Maine to Michigan Car Shipping (2024 Cost Guide)

Quick answer: The average cost to ship a car 1,010 miles from Maine to Michigan ranges from $830 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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  • Price lock promise
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  • Established in 2007
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  • Services all 50 states
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Shipping a car the reverse route? We’ve got you covered with our Michigan to Maine car shipping guide.

The best Maine to Michigan car shipping companies

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

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
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  • 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 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
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  • 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
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

Alternative ways to ship your car from Maine to Michigan

  • Drive it yourself. This is straightforward but not always an option, and it will put about 1,010 miles on your car going from Maine to Michigan. 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 Michigan, 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 Michigan 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 MI 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 Michigan. The average travel distance is about 1,010 miles, with shipping times typically ranging from two to eight days .

Cost to ship a car from Portland, ME to Michigan

From Maine to Michigan Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Portland, ME to Detroit, MI $783 – $1,233 805 miles 2 – 7 days
Portland, ME to Grand Rapids, MI $820 – $1,335 935 miles 2 – 7 days
Portland, ME to Warren, MI $815 – $1,173 808 miles 2 – 7 days
Portland, ME to Sterling Heights, MI $839 – $1,185 804 miles 2 – 7 days
Portland, ME to Ann Arbor, MI $836 – $1,190 848 miles 2 – 7 days

Cost to ship a car from Lewiston, ME to Michigan

From Maine to Michigan Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Lewiston, ME to Detroit, MI $771 – $1,154 838 miles 2 – 7 days
Lewiston, ME to Grand Rapids, MI $819 – $1,321 967 miles 2 – 7 days
Lewiston, ME to Warren, MI $820 – $1,263 840 miles 2 – 7 days
Lewiston, ME to Sterling Heights, MI $771 – $1,154 836 miles 2 – 7 days
Lewiston, ME to Ann Arbor, MI $835 – $1,295 880 miles 2 – 7 days

Cost to ship a car from Bangor, ME to Michigan

From Maine to Michigan Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Bangor, ME to Detroit, MI $791 – $1,280 859 miles 2 – 7 days
Bangor, ME to Grand Rapids, MI $809 – $1,319 989 miles 2 – 7 days
Bangor, ME to Warren, MI $791 – $1,243 861 miles 2 – 7 days
Bangor, ME to Sterling Heights, MI $816 – $1,292 857 miles 2 – 7 days
Bangor, ME to Ann Arbor, MI $820 – $1,259 901 miles 2 – 7 days

Cost to ship a car from South Portland, ME to Michigan

From Maine to Michigan Cost Distance Estimated transit time
South Portland, ME to Detroit, MI $823 – $1,209 806 miles 2 – 7 days
South Portland, ME to Grand Rapids, MI $861 – $1,233 936 miles 2 – 7 days
South Portland, ME to Warren, MI $815 – $1,149 809 miles 2 – 7 days
South Portland, ME to Sterling Heights, MI $839 – $1,185 805 miles 2 – 7 days
South Portland, ME to Ann Arbor, MI $820 – $1,190 849 miles 2 – 7 days

Cost to ship a car from Auburn, ME to Michigan

From Maine to Michigan Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Auburn, ME to Detroit, MI $853 – $1,166 835 miles 2 – 7 days
Auburn, ME to Grand Rapids, MI $795 – $1,321 965 miles 2 – 7 days
Auburn, ME to Warren, MI $788 – $1,251 838 miles 2 – 7 days
Auburn, ME to Sterling Heights, MI $844 – $1,251 834 miles 2 – 7 days
Auburn, ME to Ann Arbor, MI $851 – $1,221 877 miles 2 – 7 days

Shipping an SUV or truck from Maine to Michigan

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 Michigan you should expect to pay between $1,038 and $1,709.

Factors that affect car shipping costs from ME to MI

When transporting your vehicle from the Pine Tree State to the Wolverine 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 Michigan.
  • Distance and route: The journey from Maine to Michigan spans approximately 1,010 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 Michigan 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 Michigan should take between two and eight days. Expedited services are available but come at a higher cost.

Michigan vehicle regulations you need to know

  • Car insurance requirements: Michigan requires a minimum auto insurance coverage of $50,000/$100,000 for bodily injury and $10,000 for property damage in case of an accident.
  • Vehicle inspection: Michigan does not require vehicle inspections for registration purposes. There is no state mandate for car safety inspections or emissions testing.
  • Driver’s license: Michigan law requires new residents to promptly title and register their vehicles, with no grace period provided. A person is considered a resident if they live in the state and prove their legal presence in the US. To comply with these requirements, new residents should visit a Secretary of State office to obtain a Michigan driver's license, title, and registration as soon as they establish residency.
  • Additional taxes: In Michigan, a 6% sales tax is imposed on all vehicle purchases.

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 Michigan

About 22 million people are living in the Wolverine State. Michigan has a continental climate, although there are two distinct regions. The southern and central parts of the Lower Peninsula (south of Saginaw Bay and from the Grand Rapids area southward) have a warmer climate with hot summers and cold winters. The northern part of the Lower Peninsula and the entire Upper Peninsula has a more severe climate (Köppen Dfb), with warm, but shorter summers and longer, cold to very cold winters. Some parts of the state average high temperatures below freezing from December through February, and into early March in the far northern parts. During the winter through the middle of February, the state is frequently subjected to heavy lake-effect snow. The state averages 30 days of thunderstorm activity per year. These can be severe, especially in the southern part of the state. The state averages 17 tornadoes per year, which are more common in the state's extreme southern section.

FAQ

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

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 Michigan.

Do you need car insurance when shipping your car from Maine to Michigan?

If you’re not driving the vehicle from Maine to Michigan, you aren't required to have typical car insurance. Your car hauler should have adequate insurance if an accident happened on the drive to Michigan, 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.

Michigan requires a minimum auto insurance coverage of $50,000/$100,000 for bodily injury and $10,000 for property damage in case of an accident.

How long does it take to ship a car from Maine to Michigan?

Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from Maine to Michigan is about 1,010 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 Michigan.

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.

Michigan does not require vehicle inspections for registration purposes. There is no state mandate for car safety inspections or emissions testing.

If I have a driver’s license in Maine, will I need one in Michigan?

Michigan law requires new residents to promptly title and register their vehicles, with no grace period provided. A person is considered a resident if they live in the state and prove their legal presence in the US. To comply with these requirements, new residents should visit a Secretary of State office to obtain a Michigan driver's license, title, and registration as soon as they establish residency.

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

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

In Michigan, a 6% sales tax is imposed on all vehicle purchases.

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

What is the cheapest way to ship a car from Maine to Michigan?

The cheapest way to ship a car from Maine to Michigan 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 Michigan?

Shipping a car from Maine to Michigan costs $830 to $1,367.

Helpful Maine resources