Michigan to Colorado Car Shipping (2024 Cost Guide)
Fact Checked by: Quick answer: The average cost to ship a car 1,342 miles from Michigan to Colorado ranges from $1,248 to $1,959 and takes 3–8 days depending on factors like the transport type and season. For a more detailed quote, use our car shipping cost calculator.
Shipping a car the reverse route? We’ve got you covered with our Colorado to Michigan car shipping guide.
Michigan to Colorado auto transport costs and transit times
The table below details the costs and estimated transit times for shipping a car between popular cities in Michigan and Colorado. The average travel distance is about 1,342 miles, with shipping times typically ranging from 3 to 8 days.
Cost to ship a car from Detroit, MI to Colorado
| From Michigan to Colorado | Distance | Cost | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit, MI to Denver, CO | 1,268 miles | $1,106–$1,817 | 3–8 days |
| Grand Rapids, MI to Colorado Springs, CO | 1,338 miles | $1,223–$1,791 | 3–8 days |
| Ann Arbor, MI to Aurora, CO | 1,269 miles | $1,222–$1,853 | 3–8 days |
| Lansing, MI to Fort Collins, CO | 1,247 miles | $1,187–$1,764 | 2–8 days |
| Flint, MI to Fruita, CO | 1,519 miles | $1,316–$1,960 | 3–9 days |
Cost to ship a car from Grand Rapids, MI to Colorado
| From Michigan to Colorado | Distance | Cost | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit, MI to Denver, CO | 1,164 miles | $1,089–$1,738 | 2–8 days |
| Grand Rapids, MI to Colorado Springs, CO | 1,233 miles | $1,106–$1,693 | 2–8 days |
| Ann Arbor, MI to Aurora, CO | 1,164 miles | $1,078–$1,637 | 2–8 days |
| Lansing, MI to Fort Collins, CO | 1,142 miles | $1,121–$1,721 | 2–8 days |
| Flint, MI to Fruita, CO | 1,414 miles | $1,330–$1,940 | 3–8 days |
Cost to ship a car from Ann Arbor, MI to Colorado
| From Michigan to Colorado | Distance | Cost | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit, MI to Denver, CO | 1,228 miles | $1,152–$1,764 | 2–8 days |
| Grand Rapids, MI to Colorado Springs, CO | 1,297 miles | $1,187–$1,871 | 3–8 days |
| Ann Arbor, MI to Aurora, CO | 1,227 miles | $1,141–$1,693 | 2–8 days |
| Lansing, MI to Fort Collins, CO | 1,206 miles | $1,117–$1,710 | 2–8 days |
| Flint, MI to Fruita, CO | 1,478 miles | $1,303–$1,979 | 3–8 days |
Cost to ship a car from Lansing, MI to Colorado
| From Michigan to Colorado | Distance | Cost | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit, MI to Denver, CO | 1,205 miles | $1,187–$1,835 | 2–8 days |
| Grand Rapids, MI to Colorado Springs, CO | 1,274 miles | $1,164–$1,799 | 3–8 days |
| Ann Arbor, MI to Aurora, CO | 1,205 miles | $1,164–$1,835 | 2–8 days |
| Lansing, MI to Fort Collins, CO | 1,183 miles | $1,035–$1,654 | 2–8 days |
| Flint, MI to Fruita, CO | 1,455 miles | $1,369–$1,998 | 3–8 days |
Cost to ship a car from Flint, MI to Colorado
| From Michigan to Colorado | Distance | Cost | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit, MI to Denver, CO | 1,261 miles | $1,129–$1,710 | 3–8 days |
| Grand Rapids, MI to Colorado Springs, CO | 1,328 miles | $1,248–$1,847 | 3–8 days |
| Ann Arbor, MI to Aurora, CO | 1,260 miles | $1,129–$1,693 | 3–8 days |
| Lansing, MI to Fort Collins, CO | 1,238 miles | $1,129–$1,817 | 2–8 days |
| Flint, MI to Fruita, CO | 1,509 miles | $1,413–$2,079 | 3–9 days |
Shipping an SUV or truck from Michigan to Colorado
Since vehicles like SUV, 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 $1,560 and $2,449.
Factors that affect the price of shipping a car from Michigan to Colorado
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 1,342 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 3 and 8 days. Expedited services are available but come at a higher cost.
The best Michigan to Colorado car shipping companies
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We’ve done the research and these are the best car shipping companies to help transport your vehicle from Michigan to Colorado:
- Best for Overall Value: SGT Auto Transport
- Best for Quick Pick Up: Easy Auto Ship
- Best Insurance Coverage: Ship A Car Direct
- Best for accurate pricing: Sherpa Auto Transport
- Best Cross Country: Montway Auto Transport
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 1,342 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 hire a moving company, they also work with reputable car shippers. Otherwise, there may be the option of even shipping your car with your household belongings!
- 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!
What else should you know about shipping a car from Michigan to Colorado?
- 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
Over 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 of Colorado. 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 picking up my car in Michigan and when dropping off my car in Colorado?
Most companies will require someone that is at least 18 years old to 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.
If you’re driving your car at all in either state, you should understand the 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.
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 1342 miles, and that’s as fast as about 3 days. However, most car transport companies will take 3-8 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.
