North Carolina to Michigan Car Shipping (2024 Cost Guide)

Quick answer: The average cost to ship a car 851 miles from North Carolina to Michigan ranges from $801 to $1,283 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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  • Price lock promise
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  • Established in 2007
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  • No deposit
  • Quick pickup

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

The best North Carolina to Michigan 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 Michigan:

Best for accurate pricing
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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
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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
At A Glance
  • 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 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
Best for discounts
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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
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Check prices (770) 501-9057
Best for overall value
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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
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Check prices (864) 492-1221

Alternative ways to ship your car from North Carolina to Michigan

  • Drive it yourself. This is straightforward but not always an option, and it will put about 851 miles on your car going from North Carolina to Michigan. 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 Michigan, 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 Michigan 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 MI 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 Michigan. The average travel distance is about 851 miles, with shipping times typically ranging from two to seven days .

Cost to ship a car from Charlotte, NC to Michigan

From North Carolina to Michigan Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Charlotte, NC to Detroit, MI $709 – $1,097 628 miles 1 – 6 days
Charlotte, NC to Grand Rapids, MI $786 – $1,129 749 miles 1 – 6 days
Charlotte, NC to Warren, MI $746 – $1,065 646 miles 1 – 6 days
Charlotte, NC to Sterling Heights, MI $722 – $1,135 650 miles 1 – 6 days
Charlotte, NC to Ann Arbor, MI $716 – $986 620 miles 1 – 6 days

Cost to ship a car from Raleigh, NC to Michigan

From North Carolina to Michigan Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Raleigh, NC to Detroit, MI $811 – $1,095 680 miles 1 – 6 days
Raleigh, NC to Grand Rapids, MI $857 – $1,188 802 miles 2 – 7 days
Raleigh, NC to Warren, MI $811 – $1,084 698 miles 1 – 6 days
Raleigh, NC to Sterling Heights, MI $815 – $1,141 702 miles 1 – 6 days
Raleigh, NC to Ann Arbor, MI $775 – $1,081 671 miles 1 – 6 days

Cost to ship a car from Greensboro, NC to Michigan

From North Carolina to Michigan Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Greensboro, NC to Detroit, MI $746 – $1,048 605 miles 1 – 6 days
Greensboro, NC to Grand Rapids, MI $786 – $1,186 726 miles 1 – 6 days
Greensboro, NC to Warren, MI $724 – $997 622 miles 1 – 6 days
Greensboro, NC to Sterling Heights, MI $731 – $1,086 626 miles 1 – 6 days
Greensboro, NC to Ann Arbor, MI $743 – $969 596 miles 1 – 6 days

Cost to ship a car from Durham, NC to Michigan

From North Carolina to Michigan Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Durham, NC to Detroit, MI $767 – $1,070 657 miles 1 – 6 days
Durham, NC to Grand Rapids, MI $835 – $1,229 779 miles 2 – 7 days
Durham, NC to Warren, MI $734 – $1,117 675 miles 1 – 6 days
Durham, NC to Sterling Heights, MI $803 – $1,106 679 miles 1 – 6 days
Durham, NC to Ann Arbor, MI $783 – $1,076 648 miles 1 – 6 days

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

From North Carolina to Michigan Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Winston-Salem, NC to Detroit, MI $686 – $999 580 miles 1 – 6 days
Winston-Salem, NC to Grand Rapids, MI $776 – $1,129 702 miles 1 – 6 days
Winston-Salem, NC to Warren, MI $743 – $979 598 miles 1 – 6 days
Winston-Salem, NC to Sterling Heights, MI $702 – $1,068 601 miles 1 – 6 days
Winston-Salem, NC to Ann Arbor, MI $662 – $969 571 miles 1 – 6 days

Shipping an SUV or truck from North Carolina to Michigan

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 Michigan you should expect to pay between $1,001 and $1,604.

Factors that affect car shipping costs from NC to MI

When transporting your vehicle from the Tar Heel State to the Wolverine 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 Michigan.
  • Distance and route: The journey from North Carolina to Michigan spans approximately 851 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 Michigan 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 Michigan should take between two and seven days. Expedited services are available but come at a higher cost.

Michigan vehicle regulations you need to know

  • Car insurance requirements: Michigan requires a minimum auto insurance coverage of $50,000/$100,000 for bodily injury and $10,000 for property damage in case of an accident.
  • Vehicle inspection: Michigan does not require vehicle inspections for registration purposes. There is no state mandate for car safety inspections or emissions testing.
  • Driver’s license: Michigan law requires new residents to promptly title and register their vehicles, with no grace period provided. A person is considered a resident if they live in the state and prove their legal presence in the US. To comply with these requirements, new residents should visit a Secretary of State office to obtain a Michigan driver's license, title, and registration as soon as they establish residency.
  • Additional taxes: In Michigan, a 6% sales tax is imposed on all vehicle purchases.

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 Michigan

About 22 million people are living in the Wolverine State. Michigan has a continental climate, although there are two distinct regions. The southern and central parts of the Lower Peninsula (south of Saginaw Bay and from the Grand Rapids area southward) have a warmer climate with hot summers and cold winters. The northern part of the Lower Peninsula and the entire Upper Peninsula has a more severe climate (Köppen Dfb), with warm, but shorter summers and longer, cold to very cold winters. Some parts of the state average high temperatures below freezing from December through February, and into early March in the far northern parts. During the winter through the middle of February, the state is frequently subjected to heavy lake-effect snow. The state averages 30 days of thunderstorm activity per year. These can be severe, especially in the southern part of the state. The state averages 17 tornadoes per year, which are more common in the state's extreme southern section.

FAQ

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

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 Michigan.

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

If you’re not driving the vehicle from North Carolina to Michigan, you aren't required to have typical car insurance. Your car hauler should have adequate insurance if an accident happened on the drive to Michigan, 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.

Michigan requires a minimum auto insurance coverage of $50,000/$100,000 for bodily injury and $10,000 for property damage in case of an accident.

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

Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from North Carolina to Michigan is about 851 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 Michigan.

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.

Michigan does not require vehicle inspections for registration purposes. There is no state mandate for car safety inspections or emissions testing.

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

Michigan law requires new residents to promptly title and register their vehicles, with no grace period provided. A person is considered a resident if they live in the state and prove their legal presence in the US. To comply with these requirements, new residents should visit a Secretary of State office to obtain a Michigan driver's license, title, and registration as soon as they establish residency.

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

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

In Michigan, a 6% sales tax is imposed on all vehicle purchases.

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

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

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

Shipping a car from North Carolina to Michigan costs $801 to $1,283.

Helpful North Carolina resources