Illinois to South Carolina Car Shipping (2024 Cost Guide)
Fact Checked by: Quick answer: The average cost to ship a car 830 miles from Illinois to South Carolina ranges from $771 to $1,263 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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Shipping a car the reverse route? We’ve got you covered with our South Carolina to Illinois car shipping guide.
The best Illinois to South Carolina car shipping companies
We’ve done the research and these are the best car shipping companies to help transport your vehicle from Illinois to South Carolina:
- Best for accurate pricing: Sherpa Auto Transport
- Best cross-country shipper: Montway Auto Transport
- Best for discounts: AmeriFreight Car Transport
- Best for overall value: SGT Auto Transport
- Best for quick pickup: Easy Auto Ship
- 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
- 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
- No upfront deposit
- Expedited shipping
- No hidden fees
- Ships motorcycles & RVs
- Discount for cash payments
Alternative ways to ship your car from Illinois to South Carolina
- Drive it yourself. This is straightforward but not always an option, and it will put about 830 miles on your car going from Illinois to South Carolina. 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 South Carolina, 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 South Carolina 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 SC 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 South Carolina. The average travel distance is about 830 miles, with shipping times typically ranging from two to seven days .
Cost to ship a car from Chicago, IL to South Carolina
| From Illinois to South Carolina | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago, IL to Charleston, SC | $779 – $1,247 | 912 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Chicago, IL to Columbia, SC | $783 – $1,257 | 802 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Chicago, IL to North Charleston, SC | $853 – $1,196 | 905 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Chicago, IL to Mount Pleasant, SC | $861 – $1,234 | 915 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Chicago, IL to Rock Hill, SC | $777 – $1,120 | 779 miles | 2 – 7 days |
Cost to ship a car from Aurora, IL to South Carolina
| From Illinois to South Carolina | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aurora, IL to Charleston, SC | $779 – $1,284 | 945 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Aurora, IL to Columbia, SC | $812 – $1,239 | 836 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Aurora, IL to North Charleston, SC | $820 – $1,322 | 938 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Aurora, IL to Mount Pleasant, SC | $861 – $1,233 | 948 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Aurora, IL to Rock Hill, SC | $815 – $1,185 | 813 miles | 2 – 7 days |
Cost to ship a car from Joliet, IL to South Carolina
| From Illinois to South Carolina | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joliet, IL to Charleston, SC | $804 – $1,284 | 919 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Joliet, IL to Columbia, SC | $847 – $1,197 | 810 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Joliet, IL to North Charleston, SC | $845 – $1,272 | 912 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Joliet, IL to Mount Pleasant, SC | $787 – $1,196 | 921 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Joliet, IL to Rock Hill, SC | $793 – $1,167 | 787 miles | 2 – 7 days |
Cost to ship a car from Naperville, IL to South Carolina
| From Illinois to South Carolina | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Naperville, IL to Charleston, SC | $861 – $1,221 | 931 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Naperville, IL to Columbia, SC | $847 – $1,173 | 823 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Naperville, IL to North Charleston, SC | $836 – $1,322 | 924 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Naperville, IL to Mount Pleasant, SC | $861 – $1,310 | 934 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Naperville, IL to Rock Hill, SC | $769 – $1,202 | 799 miles | 2 – 7 days |
Cost to ship a car from Rockford, IL to South Carolina
| From Illinois to South Carolina | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rockford, IL to Charleston, SC | $822 – $1,353 | 1,000 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Rockford, IL to Columbia, SC | $778 – $1,233 | 891 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Rockford, IL to North Charleston, SC | $776 – $1,228 | 993 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Rockford, IL to Mount Pleasant, SC | $797 – $1,275 | 1,003 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Rockford, IL to Rock Hill, SC | $791 – $1,218 | 868 miles | 2 – 7 days |
Shipping an SUV or truck from Illinois to South Carolina
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 South Carolina you should expect to pay between $964 and $1,579.
Factors that affect car shipping costs from IL to SC
When transporting your vehicle from the Land of Lincoln to the Palmetto 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 South Carolina.
- Distance and route: The journey from Illinois to South Carolina spans approximately 830 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 South Carolina 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 South Carolina should take between two and seven days. Expedited services are available but come at a higher cost.
South Carolina vehicle regulations you need to know
- Car insurance requirements: In South Carolina, it's a legal requirement for every driver to have liability insurance. Adhering to the state's minimum liability limits, commonly referred to as 25/50/25, entails securing coverage of at least $25,000 for bodily injury per person, $50,000 for total bodily injury per accident, and $25,000 for property damage per accident. Stay compliant with these essential insurance standards to drive confidently on South Carolina roads.
- Vehicle inspection: Drivers in South Carolina are not required to get a safety, VIN, or emissions inspection for their vehicle.
- Driver’s license: If you are moving to South Carolina, you will be required to obtain a South Carolina driver's license within 90 days of establishing residency in the state.
- Additional taxes: In South Carolina, there is a sales tax imposed on the purchase of a vehicle. The sales tax rate is 6%, which is collected by the dealer at the time of purchase.
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 South Carolina
About 22 million people are living in the Palmetto State. South Carolina had hot and humid summers and cool to mild winters and coastal areas of the state have very mild winters. While precipitation is abundant the entire year in almost the entire state, the coast tends to have a slightly wetter summer, while inland, the spring and autumn transitions tend to be the wettest periods and winter the driest season, with November being the driest month.
FAQ
Does someone have to be present when you ship a car for pickup in Illinois and delivery in South Carolina?
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 South Carolina.
Do you need car insurance when shipping your car from Illinois to South Carolina?
If you’re not driving the vehicle from Illinois to South Carolina, you aren't required to have typical car insurance. Your car hauler should have adequate insurance if an accident happened on the drive to South Carolina, 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 South Carolina, it's a legal requirement for every driver to have liability insurance. Adhering to the state's minimum liability limits, commonly referred to as 25/50/25, entails securing coverage of at least $25,000 for bodily injury per person, $50,000 for total bodily injury per accident, and $25,000 for property damage per accident. Stay compliant with these essential insurance standards to drive confidently on South Carolina roads.
How long does it take to ship a car from Illinois to South Carolina?
Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from Illinois to South Carolina is about 830 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 South Carolina.
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.
Drivers in South Carolina are not required to get a safety, VIN, or emissions inspection for their vehicle.
If I have a driver’s license in Illinois, will I need one in South Carolina?
If you are moving to South Carolina, you will be required to obtain a South Carolina driver's license within 90 days of establishing residency in the state.
If I bought a car in Illinois, will I be required to pay sales tax in South Carolina after shipping it there?
It’s important to understand any tax implications if you’re having a car shipped from Illinois to South Carolina after purchasing it.
In South Carolina, there is a sales tax imposed on the purchase of a vehicle. The sales tax rate is 6%, which is collected by the dealer at the time of purchase.
We recommend that you always check for updated tax information in both Illinois and South Carolina to avoid any hidden costs.
What is the cheapest way to ship a car from Illinois to South Carolina?
The cheapest way to ship a car from Illinois to South Carolina 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 South Carolina?
Shipping a car from Illinois to South Carolina costs $771 to $1,263.
