Kentucky to Iowa Car Shipping (2024 Cost Guide)
Fact Checked by: Quick answer: The average cost to ship a car 666 miles from Kentucky to Iowa ranges from $775 to $1,038 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 Iowa to Kentucky car shipping guide.
The best Kentucky to Iowa car shipping companies
We’ve done the research and these are the best car shipping companies to help transport your vehicle from Kentucky to Iowa:
- 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 Kentucky to Iowa
- Drive it yourself. This is straightforward but not always an option, and it will put about 666 miles on your car going from Kentucky to Iowa. 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 Kentucky for a move to Iowa, 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 Kentucky to Iowa 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!
KY to IA auto transport costs and transit times
The tables below detail the costs and estimated transit times for shipping a car between popular cities in Kentucky and Iowa. The average travel distance is about 666 miles, with shipping times typically ranging from one to six days .
Cost to ship a car from Louisville, KY to Iowa
| From Kentucky to Iowa | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Louisville, KY to Des Moines, IA | $708 – $1,029 | 589 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Louisville, KY to Cedar Rapids, IA | $652 – $878 | 501 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Louisville, KY to Davenport, IA | $600 – $838 | 422 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Louisville, KY to Sioux City, IA | $802 – $1,229 | 785 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Louisville, KY to Iowa City, IA | $636 – $918 | 477 miles | 1 – 4 days |
Cost to ship a car from Lexington, KY to Iowa
| From Kentucky to Iowa | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lexington, KY to Des Moines, IA | $737 – $1,081 | 660 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Lexington, KY to Cedar Rapids, IA | $697 – $940 | 572 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Lexington, KY to Davenport, IA | $630 – $936 | 492 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Lexington, KY to Sioux City, IA | $867 – $1,233 | 856 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Lexington, KY to Iowa City, IA | $699 – $891 | 548 miles | 1 – 6 days |
Cost to ship a car from Bowling Green, KY to Iowa
| From Kentucky to Iowa | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bowling Green, KY to Des Moines, IA | $709 – $1,027 | 616 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Bowling Green, KY to Cedar Rapids, IA | $718 – $920 | 564 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Bowling Green, KY to Davenport, IA | $662 – $874 | 484 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Bowling Green, KY to Sioux City, IA | $810 – $1,253 | 799 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Bowling Green, KY to Iowa City, IA | $679 – $910 | 539 miles | 1 – 6 days |
Cost to ship a car from Owensboro, KY to Iowa
| From Kentucky to Iowa | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Owensboro, KY to Des Moines, IA | $699 – $938 | 544 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Owensboro, KY to Cedar Rapids, IA | $623 – $874 | 494 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Owensboro, KY to Davenport, IA | $600 – $813 | 412 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Owensboro, KY to Sioux City, IA | $810 – $1,152 | 729 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Owensboro, KY to Iowa City, IA | $663 – $874 | 470 miles | 1 – 4 days |
Cost to ship a car from Covington, KY to Iowa
| From Kentucky to Iowa | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Covington, KY to Des Moines, IA | $736 – $959 | 589 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Covington, KY to Cedar Rapids, IA | $652 – $869 | 501 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Covington, KY to Davenport, IA | $636 – $830 | 421 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Covington, KY to Sioux City, IA | $851 – $1,193 | 785 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Covington, KY to Iowa City, IA | $617 – $900 | 477 miles | 1 – 4 days |
Shipping an SUV or truck from Kentucky to Iowa
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 Kentucky to Iowa you should expect to pay between $969 and $1,298.
Factors that affect car shipping costs from KY to IA
When transporting your vehicle from the Bluegrass State to the Hawkeye 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 Iowa.
- Distance and route: The journey from Kentucky to Iowa spans approximately 666 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 Kentucky, 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 Kentucky and Iowa 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 Kentucky to Iowa should take between one and six days. Expedited services are available but come at a higher cost.
Iowa vehicle regulations you need to know
- Car insurance requirements: Iowa requires minimum liability insurance, covering $20,000 for individual injury or death, $40,000 for multiple individuals, and $15,000 for property damage in an accident.
- Vehicle inspection: In Iowa, car owners are not obligated to undergo emissions, VIN, or safety inspections.
- Driver’s license: New residents with an out-of-state license must obtain an Iowa license within 30 days of establishing permanent residency. To do so, visit the DMV with your former state license, as it will need to be surrendered for the new license.
- Additional taxes: In Iowa, sales of vehicles requiring registration are exempt from sales tax but subject to a 5% fee for new registration.
Learn more with our car shipping checklist.
Transporting your vehicle from Kentucky
More than 39 million people call Kentucky home. Nicknamed 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.
Transporting your vehicle to Iowa
About 22 million people are living in the Hawkeye State. Iowa has a humid continental climate throughout the state. Snowfall is common in Iowa. Spring brings in severe weather season. Iowa has about 50 thunderstorm days per year and has a tornado season. Iowa is known for hot and humid summers. Be sure to check the weather before your move, especially during the springtime.
FAQ
Does someone have to be present when you ship a car for pickup in Kentucky and delivery in Iowa?
Most companies will require that an adult of at least 18 years of age be present when picking up your car in Kentucky and when dropping it off in Iowa.
Do you need car insurance when shipping your car from Kentucky to Iowa?
If you’re not driving the vehicle from Kentucky to Iowa, you aren't required to have typical car insurance. Your car hauler should have adequate insurance if an accident happened on the drive to Iowa, which you should verify before loading your car in Kentucky.
If you’re driving your car at all in either state, you should understand the 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.
Iowa requires minimum liability insurance, covering $20,000 for individual injury or death, $40,000 for multiple individuals, and $15,000 for property damage in an accident.
How long does it take to ship a car from Kentucky to Iowa?
Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from Kentucky to Iowa is about 666 miles, and that’s as fast as about 2 days. However, most car transport companies will take one to six days to travel from Kentucky to Iowa.
Will I be required to have a vehicle inspection in either 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.
In Iowa, car owners are not obligated to undergo emissions, VIN, or safety inspections.
If I have a driver’s license in Kentucky, will I need one in Iowa?
New residents with an out-of-state license must obtain an Iowa license within 30 days of establishing permanent residency. To do so, visit the DMV with your former state license, as it will need to be surrendered for the new license.
If I bought a car in Kentucky, will I be required to pay sales tax in Iowa after shipping it there?
It’s important to understand any tax implications if you’re having a car shipped from Kentucky to Iowa after purchasing it.
In Iowa, sales of vehicles requiring registration are exempt from sales tax but subject to a 5% fee for new registration.
We recommend that you always check for updated tax information in both Kentucky and Iowa to avoid any hidden costs.
What is the cheapest way to ship a car from Kentucky to Iowa?
The cheapest way to ship a car from Kentucky to Iowa 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 Kentucky to Iowa?
Shipping a car from Kentucky to Iowa costs $775 to $1,038.
