Montana to Alabama Car Shipping (2024 Cost Guide)
Fact Checked by: Quick answer: The average cost to ship a car 1,964 miles from Montana to Alabama ranges from $1,298 to $1,872 and takes three–eleven 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 Alabama to Montana car shipping guide.
The best Montana to Alabama car shipping companies
We’ve done the research and these are the best car shipping companies to help transport your vehicle from Montana to Alabama:
- 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 Montana to Alabama
- Drive it yourself. This is straightforward but not always an option, and it will put about 1,964 miles on your car going from Montana to Alabama. 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 Montana for a move to Alabama, 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 Montana to Alabama 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!
MT to AL auto transport costs and transit times
The tables below detail the costs and estimated transit times for shipping a car between popular cities in Montana and Alabama. The average travel distance is about 1,964 miles, with shipping times typically ranging from three to eleven days .
Cost to ship a car from Billings, MT to Alabama
| From Montana to Alabama | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Billings, MT to Huntsville, AL | $1,235 – $1,691 | 1,688 miles | 3 – 9 days |
| Billings, MT to Birmingham, AL | $1,216 – $1,855 | 1,704 miles | 3 – 9 days |
| Billings, MT to Montgomery, AL | $1,266 – $1,837 | 1,793 miles | 3 – 11 days |
| Billings, MT to Mobile, AL | $1,266 – $1,973 | 1,890 miles | 3 – 11 days |
| Billings, MT to Tuscaloosa, AL | $1,199 – $1,691 | 1,697 miles | 3 – 9 days |
Cost to ship a car from Missoula, MT to Alabama
| From Montana to Alabama | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Missoula, MT to Huntsville, AL | $1,264 – $1,996 | 2,031 miles | 4 – 12 days |
| Missoula, MT to Birmingham, AL | $1,317 – $1,955 | 2,047 miles | 4 – 12 days |
| Missoula, MT to Montgomery, AL | $1,331 – $2,092 | 2,136 miles | 4 – 12 days |
| Missoula, MT to Mobile, AL | $1,291 – $2,113 | 2,191 miles | 4 – 12 days |
| Missoula, MT to Tuscaloosa, AL | $1,278 – $2,140 | 2,040 miles | 4 – 12 days |
Cost to ship a car from Great Falls, MT to Alabama
| From Montana to Alabama | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Great Falls, MT to Huntsville, AL | $1,311 – $1,912 | 1,906 miles | 3 – 11 days |
| Great Falls, MT to Birmingham, AL | $1,337 – $2,030 | 1,922 miles | 3 – 11 days |
| Great Falls, MT to Montgomery, AL | $1,317 – $2,058 | 2,011 miles | 4 – 12 days |
| Great Falls, MT to Mobile, AL | $1,330 – $1,996 | 2,067 miles | 4 – 12 days |
| Great Falls, MT to Tuscaloosa, AL | $1,311 – $1,912 | 1,916 miles | 3 – 11 days |
Cost to ship a car from Bozeman, MT to Alabama
| From Montana to Alabama | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bozeman, MT to Huntsville, AL | $1,305 – $1,954 | 1,829 miles | 3 – 11 days |
| Bozeman, MT to Birmingham, AL | $1,279 – $1,916 | 1,845 miles | 3 – 11 days |
| Bozeman, MT to Montgomery, AL | $1,259 – $1,990 | 1,934 miles | 3 – 11 days |
| Bozeman, MT to Mobile, AL | $1,233 – $1,872 | 1,990 miles | 3 – 11 days |
| Bozeman, MT to Tuscaloosa, AL | $1,215 – $1,897 | 1,839 miles | 3 – 11 days |
Cost to ship a car from Butte, MT to Alabama
| From Montana to Alabama | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Butte, MT to Huntsville, AL | $1,363 – $1,951 | 1,914 miles | 3 – 11 days |
| Butte, MT to Birmingham, AL | $1,298 – $1,931 | 1,930 miles | 3 – 11 days |
| Butte, MT to Montgomery, AL | $1,357 – $2,058 | 2,019 miles | 4 – 12 days |
| Butte, MT to Mobile, AL | $1,357 – $1,976 | 2,074 miles | 4 – 12 days |
| Butte, MT to Tuscaloosa, AL | $1,272 – $2,030 | 1,923 miles | 3 – 11 days |
Shipping an SUV or truck from Montana to Alabama
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 Montana to Alabama you should expect to pay between $1,623 and $2,340.
