Maine to Kentucky Car Shipping (2024 Cost Guide)
Fact Checked by: Quick answer: The average cost to ship a car 1,152 miles from Maine to Kentucky ranges from $914 to $1,375 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 Kentucky to Maine car shipping guide.
The best Maine to Kentucky car shipping companies
We’ve done the research and these are the best car shipping companies to help transport your vehicle from Maine to Kentucky:
- Best for accurate pricing: Sherpa Auto Transport
- Best cross-country shipper: Montway Auto Transport
- Best for quick pickup: Easy Auto Ship
- Best for discounts: AmeriFreight Car Transport
- Best for overall value: SGT Auto Transport
- 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
- No upfront deposit
- Expedited shipping
- No hidden fees
- Ships motorcycles & RVs
- Discount for cash payments
- 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
Alternative ways to ship your car from Maine to Kentucky
- Drive it yourself. This is straightforward but not always an option, and it will put about 1,152 miles on your car going from Maine 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 Maine 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 Maine 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!
ME 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 Maine and Kentucky. The average travel distance is about 1,152 miles, with shipping times typically ranging from two to eight days .
Cost to ship a car from Portland, ME to Kentucky
| From Maine to Kentucky | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portland, ME to Louisville, KY | $848 – $1,317 | 1,081 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Portland, ME to Lexington, KY | $831 – $1,251 | 1,023 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Portland, ME to Bowling Green, KY | $949 – $1,511 | 1,200 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Portland, ME to Owensboro, KY | $896 – $1,460 | 1,185 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Portland, ME to Covington, KY | $818 – $1,308 | 984 miles | 2 – 7 days |
Cost to ship a car from Lewiston, ME to Kentucky
| From Maine to Kentucky | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lewiston, ME to Louisville, KY | $905 – $1,460 | 1,113 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Lewiston, ME to Lexington, KY | $782 – $1,251 | 1,056 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Lewiston, ME to Bowling Green, KY | $1,016 – $1,497 | 1,233 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Lewiston, ME to Owensboro, KY | $987 – $1,467 | 1,217 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Lewiston, ME to Covington, KY | $782 – $1,291 | 1,016 miles | 2 – 8 days |
Cost to ship a car from Bangor, ME to Kentucky
| From Maine to Kentucky | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bangor, ME to Louisville, KY | $920 – $1,467 | 1,209 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Bangor, ME to Lexington, KY | $861 – $1,474 | 1,152 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Bangor, ME to Bowling Green, KY | $1,048 – $1,598 | 1,329 miles | 3 – 8 days |
| Bangor, ME to Owensboro, KY | $986 – $1,505 | 1,314 miles | 3 – 8 days |
| Bangor, ME to Covington, KY | $870 – $1,361 | 1,112 miles | 2 – 8 days |
Cost to ship a car from South Portland, ME to Kentucky
| From Maine to Kentucky | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Portland, ME to Louisville, KY | $815 – $1,317 | 1,082 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| South Portland, ME to Lexington, KY | $782 – $1,330 | 1,025 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| South Portland, ME to Bowling Green, KY | $978 – $1,452 | 1,202 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| South Portland, ME to Owensboro, KY | $923 – $1,474 | 1,186 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| South Portland, ME to Covington, KY | $852 – $1,295 | 985 miles | 2 – 7 days |
Cost to ship a car from Auburn, ME to Kentucky
| From Maine to Kentucky | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Auburn, ME to Louisville, KY | $879 – $1,418 | 1,110 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Auburn, ME to Lexington, KY | $831 – $1,278 | 1,053 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Auburn, ME to Bowling Green, KY | $929 – $1,467 | 1,230 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Auburn, ME to Owensboro, KY | $929 – $1,422 | 1,215 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Auburn, ME to Covington, KY | $856 – $1,264 | 1,013 miles | 2 – 8 days |
Shipping an SUV or truck from Maine 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 Maine to Kentucky you should expect to pay between $1,143 and $1,719.
Factors that affect car shipping costs from ME to KY
When transporting your vehicle from the Pine Tree 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 Maine to Kentucky spans approximately 1,152 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 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 Maine to Kentucky should take between two and eight 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 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 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 Maine 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 Maine and when dropping it off in Kentucky.
Do you need car insurance when shipping your car from Maine to Kentucky?
If you’re not driving the vehicle from Maine 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 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.
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 Maine to Kentucky?
Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from Maine to Kentucky is about 1,152 miles, and that’s as fast as about 3 days. However, most car transport companies will take two to eight days to travel from Maine to Kentucky.
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.
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 Maine, 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 Maine, 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 Maine 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 Maine and Kentucky to avoid any hidden costs.
What is the cheapest way to ship a car from Maine to Kentucky?
The cheapest way to ship a car from Maine 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 Maine to Kentucky?
Shipping a car from Maine to Kentucky costs $914 to $1,375.
