Michigan to Colorado Car Shipping (2024 Cost Guide)

Quick answer: The average cost to ship a car 1,331 miles from Michigan to Colorado ranges from $1,017 to $1,629 and takes three–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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  • No deposit
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Shipping a car the reverse route? We’ve got you covered with our Colorado to Michigan car shipping guide.

The best Michigan to Colorado car shipping companies

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

Best for accurate pricing
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moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.5 / 5
Check prices (833) 775-1461
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  • 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 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
Best for discounts
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moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.3 / 5
Check prices (770) 501-9057
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  • 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
At A Glance
  • 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

Alternative ways to ship your car from Michigan to Colorado

  • Drive it yourself. This is straightforward but not always an option, and it will put about 1,331 miles on your car going from Michigan to Colorado. 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 Michigan for a move to Colorado, 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 Michigan to Colorado 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!

MI to CO auto transport costs and transit times

The tables below detail the costs and estimated transit times for shipping a car between popular cities in Michigan and Colorado. The average travel distance is about 1,331 miles, with shipping times typically ranging from three to eight days .

Cost to ship a car from Detroit, MI to Colorado

From Michigan to Colorado Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Detroit, MI to Denver, CO $939 – $1,526 1,268 miles 3 – 8 days
Detroit, MI to Colorado Springs, CO $1,048 – $1,552 1,339 miles 3 – 8 days
Detroit, MI to Aurora, CO $1,016 – $1,467 1,269 miles 3 – 8 days
Detroit, MI to Fort Collins, CO $1,016 – $1,452 1,248 miles 2 – 8 days
Detroit, MI to Lakewood, CO $1,007 – $1,422 1,275 miles 3 – 8 days

Cost to ship a car from Grand Rapids, MI to Colorado

From Michigan to Colorado Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Grand Rapids, MI to Denver, CO $905 – $1,390 1,164 miles 2 – 8 days
Grand Rapids, MI to Colorado Springs, CO $939 – $1,408 1,235 miles 2 – 8 days
Grand Rapids, MI to Aurora, CO $888 – $1,474 1,166 miles 2 – 8 days
Grand Rapids, MI to Fort Collins, CO $888 – $1,375 1,143 miles 2 – 8 days
Grand Rapids, MI to Lakewood, CO $852 – $1,347 1,171 miles 2 – 8 days

Cost to ship a car from Warren, MI to Colorado

From Michigan to Colorado Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Warren, MI to Denver, CO $958 – $1,482 1,277 miles 3 – 8 days
Warren, MI to Colorado Springs, CO $1,007 – $1,567 1,348 miles 3 – 8 days
Warren, MI to Aurora, CO $997 – $1,511 1,279 miles 3 – 8 days
Warren, MI to Fort Collins, CO $958 – $1,422 1,256 miles 3 – 8 days
Warren, MI to Lakewood, CO $997 – $1,482 1,284 miles 3 – 8 days

Cost to ship a car from Sterling Heights, MI to Colorado

From Michigan to Colorado Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Sterling Heights, MI to Denver, CO $929 – $1,497 1,281 miles 3 – 8 days
Sterling Heights, MI to Colorado Springs, CO $1,017 – $1,598 1,351 miles 3 – 8 days
Sterling Heights, MI to Aurora, CO $920 – $1,437 1,282 miles 3 – 8 days
Sterling Heights, MI to Fort Collins, CO $968 – $1,437 1,260 miles 3 – 8 days
Sterling Heights, MI to Lakewood, CO $997 – $1,541 1,287 miles 3 – 8 days

Cost to ship a car from Ann Arbor, MI to Colorado

From Michigan to Colorado Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Ann Arbor, MI to Denver, CO $920 – $1,526 1,227 miles 2 – 8 days
Ann Arbor, MI to Colorado Springs, CO $949 – $1,511 1,298 miles 3 – 8 days
Ann Arbor, MI to Aurora, CO $997 – $1,497 1,228 miles 2 – 8 days
Ann Arbor, MI to Fort Collins, CO $987 – $1,437 1,206 miles 2 – 8 days
Ann Arbor, MI to Lakewood, CO $968 – $1,422 1,233 miles 2 – 8 days

Shipping an SUV or truck from Michigan to Colorado

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 Michigan to Colorado you should expect to pay between $1,271 and $2,036.

