Louisiana to Montana Car Shipping (2024 Cost Guide)

Quick answer: The average cost to ship a car 1,910 miles from Louisiana to Montana ranges from $1,350 to $1,990 and takes three–eleven days depending on factors like the transport type and season. For a more detailed quote, use our car shipping cost calculator.

moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.5 / 5
Licensedcheckmark
Insuredcheckmark
Price dollar sign dollar sign dollar sign dollar sign
  • Price lock promise
  • Free car wash
moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.5 / 5
Licensedcheckmark
Insuredcheckmark
Price dollar sign dollar sign dollar sign dollar sign
  • Established in 2007
  • No upfront payment
moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.9 / 5
Licensedcheckmark
Insuredcheckmark
Price dollar sign dollar sign dollar sign dollar sign
  • No deposit
  • Quick pickup

Shipping a car the reverse route? We’ve got you covered with our Montana to Louisiana car shipping guide.

The best Louisiana to Montana car shipping companies

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

Best for accurate pricing
Licensedcheckmark
Insuredcheckmark
Price dollar sign dollar sign dollar sign dollar sign
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
read our full review
Check prices (833) 775-1461
Best cross-country shipper
Licensedcheckmark
Insuredcheckmark
Price dollar sign dollar sign dollar sign dollar sign
moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.5 / 5
Check prices (224) 206-5633
At A Glance
  • No upfront payment
  • GPS tracking
  • Multiple insurance options
  • Competitive pricing
  • Door-to-door shipping
read our full review
Check prices (224) 206-5633
Best for quick pickup
Licensedcheckmark
Insuredcheckmark
Price dollar sign dollar sign dollar sign dollar sign
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
read our full review
Check prices (888) 259-6046
Best for discounts
Licensedcheckmark
Insuredcheckmark
Price dollar sign dollar sign dollar sign dollar sign
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
read our full review
Check prices (770) 501-9057
Best for overall value
Licensedcheckmark
Insuredcheckmark
Price dollar sign dollar sign dollar sign dollar sign
moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.9 / 5
Check prices (864) 492-1221
At A Glance
  • No hidden fees
  • Free online quotes
  • Door-to-door service in 48 states
  • Exact pickup dates
  • Ships to & from HI
read our full review
Check prices (864) 492-1221

Alternative ways to ship your car from Louisiana to Montana

  • Drive it yourself. This is straightforward but not always an option, and it will put about 1,910 miles on your car going from Louisiana to Montana. 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 Montana, 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 Montana 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 MT 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 Montana. The average travel distance is about 1,910 miles, with shipping times typically ranging from three to eleven days .

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

From Louisiana to Montana Cost Distance Estimated transit time
New Orleans, LA to Billings, MT $1,305 – $1,859 1,850 miles 3 – 11 days
New Orleans, LA to Missoula, MT $1,344 – $2,113 2,192 miles 4 – 12 days
New Orleans, LA to Great Falls, MT $1,357 – $2,058 2,067 miles 4 – 12 days
New Orleans, LA to Bozeman, MT $1,246 – $1,892 1,990 miles 3 – 11 days
New Orleans, LA to Butte, MT $1,343 – $2,120 2,075 miles 4 – 12 days

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

From Louisiana to Montana Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Baton Rouge, LA to Billings, MT $1,266 – $1,747 1,772 miles 3 – 11 days
Baton Rouge, LA to Missoula, MT $1,265 – $1,987 2,113 miles 4 – 12 days
Baton Rouge, LA to Great Falls, MT $1,324 – $1,971 1,988 miles 3 – 11 days
Baton Rouge, LA to Bozeman, MT $1,311 – $1,931 1,912 miles 3 – 11 days
Baton Rouge, LA to Butte, MT $1,285 – $1,951 1,996 miles 3 – 11 days

Cost to ship a car from Shreveport, LA to Montana

From Louisiana to Montana Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Shreveport, LA to Billings, MT $1,187 – $1,613 1,533 miles 3 – 9 days
Shreveport, LA to Missoula, MT $1,254 – $1,897 1,875 miles 3 – 11 days
Shreveport, LA to Great Falls, MT $1,216 – $1,819 1,750 miles 3 – 11 days
Shreveport, LA to Bozeman, MT $1,223 – $1,639 1,673 miles 3 – 9 days
Shreveport, LA to Butte, MT $1,290 – $1,711 1,758 miles 3 – 11 days

