North Carolina to Kentucky Car Shipping (2024 Cost Guide)

Quick answer: The average cost to ship a car 467 miles from North Carolina to Kentucky ranges from $669 to $918 and takes one–four 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 4.9 / 5
Licensedcheckmark
Insuredcheckmark
Price dollar sign dollar sign dollar sign dollar sign
  • No deposit
  • Quick pickup

Shipping a car the reverse route? We’ve got you covered with our Kentucky to North Carolina car shipping guide.

The best North Carolina to Kentucky 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 Kentucky:

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 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
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

Alternative ways to ship your car from North Carolina to Kentucky

  • Drive it yourself. This is straightforward but not always an option, and it will put about 467 miles on your car going from North Carolina to Kentucky. 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 Kentucky, 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 Kentucky 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 KY 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 Kentucky. The average travel distance is about 467 miles, with shipping times typically ranging from one to four days .

Cost to ship a car from Charlotte, NC to Kentucky

From North Carolina to Kentucky Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Charlotte, NC to Louisville, KY $656 – $927 483 miles 1 – 4 days
Charlotte, NC to Lexington, KY $594 – $813 412 miles 1 – 4 days
Charlotte, NC to Bowling Green, KY $650 – $857 452 miles 1 – 4 days
Charlotte, NC to Owensboro, KY $639 – $915 520 miles 1 – 6 days
Charlotte, NC to Covington, KY $612 – $892 460 miles 1 – 4 days

Cost to ship a car from Raleigh, NC to Kentucky

From North Carolina to Kentucky Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Raleigh, NC to Louisville, KY $683 – $1,008 562 miles 1 – 6 days
Raleigh, NC to Lexington, KY $643 – $918 490 miles 1 – 4 days
Raleigh, NC to Bowling Green, KY $715 – $1,039 583 miles 1 – 6 days
Raleigh, NC to Owensboro, KY $737 – $1,113 652 miles 1 – 6 days
Raleigh, NC to Covington, KY $645 – $887 511 miles 1 – 6 days

Cost to ship a car from Greensboro, NC to Kentucky

From North Carolina to Kentucky Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Greensboro, NC to Louisville, KY $623 – $918 487 miles 1 – 4 days
Greensboro, NC to Lexington, KY $636 – $788 416 miles 1 – 4 days
Greensboro, NC to Bowling Green, KY $626 – $906 509 miles 1 – 6 days
Greensboro, NC to Owensboro, KY $700 – $969 577 miles 1 – 6 days
Greensboro, NC to Covington, KY $654 – $837 436 miles 1 – 4 days

Cost to ship a car from Durham, NC to Kentucky

From North Carolina to Kentucky Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Durham, NC to Louisville, KY $685 – $910 540 miles 1 – 6 days
Durham, NC to Lexington, KY $663 – $909 469 miles 1 – 4 days
Durham, NC to Bowling Green, KY $690 – $920 562 miles 1 – 6 days
Durham, NC to Owensboro, KY $731 – $1,044 629 miles 1 – 6 days
Durham, NC to Covington, KY $662 – $847 488 miles 1 – 4 days

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

From North Carolina to Kentucky Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Winston-Salem, NC to Louisville, KY $663 – $839 463 miles 1 – 4 days
Winston-Salem, NC to Lexington, KY $563 – $787 391 miles 1 – 4 days
Winston-Salem, NC to Bowling Green, KY $675 – $892 485 miles 1 – 4 days
Winston-Salem, NC to Owensboro, KY $669 – $1,017 552 miles 1 – 6 days
Winston-Salem, NC to Covington, KY $588 – $863 411 miles 1 – 4 days

Shipping an SUV or truck from North Carolina to Kentucky

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 Kentucky you should expect to pay between $836 and $1,148.

Factors that affect car shipping costs from NC to KY

When transporting your vehicle from the Tar Heel State to the Bluegrass 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 Kentucky.
  • Distance and route: The journey from North Carolina to Kentucky spans approximately 467 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 Kentucky 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 Kentucky should take between one and four days. Expedited services are available but come at a higher cost.

Kentucky vehicle regulations you need to know

  • Car insurance requirements: The insurance coverage includes Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability with limits of $25,000 per person/$50,000 per accident and $25,000 respectively; Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist coverage (not required); Personal Injury Protection with a limit of $10,000; and optional Collision and Comprehensive coverage for vehicle repair or replacement expenses, with no requirement.
  • Vehicle inspection: When moving to Kentucky from another state, a one-time Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) inspection is required. To complete the VIN inspection, bring the vehicle and its title to the Sheriff's office in the county where the car will be registered.
  • Driver’s license: New residents in Kentucky have a 30-day time frame to obtain a Kentucky driver's license.
  • Additional taxes: In Kentucky, a 6% motor vehicle usage tax is imposed on the retail price of vehicles registered for the first time in the state.

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 Kentucky

About 22 million people are living in the Bluegrass State. Kentucky has relatively hot, humid, rainy summers, and moderately cold and rainy winters. Kansas rarely experiences the extremes cold of the northern states nor the heat of the state in the Deep South.

FAQ

Does someone have to be present when you ship a car for pickup in North Carolina and delivery in Kentucky?

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 Kentucky.

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

If you’re not driving the vehicle from North Carolina to Kentucky, you aren't required to have typical car insurance. Your car hauler should have adequate insurance if an accident happened on the drive to Kentucky, 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 insurance coverage includes Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability with limits of $25,000 per person/$50,000 per accident and $25,000 respectively; Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist coverage (not required); Personal Injury Protection with a limit of $10,000; and optional Collision and Comprehensive coverage for vehicle repair or replacement expenses, with no requirement.

How long does it take to ship a car from North Carolina to Kentucky?

Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from North Carolina to Kentucky is about 467 miles, and that’s as fast as about 1 day. However, most car transport companies will take one to four days to travel from North Carolina to Kentucky.

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.

When moving to Kentucky from another state, a one-time Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) inspection is required. To complete the VIN inspection, bring the vehicle and its title to the Sheriff's office in the county where the car will be registered.

If I have a driver’s license in North Carolina, will I need one in Kentucky?

New residents in Kentucky have a 30-day time frame to obtain a Kentucky driver's license.

If I bought a car in North Carolina, will I be required to pay sales tax in Kentucky after shipping it there?

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

In Kentucky, a 6% motor vehicle usage tax is imposed on the retail price of vehicles registered for the first time in the state.

We recommend that you always check for updated tax information in both North Carolina and Kentucky to avoid any hidden costs.

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

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

Shipping a car from North Carolina to Kentucky costs $669 to $918.

Helpful North Carolina resources