Kentucky to South Dakota Car Shipping (2024 Cost Guide)

Quick answer: The average cost to ship a car 1,122 miles from Kentucky to South Dakota ranges from $859 to $1,401 and takes two–eight 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 South Dakota to Kentucky car shipping guide.

The best Kentucky to South Dakota car shipping companies

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

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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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 South Dakota

  • Drive it yourself. This is straightforward but not always an option, and it will put about 1,122 miles on your car going from Kentucky to South Dakota. 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 South Dakota, 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 South Dakota 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 SD 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 South Dakota. The average travel distance is about 1,122 miles, with shipping times typically ranging from two to eight days .

Cost to ship a car from Louisville, KY to South Dakota

From Kentucky to South Dakota Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Louisville, KY to Sioux Falls, SD $775 – $1,206 854 miles 2 – 7 days
Louisville, KY to Rapid City, SD $966 – $1,479 1,200 miles 2 – 8 days
Louisville, KY to Aberdeen, SD $784 – $1,280 997 miles 2 – 7 days
Louisville, KY to Brookings, SD $836 – $1,209 907 miles 2 – 7 days
Louisville, KY to Watertown, SD $861 – $1,196 907 miles 2 – 7 days

Cost to ship a car from Lexington, KY to South Dakota

From Kentucky to South Dakota Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Lexington, KY to Sioux Falls, SD $812 – $1,297 924 miles 2 – 7 days
Lexington, KY to Rapid City, SD $909 – $1,523 1,270 miles 3 – 8 days
Lexington, KY to Aberdeen, SD $781 – $1,340 1,068 miles 2 – 8 days
Lexington, KY to Brookings, SD $792 – $1,293 977 miles 2 – 7 days
Lexington, KY to Watertown, SD $776 – $1,254 977 miles 2 – 7 days

Cost to ship a car from Bowling Green, KY to South Dakota

From Kentucky to South Dakota Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Bowling Green, KY to Sioux Falls, SD $786 – $1,233 884 miles 2 – 7 days
Bowling Green, KY to Rapid City, SD $937 – $1,435 1,227 miles 2 – 8 days
Bowling Green, KY to Aberdeen, SD $805 – $1,314 1,083 miles 2 – 8 days
Bowling Green, KY to Brookings, SD $779 – $1,246 937 miles 2 – 7 days
Bowling Green, KY to Watertown, SD $825 – $1,254 984 miles 2 – 7 days

Cost to ship a car from Owensboro, KY to South Dakota

From Kentucky to South Dakota Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Owensboro, KY to Sioux Falls, SD $839 – $1,149 815 miles 2 – 7 days
Owensboro, KY to Rapid City, SD $930 – $1,428 1,158 miles 2 – 8 days
Owensboro, KY to Aberdeen, SD $838 – $1,353 1,013 miles 2 – 8 days
Owensboro, KY to Brookings, SD $816 – $1,268 867 miles 2 – 7 days
Owensboro, KY to Watertown, SD $845 – $1,221 914 miles 2 – 7 days

Cost to ship a car from Covington, KY to South Dakota

From Kentucky to South Dakota Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Covington, KY to Sioux Falls, SD $848 – $1,169 853 miles 2 – 7 days
Covington, KY to Rapid City, SD $877 – $1,373 1,199 miles 2 – 8 days
Covington, KY to Aberdeen, SD $817 – $1,241 997 miles 2 – 7 days
Covington, KY to Brookings, SD $820 – $1,221 907 miles 2 – 7 days
Covington, KY to Watertown, SD $828 – $1,284 907 miles 2 – 7 days

Shipping an SUV or truck from Kentucky to South Dakota

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 South Dakota you should expect to pay between $1,074 and $1,751.

Factors that affect car shipping costs from KY to SD

When transporting your vehicle from the Bluegrass State to the Mount Rushmore 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 South Dakota.
  • Distance and route: The journey from Kentucky to South Dakota spans approximately 1,122 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 South Dakota 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 South Dakota should take between two and eight days. Expedited services are available but come at a higher cost.

South Dakota vehicle regulations you need to know

  • Car insurance requirements: In South Dakota, drivers must show proof of financial responsibility, typically met through car insurance. Key coverage includes: Bodily Injury Liability (25/50/25): $25,000/person, $50,000/accident for injuries. Property Damage Liability (25/50/25): $25,000/accident for property damage. Uninsured Motorist Coverage (UM): Required for personal injuries caused by uninsured drivers or hit-and-runs. Underinsured Motorist Coverage (UIM): Covers personal injuries from motorists with insufficient insurance. Note: Coverages are not stackable; they operate independently.
  • Vehicle inspection: South Dakota does not have a mandatory vehicle inspection program for passenger vehicles. However, commercial vehicles and buses are required to pass annual inspections. If you are a new resident of South Dakota, you are required to obtain a South Dakota driver's license within 90 days of becoming a resident.
  • Driver’s license: If you are a new resident of South Dakota, you are required to obtain a South Dakota driver's license within 90 days of becoming a resident.
  • Additional taxes: When moving to South Dakota, you will need to register your vehicle with the South Dakota Department of Revenue within 90 days. You will need to provide proof of insurance, the vehicle title, pay a fee based on the vehicle's value, 4% sales tax, and $5 per wheel wheel tax.

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 South Dakota

About 22 million people are living in the Mount Rushmore State. In South Dakota, drivers are required to have liability insurance coverage with at least the following minimum limits: $25,000 for bodily injury or death per person in an accident, $50,000 for total bodily injury or death per accident, and $25,000 for property damage per accident.

FAQ

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

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 South Dakota.

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

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

In South Dakota, drivers must show proof of financial responsibility, typically met through car insurance. Key coverage includes: Bodily Injury Liability (25/50/25): $25,000/person, $50,000/accident for injuries. Property Damage Liability (25/50/25): $25,000/accident for property damage. Uninsured Motorist Coverage (UM): Required for personal injuries caused by uninsured drivers or hit-and-runs. Underinsured Motorist Coverage (UIM): Covers personal injuries from motorists with insufficient insurance. Note: Coverages are not stackable; they operate independently.

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

Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from Kentucky to South Dakota is about 1,122 miles, and that’s as fast as about 3 days. However, most car transport companies will take two to eight days to travel from Kentucky to South Dakota.

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.

South Dakota does not have a mandatory vehicle inspection program for passenger vehicles. However, commercial vehicles and buses are required to pass annual inspections. If you are a new resident of South Dakota, you are required to obtain a South Dakota driver's license within 90 days of becoming a resident.

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

If you are a new resident of South Dakota, you are required to obtain a South Dakota driver's license within 90 days of becoming a resident.

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

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

When moving to South Dakota, you will need to register your vehicle with the South Dakota Department of Revenue within 90 days. You will need to provide proof of insurance, the vehicle title, pay a fee based on the vehicle's value, 4% sales tax, and $5 per wheel wheel tax.

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

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

The cheapest way to ship a car from Kentucky to South Dakota 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 South Dakota?

Shipping a car from Kentucky to South Dakota costs $859 to $1,401.

Helpful Kentucky resources