Louisiana to Iowa Car Shipping (2024 Cost Guide)
Fact Checked by: Quick answer: The average cost to ship a car 1,013 miles from Louisiana to Iowa ranges from $773 to $1,340 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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Shipping a car the reverse route? We’ve got you covered with our Iowa to Louisiana car shipping guide.
The best Louisiana to Iowa car shipping companies
We’ve done the research and these are the best car shipping companies to help transport your vehicle from Louisiana to Iowa:
- Best for accurate pricing: Sherpa Auto Transport
- Best cross-country shipper: Montway Auto Transport
- Best for discounts: AmeriFreight Car Transport
- Best for overall value: SGT Auto Transport
- Best for quick pickup: Easy Auto Ship
- 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
- 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
- No upfront deposit
- Expedited shipping
- No hidden fees
- Ships motorcycles & RVs
- Discount for cash payments
Alternative ways to ship your car from Louisiana to Iowa
- Drive it yourself. This is straightforward but not always an option, and it will put about 1,013 miles on your car going from Louisiana 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 Louisiana 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 Louisiana 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!
LA 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 Louisiana and Iowa. The average travel distance is about 1,013 miles, with shipping times typically ranging from two to eight days .
Cost to ship a car from New Orleans, LA to Iowa
| From Louisiana to Iowa | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans, LA to Des Moines, IA | $773 – $1,249 | 1,004 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| New Orleans, LA to Cedar Rapids, IA | $804 – $1,297 | 947 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| New Orleans, LA to Davenport, IA | $787 – $1,335 | 941 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| New Orleans, LA to Sioux City, IA | $886 – $1,428 | 1,127 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| New Orleans, LA to Iowa City, IA | $804 – $1,221 | 923 miles | 2 – 7 days |
Cost to ship a car from Baton Rouge, LA to Iowa
| From Louisiana to Iowa | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baton Rouge, LA to Des Moines, IA | $860 – $1,296 | 954 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Baton Rouge, LA to Cedar Rapids, IA | $779 – $1,259 | 936 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Baton Rouge, LA to Davenport, IA | $787 – $1,233 | 931 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Baton Rouge, LA to Sioux City, IA | $797 – $1,340 | 1,042 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Baton Rouge, LA to Iowa City, IA | $779 – $1,259 | 912 miles | 2 – 7 days |
Cost to ship a car from Shreveport, LA to Iowa
| From Louisiana to Iowa | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shreveport, LA to Des Moines, IA | $784 – $1,172 | 734 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Shreveport, LA to Cedar Rapids, IA | $844 – $1,251 | 828 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Shreveport, LA to Davenport, IA | $839 – $1,197 | 822 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Shreveport, LA to Sioux City, IA | $791 – $1,137 | 822 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Shreveport, LA to Iowa City, IA | $783 – $1,161 | 803 miles | 2 – 7 days |
Cost to ship a car from Metairie, LA to Iowa
| From Louisiana to Iowa | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metairie, LA to Des Moines, IA | $784 – $1,267 | 999 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Metairie, LA to Cedar Rapids, IA | $787 – $1,322 | 942 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Metairie, LA to Davenport, IA | $828 – $1,208 | 936 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Metairie, LA to Sioux City, IA | $912 – $1,331 | 1,122 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Metairie, LA to Iowa City, IA | $787 – $1,297 | 918 miles | 2 – 7 days |
Cost to ship a car from Lafayette, LA to Iowa
| From Louisiana to Iowa | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lafayette, LA to Des Moines, IA | $860 – $1,244 | 950 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Lafayette, LA to Cedar Rapids, IA | $817 – $1,306 | 990 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Lafayette, LA to Davenport, IA | $809 – $1,293 | 984 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Lafayette, LA to Sioux City, IA | $781 – $1,340 | 1,038 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Lafayette, LA to Iowa City, IA | $844 – $1,257 | 966 miles | 2 – 7 days |
Shipping an SUV or truck from Louisiana 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 Louisiana to Iowa you should expect to pay between $966 and $1,675.
Factors that affect car shipping costs from LA to IA
When transporting your vehicle from the Pelican 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 Louisiana to Iowa spans approximately 1,013 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 Louisiana, 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 Louisiana 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 Louisiana to Iowa should take between two and eight 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 Louisiana
More than 39 million people call Louisiana home. Nicknamed the Pelican State, Louisiana has long hot humid summers and short mild winters. Rain is frequent throughout the year, although from April to September is slightly wetter than the rest of the year. Louisiana is often affected by tropical cyclones and is very vulnerable to major hurricanes, particularly around the New Orleans area. Lousiana averages about 27 tornadoes annually; they are most common from January through March in the south and from February through March in the North.
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 Louisiana 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 Louisiana and when dropping it off in Iowa.
Do you need car insurance when shipping your car from Louisiana to Iowa?
If you’re not driving the vehicle from Louisiana 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 Louisiana.
If you’re driving your car at all in either state, you should understand the requirements. The insurance limit represents the maximum payout for a claim, and in Louisiana, the minimum liability limits are $15,000 for bodily injury per person, $30,000 for bodily injury per accident, and $25,000 for property damage; these limits can be raised beyond the state-mandated minimums.
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 Louisiana to Iowa?
Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from Louisiana to Iowa is about 1,013 miles, and that’s as fast as about 3 days. However, most car transport companies will take two to eight days to travel from Louisiana to Iowa.
Will I be required to have a vehicle inspection in either state?
In Louisiana, the annual safety and emissions inspection includes checks on the vehicle's safety equipment, anti-tampering of emissions systems, and a test on the integrity of the gas cap.
In Iowa, car owners are not obligated to undergo emissions, VIN, or safety inspections.
If I have a driver’s license in Louisiana, 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 Louisiana, 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 Louisiana 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 Louisiana and Iowa to avoid any hidden costs.
What is the cheapest way to ship a car from Louisiana to Iowa?
The cheapest way to ship a car from Louisiana 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 Louisiana to Iowa?
Shipping a car from Louisiana to Iowa costs $773 to $1,340.
