Maine to Montana Car Shipping (2024 Cost Guide)
Fact Checked by: Quick answer: The average cost to ship a car 2,535 miles from Maine to Montana ranges from $1,304 to $2,162 and takes seven–fifteen 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 Montana to Maine car shipping guide.
The best Maine to Montana car shipping companies
We’ve done the research and these are the best car shipping companies to help transport your vehicle from Maine to Montana:
- 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 Montana
- Drive it yourself. This is straightforward but not always an option, and it will put about 2,535 miles on your car going from Maine to Montana. 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 Montana, 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 Montana 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 MT 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 Montana. The average travel distance is about 2,535 miles, with shipping times typically ranging from seven to fifteen days .
Cost to ship a car from Portland, ME to Montana
| From Maine to Montana | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portland, ME to Billings, MT | $1,371 – $2,139 | 2,327 miles | 5 – 13 days |
| Portland, ME to Missoula, MT | $1,441 – $2,249 | 2,669 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Portland, ME to Great Falls, MT | $1,303 – $2,132 | 2,456 miles | 5 – 13 days |
| Portland, ME to Bozeman, MT | $1,276 – $2,089 | 2,467 miles | 5 – 13 days |
| Portland, ME to Butte, MT | $1,413 – $2,162 | 2,551 miles | 7 – 15 days |
Cost to ship a car from Lewiston, ME to Montana
| From Maine to Montana | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lewiston, ME to Billings, MT | $1,344 – $2,033 | 2,359 miles | 5 – 13 days |
| Lewiston, ME to Missoula, MT | $1,430 – $2,358 | 2,701 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Lewiston, ME to Great Falls, MT | $1,384 – $2,046 | 2,488 miles | 5 – 13 days |
| Lewiston, ME to Bozeman, MT | $1,413 – $2,183 | 2,500 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Lewiston, ME to Butte, MT | $1,399 – $2,055 | 2,584 miles | 7 – 15 days |
Cost to ship a car from Bangor, ME to Montana
| From Maine to Montana | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bangor, ME to Billings, MT | $1,330 – $2,261 | 2,456 miles | 5 – 13 days |
| Bangor, ME to Missoula, MT | $1,416 – $2,176 | 2,797 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Bangor, ME to Great Falls, MT | $1,345 – $2,098 | 2,584 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Bangor, ME to Bozeman, MT | $1,331 – $2,098 | 2,595 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Bangor, ME to Butte, MT | $1,356 – $2,227 | 2,680 miles | 7 – 15 days |
Cost to ship a car from South Portland, ME to Montana
| From Maine to Montana | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Portland, ME to Billings, MT | $1,398 – $2,204 | 2,328 miles | 5 – 13 days |
| South Portland, ME to Missoula, MT | $1,342 – $2,293 | 2,670 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| South Portland, ME to Great Falls, MT | $1,384 – $2,067 | 2,457 miles | 5 – 13 days |
| South Portland, ME to Bozeman, MT | $1,357 – $2,240 | 2,469 miles | 5 – 13 days |
| South Portland, ME to Butte, MT | $1,358 – $2,226 | 2,553 miles | 7 – 15 days |
Cost to ship a car from Auburn, ME to Montana
| From Maine to Montana | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Auburn, ME to Billings, MT | $1,371 – $2,246 | 2,356 miles | 5 – 13 days |
| Auburn, ME to Missoula, MT | $1,427 – $2,227 | 2,698 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Auburn, ME to Great Falls, MT | $1,303 – $2,067 | 2,485 miles | 5 – 13 days |
| Auburn, ME to Bozeman, MT | $1,276 – $2,197 | 2,497 miles | 5 – 13 days |
| Auburn, ME to Butte, MT | $1,331 – $2,183 | 2,581 miles | 7 – 15 days |
Shipping an SUV or truck from Maine to Montana
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 Montana you should expect to pay between $1,630 and $2,703.
Factors that affect car shipping costs from ME to MT
When transporting your vehicle from the Pine Tree State to the Big Sky Country, 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 Montana.
- Distance and route: The journey from Maine to Montana spans approximately 2,535 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 Montana 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 Montana should take between seven and fifteen days. Expedited services are available but come at a higher cost.
Montana vehicle regulations you need to know
- Car insurance requirements: In Montana, drivers must meet legal requirements for minimum car insurance liability coverage to ensure financial responsibility in accidents. Mandated by state regulations, this includes $25,000 per person for bodily injury and $50,000 per accident for bodily injury, covering collective medical expenses in case of multiple injuries, capped at $50,000 for the entire incident. Additionally, there's a required minimum of $20,000 per accident for property damage, crucial for addressing costs related to damage to another party's vehicle or property. Adhering to these insurance requirements is imperative for all motorists, ensuring compliance with state laws and contributing to a secure and responsible driving environment on Montana roadways.
- Vehicle inspection: If you are moving to Montana, you are not required to have your vehicle inspected.
- Driver’s license: New residents in Montana must start their driver’s license application process within 60 days of moving to the state.
- Additional taxes: In Montana, there is no state-level sales tax on vehicles, however, local governments in Montana may impose their own taxes and fees on vehicles.
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 Montana
About 22 million people are living in the Big Sky Country. Montana has a lot of variation in geography, topography, and elevation, and the climate is equally varied. The western half is mountainous, interrupted by numerous large valleys. Eastern Montana comprises plains and badlands, broken by hills and isolated mountain ranges, The Continental Divide has a considerable effect on the climate, as it restricts the flow of warmer air from the Pacific from moving east, and drier continental air from moving west. The area west of the divide has a modified northern Pacific Coast climate, with milder winters, cooler summers, less wind, and a longer growing season. Low clouds and fog often form in the valleys west of the divide in winter, but this is rarely seen in the east.
FAQ
Does someone have to be present when you ship a car for pickup in Maine and delivery in Montana?
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 Montana.
Do you need car insurance when shipping your car from Maine to Montana?
If you’re not driving the vehicle from Maine to Montana, you aren't required to have typical car insurance. Your car hauler should have adequate insurance if an accident happened on the drive to Montana, 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.
In Montana, drivers must meet legal requirements for minimum car insurance liability coverage to ensure financial responsibility in accidents. Mandated by state regulations, this includes $25,000 per person for bodily injury and $50,000 per accident for bodily injury, covering collective medical expenses in case of multiple injuries, capped at $50,000 for the entire incident. Additionally, there's a required minimum of $20,000 per accident for property damage, crucial for addressing costs related to damage to another party's vehicle or property. Adhering to these insurance requirements is imperative for all motorists, ensuring compliance with state laws and contributing to a secure and responsible driving environment on Montana roadways.
How long does it take to ship a car from Maine to Montana?
Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from Maine to Montana is about 2,535 miles, and that’s as fast as about 6 days. However, most car transport companies will take seven to fifteen days to travel from Maine to Montana.
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.
If you are moving to Montana, you are not required to have your vehicle inspected.
If I have a driver’s license in Maine, will I need one in Montana?
New residents in Montana must start their driver’s license application process within 60 days of moving to the state.
If I bought a car in Maine, will I be required to pay sales tax in Montana after shipping it there?
It’s important to understand any tax implications if you’re having a car shipped from Maine to Montana after purchasing it.
In Montana, there is no state-level sales tax on vehicles, however, local governments in Montana may impose their own taxes and fees on vehicles.
We recommend that you always check for updated tax information in both Maine and Montana to avoid any hidden costs.
What is the cheapest way to ship a car from Maine to Montana?
The cheapest way to ship a car from Maine to Montana 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 Montana?
Shipping a car from Maine to Montana costs $1,304 to $2,162.
