Maine to South Dakota Car Shipping (2024 Cost Guide)
Fact Checked by: Quick answer: The average cost to ship a car 1,954 miles from Maine to South Dakota ranges from $1,219 to $1,908 and takes three–eleven 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 South Dakota to Maine car shipping guide.
The best Maine to South Dakota car shipping companies
We’ve done the research and these are the best car shipping companies to help transport your vehicle from Maine to South Dakota:
- 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 South Dakota
- Drive it yourself. This is straightforward but not always an option, and it will put about 1,954 miles on your car going from Maine to South Dakota. 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 South Dakota, 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 South Dakota 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 SD 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 South Dakota. The average travel distance is about 1,954 miles, with shipping times typically ranging from three to eleven days .
Cost to ship a car from Portland, ME to South Dakota
| From Maine to South Dakota | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portland, ME to Sioux Falls, SD | $1,232 – $1,671 | 1,654 miles | 3 – 9 days |
| Portland, ME to Rapid City, SD | $1,219 – $2,006 | 1,992 miles | 3 – 11 days |
| Portland, ME to Aberdeen, SD | $1,177 – $1,850 | 1,779 miles | 3 – 11 days |
| Portland, ME to Brookings, SD | $1,202 – $1,797 | 1,703 miles | 3 – 9 days |
| Portland, ME to Watertown, SD | $1,149 – $1,722 | 1,688 miles | 3 – 9 days |
Cost to ship a car from Lewiston, ME to South Dakota
| From Maine to South Dakota | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lewiston, ME to Sioux Falls, SD | $1,232 – $1,654 | 1,686 miles | 3 – 9 days |
| Lewiston, ME to Rapid City, SD | $1,353 – $2,095 | 2,024 miles | 4 – 12 days |
| Lewiston, ME to Aberdeen, SD | $1,201 – $1,780 | 1,811 miles | 3 – 11 days |
| Lewiston, ME to Brookings, SD | $1,202 – $1,868 | 1,735 miles | 3 – 9 days |
| Lewiston, ME to Watertown, SD | $1,226 – $1,868 | 1,721 miles | 3 – 9 days |
Cost to ship a car from Bangor, ME to South Dakota
| From Maine to South Dakota | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bangor, ME to Sioux Falls, SD | $1,287 – $1,833 | 1,783 miles | 3 – 11 days |
| Bangor, ME to Rapid City, SD | $1,315 – $1,984 | 2,121 miles | 4 – 12 days |
| Bangor, ME to Aberdeen, SD | $1,257 – $1,869 | 1,908 miles | 3 – 11 days |
| Bangor, ME to Brookings, SD | $1,239 – $1,968 | 1,831 miles | 3 – 11 days |
| Bangor, ME to Watertown, SD | $1,251 – $1,855 | 1,817 miles | 3 – 11 days |
Cost to ship a car from South Portland, ME to South Dakota
| From Maine to South Dakota | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Portland, ME to Sioux Falls, SD | $1,161 – $1,620 | 1,655 miles | 3 – 9 days |
| South Portland, ME to Rapid City, SD | $1,231 – $1,908 | 1,993 miles | 3 – 11 days |
| South Portland, ME to Aberdeen, SD | $1,226 – $1,797 | 1,780 miles | 3 – 11 days |
| South Portland, ME to Brookings, SD | $1,214 – $1,815 | 1,704 miles | 3 – 9 days |
| South Portland, ME to Watertown, SD | $1,220 – $1,688 | 1,690 miles | 3 – 9 days |
Cost to ship a car from Auburn, ME to South Dakota
| From Maine to South Dakota | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Auburn, ME to Sioux Falls, SD | $1,196 – $1,637 | 1,684 miles | 3 – 9 days |
| Auburn, ME to Rapid City, SD | $1,275 – $2,115 | 2,022 miles | 4 – 12 days |
| Auburn, ME to Aberdeen, SD | $1,315 – $1,818 | 1,809 miles | 3 – 11 days |
| Auburn, ME to Brookings, SD | $1,202 – $1,708 | 1,732 miles | 3 – 9 days |
| Auburn, ME to Watertown, SD | $1,251 – $1,761 | 1,718 miles | 3 – 9 days |
Shipping an SUV or truck from Maine to South Dakota
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 South Dakota you should expect to pay between $1,524 and $2,385.
