Massachusetts to Kentucky Car Shipping (2024 Cost Guide)

Quick answer: The average cost to ship a car 908 miles from Massachusetts to Kentucky ranges from $830 to $1,313 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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  • No deposit
  • Quick pickup

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

The best Massachusetts to Kentucky car shipping companies

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

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
At A Glance
  • 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 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
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
At A Glance
  • 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

Alternative ways to ship your car from Massachusetts to Kentucky

  • Drive it yourself. This is straightforward but not always an option, and it will put about 908 miles on your car going from Massachusetts to Kentucky. 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 Kentucky, 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 Kentucky 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 KY 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 Kentucky. The average travel distance is about 908 miles, with shipping times typically ranging from two to seven days .

Cost to ship a car from Boston, MA to Kentucky

From Massachusetts to Kentucky Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Boston, MA to Louisville, KY $868 – $1,321 982 miles 2 – 7 days
Boston, MA to Lexington, KY $821 – $1,311 965 miles 2 – 7 days
Boston, MA to Bowling Green, KY $905 – $1,418 1,102 miles 2 – 8 days
Boston, MA to Owensboro, KY $815 – $1,251 1,087 miles 2 – 8 days
Boston, MA to Covington, KY $845 – $1,324 885 miles 2 – 7 days

Cost to ship a car from Worcester, MA to Kentucky

From Massachusetts to Kentucky Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Worcester, MA to Louisville, KY $871 – $1,261 944 miles 2 – 7 days
Worcester, MA to Lexington, KY $855 – $1,325 926 miles 2 – 7 days
Worcester, MA to Bowling Green, KY $823 – $1,304 1,064 miles 2 – 8 days
Worcester, MA to Owensboro, KY $856 – $1,343 1,048 miles 2 – 8 days
Worcester, MA to Covington, KY $797 – $1,217 847 miles 2 – 7 days

Cost to ship a car from Springfield, MA to Kentucky

From Massachusetts to Kentucky Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Springfield, MA to Louisville, KY $861 – $1,248 899 miles 2 – 7 days
Springfield, MA to Lexington, KY $845 – $1,248 881 miles 2 – 7 days
Springfield, MA to Bowling Green, KY $856 – $1,317 1,018 miles 2 – 8 days
Springfield, MA to Owensboro, KY $782 – $1,291 1,004 miles 2 – 8 days
Springfield, MA to Covington, KY $792 – $1,212 802 miles 2 – 7 days

Cost to ship a car from Cambridge, MA to Kentucky

From Massachusetts to Kentucky Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Cambridge, MA to Louisville, KY $785 – $1,321 979 miles 2 – 7 days
Cambridge, MA to Lexington, KY $837 – $1,259 961 miles 2 – 7 days
Cambridge, MA to Bowling Green, KY $823 – $1,304 1,099 miles 2 – 8 days
Cambridge, MA to Owensboro, KY $864 – $1,317 1,083 miles 2 – 8 days
Cambridge, MA to Covington, KY $820 – $1,235 882 miles 2 – 7 days

Cost to ship a car from Lowell, MA to Kentucky

From Massachusetts to Kentucky Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Lowell, MA to Louisville, KY $860 – $1,243 984 miles 2 – 7 days
Lowell, MA to Lexington, KY $854 – $1,311 967 miles 2 – 7 days
Lowell, MA to Bowling Green, KY $870 – $1,347 1,104 miles 2 – 8 days
Lowell, MA to Owensboro, KY $864 – $1,383 1,089 miles 2 – 8 days
Lowell, MA to Covington, KY $861 – $1,298 887 miles 2 – 7 days

Shipping an SUV or truck from Massachusetts to Kentucky

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 Kentucky you should expect to pay between $1,038 and $1,641.

Factors that affect car shipping costs from MA to KY

When transporting your vehicle from the Bay State to the Bluegrass 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 Kentucky.
  • Distance and route: The journey from Massachusetts to Kentucky spans approximately 908 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 Kentucky 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 Kentucky should take between two and seven days. Expedited services are available but come at a higher cost.

Kentucky vehicle regulations you need to know

  • Car insurance requirements: The insurance coverage includes Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability with limits of $25,000 per person/$50,000 per accident and $25,000 respectively; Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist coverage (not required); Personal Injury Protection with a limit of $10,000; and optional Collision and Comprehensive coverage for vehicle repair or replacement expenses, with no requirement.
  • Vehicle inspection: When moving to Kentucky from another state, a one-time Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) inspection is required. To complete the VIN inspection, bring the vehicle and its title to the Sheriff's office in the county where the car will be registered.
  • Driver’s license: New residents in Kentucky have a 30-day time frame to obtain a Kentucky driver's license.
  • Additional taxes: In Kentucky, a 6% motor vehicle usage tax is imposed on the retail price of vehicles registered for the first time in the state.

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 Kentucky

About 22 million people are living in the Bluegrass State. Kentucky has relatively hot, humid, rainy summers, and moderately cold and rainy winters. Kansas rarely experiences the extremes cold of the northern states nor the heat of the state in the Deep South.

FAQ

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

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 Kentucky.

Do you need car insurance when shipping your car from Massachusetts to Kentucky?

If you’re not driving the vehicle from Massachusetts to Kentucky, you aren't required to have typical car insurance. Your car hauler should have adequate insurance if an accident happened on the drive to Kentucky, 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 insurance coverage includes Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability with limits of $25,000 per person/$50,000 per accident and $25,000 respectively; Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist coverage (not required); Personal Injury Protection with a limit of $10,000; and optional Collision and Comprehensive coverage for vehicle repair or replacement expenses, with no requirement.

How long does it take to ship a car from Massachusetts to Kentucky?

Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from Massachusetts to Kentucky is about 908 miles, and that’s as fast as about 2 days. However, most car transport companies will take two to seven days to travel from Massachusetts to Kentucky.

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.

When moving to Kentucky from another state, a one-time Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) inspection is required. To complete the VIN inspection, bring the vehicle and its title to the Sheriff's office in the county where the car will be registered.

If I have a driver’s license in Massachusetts, will I need one in Kentucky?

New residents in Kentucky have a 30-day time frame to obtain a Kentucky driver's license.

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

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

In Kentucky, a 6% motor vehicle usage tax is imposed on the retail price of vehicles registered for the first time in the state.

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

What is the cheapest way to ship a car from Massachusetts to Kentucky?

The cheapest way to ship a car from Massachusetts to Kentucky 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 Kentucky?

Shipping a car from Massachusetts to Kentucky costs $830 to $1,313.

Helpful Massachusetts resources