Factors that affect car shipping costs from MI to CO

When transporting your vehicle from the Wolverine State to the Centennial 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 Colorado.
  • Distance and route: The journey from Michigan to Colorado spans approximately 1,331 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 Michigan, 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 Michigan and Colorado 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 Michigan to Colorado should take between three and eight days. Expedited services are available but come at a higher cost.

Colorado vehicle regulations you need to know

  • Car insurance requirements: To drive in Colorado, you must have insurance with minimum 25/50/10 liability limits, covering $25,000 per person for bodily injury, $50,000 per accident for bodily injury, and $15,000 for property damage. While meeting the state's minimum requirement, it's advisable to consider factors for determining optimal coverage levels.
  • Vehicle inspection: To register and title your vehicle in Colorado within 90 days of moving, you'll need to provide the DMV with an out-of-state vehicle title, proof of a valid Colorado auto insurance policy, verifiable identification, and documentation of the vehicle's weight.
  • Driver’s license: To obtain a Colorado driver's license, new residents must visit a Colorado DMV office in person. The process cannot be done online or by phone. A valid out-of-state license is required, with no suspensions, revocations, or cancellations, and must not have been deemed unfit to drive by CO DMV or a court.
  • Additional taxes: Vehicles purchased outside Colorado are not taxed, but if they are registered in Colorado, the buyer must pay use and local taxes. If the buyer has already paid taxes in the state of purchase, they may claim credit towards the use tax. No use tax applies to vehicles brought into Colorado by a nonresident becoming a resident, but rules may differ for those who lease vehicles.

Learn more with our car shipping checklist.

Transporting your vehicle from Michigan

More than 39 million people call Michigan home. Nicknamed 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.

Transporting your vehicle to Colorado

About 22 million people are living in the Centennial State. Colorado has a relatively complex climate. Ranging from the famous mountain region of the state to desert. Therefore, keep track of the weather of your new city on move day. The most extreme weather that happens in Colorado happens in the least populated areas of the state but you may drive through these regions to get to your new home so be wary of that too.

FAQ

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

Most companies will require that an adult of at least 18 years of age be present when picking up your car in Michigan and when dropping it off in Colorado.

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

If you’re not driving the vehicle from Michigan to Colorado, you aren't required to have typical car insurance. Your car hauler should have adequate insurance if an accident happened on the drive to Colorado, which you should verify before loading your car in Michigan.

If you’re driving your car at all in either state, you should understand the 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.

To drive in Colorado, you must have insurance with minimum 25/50/10 liability limits, covering $25,000 per person for bodily injury, $50,000 per accident for bodily injury, and $15,000 for property damage. While meeting the state's minimum requirement, it's advisable to consider factors for determining optimal coverage levels.

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

Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from Michigan to Colorado is about 1,331 miles, and that’s as fast as about 3 days. However, most car transport companies will take three to eight days to travel from Michigan to Colorado.

Will I be required to have a vehicle inspection in either state?

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

To register and title your vehicle in Colorado within 90 days of moving, you'll need to provide the DMV with an out-of-state vehicle title, proof of a valid Colorado auto insurance policy, verifiable identification, and documentation of the vehicle's weight.

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

To obtain a Colorado driver's license, new residents must visit a Colorado DMV office in person. The process cannot be done online or by phone. A valid out-of-state license is required, with no suspensions, revocations, or cancellations, and must not have been deemed unfit to drive by CO DMV or a court.

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

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

Vehicles purchased outside Colorado are not taxed, but if they are registered in Colorado, the buyer must pay use and local taxes. If the buyer has already paid taxes in the state of purchase, they may claim credit towards the use tax. No use tax applies to vehicles brought into Colorado by a nonresident becoming a resident, but rules may differ for those who lease vehicles.

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

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

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

Shipping a car from Michigan to Colorado costs $1,017 to $1,629.

Helpful Michigan resources