Factors that affect car shipping costs from MT to AL
When transporting your vehicle from the Big Sky Country to the Heart of Dixie, 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 Alabama.
- Distance and route: The journey from Montana to Alabama spans approximately 1,964 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 Montana, 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 Montana and Alabama 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 Montana to Alabama should take between three and eleven days. Expedited services are available but come at a higher cost.
Alabama vehicle regulations you need to know
- Car insurance requirements: Alabama state government requires motorists possess liability insurance, which must provide a minimum coverage of 25/50/25. This specification includes coverage for bodily injury per person, bodily injury per accident, and property damage per accident.
- Vehicle inspection: In Alabama, a safety inspection must be completed prior to selling a vehicle and a VIN inspection is mandatory when registering an out-of-state vehicle. Emissions inspections are not required by the state, though cities and municipalities may have their own laws mandating them.
- Driver’s license: When you move to Alabama with an out-of-state driver's license, you have 30 days to surrender it and obtain an Alabama license.
- Additional taxes: In Alabama, a 2% state sales tax is levied on the purchase of vehicles, including off-road motorcycles and ATVs. With the addition of city and county vehicle sales taxes, the total sales tax owed will amount to between 3.375% and 4% of the vehicle's cost.
Learn more with our car shipping checklist.
Transporting your vehicle from Montana
More than 39 million people call Montana home. Nicknamed 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.
Transporting your vehicle to Alabama
About 22 million people are living in the Heart of Dixie. Alabama has one of the hottest summers in the US and mild winters with copious amounts of precipitation throughout the year. Areas around the Gulf in Alabama are prone to tropical storms and hurricanes. Alabama also has tornado activity, which typically occurs in the spring It would be a good idea to check for tornado activity in the area you are looking to move to.
FAQ
Does someone have to be present when you ship a car for pickup in Montana and delivery in Alabama?
Most companies will require that an adult of at least 18 years of age be present when picking up your car in Montana and when dropping it off in Alabama.
Do you need car insurance when shipping your car from Montana to Alabama?
If you’re not driving the vehicle from Montana to Alabama, you aren't required to have typical car insurance. Your car hauler should have adequate insurance if an accident happened on the drive to Alabama, which you should verify before loading your car in Montana.
If you’re driving your car at all in either state, you should understand the 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.
Alabama state government requires motorists possess liability insurance, which must provide a minimum coverage of 25/50/25. This specification includes coverage for bodily injury per person, bodily injury per accident, and property damage per accident.
How long does it take to ship a car from Montana to Alabama?
Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from Montana to Alabama is about 1,964 miles, and that’s as fast as about 4 days. However, most car transport companies will take three to eleven days to travel from Montana to Alabama.
Will I be required to have a vehicle inspection in either state?
If you are moving to Montana, you are not required to have your vehicle inspected.
In Alabama, a safety inspection must be completed prior to selling a vehicle and a VIN inspection is mandatory when registering an out-of-state vehicle. Emissions inspections are not required by the state, though cities and municipalities may have their own laws mandating them.
If I have a driver’s license in Montana, will I need one in Alabama?
When you move to Alabama with an out-of-state driver's license, you have 30 days to surrender it and obtain an Alabama license.
If I bought a car in Montana, will I be required to pay sales tax in Alabama after shipping it there?
It’s important to understand any tax implications if you’re having a car shipped from Montana to Alabama after purchasing it.
In Alabama, a 2% state sales tax is levied on the purchase of vehicles, including off-road motorcycles and ATVs. With the addition of city and county vehicle sales taxes, the total sales tax owed will amount to between 3.375% and 4% of the vehicle's cost.
We recommend that you always check for updated tax information in both Montana and Alabama to avoid any hidden costs.
What is the cheapest way to ship a car from Montana to Alabama?
The cheapest way to ship a car from Montana to Alabama 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 Montana to Alabama?
Shipping a car from Montana to Alabama costs $1,298 to $1,872.
