Illinois to Tennessee Car Shipping (2024 Cost Guide)
Fact Checked by: Quick answer: The average cost to ship a car 503 miles from Illinois to Tennessee ranges from $659 to $878 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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Shipping a car the reverse route? We’ve got you covered with our Tennessee to Illinois car shipping guide.
The best Illinois to Tennessee car shipping companies
We’ve done the research and these are the best car shipping companies to help transport your vehicle from Illinois to Tennessee:
- 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 Tennessee
- Drive it yourself. This is straightforward but not always an option, and it will put about 503 miles on your car going from Illinois to Tennessee. 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 Tennessee, 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 Tennessee 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 TN 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 Tennessee. The average travel distance is about 503 miles, with shipping times typically ranging from one to six days .
Cost to ship a car from Chicago, IL to Tennessee
| From Illinois to Tennessee | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago, IL to Nashville, TN | $663 – $900 | 471 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Chicago, IL to Memphis, TN | $665 – $910 | 533 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Chicago, IL to Clarksville, TN | $618 – $900 | 464 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Chicago, IL to Knoxville, TN | $679 – $985 | 541 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Chicago, IL to Chattanooga, TN | $738 – $1,079 | 601 miles | 1 – 6 days |
Cost to ship a car from Aurora, IL to Tennessee
| From Illinois to Tennessee | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aurora, IL to Nashville, TN | $626 – $878 | 505 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Aurora, IL to Memphis, TN | $690 – $930 | 556 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Aurora, IL to Clarksville, TN | $623 – $874 | 487 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Aurora, IL to Knoxville, TN | $725 – $979 | 574 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Aurora, IL to Chattanooga, TN | $768 – $1,097 | 634 miles | 1 – 6 days |
Cost to ship a car from Joliet, IL to Tennessee
| From Illinois to Tennessee | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joliet, IL to Nashville, TN | $623 – $936 | 478 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Joliet, IL to Memphis, TN | $665 – $887 | 511 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Joliet, IL to Clarksville, TN | $635 – $811 | 442 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Joliet, IL to Knoxville, TN | $699 – $900 | 547 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Joliet, IL to Chattanooga, TN | $738 – $1,017 | 608 miles | 1 – 6 days |
Cost to ship a car from Naperville, IL to Tennessee
| From Illinois to Tennessee | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Naperville, IL to Nashville, TN | $630 – $936 | 491 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Naperville, IL to Memphis, TN | $651 – $966 | 541 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Naperville, IL to Clarksville, TN | $605 – $909 | 472 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Naperville, IL to Knoxville, TN | $711 – $969 | 560 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Naperville, IL to Chattanooga, TN | $694 – $1,027 | 620 miles | 1 – 6 days |
Cost to ship a car from Rockford, IL to Tennessee
| From Illinois to Tennessee | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rockford, IL to Nashville, TN | $676 – $930 | 556 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Rockford, IL to Memphis, TN | $679 – $999 | 576 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Rockford, IL to Clarksville, TN | $626 – $906 | 511 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Rockford, IL to Knoxville, TN | $776 – $1,055 | 629 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Rockford, IL to Chattanooga, TN | $811 – $1,084 | 685 miles | 1 – 6 days |
Shipping an SUV or truck from Illinois to Tennessee
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 Tennessee you should expect to pay between $824 and $1,098.
Factors that affect car shipping costs from IL to TN
When transporting your vehicle from the Land of Lincoln to the Volunteer 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 Tennessee.
- Distance and route: The journey from Illinois to Tennessee spans approximately 503 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 Tennessee 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 Tennessee should take between one and six days. Expedited services are available but come at a higher cost.
Tennessee vehicle regulations you need to know
- Car insurance requirements: Tennessee drivers need to fulfill liability insurance criteria of 25/50/15 ($25,000 for individual bodily injury, $50,000 for total bodily injury per accident, and $15,000 for property damage per accident). Valid proof of insurance is crucial for registration and may be requested by law enforcement during traffic stops. Motorists have the flexibility to choose additional coverage for an added layer of vehicle protection.
- Vehicle inspection: In Tennessee, vehicles must pass annual safety and emissions inspection. Cost is around $15 and more information can be found at Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security's website.
- Driver’s license: To obtain a driver's license in Tennessee, individuals must be at least 15 years old (with a Learner's Permit) or 16 years old (with a regular driver's license), pass written, vision and driving tests, provide proof of identity, residency, legal presence, and social security number, pass a medical examination if required, pay the required fee, Hold the Learner's Permit for at least 180 days before taking the skills test for the driver's license and comply with the graduated licensing system restrictions for the first 6 months.
- Additional taxes: When moving to Tennessee, you will be required to pay state income tax and property tax. The state income tax rate in Tennessee is a flat rate of 3%. Property taxes in Tennessee are determined by the county in which the property is located, and can vary widely depending on the area. Additionally, sales tax in Tennessee is 7%, but varies depending on the local area. Some cities and counties in Tennessee also have additional local sales taxes.
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 Tennessee
About 22 million people are living in the Volunteer State. Most of Tennessee has hot and humid summers and cool to mild winters, with the exception of some of the higher elevations in the Appalachians, which has mild summers and cool winters. The state averages about 15 tornadoes a year.
FAQ
Does someone have to be present when you ship a car for pickup in Illinois and delivery in Tennessee?
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 Tennessee.
Do you need car insurance when shipping your car from Illinois to Tennessee?
If you’re not driving the vehicle from Illinois to Tennessee, you aren't required to have typical car insurance. Your car hauler should have adequate insurance if an accident happened on the drive to Tennessee, 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.
Tennessee drivers need to fulfill liability insurance criteria of 25/50/15 ($25,000 for individual bodily injury, $50,000 for total bodily injury per accident, and $15,000 for property damage per accident). Valid proof of insurance is crucial for registration and may be requested by law enforcement during traffic stops. Motorists have the flexibility to choose additional coverage for an added layer of vehicle protection.
How long does it take to ship a car from Illinois to Tennessee?
Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from Illinois to Tennessee is about 503 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 Tennessee.
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.
In Tennessee, vehicles must pass annual safety and emissions inspection. Cost is around $15 and more information can be found at Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security's website.
If I have a driver’s license in Illinois, will I need one in Tennessee?
To obtain a driver's license in Tennessee, individuals must be at least 15 years old (with a Learner's Permit) or 16 years old (with a regular driver's license), pass written, vision and driving tests, provide proof of identity, residency, legal presence, and social security number, pass a medical examination if required, pay the required fee, Hold the Learner's Permit for at least 180 days before taking the skills test for the driver's license and comply with the graduated licensing system restrictions for the first 6 months.
If I bought a car in Illinois, will I be required to pay sales tax in Tennessee after shipping it there?
It’s important to understand any tax implications if you’re having a car shipped from Illinois to Tennessee after purchasing it.
When moving to Tennessee, you will be required to pay state income tax and property tax. The state income tax rate in Tennessee is a flat rate of 3%. Property taxes in Tennessee are determined by the county in which the property is located, and can vary widely depending on the area. Additionally, sales tax in Tennessee is 7%, but varies depending on the local area. Some cities and counties in Tennessee also have additional local sales taxes.
We recommend that you always check for updated tax information in both Illinois and Tennessee to avoid any hidden costs.
What is the cheapest way to ship a car from Illinois to Tennessee?
The cheapest way to ship a car from Illinois to Tennessee 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 Tennessee?
Shipping a car from Illinois to Tennessee costs $659 to $878.
