Montana to South Carolina Car Shipping (2024 Cost Guide)
Fact Checked by: Quick answer: The average cost to ship a car 2,151 miles from Montana to South Carolina ranges from $1,289 to $2,108 and takes four–twelve 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 South Carolina to Montana car shipping guide.
The best Montana to South Carolina car shipping companies
We’ve done the research and these are the best car shipping companies to help transport your vehicle from Montana to South Carolina:
- Best for accurate pricing: Sherpa Auto Transport
- Best cross-country shipper: Montway Auto Transport
- Best for discounts: AmeriFreight Car Transport
- Best for overall value: SGT Auto Transport
- Best for quick pickup: Easy Auto Ship
- 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
- 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
- No upfront deposit
- Expedited shipping
- No hidden fees
- Ships motorcycles & RVs
- Discount for cash payments
Alternative ways to ship your car from Montana to South Carolina
- Drive it yourself. This is straightforward but not always an option, and it will put about 2,151 miles on your car going from Montana to South 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 Montana for a move to South 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 Montana to South 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!
MT to SC 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 South Carolina. The average travel distance is about 2,151 miles, with shipping times typically ranging from four to twelve days .
Cost to ship a car from Billings, MT to South Carolina
| From Montana to South Carolina | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Billings, MT to Charleston, SC | $1,381 – $2,170 | 2,115 miles | 4 – 12 days |
| Billings, MT to Columbia, SC | $1,288 – $1,993 | 2,031 miles | 4 – 12 days |
| Billings, MT to North Charleston, SC | $1,381 – $2,067 | 2,108 miles | 4 – 12 days |
| Billings, MT to Mount Pleasant, SC | $1,315 – $2,088 | 2,118 miles | 4 – 12 days |
| Billings, MT to Rock Hill, SC | $1,249 – $1,952 | 2,004 miles | 4 – 12 days |
Cost to ship a car from Missoula, MT to South Carolina
| From Montana to South Carolina | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Missoula, MT to Charleston, SC | $1,314 – $2,021 | 2,459 miles | 5 – 13 days |
| Missoula, MT to Columbia, SC | $1,288 – $2,135 | 2,375 miles | 5 – 13 days |
| Missoula, MT to North Charleston, SC | $1,394 – $2,021 | 2,451 miles | 5 – 13 days |
| Missoula, MT to Mount Pleasant, SC | $1,381 – $2,085 | 2,461 miles | 5 – 13 days |
| Missoula, MT to Rock Hill, SC | $1,395 – $2,156 | 2,347 miles | 5 – 13 days |
Cost to ship a car from Great Falls, MT to South Carolina
| From Montana to South Carolina | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Great Falls, MT to Charleston, SC | $1,302 – $2,114 | 2,303 miles | 5 – 13 days |
| Great Falls, MT to Columbia, SC | $1,368 – $1,964 | 2,194 miles | 4 – 12 days |
| Great Falls, MT to North Charleston, SC | $1,311 – $2,094 | 2,295 miles | 5 – 13 days |
| Great Falls, MT to Mount Pleasant, SC | $1,275 – $2,029 | 2,306 miles | 5 – 13 days |
| Great Falls, MT to Rock Hill, SC | $1,276 – $2,150 | 2,156 miles | 4 – 12 days |
Cost to ship a car from Bozeman, MT to South Carolina
| From Montana to South Carolina | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bozeman, MT to Charleston, SC | $1,298 – $2,136 | 2,257 miles | 5 – 13 days |
| Bozeman, MT to Columbia, SC | $1,368 – $2,067 | 2,173 miles | 4 – 12 days |
| Bozeman, MT to North Charleston, SC | $1,390 – $2,073 | 2,249 miles | 4 – 12 days |
| Bozeman, MT to Mount Pleasant, SC | $1,351 – $2,157 | 2,259 miles | 5 – 13 days |
| Bozeman, MT to Rock Hill, SC | $1,381 – $2,129 | 2,145 miles | 4 – 12 days |
Cost to ship a car from Butte, MT to South Carolina
| From Montana to South Carolina | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Butte, MT to Charleston, SC | $1,262 – $2,177 | 2,342 miles | 5 – 13 days |
| Butte, MT to Columbia, SC | $1,351 – $2,177 | 2,258 miles | 5 – 13 days |
| Butte, MT to North Charleston, SC | $1,262 – $2,072 | 2,334 miles | 5 – 13 days |
| Butte, MT to Mount Pleasant, SC | $1,262 – $2,156 | 2,344 miles | 5 – 13 days |
| Butte, MT to Rock Hill, SC | $1,390 – $2,073 | 2,230 miles | 4 – 12 days |
Shipping an SUV or truck from Montana to South 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 Montana to South Carolina you should expect to pay between $1,611 and $2,635.
