Kentucky to North Carolina Car Shipping (2024 Cost Guide)

Quick answer: The average cost to ship a car 467 miles from Kentucky to North Carolina ranges from $636 to $821 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 North Carolina to Kentucky car shipping guide.

The best Kentucky to North Carolina car shipping companies

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

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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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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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 North Carolina

  • Drive it yourself. This is straightforward but not always an option, and it will put about 467 miles on your car going from Kentucky to North Carolina. 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 North Carolina, 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 North Carolina 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 NC 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 North Carolina. The average travel distance is about 467 miles, with shipping times typically ranging from one to four days .

Cost to ship a car from Louisville, KY to North Carolina

From Kentucky to North Carolina Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Louisville, KY to Charlotte, NC $683 – $859 511 miles 1 – 6 days
Louisville, KY to Raleigh, NC $661 – $967 562 miles 1 – 6 days
Louisville, KY to Greensboro, NC $629 – $837 488 miles 1 – 4 days
Louisville, KY to Durham, NC $691 – $973 539 miles 1 – 6 days
Louisville, KY to Winston-Salem, NC $661 – $898 462 miles 1 – 4 days

Cost to ship a car from Lexington, KY to North Carolina

From Kentucky to North Carolina Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Lexington, KY to Charlotte, NC $640 – $877 439 miles 1 – 4 days
Lexington, KY to Raleigh, NC $629 – $899 492 miles 1 – 4 days
Lexington, KY to Greensboro, NC $623 – $861 418 miles 1 – 4 days
Lexington, KY to Durham, NC $617 – $907 469 miles 1 – 4 days
Lexington, KY to Winston-Salem, NC $597 – $753 391 miles 1 – 4 days

Cost to ship a car from Bowling Green, KY to North Carolina

From Kentucky to North Carolina Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Bowling Green, KY to Charlotte, NC $621 – $810 443 miles 1 – 4 days
Bowling Green, KY to Raleigh, NC $671 – $1,007 576 miles 1 – 6 days
Bowling Green, KY to Greensboro, NC $618 – $868 502 miles 1 – 6 days
Bowling Green, KY to Durham, NC $668 – $910 553 miles 1 – 6 days
Bowling Green, KY to Winston-Salem, NC $616 – $916 476 miles 1 – 4 days

Cost to ship a car from Owensboro, KY to North Carolina

From Kentucky to North Carolina Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Owensboro, KY to Charlotte, NC $625 – $877 511 miles 1 – 6 days
Owensboro, KY to Raleigh, NC $774 – $1,094 644 miles 1 – 6 days
Owensboro, KY to Greensboro, NC $723 – $948 570 miles 1 – 6 days
Owensboro, KY to Durham, NC $708 – $1,025 621 miles 1 – 6 days
Owensboro, KY to Winston-Salem, NC $664 – $908 544 miles 1 – 6 days

Cost to ship a car from Covington, KY to North Carolina

From Kentucky to North Carolina Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Covington, KY to Charlotte, NC $598 – $907 459 miles 1 – 4 days
Covington, KY to Raleigh, NC $618 – $886 511 miles 1 – 6 days
Covington, KY to Greensboro, NC $597 – $835 437 miles 1 – 4 days
Covington, KY to Durham, NC $609 – $899 488 miles 1 – 4 days
Covington, KY to Winston-Salem, NC $587 – $820 411 miles 1 – 4 days

Shipping an SUV or truck from Kentucky to North Carolina

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 North Carolina you should expect to pay between $795 and $1,026.

Factors that affect car shipping costs from KY to NC

When transporting your vehicle from the Bluegrass State to the Tar Heel 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 North Carolina.
  • Distance and route: The journey from Kentucky to North Carolina spans approximately 467 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 North Carolina 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 North Carolina should take between one and four days. Expedited services are available but come at a higher cost.

North Carolina vehicle regulations you need to know

  • Car insurance requirements: Ensure compliance with North Carolina's mandatory minimum liability insurance rules for drivers. Your coverage should meet or exceed $30,000 for bodily injury per person, $60,000 for bodily injury per accident, and $25,000 for property damage per accident. Don't forget to enhance your protection with uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. Stay informed and safeguarded on the road by meeting these state insurance requirements.
  • Vehicle inspection: Before the North Carolina DMV can register a passenger vehicle, it must pass an annual safety inspection if it is less than 30 years old.
  • Driver’s license: New residents in North Carolina are obligated to transfer their license or ID within 60 days of moving to the state.
  • Additional taxes: If you're relocating to North Carolina, you're required to pay vehicle tax. However, you have the option to defer this payment by obtaining a limited registration plate, which will expire 60 days after it's issued. It's important to note that you must pay the property tax before the sticker on the plate reaches its expiration date.

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 North Carolina

About 22 million people are living in the Tar Heel State. North Carolina has mild weather year round, however, snow may affect your move in some parts of the state during winter time.

FAQ

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

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 North Carolina.

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

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

Ensure compliance with North Carolina's mandatory minimum liability insurance rules for drivers. Your coverage should meet or exceed $30,000 for bodily injury per person, $60,000 for bodily injury per accident, and $25,000 for property damage per accident. Don't forget to enhance your protection with uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. Stay informed and safeguarded on the road by meeting these state insurance requirements.

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

Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from Kentucky to North Carolina is about 467 miles, and that’s as fast as about 1 day. However, most car transport companies will take one to four days to travel from Kentucky to North Carolina.

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.

Before the North Carolina DMV can register a passenger vehicle, it must pass an annual safety inspection if it is less than 30 years old.

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

New residents in North Carolina are obligated to transfer their license or ID within 60 days of moving to the state.

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

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

If you're relocating to North Carolina, you're required to pay vehicle tax. However, you have the option to defer this payment by obtaining a limited registration plate, which will expire 60 days after it's issued. It's important to note that you must pay the property tax before the sticker on the plate reaches its expiration date.

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

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

The cheapest way to ship a car from Kentucky to North Carolina 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 North Carolina?

Shipping a car from Kentucky to North Carolina costs $636 to $821.

Helpful Kentucky resources