Indiana to Kentucky Car Shipping (2024 Cost Guide)

Quick answer: The average cost to ship a car 259 miles from Indiana to Kentucky ranges from $443 to $592 and takes one–four 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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  • Services all 50 states
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Shipping a car the reverse route? We’ve got you covered with our Kentucky to Indiana car shipping guide.

The best Indiana to Kentucky car shipping companies

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

Best for accurate pricing
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moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.5 / 5
Check prices (833) 775-1461
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  • 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
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  • 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 discounts
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moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.3 / 5
Check prices (770) 501-9057
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  • 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
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  • 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
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

Alternative ways to ship your car from Indiana to Kentucky

  • Drive it yourself. This is straightforward but not always an option, and it will put about 259 miles on your car going from Indiana to Kentucky. 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 Indiana for a move to Kentucky, 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 Indiana to Kentucky 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!

IN to KY auto transport costs and transit times

The tables below detail the costs and estimated transit times for shipping a car between popular cities in Indiana and Kentucky. The average travel distance is about 259 miles, with shipping times typically ranging from one to four days .

Cost to ship a car from Indianapolis, IN to Kentucky

From Indiana to Kentucky Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Indianapolis, IN to Louisville, KY $357 – $500 115 miles 1 – 4 days
Indianapolis, IN to Lexington, KY $405 – $542 189 miles 1 – 4 days
Indianapolis, IN to Bowling Green, KY $466 – $569 235 miles 1 – 4 days
Indianapolis, IN to Owensboro, KY $454 – $551 198 miles 1 – 4 days
Indianapolis, IN to Covington, KY $350 – $525 114 miles 1 – 4 days

Cost to ship a car from Fort Wayne, IN to Kentucky

From Indiana to Kentucky Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Fort Wayne, IN to Louisville, KY $466 – $599 235 miles 1 – 4 days
Fort Wayne, IN to Lexington, KY $443 – $592 260 miles 1 – 4 days
Fort Wayne, IN to Bowling Green, KY $552 – $778 356 miles 1 – 4 days
Fort Wayne, IN to Owensboro, KY $502 – $658 319 miles 1 – 4 days
Fort Wayne, IN to Covington, KY $426 – $570 181 miles 1 – 4 days

Cost to ship a car from Evansville, IN to Kentucky

From Indiana to Kentucky Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Evansville, IN to Louisville, KY $347 – $495 119 miles 1 – 4 days
Evansville, IN to Lexington, KY $424 – $546 196 miles 1 – 4 days
Evansville, IN to Bowling Green, KY $325 – $493 107 miles 1 – 4 days
Evansville, IN to Owensboro, KY $207 – $357 40 miles 1 – 4 days
Evansville, IN to Covington, KY $473 – $563 216 miles 1 – 4 days

Cost to ship a car from South Bend, IN to Kentucky

From Indiana to Kentucky Cost Distance Estimated transit time
South Bend, IN to Louisville, KY $470 – $641 257 miles 1 – 4 days
South Bend, IN to Lexington, KY $513 – $752 326 miles 1 – 4 days
South Bend, IN to Bowling Green, KY $551 – $809 377 miles 1 – 4 days
South Bend, IN to Owensboro, KY $539 – $737 340 miles 1 – 4 days
South Bend, IN to Covington, KY $437 – $611 247 miles 1 – 4 days

Cost to ship a car from Carmel, IN to Kentucky

From Indiana to Kentucky Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Carmel, IN to Louisville, KY $370 – $531 133 miles 1 – 4 days
Carmel, IN to Lexington, KY $438 – $581 202 miles 1 – 4 days
Carmel, IN to Bowling Green, KY $465 – $634 253 miles 1 – 4 days
Carmel, IN to Owensboro, KY $451 – $587 216 miles 1 – 4 days
Carmel, IN to Covington, KY $362 – $505 123 miles 1 – 4 days

Shipping an SUV or truck from Indiana to Kentucky

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 Indiana to Kentucky you should expect to pay between $554 and $740.