Cost to ship a car from Metairie, LA to Montana

From Louisiana to Montana Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Metairie, LA to Billings, MT $1,330 – $1,859 1,845 miles 3 – 11 days
Metairie, LA to Missoula, MT $1,304 – $2,008 2,187 miles 4 – 12 days
Metairie, LA to Great Falls, MT $1,278 – $1,955 2,062 miles 4 – 12 days
Metairie, LA to Bozeman, MT $1,324 – $2,069 1,985 miles 3 – 11 days
Metairie, LA to Butte, MT $1,370 – $2,120 2,070 miles 4 – 12 days

Cost to ship a car from Lafayette, LA to Montana

From Louisiana to Montana Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Lafayette, LA to Billings, MT $1,290 – $1,873 1,736 miles 3 – 9 days
Lafayette, LA to Missoula, MT $1,383 – $2,140 2,078 miles 4 – 12 days
Lafayette, LA to Great Falls, MT $1,324 – $1,872 1,953 miles 3 – 11 days
Lafayette, LA to Bozeman, MT $1,266 – $1,954 1,877 miles 3 – 11 days
Lafayette, LA to Butte, MT $1,259 – $1,931 1,961 miles 3 – 11 days

Shipping an SUV or truck from Louisiana to Montana

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 Montana you should expect to pay between $1,688 and $2,488.

Factors that affect car shipping costs from LA to MT

When transporting your vehicle from the Pelican State to the Big Sky Country, 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 Montana.
  • Distance and route: The journey from Louisiana to Montana spans approximately 1,910 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 Montana 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 Montana should take between three and eleven days. Expedited services are available but come at a higher cost.

Montana vehicle regulations you need to know

  • Car insurance requirements: In Montana, drivers must meet legal requirements for minimum car insurance liability coverage to ensure financial responsibility in accidents. Mandated by state regulations, this includes $25,000 per person for bodily injury and $50,000 per accident for bodily injury, covering collective medical expenses in case of multiple injuries, capped at $50,000 for the entire incident. Additionally, there's a required minimum of $20,000 per accident for property damage, crucial for addressing costs related to damage to another party's vehicle or property. Adhering to these insurance requirements is imperative for all motorists, ensuring compliance with state laws and contributing to a secure and responsible driving environment on Montana roadways.
  • Vehicle inspection: If you are moving to Montana, you are not required to have your vehicle inspected.
  • Driver’s license: New residents in Montana must start their driver’s license application process within 60 days of moving to the state.
  • Additional taxes: In Montana, there is no state-level sales tax on vehicles, however, local governments in Montana may impose their own taxes and fees on vehicles.

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 Montana

About 22 million people are living in the Big Sky Country. Montana has a lot of variation in geography, topography, and elevation, and the climate is equally varied. The western half is mountainous, interrupted by numerous large valleys. Eastern Montana comprises plains and badlands, broken by hills and isolated mountain ranges, The Continental Divide has a considerable effect on the climate, as it restricts the flow of warmer air from the Pacific from moving east, and drier continental air from moving west. The area west of the divide has a modified northern Pacific Coast climate, with milder winters, cooler summers, less wind, and a longer growing season. Low clouds and fog often form in the valleys west of the divide in winter, but this is rarely seen in the east.

FAQ

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

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 Montana.

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

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

In Montana, drivers must meet legal requirements for minimum car insurance liability coverage to ensure financial responsibility in accidents. Mandated by state regulations, this includes $25,000 per person for bodily injury and $50,000 per accident for bodily injury, covering collective medical expenses in case of multiple injuries, capped at $50,000 for the entire incident. Additionally, there's a required minimum of $20,000 per accident for property damage, crucial for addressing costs related to damage to another party's vehicle or property. Adhering to these insurance requirements is imperative for all motorists, ensuring compliance with state laws and contributing to a secure and responsible driving environment on Montana roadways.

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

Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from Louisiana to Montana is about 1,910 miles, and that’s as fast as about 4 days. However, most car transport companies will take three to eleven days to travel from Louisiana to Montana.

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.

If you are moving to Montana, you are not required to have your vehicle inspected.

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

New residents in Montana must start their driver’s license application process within 60 days of moving to the state.

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

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

In Montana, there is no state-level sales tax on vehicles, however, local governments in Montana may impose their own taxes and fees on vehicles.

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

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

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

Shipping a car from Louisiana to Montana costs $1,350 to $1,990.

Helpful Louisiana resources