Massachusetts to Illinois Car Shipping (2024 Cost Guide)
Fact Checked by: Quick answer: The average cost to ship a car 1,099 miles from Massachusetts to Illinois ranges from $789 to $1,236 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 Illinois to Massachusetts car shipping guide.
The best Massachusetts to Illinois car shipping companies
We’ve done the research and these are the best car shipping companies to help transport your vehicle from Massachusetts to Illinois:
- 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 Massachusetts to Illinois
- Drive it yourself. This is straightforward but not always an option, and it will put about 1,099 miles on your car going from Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts 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!
MA 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 Massachusetts and Illinois. The average travel distance is about 1,099 miles, with shipping times typically ranging from two to eight days .
Cost to ship a car from Boston, MA to Illinois
| From Massachusetts to Illinois | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston, MA to Chicago, IL | $784 – $1,344 | 983 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Boston, MA to Aurora, IL | $789 – $1,262 | 1,021 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Boston, MA to Joliet, IL | $850 – $1,228 | 995 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Boston, MA to Naperville, IL | $797 – $1,262 | 1,007 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Boston, MA to Rockford, IL | $813 – $1,367 | 1,070 miles | 2 – 8 days |
Cost to ship a car from Worcester, MA to Illinois
| From Massachusetts to Illinois | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Worcester, MA to Chicago, IL | $779 – $1,284 | 944 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Worcester, MA to Aurora, IL | $784 – $1,344 | 982 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Worcester, MA to Joliet, IL | $819 – $1,321 | 956 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Worcester, MA to Naperville, IL | $795 – $1,257 | 968 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Worcester, MA to Rockford, IL | $781 – $1,262 | 1,031 miles | 2 – 8 days |
Cost to ship a car from Springfield, MA to Illinois
| From Massachusetts to Illinois | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Springfield, MA to Chicago, IL | $853 – $1,209 | 900 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Springfield, MA to Aurora, IL | $853 – $1,310 | 938 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Springfield, MA to Joliet, IL | $845 – $1,209 | 911 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Springfield, MA to Naperville, IL | $787 – $1,310 | 923 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Springfield, MA to Rockford, IL | $850 – $1,241 | 987 miles | 2 – 7 days |
Cost to ship a car from Cambridge, MA to Illinois
| From Massachusetts to Illinois | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cambridge, MA to Chicago, IL | $784 – $1,344 | 979 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Cambridge, MA to Aurora, IL | $838 – $1,301 | 1,017 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Cambridge, MA to Joliet, IL | $841 – $1,267 | 991 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Cambridge, MA to Naperville, IL | $805 – $1,367 | 1,004 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Cambridge, MA to Rockford, IL | $797 – $1,275 | 1,066 miles | 2 – 8 days |
Cost to ship a car from Lowell, MA to Illinois
| From Massachusetts to Illinois | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowell, MA to Chicago, IL | $833 – $1,228 | 985 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Lowell, MA to Aurora, IL | $797 – $1,301 | 1,023 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Lowell, MA to Joliet, IL | $776 – $1,254 | 997 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Lowell, MA to Naperville, IL | $822 – $1,262 | 1,009 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Lowell, MA to Rockford, IL | $773 – $1,314 | 1,072 miles | 2 – 8 days |
Shipping an SUV or truck from Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts to Illinois you should expect to pay between $986 and $1,545.
Factors that affect car shipping costs from MA to IL
When transporting your vehicle from the Bay 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 Massachusetts to Illinois spans approximately 1,099 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 Massachusetts, 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 Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts to Illinois should take between two and eight 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 Massachusetts
More than 39 million people call Massachusetts home. Nicknamed the Bay State, Most of Massachusetts has a humid continental climate, with cold winters and warm summers. Far southeast coastal areas are the broad transition zone to Humid Subtropical climates. The warm to hot summers render the oceanic climate rare in this transition, only applying to exposed coastal areas such as on the peninsula of Barnstable County. The climate of Boston is quite representative for the commonwealth, characterized by summer highs of around 81 °F (27 °C) and winter highs of 35 °F (2 °C), and is quite wet. Frosts are frequent all winter, even in coastal areas due to prevailing inland winds. Due to its location near the Atlantic, Massachusetts is vulnerable to nor'easters, hurricanes, and tropical storms.
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 Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts and when dropping it off in Illinois.
Do you need car insurance when shipping your car from Massachusetts to Illinois?
If you’re not driving the vehicle from Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts.
If you’re driving your car at all in either state, you should understand the requirements. Massachusetts mandates minimum car insurance coverage, including $20,000/$40,000 for bodily injury liability, $5,000 for property damage, $20,000/$40,000 for uninsured motorist bodily injury, and $8,000 for personal injury protection.
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 Massachusetts to Illinois?
Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from Massachusetts to Illinois is about 1,099 miles, and that’s as fast as about 3 days. However, most car transport companies will take two to eight days to travel from Massachusetts to Illinois.
Will I be required to have a vehicle inspection in either state?
Every year, all vehicles in Massachusetts must undergo a safety inspection. New cars registered in the state must be inspected within 7 days of their registration date.
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 Massachusetts, 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 Massachusetts, 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 Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts and Illinois to avoid any hidden costs.
What is the cheapest way to ship a car from Massachusetts to Illinois?
The cheapest way to ship a car from Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts to Illinois?
Shipping a car from Massachusetts to Illinois costs $789 to $1,236.
