Montana to Idaho Car Shipping (2024 Cost Guide)
Fact Checked by: Quick answer: The average cost to ship a car 523 miles from Montana to Idaho ranges from $665 to $869 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.
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Shipping a car the reverse route? We’ve got you covered with our Idaho to Montana car shipping guide.
The best Montana to Idaho car shipping companies
We’ve done the research and these are the best car shipping companies to help transport your vehicle from Montana to Idaho:
- 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 Idaho
- Drive it yourself. This is straightforward but not always an option, and it will put about 523 miles on your car going from Montana to Idaho. 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 Idaho, 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 Idaho 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 ID 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 Idaho. The average travel distance is about 523 miles, with shipping times typically ranging from one to six days .
Cost to ship a car from Billings, MT to Idaho
| From Montana to Idaho | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Billings, MT to Boise, ID | $768 – $976 | 615 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Billings, MT to Meridian, ID | $702 – $1,079 | 623 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Billings, MT to Nampa, ID | $753 – $1,107 | 631 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Billings, MT to Idaho Falls, ID | $551 – $775 | 341 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Billings, MT to Caldwell, ID | $783 – $1,034 | 639 miles | 1 – 6 days |
Cost to ship a car from Missoula, MT to Idaho
| From Montana to Idaho | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Missoula, MT to Boise, ID | $553 – $788 | 364 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Missoula, MT to Meridian, ID | $604 – $835 | 385 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Missoula, MT to Nampa, ID | $581 – $762 | 376 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Missoula, MT to Idaho Falls, ID | $524 – $680 | 312 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Missoula, MT to Caldwell, ID | $548 – $757 | 367 miles | 1 – 4 days |
Cost to ship a car from Great Falls, MT to Idaho
| From Montana to Idaho | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Great Falls, MT to Boise, ID | $704 – $998 | 574 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Great Falls, MT to Meridian, ID | $736 – $1,029 | 582 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Great Falls, MT to Nampa, ID | $679 – $989 | 590 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Great Falls, MT to Idaho Falls, ID | $536 – $788 | 359 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Great Falls, MT to Caldwell, ID | $715 – $1,029 | 598 miles | 1 – 6 days |
Cost to ship a car from Bozeman, MT to Idaho
| From Montana to Idaho | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bozeman, MT to Boise, ID | $630 – $927 | 476 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Bozeman, MT to Meridian, ID | $662 – $865 | 484 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Bozeman, MT to Nampa, ID | $643 – $927 | 493 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Bozeman, MT to Idaho Falls, ID | $420 – $552 | 196 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Bozeman, MT to Caldwell, ID | $652 – $924 | 500 miles | 1 – 6 days |
Cost to ship a car from Butte, MT to Idaho
| From Montana to Idaho | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Butte, MT to Boise, ID | $618 – $821 | 419 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Butte, MT to Meridian, ID | $598 – $811 | 428 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Butte, MT to Nampa, ID | $629 – $837 | 436 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Butte, MT to Idaho Falls, ID | $439 – $565 | 204 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Butte, MT to Caldwell, ID | $648 – $811 | 444 miles | 1 – 4 days |
Shipping an SUV or truck from Montana to Idaho
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 Idaho you should expect to pay between $831 and $1,086.
Factors that affect car shipping costs from MT to ID
When transporting your vehicle from the Big Sky Country to the Gem 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 Idaho.
- Distance and route: The journey from Montana to Idaho spans approximately 523 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 Idaho 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 Idaho should take between one and six days. Expedited services are available but come at a higher cost.
Idaho vehicle regulations you need to know
- Car insurance requirements: Idaho's minimum insurance mandates include $25,000 for bodily injury per person, $50,000 for bodily injury per accident, and $15,000 for property damage per accident.
- Vehicle inspection: In Idaho, all vehicles in Ada and Canyon Counties are required to pass an emissions test every two years. Additionally, out-of-state vehicle registrations must go through a one-time Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) inspection.
- Driver’s license: If you're moving to Idaho with an out-of-state driver's license, you must transfer it to an Idaho license within 90 days. If you have a Commercial Driver's License (CDL), the transfer must be completed within 30 days.
- Additional taxes: New residents in Idaho must register their out-of-state vehicle with the Idaho DMV within 90 days of moving. Note that if you bought the vehicle prior to moving, you may owe a use tax.
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 Idaho
About 22 million people are living in the Gem State. The climate in Idaho varies widely. In the west cloud cover, humidity, and precipitation are at their maximum extent. Idaho can be hot but have relatively low humidity and cooler evenings during the summer months. It is important to know that winters in Idaho can be cold.
FAQ
Does someone have to be present when you ship a car for pickup in Montana and delivery in Idaho?
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 Idaho.
Do you need car insurance when shipping your car from Montana to Idaho?
If you’re not driving the vehicle from Montana to Idaho, you aren't required to have typical car insurance. Your car hauler should have adequate insurance if an accident happened on the drive to Idaho, 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.
Idaho's minimum insurance mandates include $25,000 for bodily injury per person, $50,000 for bodily injury per accident, and $15,000 for property damage per accident.
How long does it take to ship a car from Montana to Idaho?
Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from Montana to Idaho is about 523 miles, and that’s as fast as about 2 days. However, most car transport companies will take one to six days to travel from Montana to Idaho.
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 Idaho, all vehicles in Ada and Canyon Counties are required to pass an emissions test every two years. Additionally, out-of-state vehicle registrations must go through a one-time Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) inspection.
If I have a driver’s license in Montana, will I need one in Idaho?
If you're moving to Idaho with an out-of-state driver's license, you must transfer it to an Idaho license within 90 days. If you have a Commercial Driver's License (CDL), the transfer must be completed within 30 days.
If I bought a car in Montana, will I be required to pay sales tax in Idaho after shipping it there?
It’s important to understand any tax implications if you’re having a car shipped from Montana to Idaho after purchasing it.
New residents in Idaho must register their out-of-state vehicle with the Idaho DMV within 90 days of moving. Note that if you bought the vehicle prior to moving, you may owe a use tax.
We recommend that you always check for updated tax information in both Montana and Idaho to avoid any hidden costs.
What is the cheapest way to ship a car from Montana to Idaho?
The cheapest way to ship a car from Montana to Idaho 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 Idaho?
Shipping a car from Montana to Idaho costs $665 to $869.
