Louisiana to South Dakota Car Shipping (2024 Cost Guide)
Fact Checked by: Quick answer: The average cost to ship a car 1,287 miles from Louisiana to South Dakota ranges from $947 to $1,464 and takes three–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 South Dakota to Louisiana car shipping guide.
The best Louisiana 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 Louisiana to South Dakota:
- 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 South Dakota
- Drive it yourself. This is straightforward but not always an option, and it will put about 1,287 miles on your car going from Louisiana 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 Louisiana 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 Louisiana 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!
LA 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 Louisiana and South Dakota. The average travel distance is about 1,287 miles, with shipping times typically ranging from three to eight days .
Cost to ship a car from New Orleans, LA to South Dakota
| From Louisiana to South Dakota | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans, LA to Sioux Falls, SD | $966 – $1,479 | 1,212 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| New Orleans, LA to Rapid City, SD | $1,082 – $1,627 | 1,555 miles | 3 – 9 days |
| New Orleans, LA to Aberdeen, SD | $1,125 – $1,578 | 1,412 miles | 3 – 8 days |
| New Orleans, LA to Brookings, SD | $909 – $1,420 | 1,266 miles | 3 – 8 days |
| New Orleans, LA to Watertown, SD | $1,025 – $1,595 | 1,312 miles | 3 – 8 days |
Cost to ship a car from Baton Rouge, LA to South Dakota
| From Louisiana to South Dakota | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baton Rouge, LA to Sioux Falls, SD | $842 – $1,318 | 1,127 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Baton Rouge, LA to Rapid City, SD | $1,028 – $1,530 | 1,470 miles | 3 – 8 days |
| Baton Rouge, LA to Aberdeen, SD | $1,056 – $1,579 | 1,327 miles | 3 – 8 days |
| Baton Rouge, LA to Brookings, SD | $886 – $1,345 | 1,181 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Baton Rouge, LA to Watertown, SD | $947 – $1,449 | 1,227 miles | 2 – 8 days |
Cost to ship a car from Shreveport, LA to South Dakota
| From Louisiana to South Dakota | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shreveport, LA to Sioux Falls, SD | $779 – $1,272 | 907 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Shreveport, LA to Rapid City, SD | $976 – $1,420 | 1,245 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Shreveport, LA to Aberdeen, SD | $886 – $1,345 | 1,107 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Shreveport, LA to Brookings, SD | $803 – $1,219 | 960 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Shreveport, LA to Watertown, SD | $813 – $1,340 | 1,007 miles | 2 – 8 days |
Cost to ship a car from Metairie, LA to South Dakota
| From Louisiana to South Dakota | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metairie, LA to Sioux Falls, SD | $947 – $1,391 | 1,207 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Metairie, LA to Rapid City, SD | $1,082 – $1,676 | 1,550 miles | 3 – 9 days |
| Metairie, LA to Aberdeen, SD | $1,049 – $1,674 | 1,407 miles | 3 – 8 days |
| Metairie, LA to Brookings, SD | $976 – $1,391 | 1,260 miles | 3 – 8 days |
| Metairie, LA to Watertown, SD | $985 – $1,564 | 1,307 miles | 3 – 8 days |
Cost to ship a car from Lafayette, LA to South Dakota
| From Louisiana to South Dakota | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lafayette, LA to Sioux Falls, SD | $842 – $1,401 | 1,123 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Lafayette, LA to Rapid City, SD | $1,028 – $1,546 | 1,448 miles | 3 – 8 days |
| Lafayette, LA to Aberdeen, SD | $1,066 – $1,533 | 1,322 miles | 3 – 8 days |
| Lafayette, LA to Brookings, SD | $895 – $1,401 | 1,176 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Lafayette, LA to Watertown, SD | $976 – $1,420 | 1,222 miles | 2 – 8 days |
Shipping an SUV or truck from Louisiana 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 Louisiana to South Dakota you should expect to pay between $1,184 and $1,830.
Factors that affect car shipping costs from LA to SD
When transporting your vehicle from the Pelican 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 Louisiana to South Dakota spans approximately 1,287 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 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 Louisiana to South Dakota should take between three 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 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 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 Louisiana 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 Louisiana and when dropping it off in South Dakota.
Do you need car insurance when shipping your car from Louisiana to South Dakota?
If you’re not driving the vehicle from Louisiana 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 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 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 Louisiana to South Dakota?
Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from Louisiana to South Dakota is about 1,287 miles, and that’s as fast as about 3 days. However, most car transport companies will take three to eight days to travel from Louisiana to South Dakota.
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.
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 Louisiana, 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 Louisiana, 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 Louisiana 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 Louisiana and South Dakota to avoid any hidden costs.
What is the cheapest way to ship a car from Louisiana to South Dakota?
The cheapest way to ship a car from Louisiana 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 Louisiana to South Dakota?
Shipping a car from Louisiana to South Dakota costs $947 to $1,464.
