Louisiana to Illinois Car Shipping (2024 Cost Guide)

Quick answer: The average cost to ship a car 854 miles from Louisiana to Illinois ranges from $775 to $1,268 and takes two–seven 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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  • Established in 2007
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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 Illinois to Louisiana car shipping guide.

The best Louisiana to Illinois car shipping companies

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

Best for accurate pricing
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moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.5 / 5
Check prices (833) 775-1461
At A Glance
  • 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
At A Glance
  • 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
At A Glance
  • 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 Louisiana to Illinois

  • Drive it yourself. This is straightforward but not always an option, and it will put about 854 miles on your car going from Louisiana to Illinois. 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 Illinois, 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 Illinois 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 IL 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 Illinois. The average travel distance is about 854 miles, with shipping times typically ranging from two to seven days .

Cost to ship a car from New Orleans, LA to Illinois

From Louisiana to Illinois Cost Distance Estimated transit time
New Orleans, LA to Chicago, IL $820 – $1,221 926 miles 2 – 7 days
New Orleans, LA to Aurora, IL $811 – $1,283 951 miles 2 – 7 days
New Orleans, LA to Joliet, IL $853 – $1,196 904 miles 2 – 7 days
New Orleans, LA to Naperville, IL $837 – $1,233 935 miles 2 – 7 days
New Orleans, LA to Rockford, IL $811 – $1,283 971 miles 2 – 7 days

Cost to ship a car from Baton Rouge, LA to Illinois

From Louisiana to Illinois Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Baton Rouge, LA to Chicago, IL $804 – $1,259 916 miles 2 – 7 days
Baton Rouge, LA to Aurora, IL $787 – $1,208 940 miles 2 – 7 days
Baton Rouge, LA to Joliet, IL $843 – $1,283 894 miles 2 – 7 days
Baton Rouge, LA to Naperville, IL $820 – $1,246 925 miles 2 – 7 days
Baton Rouge, LA to Rockford, IL $844 – $1,231 960 miles 2 – 7 days

Cost to ship a car from Shreveport, LA to Illinois

From Louisiana to Illinois Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Shreveport, LA to Chicago, IL $800 – $1,280 862 miles 2 – 7 days
Shreveport, LA to Aurora, IL $836 – $1,227 826 miles 2 – 7 days
Shreveport, LA to Joliet, IL $831 – $1,185 815 miles 2 – 7 days
Shreveport, LA to Naperville, IL $796 – $1,166 830 miles 2 – 7 days
Shreveport, LA to Rockford, IL $857 – $1,169 851 miles 2 – 7 days

Cost to ship a car from Metairie, LA to Illinois

From Louisiana to Illinois Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Metairie, LA to Chicago, IL $812 – $1,284 921 miles 2 – 7 days
Metairie, LA to Aurora, IL $787 – $1,233 946 miles 2 – 7 days
Metairie, LA to Joliet, IL $786 – $1,233 899 miles 2 – 7 days
Metairie, LA to Naperville, IL $779 – $1,297 930 miles 2 – 7 days
Metairie, LA to Rockford, IL $852 – $1,257 966 miles 2 – 7 days

Cost to ship a car from Lafayette, LA to Illinois

From Louisiana to Illinois Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Lafayette, LA to Chicago, IL $803 – $1,219 969 miles 2 – 7 days
Lafayette, LA to Aurora, IL $858 – $1,331 994 miles 2 – 7 days
Lafayette, LA to Joliet, IL $828 – $1,259 947 miles 2 – 7 days
Lafayette, LA to Naperville, IL $809 – $1,241 978 miles 2 – 7 days
Lafayette, LA to Rockford, IL $838 – $1,314 1,013 miles 2 – 8 days

Shipping an SUV or truck from Louisiana to Illinois

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 Illinois you should expect to pay between $969 and $1,585.

Factors that affect car shipping costs from LA to IL

When transporting your vehicle from the Pelican State to the Land of Lincoln, 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 Illinois.
  • Distance and route: The journey from Louisiana to Illinois spans approximately 854 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 Illinois 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 Illinois should take between two and seven days. Expedited services are available but come at a higher cost.

Illinois vehicle regulations you need to know

  • Car insurance requirements: The liability insurance minimums for Illinois are $25,000 bodily injury liability per person, $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident, and $20,000 property damage liability per accident.
  • Vehicle inspection: In Illinois, emissions inspections are mandatory on a yearly basis for eligible vehicles in the Chicago and East St. Louis metropolitan areas. The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency conducts tests on automobiles before residents can renew their vehicle registration with the Secretary of State's office.
  • Driver’s license: Even if your out-of-state driver's license is valid, you must still pass a vision test and written exam if you are moving to Illinois. Within 90 days of becoming a resident in the state, you must convert your license to an Illinois non-commercial license.
  • Additional taxes: According to Illinois law, the recipient or buyer of any vehicle transferred within the state must complete a Private Party Vehicle Tax Transaction form (form RUT-50) and pay the sales tax for the car within 30 days of the transfer of ownership.

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 Illinois

About 22 million people are living in the Land of Lincoln. Illinois' climate is clearly different in the northern and southern halves of the state. The northern half experiences cold winters and mild summers whereas the southern half experiences mild winters and hot and humid summers. Illinois is a part of "tornado alley"

FAQ

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

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 Illinois.

Do you need car insurance when shipping your car from Louisiana to Illinois?

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

The liability insurance minimums for Illinois are $25,000 bodily injury liability per person, $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident, and $20,000 property damage liability per accident.

How long does it take to ship a car from Louisiana to Illinois?

Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from Louisiana to Illinois is about 854 miles, and that’s as fast as about 2 days. However, most car transport companies will take two to seven days to travel from Louisiana to Illinois.

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 Illinois, emissions inspections are mandatory on a yearly basis for eligible vehicles in the Chicago and East St. Louis metropolitan areas. The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency conducts tests on automobiles before residents can renew their vehicle registration with the Secretary of State's office.

If I have a driver’s license in Louisiana, will I need one in Illinois?

Even if your out-of-state driver's license is valid, you must still pass a vision test and written exam if you are moving to Illinois. Within 90 days of becoming a resident in the state, you must convert your license to an Illinois non-commercial license.

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

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

According to Illinois law, the recipient or buyer of any vehicle transferred within the state must complete a Private Party Vehicle Tax Transaction form (form RUT-50) and pay the sales tax for the car within 30 days of the transfer of ownership.

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

What is the cheapest way to ship a car from Louisiana to Illinois?

The cheapest way to ship a car from Louisiana to Illinois 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 Illinois?

Shipping a car from Louisiana to Illinois costs $775 to $1,268.

Helpful Louisiana resources