Kentucky to Maryland Car Shipping (2024 Cost Guide)

Quick answer: The average cost to ship a car 542 miles from Kentucky to Maryland ranges from $684 to $917 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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  • Services all 50 states
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Shipping a car the reverse route? We’ve got you covered with our Maryland to Kentucky car shipping guide.

The best Kentucky to Maryland car shipping companies

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

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
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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

Alternative ways to ship your car from Kentucky to Maryland

  • Drive it yourself. This is straightforward but not always an option, and it will put about 542 miles on your car going from Kentucky to Maryland. 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 Maryland, 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 Maryland 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 MD 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 Maryland. The average travel distance is about 542 miles, with shipping times typically ranging from one to six days .

Cost to ship a car from Louisville, KY to Maryland

From Kentucky to Maryland Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Louisville, KY to Washington DC, MD $758 – $995 603 miles 1 – 6 days
Louisville, KY to Baltimore, MD $730 – $964 610 miles 1 – 6 days
Louisville, KY to Columbia, MD $722 – $975 603 miles 1 – 6 days
Louisville, KY to Germantown, MD $671 – $938 580 miles 1 – 6 days
Louisville, KY to Silver Spring, MD $720 – $987 598 miles 1 – 6 days

Cost to ship a car from Lexington, KY to Maryland

From Kentucky to Maryland Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Lexington, KY to Washington DC, MD $704 – $899 532 miles 1 – 6 days
Lexington, KY to Baltimore, MD $670 – $954 539 miles 1 – 6 days
Lexington, KY to Columbia, MD $664 – $945 531 miles 1 – 6 days
Lexington, KY to Germantown, MD $683 – $886 508 miles 1 – 6 days
Lexington, KY to Silver Spring, MD $691 – $917 528 miles 1 – 6 days

Cost to ship a car from Bowling Green, KY to Maryland

From Kentucky to Maryland Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Bowling Green, KY to Washington DC, MD $756 – $1,125 692 miles 1 – 6 days
Bowling Green, KY to Baltimore, MD $771 – $1,147 698 miles 1 – 6 days
Bowling Green, KY to Columbia, MD $778 – $1,136 691 miles 1 – 6 days
Bowling Green, KY to Germantown, MD $781 – $1,121 669 miles 1 – 6 days
Bowling Green, KY to Silver Spring, MD $801 – $1,060 687 miles 1 – 6 days

Cost to ship a car from Owensboro, KY to Maryland

From Kentucky to Maryland Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Owensboro, KY to Washington DC, MD $790 – $1,116 708 miles 1 – 6 days
Owensboro, KY to Baltimore, MD $774 – $1,161 715 miles 1 – 6 days
Owensboro, KY to Columbia, MD $813 – $1,060 708 miles 1 – 6 days
Owensboro, KY to Germantown, MD $763 – $1,071 685 miles 1 – 6 days
Owensboro, KY to Silver Spring, MD $782 – $1,138 704 miles 1 – 6 days

Cost to ship a car from Covington, KY to Maryland

From Kentucky to Maryland Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Covington, KY to Washington DC, MD $625 – $931 501 miles 1 – 6 days
Covington, KY to Baltimore, MD $651 – $859 508 miles 1 – 6 days
Covington, KY to Columbia, MD $644 – $913 501 miles 1 – 6 days
Covington, KY to Germantown, MD $673 – $863 478 miles 1 – 4 days
Covington, KY to Silver Spring, MD $661 – $854 496 miles 1 – 4 days

Shipping an SUV or truck from Kentucky to Maryland

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 Maryland you should expect to pay between $855 and $1,146.

Factors that affect car shipping costs from KY to MD

When transporting your vehicle from the Bluegrass State to the Old Line 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 Maryland.
  • Distance and route: The journey from Kentucky to Maryland spans approximately 542 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 Maryland 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 Maryland should take between one and six days. Expedited services are available but come at a higher cost.

Maryland vehicle regulations you need to know

  • Car insurance requirements: All vehicles in Maryland must maintain insurance coverage from a Maryland-licensed insurance company at all times, with mandatory minimum coverage of $30,000 for bodily injury per person, $60,000 for multiple people, and $15,000 for property damage.
  • Vehicle inspection: If you recently relocated to Maryland or bought a vehicle, you must get it inspected at an authorized inspection station before registering the vehicle. New residents are mandated to undergo a vehicle safety inspection before obtaining car registration.
  • Driver’s license: As a new resident of Maryland, it's mandatory to obtain a Maryland driver's license within 60 days. You need to surrender your previous state's driver's license before obtaining a Maryland one.
  • Additional taxes: The sales tax in Maryland is set at 6%. This applies to both new and used car purchases, adding an additional 6% to the cost. Fortunately for Maryland residents, there is no sales tax imposed by any other governing level in the state.

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 Maryland

About 22 million people are living in the Old Line State. Maryland has a wide array of climates, due to local variances in elevation, proximity to water, and protection from colder weather due to downslope winds. The eastern half of Maryland — which includes the cities of Ocean City, Salisbury, Annapolis, and the southern and eastern suburbs of Washington, D.C., and Baltimore — lies on the Atlantic Coastal Plain, with flat topography and sandy or muddy soil. This region has a humid subtropical climate, with hot, humid summers and a short, mild-to-cool winter

FAQ

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

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 Maryland.

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

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

All vehicles in Maryland must maintain insurance coverage from a Maryland-licensed insurance company at all times, with mandatory minimum coverage of $30,000 for bodily injury per person, $60,000 for multiple people, and $15,000 for property damage.

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

Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from Kentucky to Maryland is about 542 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 Maryland.

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.

If you recently relocated to Maryland or bought a vehicle, you must get it inspected at an authorized inspection station before registering the vehicle. New residents are mandated to undergo a vehicle safety inspection before obtaining car registration.

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

As a new resident of Maryland, it's mandatory to obtain a Maryland driver's license within 60 days. You need to surrender your previous state's driver's license before obtaining a Maryland one.

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

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

The sales tax in Maryland is set at 6%. This applies to both new and used car purchases, adding an additional 6% to the cost. Fortunately for Maryland residents, there is no sales tax imposed by any other governing level in the state.

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

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

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

Shipping a car from Kentucky to Maryland costs $684 to $917.

Helpful Kentucky resources