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 $760 to $1,100 and takes 1–6 days depending on factors like the transport type and season. For a more detailed quote, use our car shipping cost calculator.
Shipping a car the reverse route? We’ve got you covered with our Tennessee to Illinois car shipping guide.
Illinois to Tennessee auto transport costs and transit times
The table below details 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 1 to 6 days.
Cost to ship a car from Chicago, IL to Tennessee
| From Illinois to Tennessee | Distance | Cost | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago, IL to Nashville, TN | 471 miles | $797–$1,030 | 1–4 days |
| Rockford, IL to Memphis, TN | 533 miles | $857–$1,116 | 1–6 days |
| Springfield, IL to Clarksville, TN | 401 miles | $714–$1,008 | 1–4 days |
| Peoria, IL to Knoxville, TN | 541 miles | $800–$1,161 | 1–6 days |
| Round Lake Beach, IL to Chattanooga, TN | 601 miles | $861–$1,248 | 1–6 days |
Cost to ship a car from Rockford, IL to Tennessee
| From Illinois to Tennessee | Distance | Cost | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago, IL to Nashville, TN | 555 miles | $855–$1,153 | 1–6 days |
| Rockford, IL to Memphis, TN | 576 miles | $825–$1,213 | 1–6 days |
| Springfield, IL to Clarksville, TN | 515 miles | $808–$1,045 | 1–6 days |
| Peoria, IL to Knoxville, TN | 626 miles | $915–$1,268 | 1–6 days |
| Round Lake Beach, IL to Chattanooga, TN | 685 miles | $882–$1,383 | 1–6 days |
Cost to ship a car from Springfield, IL to Tennessee
| From Illinois to Tennessee | Distance | Cost | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago, IL to Nashville, TN | 372 miles | $672–$882 | 1–4 days |
| Rockford, IL to Memphis, TN | 378 miles | $677–$936 | 1–4 days |
| Springfield, IL to Clarksville, TN | 332 miles | $669–$914 | 1–4 days |
| Peoria, IL to Knoxville, TN | 549 miles | $816–$1,128 | 1–6 days |
| Round Lake Beach, IL to Chattanooga, TN | 502 miles | $768–$1,078 | 1–6 days |
Cost to ship a car from Peoria, IL to Tennessee
| From Illinois to Tennessee | Distance | Cost | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago, IL to Nashville, TN | 444 miles | $786–$1,006 | 1–4 days |
| Rockford, IL to Memphis, TN | 450 miles | $804–$1,093 | 1–4 days |
| Springfield, IL to Clarksville, TN | 405 miles | $728–$968 | 1–4 days |
| Peoria, IL to Knoxville, TN | 567 miles | $872–$1,142 | 1–6 days |
| Round Lake Beach, IL to Chattanooga, TN | 574 miles | $847–$1,212 | 1–6 days |
Cost to ship a car from Round Lake Beach, IL to Tennessee
| From Illinois to Tennessee | Distance | Cost | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago, IL to Nashville, TN | 526 miles | $783–$1,083 | 1–6 days |
| Rockford, IL to Memphis, TN | 582 miles | $868–$1,141 | 1–6 days |
| Springfield, IL to Clarksville, TN | 516 miles | $824–$1,034 | 1–6 days |
| Peoria, IL to Knoxville, TN | 596 miles | $877–$1,141 | 1–6 days |
| Round Lake Beach, IL to Chattanooga, TN | 656 miles | $914–$1,235 | 1–6 days |
Shipping an SUV or truck from Illinois to Tennessee
Since vehicles like SUV, 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 $950 and $1,375.
Factors that affect the price of shipping a car from Illinois to Tennessee
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 1 and 6 days. Expedited services are available but come at a higher cost.
The best Illinois to Tennessee car shipping companies
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We’ve done the research and these are the best car shipping companies to help transport your vehicle from Illinois to Tennessee:
- Best for Overall Value: SGT Auto Transport
- Best for Quick Pick Up: Easy Auto Ship
- Best Insurance Coverage: Ship A Car Direct
- Best for accurate pricing: Sherpa Auto Transport
- Best Cross Country: Montway Auto Transport
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 hire a moving company, they also work with reputable car shippers. Otherwise, there may be the option of even shipping your car with your household belongings!
- 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!
What else should you know about shipping a car from Illinois to Tennessee?
- 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
Over 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 of Tennessee. 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 picking up my car in Illinois and when dropping off my car in Tennessee?
Most companies will require someone that is at least 18 years old to 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.
If you’re driving your car at all in either state, you should understand the 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.
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 1-6 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.
