Maryland to Iowa Car Shipping (2024 Cost Guide)
Fact Checked by: Quick answer: The average cost to ship a car 1,013 miles from Maryland to Iowa ranges from $789 to $1,367 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 Iowa to Maryland car shipping guide.
The best Maryland to Iowa car shipping companies
We’ve done the research and these are the best car shipping companies to help transport your vehicle from Maryland to Iowa:
- 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 Maryland to Iowa
- Drive it yourself. This is straightforward but not always an option, and it will put about 1,013 miles on your car going from Maryland to Iowa. 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 Maryland for a move to Iowa, 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 Maryland to Iowa 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!
MD to IA auto transport costs and transit times
The tables below detail the costs and estimated transit times for shipping a car between popular cities in Maryland and Iowa. The average travel distance is about 1,013 miles, with shipping times typically ranging from two to eight days .
Cost to ship a car from Washington DC, MD to Iowa
| From Maryland to Iowa | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington DC, MD to Des Moines, IA | $822 – $1,288 | 1,014 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Washington DC, MD to Cedar Rapids, IA | $861 – $1,284 | 926 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Washington DC, MD to Davenport, IA | $820 – $1,178 | 846 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Washington DC, MD to Sioux City, IA | $859 – $1,428 | 1,190 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Washington DC, MD to Iowa City, IA | $828 – $1,247 | 902 miles | 2 – 7 days |
Cost to ship a car from Baltimore, MD to Iowa
| From Maryland to Iowa | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore, MD to Des Moines, IA | $830 – $1,340 | 1,020 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Baltimore, MD to Cedar Rapids, IA | $861 – $1,246 | 932 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Baltimore, MD to Davenport, IA | $840 – $1,280 | 852 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Baltimore, MD to Sioux City, IA | $859 – $1,415 | 1,196 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Baltimore, MD to Iowa City, IA | $836 – $1,284 | 908 miles | 2 – 7 days |
Cost to ship a car from Columbia, MD to Iowa
| From Maryland to Iowa | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia, MD to Des Moines, IA | $797 – $1,288 | 1,013 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Columbia, MD to Cedar Rapids, IA | $812 – $1,322 | 925 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Columbia, MD to Davenport, IA | $828 – $1,275 | 845 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Columbia, MD to Sioux City, IA | $886 – $1,359 | 1,189 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Columbia, MD to Iowa City, IA | $820 – $1,259 | 901 miles | 2 – 7 days |
Cost to ship a car from Germantown, MD to Iowa
| From Maryland to Iowa | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Germantown, MD to Des Moines, IA | $841 – $1,241 | 990 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Germantown, MD to Cedar Rapids, IA | $812 – $1,196 | 903 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Germantown, MD to Davenport, IA | $799 – $1,245 | 823 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Germantown, MD to Sioux City, IA | $850 – $1,318 | 1,166 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Germantown, MD to Iowa City, IA | $802 – $1,258 | 879 miles | 2 – 7 days |
Cost to ship a car from Silver Spring, MD to Iowa
| From Maryland to Iowa | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Silver Spring, MD to Des Moines, IA | $846 – $1,275 | 1,008 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Silver Spring, MD to Cedar Rapids, IA | $812 – $1,310 | 921 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Silver Spring, MD to Davenport, IA | $820 – $1,227 | 841 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Silver Spring, MD to Sioux City, IA | $859 – $1,401 | 1,185 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Silver Spring, MD to Iowa City, IA | $818 – $1,183 | 897 miles | 2 – 7 days |
Shipping an SUV or truck from Maryland to Iowa
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 Maryland to Iowa you should expect to pay between $986 and $1,709.
Factors that affect car shipping costs from MD to IA
When transporting your vehicle from the Old Line State to the Hawkeye 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 Iowa.
- Distance and route: The journey from Maryland to Iowa spans approximately 1,013 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 Maryland, 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 Maryland and Iowa 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 Maryland to Iowa should take between two and eight days. Expedited services are available but come at a higher cost.
