Illinois to Pennsylvania Car Shipping (2024 Cost Guide)

Quick answer: The average cost to ship a car 734 miles from Illinois to Pennsylvania ranges from $778 to $1,106 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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  • Price lock promise
  • Free car wash
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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 Pennsylvania to Illinois car shipping guide.

The best Illinois to Pennsylvania car shipping companies

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

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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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
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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
read our full review
Check prices (770) 501-9057
Best for overall value
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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
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Check prices (864) 492-1221

Alternative ways to ship your car from Illinois to Pennsylvania

  • Drive it yourself. This is straightforward but not always an option, and it will put about 734 miles on your car going from Illinois to Pennsylvania. 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 Pennsylvania, 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 Pennsylvania 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 PA 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 Pennsylvania. The average travel distance is about 734 miles, with shipping times typically ranging from one to six days .

Cost to ship a car from Chicago, IL to Pennsylvania

From Illinois to Pennsylvania Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Chicago, IL to Philadelphia, PA $835 – $1,126 759 miles 2 – 7 days
Chicago, IL to Pittsburgh , PA $624 – $900 461 miles 1 – 4 days
Chicago, IL to Erie, PA $629 – $888 447 miles 1 – 4 days
Chicago, IL to Allentown, PA $833 – $1,140 730 miles 1 – 6 days
Chicago, IL to Reading, PA $745 – $1,129 716 miles 1 – 6 days

Cost to ship a car from Aurora, IL to Pennsylvania

From Illinois to Pennsylvania Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Aurora, IL to Philadelphia, PA $786 – $1,169 797 miles 2 – 7 days
Aurora, IL to Pittsburgh , PA $617 – $918 498 miles 1 – 4 days
Aurora, IL to Erie, PA $682 – $856 484 miles 1 – 4 days
Aurora, IL to Allentown, PA $795 – $1,161 768 miles 2 – 7 days
Aurora, IL to Reading, PA $835 – $1,126 754 miles 2 – 7 days

Cost to ship a car from Joliet, IL to Pennsylvania

From Illinois to Pennsylvania Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Joliet, IL to Philadelphia, PA $843 – $1,185 771 miles 2 – 7 days
Joliet, IL to Pittsburgh , PA $656 – $865 472 miles 1 – 4 days
Joliet, IL to Erie, PA $663 – $848 458 miles 1 – 4 days
Joliet, IL to Allentown, PA $762 – $1,198 741 miles 1 – 6 days
Joliet, IL to Reading, PA $802 – $1,163 728 miles 1 – 6 days

Cost to ship a car from Naperville, IL to Pennsylvania

From Illinois to Pennsylvania Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Naperville, IL to Philadelphia, PA $802 – $1,181 784 miles 2 – 7 days
Naperville, IL to Pittsburgh , PA $662 – $936 487 miles 1 – 4 days
Naperville, IL to Erie, PA $637 – $874 472 miles 1 – 4 days
Naperville, IL to Allentown, PA $795 – $1,173 756 miles 2 – 7 days
Naperville, IL to Reading, PA $810 – $1,094 741 miles 1 – 6 days

Cost to ship a car from Rockford, IL to Pennsylvania

From Illinois to Pennsylvania Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Rockford, IL to Philadelphia, PA $801 – $1,308 851 miles 2 – 7 days
Rockford, IL to Pittsburgh , PA $711 – $998 554 miles 1 – 6 days
Rockford, IL to Erie, PA $679 – $910 539 miles 1 – 6 days
Rockford, IL to Allentown, PA $849 – $1,151 823 miles 2 – 7 days
Rockford, IL to Reading, PA $784 – $1,248 808 miles 2 – 7 days

Shipping an SUV or truck from Illinois to Pennsylvania

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 Pennsylvania you should expect to pay between $973 and $1,383.

Factors that affect car shipping costs from IL to PA

When transporting your vehicle from the Land of Lincoln to the Keystone 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 Pennsylvania.
  • Distance and route: The journey from Illinois to Pennsylvania spans approximately 734 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 Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania should take between one and six days. Expedited services are available but come at a higher cost.

Pennsylvania vehicle regulations you need to know

  • Car insurance requirements: When relocating to Pennsylvania, ensure compliance with state regulations by obtaining car insurance with minimum liability coverage: $15,000 for bodily injury per person, $30,000 for total bodily injury per accident, and $5,000 for property damage per accident. Consider enhancing your coverage with options like collision and comprehensive coverage. It's crucial to carry proof of insurance in your vehicle at all times.
  • Vehicle inspection: If you are moving to Pennsylvania and bringing a vehicle with you, you will need to have it inspected within 10 days of establishing residency. This includes safety and emission test. You can find a list of inspection stations on the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation website or by searching for "vehicle inspection near me". It's a good idea to schedule an appointment in advance and bring your vehicle registration and proof of insurance.
  • Driver’s license: When moving to Pennsylvania, you will need to obtain a Pennsylvania driver's license within 60 days of establishing residency. You will need to provide proof of identity, residency, and pass a written test, a vision test and a road test. You may also be required to surrender your out-of-state license.
  • Additional taxes: New residents must apply for PA title and registration of their vehicle within 20 days of moving to PA, and must surrender the out-of-state title to the Bureau of Motor Vehicles when doing so.

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 Pennsylvania

About 22 million people are living in the Keystone State. Pennsylvania experiences cold winters and humid summers. Summers are generally hot and humid. Moving toward the mountainous interior of the state, the winter climate becomes colder, the number of cloudy days increases, and snowfall amounts are greater. Tornadoes occur annually in the state, sometimes in large numbers, such as 30 recorded tornadoes in 2011; generally speaking, these tornadoes do not cause significant damage.

FAQ

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

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 Pennsylvania.

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

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

When relocating to Pennsylvania, ensure compliance with state regulations by obtaining car insurance with minimum liability coverage: $15,000 for bodily injury per person, $30,000 for total bodily injury per accident, and $5,000 for property damage per accident. Consider enhancing your coverage with options like collision and comprehensive coverage. It's crucial to carry proof of insurance in your vehicle at all times.

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

Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from Illinois to Pennsylvania is about 734 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 Pennsylvania.

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 moving to Pennsylvania and bringing a vehicle with you, you will need to have it inspected within 10 days of establishing residency. This includes safety and emission test. You can find a list of inspection stations on the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation website or by searching for "vehicle inspection near me". It's a good idea to schedule an appointment in advance and bring your vehicle registration and proof of insurance.

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

When moving to Pennsylvania, you will need to obtain a Pennsylvania driver's license within 60 days of establishing residency. You will need to provide proof of identity, residency, and pass a written test, a vision test and a road test. You may also be required to surrender your out-of-state license.

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

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

New residents must apply for PA title and registration of their vehicle within 20 days of moving to PA, and must surrender the out-of-state title to the Bureau of Motor Vehicles when doing so.

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

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

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

Shipping a car from Illinois to Pennsylvania costs $778 to $1,106.

Helpful Illinois resources