Factors that affect car shipping costs from ME to SD
When transporting your vehicle from the Pine Tree State to the Mount Rushmore 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 South Dakota.
- Distance and route: The journey from Maine to South Dakota spans approximately 1,954 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 South Dakota 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 South Dakota should take between three and eleven days. Expedited services are available but come at a higher cost.
South Dakota vehicle regulations you need to know
- Car insurance requirements: In South Dakota, drivers must show proof of financial responsibility, typically met through car insurance. Key coverage includes: Bodily Injury Liability (25/50/25): $25,000/person, $50,000/accident for injuries. Property Damage Liability (25/50/25): $25,000/accident for property damage. Uninsured Motorist Coverage (UM): Required for personal injuries caused by uninsured drivers or hit-and-runs. Underinsured Motorist Coverage (UIM): Covers personal injuries from motorists with insufficient insurance. Note: Coverages are not stackable; they operate independently.
- Vehicle inspection: South Dakota does not have a mandatory vehicle inspection program for passenger vehicles. However, commercial vehicles and buses are required to pass annual inspections. If you are a new resident of South Dakota, you are required to obtain a South Dakota driver's license within 90 days of becoming a resident.
- Driver’s license: If you are a new resident of South Dakota, you are required to obtain a South Dakota driver's license within 90 days of becoming a resident.
- Additional taxes: When moving to South Dakota, you will need to register your vehicle with the South Dakota Department of Revenue within 90 days. You will need to provide proof of insurance, the vehicle title, pay a fee based on the vehicle's value, 4% sales tax, and $5 per wheel wheel tax.
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 South Dakota
About 22 million people are living in the Mount Rushmore State. In South Dakota, drivers are required to have liability insurance coverage with at least the following minimum limits: $25,000 for bodily injury or death per person in an accident, $50,000 for total bodily injury or death per accident, and $25,000 for property damage per accident.
FAQ
Does someone have to be present when you ship a car for pickup in Maine and delivery in South Dakota?
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 South Dakota.
Do you need car insurance when shipping your car from Maine to South Dakota?
If you’re not driving the vehicle from Maine to South Dakota, you aren't required to have typical car insurance. Your car hauler should have adequate insurance if an accident happened on the drive to South Dakota, 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 South Dakota, drivers must show proof of financial responsibility, typically met through car insurance. Key coverage includes: Bodily Injury Liability (25/50/25): $25,000/person, $50,000/accident for injuries. Property Damage Liability (25/50/25): $25,000/accident for property damage. Uninsured Motorist Coverage (UM): Required for personal injuries caused by uninsured drivers or hit-and-runs. Underinsured Motorist Coverage (UIM): Covers personal injuries from motorists with insufficient insurance. Note: Coverages are not stackable; they operate independently.
How long does it take to ship a car from Maine to South Dakota?
Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from Maine to South Dakota is about 1,954 miles, and that’s as fast as about 4 days. However, most car transport companies will take three to eleven days to travel from Maine to South Dakota.
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.
South Dakota does not have a mandatory vehicle inspection program for passenger vehicles. However, commercial vehicles and buses are required to pass annual inspections. If you are a new resident of South Dakota, you are required to obtain a South Dakota driver's license within 90 days of becoming a resident.
If I have a driver’s license in Maine, will I need one in South Dakota?
If you are a new resident of South Dakota, you are required to obtain a South Dakota driver's license within 90 days of becoming a resident.
If I bought a car in Maine, will I be required to pay sales tax in South Dakota after shipping it there?
It’s important to understand any tax implications if you’re having a car shipped from Maine to South Dakota after purchasing it.
When moving to South Dakota, you will need to register your vehicle with the South Dakota Department of Revenue within 90 days. You will need to provide proof of insurance, the vehicle title, pay a fee based on the vehicle's value, 4% sales tax, and $5 per wheel wheel tax.
We recommend that you always check for updated tax information in both Maine and South Dakota to avoid any hidden costs.
What is the cheapest way to ship a car from Maine to South Dakota?
The cheapest way to ship a car from Maine to South Dakota 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 South Dakota?
Shipping a car from Maine to South Dakota costs $1,219 to $1,908.
