Maine to Rhode Island Car Shipping (2024 Cost Guide)
Fact Checked by: Quick answer: The average cost to ship a car 316 miles from Maine to Rhode Island ranges from $513 to $728 and takes one–four 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 Rhode Island to Maine car shipping guide.
The best Maine to Rhode Island car shipping companies
We’ve done the research and these are the best car shipping companies to help transport your vehicle from Maine to Rhode Island:
- 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 Rhode Island
- Drive it yourself. This is straightforward but not always an option, and it will put about 316 miles on your car going from Maine to Rhode Island. 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 Rhode Island, 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 Rhode Island 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 RI 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 Rhode Island. The average travel distance is about 316 miles, with shipping times typically ranging from one to four days .
Cost to ship a car from Portland, ME to Rhode Island
| From Maine to Rhode Island | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portland, ME to Providence, RI | $388 – $513 | 162 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Portland, ME to Warwick, RI | $413 – $547 | 174 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Portland, ME to Cranston, RI | $365 – $550 | 166 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Portland, ME to Pawtucket, RI | $348 – $528 | 157 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Portland, ME to East Providence, RI | $380 – $513 | 165 miles | 1 – 4 days |
Cost to ship a car from Lewiston, ME to Rhode Island
| From Maine to Rhode Island | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lewiston, ME to Providence, RI | $420 – $551 | 194 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Lewiston, ME to Warwick, RI | $434 – $598 | 206 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Lewiston, ME to Cranston, RI | $454 – $574 | 198 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Lewiston, ME to Pawtucket, RI | $424 – $574 | 190 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Lewiston, ME to East Providence, RI | $428 – $563 | 198 miles | 1 – 4 days |
Cost to ship a car from Bangor, ME to Rhode Island
| From Maine to Rhode Island | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bangor, ME to Providence, RI | $479 – $673 | 291 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Bangor, ME to Warwick, RI | $492 – $700 | 303 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Bangor, ME to Cranston, RI | $493 – $627 | 295 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Bangor, ME to Pawtucket, RI | $488 – $679 | 286 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Bangor, ME to East Providence, RI | $493 – $666 | 294 miles | 1 – 4 days |
Cost to ship a car from South Portland, ME to Rhode Island
| From Maine to Rhode Island | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Portland, ME to Providence, RI | $395 – $555 | 163 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| South Portland, ME to Warwick, RI | $401 – $553 | 175 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| South Portland, ME to Cranston, RI | $392 – $544 | 167 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| South Portland, ME to Pawtucket, RI | $362 – $538 | 158 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| South Portland, ME to East Providence, RI | $392 – $502 | 167 miles | 1 – 4 days |
Cost to ship a car from Auburn, ME to Rhode Island
| From Maine to Rhode Island | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Auburn, ME to Providence, RI | $446 – $534 | 192 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Auburn, ME to Warwick, RI | $434 – $569 | 203 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Auburn, ME to Cranston, RI | $446 – $557 | 196 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Auburn, ME to Pawtucket, RI | $409 – $553 | 187 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Auburn, ME to East Providence, RI | $454 – $546 | 195 miles | 1 – 4 days |
Shipping an SUV or truck from Maine to Rhode Island
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 Rhode Island you should expect to pay between $641 and $910.
Factors that affect car shipping costs from ME to RI
When transporting your vehicle from the Pine Tree State to the Ocean 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 Rhode Island.
- Distance and route: The journey from Maine to Rhode Island spans approximately 316 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 Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island should take between one and four days. Expedited services are available but come at a higher cost.
Rhode Island vehicle regulations you need to know
- Car insurance requirements: When relocating to Rhode Island, it's essential to secure car insurance meeting the state's minimum requirements, which include liability coverage of $25,000 per person for bodily injury, $50,000 total for bodily injury per accident, and $25,000 for property damage per accident. Additionally, Rhode Island mandates all drivers to carry uninsured motorist coverage for comprehensive protection.
- Vehicle inspection: All newly registered vehicles (except new vehicles) must pass a Safety and Emissions inspection or have a valid inspection certificate within 5 days of registration. If not, the registration may be suspended. New vehicles are exempt from inspection for 2 years or until they reach 24,000 miles. Different categories of vehicles have different inspection requirements and must be inspected at a licensed station.
- Driver’s license: If you are moving to Rhode Island from another state, you have 60 days to obtain a Rhode Island driver's license. You will need to provide proof of identity, residency, and legal presence in the U.S. This can include documents such as a birth certificate, passport, or permanent resident card.
- Additional taxes: When moving to Rhode Island and registering a vehicle, you will likely be required to pay taxes and fees, even if you have already paid similar taxes in your previous state. It's best to check with the Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles for the specific taxes and fees that may apply when registering your vehicle in Rhode Island.
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 Rhode Island
About 22 million people are living in the Ocean State. Rhode Island has warm summers and cold winters. The state's southern coastal portions have hot summers and cool winters with a mix of rain and snow.
FAQ
Does someone have to be present when you ship a car for pickup in Maine and delivery in Rhode Island?
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 Rhode Island.
Do you need car insurance when shipping your car from Maine to Rhode Island?
If you’re not driving the vehicle from Maine to Rhode Island, you aren't required to have typical car insurance. Your car hauler should have adequate insurance if an accident happened on the drive to Rhode Island, 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.
When relocating to Rhode Island, it's essential to secure car insurance meeting the state's minimum requirements, which include liability coverage of $25,000 per person for bodily injury, $50,000 total for bodily injury per accident, and $25,000 for property damage per accident. Additionally, Rhode Island mandates all drivers to carry uninsured motorist coverage for comprehensive protection.
How long does it take to ship a car from Maine to Rhode Island?
Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from Maine to Rhode Island is about 316 miles, and that’s as fast as about 1 day. However, most car transport companies will take one to four days to travel from Maine to Rhode Island.
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.
All newly registered vehicles (except new vehicles) must pass a Safety and Emissions inspection or have a valid inspection certificate within 5 days of registration. If not, the registration may be suspended. New vehicles are exempt from inspection for 2 years or until they reach 24,000 miles. Different categories of vehicles have different inspection requirements and must be inspected at a licensed station.
If I have a driver’s license in Maine, will I need one in Rhode Island?
If you are moving to Rhode Island from another state, you have 60 days to obtain a Rhode Island driver's license. You will need to provide proof of identity, residency, and legal presence in the U.S. This can include documents such as a birth certificate, passport, or permanent resident card.
If I bought a car in Maine, will I be required to pay sales tax in Rhode Island after shipping it there?
It’s important to understand any tax implications if you’re having a car shipped from Maine to Rhode Island after purchasing it.
When moving to Rhode Island and registering a vehicle, you will likely be required to pay taxes and fees, even if you have already paid similar taxes in your previous state. It's best to check with the Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles for the specific taxes and fees that may apply when registering your vehicle in Rhode Island.
We recommend that you always check for updated tax information in both Maine and Rhode Island to avoid any hidden costs.
What is the cheapest way to ship a car from Maine to Rhode Island?
The cheapest way to ship a car from Maine to Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island?
Shipping a car from Maine to Rhode Island costs $513 to $728.
