Maine to Iowa Car Shipping (2024 Cost Guide)
Fact Checked by: Quick answer: The average cost to ship a car 1,516 miles from Maine to Iowa ranges from $1,173 to $1,562 and takes three–nine 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 Maine car shipping guide.
The best Maine to Iowa car shipping companies
We’ve done the research and these are the best car shipping companies to help transport your vehicle from Maine 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 Maine to Iowa
- Drive it yourself. This is straightforward but not always an option, and it will put about 1,516 miles on your car going from Maine 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 Maine 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 Maine 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!
ME 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 Maine and Iowa. The average travel distance is about 1,516 miles, with shipping times typically ranging from three to nine days .
Cost to ship a car from Portland, ME to Iowa
| From Maine to Iowa | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portland, ME to Des Moines, IA | $1,035 – $1,472 | 1,399 miles | 3 – 8 days |
| Portland, ME to Cedar Rapids, IA | $1,025 – $1,595 | 1,312 miles | 3 – 8 days |
| Portland, ME to Davenport, IA | $937 – $1,508 | 1,232 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Portland, ME to Sioux City, IA | $1,127 – $1,708 | 1,576 miles | 3 – 9 days |
| Portland, ME to Iowa City, IA | $937 – $1,523 | 1,287 miles | 3 – 8 days |
Cost to ship a car from Lewiston, ME to Iowa
| From Maine to Iowa | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lewiston, ME to Des Moines, IA | $1,028 – $1,626 | 1,432 miles | 3 – 8 days |
| Lewiston, ME to Cedar Rapids, IA | $975 – $1,549 | 1,344 miles | 3 – 8 days |
| Lewiston, ME to Davenport, IA | $966 – $1,508 | 1,264 miles | 3 – 8 days |
| Lewiston, ME to Sioux City, IA | $1,232 – $1,739 | 1,608 miles | 3 – 9 days |
| Lewiston, ME to Iowa City, IA | $1,025 – $1,610 | 1,320 miles | 3 – 8 days |
Cost to ship a car from Bangor, ME to Iowa
| From Maine to Iowa | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bangor, ME to Des Moines, IA | $1,116 – $1,594 | 1,529 miles | 3 – 9 days |
| Bangor, ME to Cedar Rapids, IA | $1,071 – $1,610 | 1,441 miles | 3 – 8 days |
| Bangor, ME to Davenport, IA | $1,035 – $1,595 | 1,361 miles | 3 – 8 days |
| Bangor, ME to Sioux City, IA | $1,275 – $1,690 | 1,704 miles | 3 – 9 days |
| Bangor, ME to Iowa City, IA | $1,082 – $1,546 | 1,417 miles | 3 – 8 days |
Cost to ship a car from South Portland, ME to Iowa
| From Maine to Iowa | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Portland, ME to Des Moines, IA | $1,136 – $1,530 | 1,401 miles | 3 – 8 days |
| South Portland, ME to Cedar Rapids, IA | $1,015 – $1,457 | 1,313 miles | 3 – 8 days |
| South Portland, ME to Davenport, IA | $985 – $1,449 | 1,233 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| South Portland, ME to Sioux City, IA | $1,162 – $1,708 | 1,577 miles | 3 – 9 days |
| South Portland, ME to Iowa City, IA | $918 – $1,493 | 1,289 miles | 3 – 8 days |
Cost to ship a car from Auburn, ME to Iowa
| From Maine to Iowa | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Auburn, ME to Des Moines, IA | $1,125 – $1,610 | 1,429 miles | 3 – 8 days |
| Auburn, ME to Cedar Rapids, IA | $1,015 – $1,487 | 1,342 miles | 3 – 8 days |
| Auburn, ME to Davenport, IA | $918 – $1,508 | 1,261 miles | 3 – 8 days |
| Auburn, ME to Sioux City, IA | $1,125 – $1,637 | 1,606 miles | 3 – 9 days |
| Auburn, ME to Iowa City, IA | $995 – $1,533 | 1,317 miles | 3 – 8 days |
Shipping an SUV or truck from Maine 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 Maine to Iowa you should expect to pay between $1,466 and $1,953.
Factors that affect car shipping costs from ME to IA
When transporting your vehicle from the Pine Tree 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 Maine to Iowa spans approximately 1,516 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 Maine, 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 Maine 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 Maine to Iowa should take between three and nine 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 Maine
More than 39 million people call Maine home. Nicknamed the Pine Tree State, Maine has a humid continental climate. with warm and sometimes humid summers, and long, cold and very snowy winters. Winters are especially severe in the Northern and Western parts of Maine, while coastal areas are moderated slightly by the Atlantic Ocean, resulting in marginally milder winters and cooler summers than inland regions.
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 Maine 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 Maine and when dropping it off in Iowa.
Do you need car insurance when shipping your car from Maine to Iowa?
If you’re not driving the vehicle from Maine 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 Maine.
If you’re driving your car at all in either state, you should understand the requirements. In Maine, drivers must carry a minimum liability coverage of 50/100/25, requiring $50,000 for bodily injury per person, $100,000 for all injuries per accident, and $25,000 for property damage, as per car insurance laws.
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 Maine to Iowa?
Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from Maine to Iowa is about 1,516 miles, and that’s as fast as about 4 days. However, most car transport companies will take three to nine days to travel from Maine to Iowa.
Will I be required to have a vehicle inspection in either state?
The State of Maine requires annual safety inspections for all vehicles used on public roads to ensure they are in proper working condition and safe to operate. Safety inspections in Maine can be carried out at any official service station of the Maine Department of Transportation.
In Iowa, car owners are not obligated to undergo emissions, VIN, or safety inspections.
If I have a driver’s license in Maine, 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 Maine, 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 Maine 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 Maine and Iowa to avoid any hidden costs.
What is the cheapest way to ship a car from Maine to Iowa?
The cheapest way to ship a car from Maine 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 Maine to Iowa?
Shipping a car from Maine to Iowa costs $1,173 to $1,562.