Factors that affect car shipping costs from MT to SC
When transporting your vehicle from the Big Sky Country to the Palmetto 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 South Carolina.
- Distance and route: The journey from Montana to South Carolina spans approximately 2,151 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 South 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 Montana to South Carolina should take between four and twelve days. Expedited services are available but come at a higher cost.
South Carolina vehicle regulations you need to know
- Car insurance requirements: In South Carolina, it's a legal requirement for every driver to have liability insurance. Adhering to the state's minimum liability limits, commonly referred to as 25/50/25, entails securing coverage of at least $25,000 for bodily injury per person, $50,000 for total bodily injury per accident, and $25,000 for property damage per accident. Stay compliant with these essential insurance standards to drive confidently on South Carolina roads.
- Vehicle inspection: Drivers in South Carolina are not required to get a safety, VIN, or emissions inspection for their vehicle.
- Driver’s license: If you are moving to South Carolina, you will be required to obtain a South Carolina driver's license within 90 days of establishing residency in the state.
- Additional taxes: In South Carolina, there is a sales tax imposed on the purchase of a vehicle. The sales tax rate is 6%, which is collected by the dealer at the time of purchase.
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 South Carolina
About 22 million people are living in the Palmetto State. South Carolina had hot and humid summers and cool to mild winters and coastal areas of the state have very mild winters. While precipitation is abundant the entire year in almost the entire state, the coast tends to have a slightly wetter summer, while inland, the spring and autumn transitions tend to be the wettest periods and winter the driest season, with November being the driest month.
FAQ
Does someone have to be present when you ship a car for pickup in Montana and delivery in South Carolina?
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 South Carolina.
Do you need car insurance when shipping your car from Montana to South Carolina?
If you’re not driving the vehicle from Montana to South 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 South Carolina, 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.
In South Carolina, it's a legal requirement for every driver to have liability insurance. Adhering to the state's minimum liability limits, commonly referred to as 25/50/25, entails securing coverage of at least $25,000 for bodily injury per person, $50,000 for total bodily injury per accident, and $25,000 for property damage per accident. Stay compliant with these essential insurance standards to drive confidently on South Carolina roads.
How long does it take to ship a car from Montana to South Carolina?
Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from Montana to South Carolina is about 2,151 miles, and that’s as fast as about 5 days. However, most car transport companies will take four to twelve days to travel from Montana to South Carolina.
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.
Drivers in South Carolina are not required to get a safety, VIN, or emissions inspection for their vehicle.
If I have a driver’s license in Montana, will I need one in South Carolina?
If you are moving to South Carolina, you will be required to obtain a South Carolina driver's license within 90 days of establishing residency in the state.
If I bought a car in Montana, will I be required to pay sales tax in South Carolina after shipping it there?
It’s important to understand any tax implications if you’re having a car shipped from Montana to South Carolina after purchasing it.
In South Carolina, there is a sales tax imposed on the purchase of a vehicle. The sales tax rate is 6%, which is collected by the dealer at the time of purchase.
We recommend that you always check for updated tax information in both Montana and South Carolina to avoid any hidden costs.
What is the cheapest way to ship a car from Montana to South Carolina?
The cheapest way to ship a car from Montana to South 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 Montana to South Carolina?
Shipping a car from Montana to South Carolina costs $1,289 to $2,108.