Factors that affect car shipping costs from IN to KY

When transporting your vehicle from the Hoosier State to the Bluegrass 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 Kentucky.
  • Distance and route: The journey from Indiana to Kentucky spans approximately 259 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 Indiana, 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 Indiana and Kentucky 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 Indiana to Kentucky should take between one and four days. Expedited services are available but come at a higher cost.

Kentucky vehicle regulations you need to know

  • Car insurance requirements: The insurance coverage includes Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability with limits of $25,000 per person/$50,000 per accident and $25,000 respectively; Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist coverage (not required); Personal Injury Protection with a limit of $10,000; and optional Collision and Comprehensive coverage for vehicle repair or replacement expenses, with no requirement.
  • Vehicle inspection: When moving to Kentucky from another state, a one-time Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) inspection is required. To complete the VIN inspection, bring the vehicle and its title to the Sheriff's office in the county where the car will be registered.
  • Driver’s license: New residents in Kentucky have a 30-day time frame to obtain a Kentucky driver's license.
  • Additional taxes: In Kentucky, a 6% motor vehicle usage tax is imposed on the retail price of vehicles registered for the first time in the state.

Learn more with our car shipping checklist.

Transporting your vehicle from Indiana

More than 39 million people call Indiana home. Nicknamed the Hoosier State, In the past, most of Indiana had cold winters and hot, wet summers. Only the very bottom of the state had a different climate with more rain. But in 2016, about half of Indiana now has that rainier climate. The temperatures are different in the northern and southern parts of the state.

Transporting your vehicle to Kentucky

About 22 million people are living in the Bluegrass State. Kentucky has relatively hot, humid, rainy summers, and moderately cold and rainy winters. Kansas rarely experiences the extremes cold of the northern states nor the heat of the state in the Deep South.

FAQ

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

Most companies will require that an adult of at least 18 years of age be present when picking up your car in Indiana and when dropping it off in Kentucky.

Do you need car insurance when shipping your car from Indiana to Kentucky?

If you’re not driving the vehicle from Indiana to Kentucky, you aren't required to have typical car insurance. Your car hauler should have adequate insurance if an accident happened on the drive to Kentucky, which you should verify before loading your car in Indiana.

If you’re driving your car at all in either state, you should understand the requirements. Indiana's minimum auto insurance coverage is $25,000/$50,000/$10,000, providing $25,000 per person and a maximum of $50,000 per incident for bodily injury, along with $10,000 for property damage in the event of a covered accident. Liability coverage in Indiana includes property damage, protecting your assets in case you're legally responsible for damages to another party's property, and bodily injury, covering expenses related to harm sustained by others in a covered accident.

The insurance coverage includes Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability with limits of $25,000 per person/$50,000 per accident and $25,000 respectively; Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist coverage (not required); Personal Injury Protection with a limit of $10,000; and optional Collision and Comprehensive coverage for vehicle repair or replacement expenses, with no requirement.

How long does it take to ship a car from Indiana to Kentucky?

Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from Indiana to Kentucky is about 259 miles, and that’s as fast as about 1 day. However, most car transport companies will take one to four days to travel from Indiana to Kentucky.

Will I be required to have a vehicle inspection in either state?

Indiana does not mandate safety inspections for vehicles. However, the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles requires a VIN inspection for vehicles not previously registered in the state.

When moving to Kentucky from another state, a one-time Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) inspection is required. To complete the VIN inspection, bring the vehicle and its title to the Sheriff's office in the county where the car will be registered.

If I have a driver’s license in Indiana, will I need one in Kentucky?

New residents in Kentucky have a 30-day time frame to obtain a Kentucky driver's license.

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

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

In Kentucky, a 6% motor vehicle usage tax is imposed on the retail price of vehicles registered for the first time in the state.

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

What is the cheapest way to ship a car from Indiana to Kentucky?

The cheapest way to ship a car from Indiana to Kentucky 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 Indiana to Kentucky?

Shipping a car from Indiana to Kentucky costs $443 to $592.

Helpful Indiana resources