Minnesota to Illinois Car Shipping (2024 Cost Guide)

Quick answer: The average cost to ship a car 618 miles from Minnesota to Illinois ranges from $693 to $1,035 and takes one–six days depending on factors like the transport type and season. For a more detailed quote, use our car shipping cost calculator.

moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.5 / 5
Licensedcheckmark
Insuredcheckmark
Price dollar sign dollar sign dollar sign dollar sign
  • Price lock promise
  • Free car wash
moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.5 / 5
Licensedcheckmark
Insuredcheckmark
Price dollar sign dollar sign dollar sign dollar sign
  • Established in 2007
  • No upfront payment
moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.3 / 5
Licensedcheckmark
Insuredcheckmark
Price dollar sign dollar sign dollar sign dollar sign
  • Services all 50 states
  • Ships most vehicles

Shipping a car the reverse route? We’ve got you covered with our Illinois to Minnesota car shipping guide.

The best Minnesota to Illinois car shipping companies

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

Best for accurate pricing
Licensedcheckmark
Insuredcheckmark
Price dollar sign dollar sign dollar sign dollar sign
moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.5 / 5
Check prices (833) 775-1461
At A Glance
  • Price Lock Promise
  • Pay by credit card
  • Free car wash at delivery
  • No upfront deposit
  • Door-to-door service
read our full review
Check prices (833) 775-1461
Best cross-country shipper
Licensedcheckmark
Insuredcheckmark
Price dollar sign dollar sign dollar sign dollar sign
moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.5 / 5
Check prices (224) 206-5633
At A Glance
  • No upfront payment
  • GPS tracking
  • Multiple insurance options
  • Competitive pricing
  • Door-to-door shipping
read our full review
Check prices (224) 206-5633
Best for discounts
Licensedcheckmark
Insuredcheckmark
Price dollar sign dollar sign dollar sign dollar sign
moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.3 / 5
Check prices (770) 501-9057
At A Glance
  • Competitive pricing
  • Last-minute car shipments
  • Guaranteed & expedited shipments
  • Gap insurance coverage
  • Multiple discounts
read our full review
Check prices (770) 501-9057
Best for overall value
Licensedcheckmark
Insuredcheckmark
Price dollar sign dollar sign dollar sign dollar sign
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
read our full review
Check prices (864) 492-1221
Best for quick pickup
Licensedcheckmark
Insuredcheckmark
Price dollar sign dollar sign dollar sign dollar sign
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
read our full review
Check prices (888) 259-6046

Alternative ways to ship your car from Minnesota to Illinois

  • Drive it yourself. This is straightforward but not always an option, and it will put about 618 miles on your car going from Minnesota to Illinois. 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 Minnesota for a move to Illinois, 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 Minnesota to Illinois 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!

MN to IL auto transport costs and transit times

The tables below detail the costs and estimated transit times for shipping a car between popular cities in Minnesota and Illinois. The average travel distance is about 618 miles, with shipping times typically ranging from one to six days .

Cost to ship a car from Minneapolis, MN to Illinois

From Minnesota to Illinois Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Minneapolis, MN to Chicago, IL $593 – $853 408 miles 1 – 4 days
Minneapolis, MN to Aurora, IL $551 – $817 398 miles 1 – 4 days
Minneapolis, MN to Joliet, IL $629 – $779 423 miles 1 – 4 days
Minneapolis, MN to Naperville, IL $599 – $836 409 miles 1 – 4 days
Minneapolis, MN to Rockford, IL $513 – $737 334 miles 1 – 4 days

Cost to ship a car from St. Paul, MN to Illinois

From Minnesota to Illinois Cost Distance Estimated transit time
St. Paul, MN to Chicago, IL $562 – $825 398 miles 1 – 4 days
St. Paul, MN to Aurora, IL $551 – $833 389 miles 1 – 4 days
St. Paul, MN to Joliet, IL $581 – $845 413 miles 1 – 4 days
St. Paul, MN to Naperville, IL $581 – $787 400 miles 1 – 4 days
St. Paul, MN to Rockford, IL $497 – $686 324 miles 1 – 4 days

Cost to ship a car from Rochester, MN to Illinois

From Minnesota to Illinois Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Rochester, MN to Chicago, IL $539 – $766 349 miles 1 – 4 days
Rochester, MN to Aurora, IL $513 – $722 339 miles 1 – 4 days
Rochester, MN to Joliet, IL $530 – $748 363 miles 1 – 4 days
Rochester, MN to Naperville, IL $575 – $778 350 miles 1 – 4 days
Rochester, MN to Rockford, IL $429 – $598 274 miles 1 – 4 days

