 per person for bodily injury up to $30,000 per accident and $5,000 for property damage. Stay legally covered and financially secure on the road.
  • Vehicle inspection: If you are planning to reside in New Jersey for a minimum of 6 months, it is mandatory to transfer the title of your vehicle, register it, and obtain a driver's license from the state. As a new resident, you have 60 days from the date of establishing your residency to register your vehicle. It is important to note that before registering your vehicle, you are required to have liability insurance coverage as per the New Jersey state laws.
  • Driver’s license: As per the state laws of New Jersey, new residents are expected to transfer their driver's license and register their vehicles within 60 days of arriving in the state. However, during public health crises, this time frame may be extended to 120 days. It is important to note that there won't be any reminders for this, so it's recommended to keep a record of the date of your arrival in the state.
  • Additional taxes: New Jersey law requires residents to transfer their vehicle title and registration within 60 days of moving to the state. The transfer title fee is $60 for standard vehicle, $85 for financed vehicle with one lien, $110 for financed vehicle with two liens and registration fee and tax may apply unless you are eligible for a sales tax exemption.

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 New Jersey

About 22 million people are living in the Garden State. New Jersey summers are typically hot and humid and winters are usually cold. During winter and early spring, New Jersey can experience "nor'easters", which are capable of causing blizzards or flooding throughout the northeastern United States.

FAQ

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

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 New Jersey.

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

If you’re not driving the vehicle from Illinois to New Jersey, you aren't required to have typical car insurance. Your car hauler should have adequate insurance if an accident happened on the drive to New Jersey, 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 New Jersey, meet the minimum auto insurance requirements: $15,000 per person for bodily injury up to $30,000 per accident and $5,000 for property damage. Stay legally covered and financially secure on the road.

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

Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from Illinois to New Jersey is about 897 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 New Jersey.

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 are planning to reside in New Jersey for a minimum of 6 months, it is mandatory to transfer the title of your vehicle, register it, and obtain a driver's license from the state. As a new resident, you have 60 days from the date of establishing your residency to register your vehicle. It is important to note that before registering your vehicle, you are required to have liability insurance coverage as per the New Jersey state laws.

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

As per the state laws of New Jersey, new residents are expected to transfer their driver's license and register their vehicles within 60 days of arriving in the state. However, during public health crises, this time frame may be extended to 120 days. It is important to note that there won't be any reminders for this, so it's recommended to keep a record of the date of your arrival in the state.

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

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

New Jersey law requires residents to transfer their vehicle title and registration within 60 days of moving to the state. The transfer title fee is $60 for standard vehicle, $85 for financed vehicle with one lien, $110 for financed vehicle with two liens and registration fee and tax may apply unless you are eligible for a sales tax exemption.

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

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

The cheapest way to ship a car from Illinois to New Jersey 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 New Jersey?

Shipping a car from Illinois to New Jersey costs $837 to $1,324.

Helpful Illinois resources