Michigan to North Carolina Car Shipping (2024 Cost Guide)

Quick answer: The average cost to ship a car 848 miles from Michigan to North Carolina ranges from $789 to $1,205 and takes two–seven 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 North Carolina to Michigan car shipping guide.

The best Michigan to North Carolina car shipping companies

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

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 North Carolina

  • Drive it yourself. This is straightforward but not always an option, and it will put about 848 miles on your car going from Michigan to North Carolina. 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 North Carolina, 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 North Carolina 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 NC 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 North Carolina. The average travel distance is about 848 miles, with shipping times typically ranging from two to seven days .

Cost to ship a car from Detroit, MI to North Carolina

From Michigan to North Carolina Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Detroit, MI to Charlotte, NC $739 – $1,034 625 miles 1 – 6 days
Detroit, MI to Raleigh, NC $796 – $1,073 678 miles 1 – 6 days
Detroit, MI to Greensboro, NC $753 – $976 603 miles 1 – 6 days
Detroit, MI to Durham, NC $729 – $1,092 657 miles 1 – 6 days
Detroit, MI to Winston-Salem, NC $722 – $989 577 miles 1 – 6 days

Cost to ship a car from Grand Rapids, MI to North Carolina

From Michigan to North Carolina Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Grand Rapids, MI to Charlotte, NC $810 – $1,175 744 miles 1 – 6 days
Grand Rapids, MI to Raleigh, NC $778 – $1,145 797 miles 2 – 7 days
Grand Rapids, MI to Greensboro, NC $792 – $1,096 722 miles 1 – 6 days
Grand Rapids, MI to Durham, NC $803 – $1,114 773 miles 2 – 7 days
Grand Rapids, MI to Winston-Salem, NC $796 – $1,050 696 miles 1 – 6 days

Cost to ship a car from Warren, MI to North Carolina

From Michigan to North Carolina Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Warren, MI to Charlotte, NC $768 – $1,076 642 miles 1 – 6 days
Warren, MI to Raleigh, NC $811 – $1,150 695 miles 1 – 6 days
Warren, MI to Greensboro, NC $702 – $1,058 620 miles 1 – 6 days
Warren, MI to Durham, NC $760 – $1,135 671 miles 1 – 6 days
Warren, MI to Winston-Salem, NC $715 – $949 595 miles 1 – 6 days

Cost to ship a car from Sterling Heights, MI to North Carolina

From Michigan to North Carolina Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Sterling Heights, MI to Charlotte, NC $776 – $1,034 646 miles 1 – 6 days
Sterling Heights, MI to Raleigh, NC $741 – $1,150 698 miles 1 – 6 days
Sterling Heights, MI to Greensboro, NC $731 – $1,027 624 miles 1 – 6 days
Sterling Heights, MI to Durham, NC $772 – $1,073 675 miles 1 – 6 days
Sterling Heights, MI to Winston-Salem, NC $708 – $999 598 miles 1 – 6 days

Cost to ship a car from Ann Arbor, MI to North Carolina

From Michigan to North Carolina Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Ann Arbor, MI to Charlotte, NC $738 – $1,007 611 miles 1 – 6 days
Ann Arbor, MI to Raleigh, NC $760 – $1,070 664 miles 1 – 6 days
Ann Arbor, MI to Greensboro, NC $743 – $1,049 589 miles 1 – 6 days
Ann Arbor, MI to Durham, NC $724 – $1,013 640 miles 1 – 6 days
Ann Arbor, MI to Winston-Salem, NC $683 – $959 564 miles 1 – 6 days

Shipping an SUV or truck from Michigan to North Carolina

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 North Carolina you should expect to pay between $986 and $1,506.

Factors that affect car shipping costs from MI to NC

When transporting your vehicle from the Wolverine State to the Tar Heel 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 North Carolina.
  • Distance and route: The journey from Michigan to North Carolina spans approximately 848 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 North Carolina 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 North Carolina should take between two and seven days. Expedited services are available but come at a higher cost.

North Carolina vehicle regulations you need to know

  • Car insurance requirements: Ensure compliance with North Carolina's mandatory minimum liability insurance rules for drivers. Your coverage should meet or exceed $30,000 for bodily injury per person, $60,000 for bodily injury per accident, and $25,000 for property damage per accident. Don't forget to enhance your protection with uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. Stay informed and safeguarded on the road by meeting these state insurance requirements.
  • Vehicle inspection: Before the North Carolina DMV can register a passenger vehicle, it must pass an annual safety inspection if it is less than 30 years old.
  • Driver’s license: New residents in North Carolina are obligated to transfer their license or ID within 60 days of moving to the state.
  • Additional taxes: If you're relocating to North Carolina, you're required to pay vehicle tax. However, you have the option to defer this payment by obtaining a limited registration plate, which will expire 60 days after it's issued. It's important to note that you must pay the property tax before the sticker on the plate reaches its expiration date.

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 North Carolina

About 22 million people are living in the Tar Heel State. North Carolina has mild weather year round, however, snow may affect your move in some parts of the state during winter time.

FAQ

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

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 North Carolina.

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

If you’re not driving the vehicle from Michigan to North Carolina, you aren't required to have typical car insurance. Your car hauler should have adequate insurance if an accident happened on the drive to North Carolina, 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.

Ensure compliance with North Carolina's mandatory minimum liability insurance rules for drivers. Your coverage should meet or exceed $30,000 for bodily injury per person, $60,000 for bodily injury per accident, and $25,000 for property damage per accident. Don't forget to enhance your protection with uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. Stay informed and safeguarded on the road by meeting these state insurance requirements.

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

Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from Michigan to North Carolina is about 848 miles, and that’s as fast as about 2 days. However, most car transport companies will take two to seven days to travel from Michigan to North Carolina.

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.

Before the North Carolina DMV can register a passenger vehicle, it must pass an annual safety inspection if it is less than 30 years old.

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

New residents in North Carolina are obligated to transfer their license or ID within 60 days of moving to the state.

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

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

If you're relocating to North Carolina, you're required to pay vehicle tax. However, you have the option to defer this payment by obtaining a limited registration plate, which will expire 60 days after it's issued. It's important to note that you must pay the property tax before the sticker on the plate reaches its expiration date.

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

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

The cheapest way to ship a car from Michigan to North Carolina 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 North Carolina?

Shipping a car from Michigan to North Carolina costs $789 to $1,205.

Helpful Michigan resources