Michigan to Montana Car Shipping (2024 Cost Guide)
Fact Checked by: Quick answer: The average cost to ship a car 1,600 miles from Michigan to Montana ranges from $1,235 to $1,691 and takes three–nine 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 Michigan car shipping guide.
The best Michigan to Montana car shipping companies
We’ve done the research and these are the best car shipping companies to help transport your vehicle from Michigan 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 Michigan to Montana
- Drive it yourself. This is straightforward but not always an option, and it will put about 1,600 miles on your car going from Michigan 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 Michigan 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 Michigan 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!
MI 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 Michigan and Montana. The average travel distance is about 1,600 miles, with shipping times typically ranging from three to nine days .
Cost to ship a car from Detroit, MI to Montana
| From Michigan to Montana | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit, MI to Billings, MT | $1,118 – $1,564 | 1,528 miles | 3 – 9 days |
| Detroit, MI to Missoula, MT | $1,318 – $1,897 | 1,870 miles | 3 – 11 days |
| Detroit, MI to Great Falls, MT | $1,163 – $1,794 | 1,657 miles | 3 – 9 days |
| Detroit, MI to Bozeman, MT | $1,139 – $1,777 | 1,668 miles | 3 – 9 days |
| Detroit, MI to Butte, MT | $1,303 – $1,747 | 1,752 miles | 3 – 11 days |
Cost to ship a car from Grand Rapids, MI to Montana
| From Michigan to Montana | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Rapids, MI to Billings, MT | $1,139 – $1,678 | 1,424 miles | 3 – 8 days |
| Grand Rapids, MI to Missoula, MT | $1,216 – $1,873 | 1,766 miles | 3 – 11 days |
| Grand Rapids, MI to Great Falls, MT | $1,095 – $1,630 | 1,553 miles | 3 – 9 days |
| Grand Rapids, MI to Bozeman, MT | $1,141 – $1,729 | 1,565 miles | 3 – 9 days |
| Grand Rapids, MI to Butte, MT | $1,175 – $1,656 | 1,648 miles | 3 – 9 days |
Cost to ship a car from Warren, MI to Montana
| From Michigan to Montana | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Warren, MI to Billings, MT | $1,106 – $1,679 | 1,537 miles | 3 – 9 days |
| Warren, MI to Missoula, MT | $1,292 – $1,935 | 1,878 miles | 3 – 11 days |
| Warren, MI to Great Falls, MT | $1,211 – $1,708 | 1,665 miles | 3 – 9 days |
| Warren, MI to Bozeman, MT | $1,139 – $1,674 | 1,677 miles | 3 – 9 days |
| Warren, MI to Butte, MT | $1,228 – $1,855 | 1,762 miles | 3 – 11 days |
Cost to ship a car from Sterling Heights, MI to Montana
| From Michigan to Montana | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sterling Heights, MI to Billings, MT | $1,106 – $1,679 | 1,540 miles | 3 – 9 days |
| Sterling Heights, MI to Missoula, MT | $1,305 – $1,840 | 1,882 miles | 3 – 11 days |
| Sterling Heights, MI to Great Falls, MT | $1,199 – $1,639 | 1,669 miles | 3 – 9 days |
| Sterling Heights, MI to Bozeman, MT | $1,247 – $1,794 | 1,681 miles | 3 – 9 days |
| Sterling Heights, MI to Butte, MT | $1,266 – $1,729 | 1,765 miles | 3 – 11 days |
Cost to ship a car from Ann Arbor, MI to Montana
| From Michigan to Montana | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ann Arbor, MI to Billings, MT | $1,095 – $1,646 | 1,486 miles | 3 – 8 days |
| Ann Arbor, MI to Missoula, MT | $1,330 – $1,802 | 1,828 miles | 3 – 11 days |
| Ann Arbor, MI to Great Falls, MT | $1,139 – $1,725 | 1,616 miles | 3 – 9 days |
| Ann Arbor, MI to Bozeman, MT | $1,211 – $1,812 | 1,627 miles | 3 – 9 days |
| Ann Arbor, MI to Butte, MT | $1,191 – $1,729 | 1,711 miles | 3 – 9 days |
Shipping an SUV or truck from Michigan 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 Michigan to Montana you should expect to pay between $1,544 and $2,114.
Factors that affect car shipping costs from MI to MT
When transporting your vehicle from the Wolverine 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 Michigan to Montana spans approximately 1,600 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 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 Michigan to Montana should take between three and nine 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 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 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 Michigan 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 Michigan and when dropping it off in Montana.
Do you need car insurance when shipping your car from Michigan to Montana?
If you’re not driving the vehicle from Michigan 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 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.
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 Michigan to Montana?
Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from Michigan to Montana is about 1,600 miles, and that’s as fast as about 4 days. However, most car transport companies will take three to nine days to travel from Michigan to Montana.
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.
If you are moving to Montana, you are not required to have your vehicle inspected.
If I have a driver’s license in Michigan, 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 Michigan, 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 Michigan 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 Michigan and Montana to avoid any hidden costs.
What is the cheapest way to ship a car from Michigan to Montana?
The cheapest way to ship a car from Michigan 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 Michigan to Montana?
Shipping a car from Michigan to Montana costs $1,235 to $1,691.
