North Carolina to Illinois Car Shipping (2024 Cost Guide)

Quick answer: The average cost to ship a car 810 miles from North Carolina to Illinois ranges from $823 to $1,233 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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  • Services all 50 states
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Shipping a car the reverse route? We’ve got you covered with our Illinois to North Carolina car shipping guide.

The best North Carolina to Illinois car shipping companies

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

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 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
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  • 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
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

Alternative ways to ship your car from North Carolina to Illinois

  • Drive it yourself. This is straightforward but not always an option, and it will put about 810 miles on your car going from North Carolina 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 North Carolina 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 North Carolina 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!

NC 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 North Carolina and Illinois. The average travel distance is about 810 miles, with shipping times typically ranging from two to seven days .

Cost to ship a car from Charlotte, NC to Illinois

From North Carolina to Illinois Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Charlotte, NC to Chicago, IL $809 – $1,182 754 miles 2 – 7 days
Charlotte, NC to Aurora, IL $769 – $1,132 789 miles 2 – 7 days
Charlotte, NC to Joliet, IL $817 – $1,101 762 miles 2 – 7 days
Charlotte, NC to Naperville, IL $793 – $1,143 775 miles 2 – 7 days
Charlotte, NC to Rockford, IL $828 – $1,202 844 miles 2 – 7 days

Cost to ship a car from Raleigh, NC to Illinois

From North Carolina to Illinois Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Raleigh, NC to Chicago, IL $791 – $1,233 805 miles 2 – 7 days
Raleigh, NC to Aurora, IL $836 – $1,227 840 miles 2 – 7 days
Raleigh, NC to Joliet, IL $799 – $1,161 813 miles 2 – 7 days
Raleigh, NC to Naperville, IL $771 – $1,190 826 miles 2 – 7 days
Raleigh, NC to Rockford, IL $843 – $1,208 895 miles 2 – 7 days

Cost to ship a car from Greensboro, NC to Illinois

From North Carolina to Illinois Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Greensboro, NC to Chicago, IL $792 – $1,195 731 miles 1 – 6 days
Greensboro, NC to Aurora, IL $761 – $1,205 765 miles 2 – 7 days
Greensboro, NC to Joliet, IL $824 – $1,115 739 miles 1 – 6 days
Greensboro, NC to Naperville, IL $785 – $1,159 751 miles 2 – 7 days
Greensboro, NC to Rockford, IL $775 – $1,161 821 miles 2 – 7 days

Cost to ship a car from Durham, NC to Illinois

From North Carolina to Illinois Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Durham, NC to Chicago, IL $785 – $1,238 784 miles 2 – 7 days
Durham, NC to Aurora, IL $791 – $1,245 818 miles 2 – 7 days
Durham, NC to Joliet, IL $809 – $1,191 792 miles 2 – 7 days
Durham, NC to Naperville, IL $783 – $1,257 804 miles 2 – 7 days
Durham, NC to Rockford, IL $791 – $1,194 874 miles 2 – 7 days

Cost to ship a car from Winston-Salem, NC to Illinois

From North Carolina to Illinois Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Winston-Salem, NC to Chicago, IL $774 – $1,060 706 miles 1 – 6 days
Winston-Salem, NC to Aurora, IL $808 – $1,150 741 miles 1 – 6 days
Winston-Salem, NC to Joliet, IL $774 – $1,105 715 miles 1 – 6 days
Winston-Salem, NC to Naperville, IL $824 – $1,138 726 miles 1 – 6 days
Winston-Salem, NC to Rockford, IL $825 – $1,143 797 miles 2 – 7 days

Shipping an SUV or truck from North Carolina 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 North Carolina to Illinois you should expect to pay between $1,029 and $1,541.

Factors that affect car shipping costs from NC to IL

When transporting your vehicle from the Tar Heel 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 North Carolina to Illinois spans approximately 810 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 North Carolina, 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 North Carolina 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 North Carolina to Illinois should take between two and seven 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 North Carolina

More than 39 million people call North Carolina home. Nicknamed 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.

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 North Carolina 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 North Carolina and when dropping it off in Illinois.

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

If you’re not driving the vehicle from North Carolina 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 North Carolina.

If you’re driving your car at all in either state, you should understand the 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.

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 North Carolina to Illinois?

Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from North Carolina to Illinois is about 810 miles, and that’s as fast as about 2 days. However, most car transport companies will take two to seven days to travel from North Carolina to Illinois.

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

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.

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 North Carolina, 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 North Carolina, 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 North Carolina 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 North Carolina and Illinois to avoid any hidden costs.

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

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

Shipping a car from North Carolina to Illinois costs $823 to $1,233.

Helpful North Carolina resources