Indiana to Montana Car Shipping (2024 Cost Guide)

Quick answer: The average cost to ship a car 1,500 miles from Indiana to Montana ranges from $1,095 to $1,630 and takes three–nine 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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  • No deposit
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Shipping a car the reverse route? We’ve got you covered with our Montana to Indiana car shipping guide.

The best Indiana to Montana car shipping companies

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

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 quick pickup
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moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.9 / 5
Check prices (888) 259-6046
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  • 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
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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
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 Indiana to Montana

  • Drive it yourself. This is straightforward but not always an option, and it will put about 1,500 miles on your car going from Indiana to Montana. 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 Montana, 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 Montana 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 MT 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 Montana. The average travel distance is about 1,500 miles, with shipping times typically ranging from three to nine days .

Cost to ship a car from Indianapolis, IN to Montana

From Indiana to Montana Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Indianapolis, IN to Billings, MT $1,040 – $1,549 1,430 miles 3 – 8 days
Indianapolis, IN to Missoula, MT $1,278 – $1,747 1,772 miles 3 – 11 days
Indianapolis, IN to Great Falls, MT $1,118 – $1,581 1,559 miles 3 – 9 days
Indianapolis, IN to Bozeman, MT $1,210 – $1,712 1,571 miles 3 – 9 days
Indianapolis, IN to Butte, MT $1,199 – $1,725 1,655 miles 3 – 9 days

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

From Indiana to Montana Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Fort Wayne, IN to Billings, MT $1,051 – $1,581 1,407 miles 3 – 8 days
Fort Wayne, IN to Missoula, MT $1,179 – $1,801 1,749 miles 3 – 9 days
Fort Wayne, IN to Great Falls, MT $1,106 – $1,564 1,535 miles 3 – 9 days
Fort Wayne, IN to Bozeman, MT $1,176 – $1,564 1,547 miles 3 – 9 days
Fort Wayne, IN to Butte, MT $1,259 – $1,674 1,631 miles 3 – 9 days

Cost to ship a car from Evansville, IN to Montana

From Indiana to Montana Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Evansville, IN to Billings, MT $1,095 – $1,565 1,432 miles 3 – 8 days
Evansville, IN to Missoula, MT $1,278 – $1,891 1,773 miles 3 – 11 days
Evansville, IN to Great Falls, MT $1,139 – $1,691 1,648 miles 3 – 9 days
Evansville, IN to Bozeman, MT $1,106 – $1,597 1,572 miles 3 – 9 days
Evansville, IN to Butte, MT $1,151 – $1,691 1,656 miles 3 – 9 days

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

From Indiana to Montana Cost Distance Estimated transit time
South Bend, IN to Billings, MT $997 – $1,567 1,341 miles 3 – 8 days
South Bend, IN to Missoula, MT $1,223 – $1,794 1,683 miles 3 – 9 days
South Bend, IN to Great Falls, MT $1,117 – $1,549 1,470 miles 3 – 8 days
South Bend, IN to Bozeman, MT $1,128 – $1,533 1,481 miles 3 – 8 days
South Bend, IN to Butte, MT $1,164 – $1,679 1,565 miles 3 – 9 days

Cost to ship a car from Carmel, IN to Montana

From Indiana to Montana Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Carmel, IN to Billings, MT $1,051 – $1,581 1,430 miles 3 – 8 days
Carmel, IN to Missoula, MT $1,253 – $1,747 1,772 miles 3 – 11 days
Carmel, IN to Great Falls, MT $1,141 – $1,581 1,559 miles 3 – 9 days
Carmel, IN to Bozeman, MT $1,164 – $1,729 1,571 miles 3 – 9 days
Carmel, IN to Butte, MT $1,223 – $1,725 1,655 miles 3 – 9 days

Shipping an SUV or truck from Indiana to Montana

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 Montana you should expect to pay between $1,369 and $2,038.

Factors that affect car shipping costs from IN to MT

When transporting your vehicle from the Hoosier State to the Big Sky Country, 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 Montana.
  • Distance and route: The journey from Indiana to Montana spans approximately 1,500 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 Montana 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 Montana should take between three and nine days. Expedited services are available but come at a higher cost.

Montana vehicle regulations you need to know

  • Car insurance requirements: In Montana, drivers must meet legal requirements for minimum car insurance liability coverage to ensure financial responsibility in accidents. Mandated by state regulations, this includes $25,000 per person for bodily injury and $50,000 per accident for bodily injury, covering collective medical expenses in case of multiple injuries, capped at $50,000 for the entire incident. Additionally, there's a required minimum of $20,000 per accident for property damage, crucial for addressing costs related to damage to another party's vehicle or property. Adhering to these insurance requirements is imperative for all motorists, ensuring compliance with state laws and contributing to a secure and responsible driving environment on Montana roadways.
  • Vehicle inspection: If you are moving to Montana, you are not required to have your vehicle inspected.
  • Driver’s license: New residents in Montana must start their driver’s license application process within 60 days of moving to the state.
  • Additional taxes: In Montana, there is no state-level sales tax on vehicles, however, local governments in Montana may impose their own taxes and fees on vehicles.

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 Montana

About 22 million people are living in the Big Sky Country. Montana has a lot of variation in geography, topography, and elevation, and the climate is equally varied. The western half is mountainous, interrupted by numerous large valleys. Eastern Montana comprises plains and badlands, broken by hills and isolated mountain ranges, The Continental Divide has a considerable effect on the climate, as it restricts the flow of warmer air from the Pacific from moving east, and drier continental air from moving west. The area west of the divide has a modified northern Pacific Coast climate, with milder winters, cooler summers, less wind, and a longer growing season. Low clouds and fog often form in the valleys west of the divide in winter, but this is rarely seen in the east.

FAQ

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

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 Montana.

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

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

In Montana, drivers must meet legal requirements for minimum car insurance liability coverage to ensure financial responsibility in accidents. Mandated by state regulations, this includes $25,000 per person for bodily injury and $50,000 per accident for bodily injury, covering collective medical expenses in case of multiple injuries, capped at $50,000 for the entire incident. Additionally, there's a required minimum of $20,000 per accident for property damage, crucial for addressing costs related to damage to another party's vehicle or property. Adhering to these insurance requirements is imperative for all motorists, ensuring compliance with state laws and contributing to a secure and responsible driving environment on Montana roadways.

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

Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from Indiana to Montana is about 1,500 miles, and that’s as fast as about 3 days. However, most car transport companies will take three to nine days to travel from Indiana to Montana.

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.

If you are moving to Montana, you are not required to have your vehicle inspected.

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

New residents in Montana must start their driver’s license application process within 60 days of moving to the state.

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

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

In Montana, there is no state-level sales tax on vehicles, however, local governments in Montana may impose their own taxes and fees on vehicles.

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

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

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

Shipping a car from Indiana to Montana costs $1,095 to $1,630.

Helpful Indiana resources