Cost to ship a car from Bloomington, MN to Illinois

From Minnesota to Illinois Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Bloomington, MN to Chicago, IL $611 – $836 413 miles 1 – 4 days
Bloomington, MN to Aurora, IL $599 – $804 404 miles 1 – 4 days
Bloomington, MN to Joliet, IL $640 – $877 428 miles 1 – 4 days
Bloomington, MN to Naperville, IL $623 – $779 415 miles 1 – 4 days
Bloomington, MN to Rockford, IL $550 – $708 339 miles 1 – 4 days

Cost to ship a car from Duluth, MN to Illinois

From Minnesota to Illinois Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Duluth, MN to Chicago, IL $611 – $890 469 miles 1 – 4 days
Duluth, MN to Aurora, IL $642 – $821 459 miles 1 – 4 days
Duluth, MN to Joliet, IL $654 – $907 483 miles 1 – 4 days
Duluth, MN to Naperville, IL $611 – $829 470 miles 1 – 4 days
Duluth, MN to Rockford, IL $551 – $753 395 miles 1 – 4 days

Shipping an SUV or truck from Minnesota to Illinois

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 Minnesota to Illinois you should expect to pay between $866 and $1,294.

Factors that affect car shipping costs from MN to IL

When transporting your vehicle from the North Star State to the Land of Lincoln, 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 Illinois.
  • Distance and route: The journey from Minnesota to Illinois spans approximately 618 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 Minnesota, 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 Minnesota and Illinois 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 Minnesota to Illinois should take between one and six days. Expedited services are available but come at a higher cost.

Illinois vehicle regulations you need to know

  • Car insurance requirements: The liability insurance minimums for Illinois are $25,000 bodily injury liability per person, $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident, and $20,000 property damage liability per accident.
  • Vehicle inspection: In Illinois, emissions inspections are mandatory on a yearly basis for eligible vehicles in the Chicago and East St. Louis metropolitan areas. The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency conducts tests on automobiles before residents can renew their vehicle registration with the Secretary of State's office.
  • Driver’s license: Even if your out-of-state driver's license is valid, you must still pass a vision test and written exam if you are moving to Illinois. Within 90 days of becoming a resident in the state, you must convert your license to an Illinois non-commercial license.
  • Additional taxes: According to Illinois law, the recipient or buyer of any vehicle transferred within the state must complete a Private Party Vehicle Tax Transaction form (form RUT-50) and pay the sales tax for the car within 30 days of the transfer of ownership.

Learn more with our car shipping checklist.

Transporting your vehicle from Minnesota

More than 39 million people call Minnesota home. Nicknamed the North Star State, Minnesota experiences temperature extremes characteristic of its continental climate, with cold winters and hot summers. Minnesota does experience weather such as: rain, snow, blizzards, thunderstorms, hail, derechos, tornadoes, and high-velocity straight-line winds.

Transporting your vehicle to Illinois

About 22 million people are living in the Land of Lincoln. Illinois' climate is clearly different in the northern and southern halves of the state. The northern half experiences cold winters and mild summers whereas the southern half experiences mild winters and hot and humid summers. Illinois is a part of "tornado alley"

FAQ

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

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

Do you need car insurance when shipping your car from Minnesota to Illinois?

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

If you’re driving your car at all in either state, you should understand the requirements. Drivers in Minnesota must maintain a minimum insurance coverage, including $30,000 per person and $60,000 per accident for bodily injury liability, and $10,000 for property damage liability, ensuring financial protection in case of accidents and aligning with state regulations for responsible driving practices.

The liability insurance minimums for Illinois are $25,000 bodily injury liability per person, $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident, and $20,000 property damage liability per accident.

How long does it take to ship a car from Minnesota to Illinois?

Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from Minnesota to Illinois is about 618 miles, and that’s as fast as about 2 days. However, most car transport companies will take one to six days to travel from Minnesota to Illinois.

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

Minnesota does not have a mandate for regular safety inspections on personal vehicles.

In Illinois, emissions inspections are mandatory on a yearly basis for eligible vehicles in the Chicago and East St. Louis metropolitan areas. The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency conducts tests on automobiles before residents can renew their vehicle registration with the Secretary of State's office.

If I have a driver’s license in Minnesota, will I need one in Illinois?

Even if your out-of-state driver's license is valid, you must still pass a vision test and written exam if you are moving to Illinois. Within 90 days of becoming a resident in the state, you must convert your license to an Illinois non-commercial license.

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

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

According to Illinois law, the recipient or buyer of any vehicle transferred within the state must complete a Private Party Vehicle Tax Transaction form (form RUT-50) and pay the sales tax for the car within 30 days of the transfer of ownership.

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

What is the cheapest way to ship a car from Minnesota to Illinois?

The cheapest way to ship a car from Minnesota to Illinois 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 Minnesota to Illinois?

Shipping a car from Minnesota to Illinois costs $693 to $1,035.

Helpful Minnesota resources