Iowa vehicle regulations you need to know
- Car insurance requirements: Iowa requires minimum liability insurance, covering $20,000 for individual injury or death, $40,000 for multiple individuals, and $15,000 for property damage in an accident.
- Vehicle inspection: In Iowa, car owners are not obligated to undergo emissions, VIN, or safety inspections.
- Driver’s license: New residents with an out-of-state license must obtain an Iowa license within 30 days of establishing permanent residency. To do so, visit the DMV with your former state license, as it will need to be surrendered for the new license.
- Additional taxes: In Iowa, sales of vehicles requiring registration are exempt from sales tax but subject to a 5% fee for new registration.
Learn more with our car shipping checklist.
Transporting your vehicle from Maryland
More than 39 million people call Maryland home. Nicknamed the Old Line State, Maryland has a wide array of climates, due to local variances in elevation, proximity to water, and protection from colder weather due to downslope winds. The eastern half of Maryland — which includes the cities of Ocean City, Salisbury, Annapolis, and the southern and eastern suburbs of Washington, D.C., and Baltimore — lies on the Atlantic Coastal Plain, with flat topography and sandy or muddy soil. This region has a humid subtropical climate, with hot, humid summers and a short, mild-to-cool winter
Transporting your vehicle to Iowa
About 22 million people are living in the Hawkeye State. Iowa has a humid continental climate throughout the state. Snowfall is common in Iowa. Spring brings in severe weather season. Iowa has about 50 thunderstorm days per year and has a tornado season. Iowa is known for hot and humid summers. Be sure to check the weather before your move, especially during the springtime.
FAQ
Does someone have to be present when you ship a car for pickup in Maryland and delivery in Iowa?
Most companies will require that an adult of at least 18 years of age be present when picking up your car in Maryland and when dropping it off in Iowa.
Do you need car insurance when shipping your car from Maryland to Iowa?
If you’re not driving the vehicle from Maryland to Iowa, you aren't required to have typical car insurance. Your car hauler should have adequate insurance if an accident happened on the drive to Iowa, which you should verify before loading your car in Maryland.
If you’re driving your car at all in either state, you should understand the requirements. All vehicles in Maryland must maintain insurance coverage from a Maryland-licensed insurance company at all times, with mandatory minimum coverage of $30,000 for bodily injury per person, $60,000 for multiple people, and $15,000 for property damage.
Iowa requires minimum liability insurance, covering $20,000 for individual injury or death, $40,000 for multiple individuals, and $15,000 for property damage in an accident.
How long does it take to ship a car from Maryland to Iowa?
Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from Maryland to Iowa is about 1,013 miles, and that’s as fast as about 3 days. However, most car transport companies will take two to eight days to travel from Maryland to Iowa.
Will I be required to have a vehicle inspection in either state?
If you recently relocated to Maryland or bought a vehicle, you must get it inspected at an authorized inspection station before registering the vehicle. New residents are mandated to undergo a vehicle safety inspection before obtaining car registration.
In Iowa, car owners are not obligated to undergo emissions, VIN, or safety inspections.
If I have a driver’s license in Maryland, will I need one in Iowa?
New residents with an out-of-state license must obtain an Iowa license within 30 days of establishing permanent residency. To do so, visit the DMV with your former state license, as it will need to be surrendered for the new license.
If I bought a car in Maryland, will I be required to pay sales tax in Iowa after shipping it there?
It’s important to understand any tax implications if you’re having a car shipped from Maryland to Iowa after purchasing it.
In Iowa, sales of vehicles requiring registration are exempt from sales tax but subject to a 5% fee for new registration.
We recommend that you always check for updated tax information in both Maryland and Iowa to avoid any hidden costs.
What is the cheapest way to ship a car from Maryland to Iowa?
The cheapest way to ship a car from Maryland to Iowa 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 Maryland to Iowa?
Shipping a car from Maryland to Iowa costs $789 to $1,367.
