New Jersey to Illinois Car Shipping (2024 Cost Guide)
Fact Checked by: Quick answer: The average cost to ship a car 897 miles from New Jersey to Illinois ranges from $802 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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Shipping a car the reverse route? We’ve got you covered with our Illinois to New Jersey car shipping guide.
The best New Jersey to Illinois car shipping companies
We’ve done the research and these are the best car shipping companies to help transport your vehicle from New Jersey to Illinois:
- 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 New Jersey to Illinois
- Drive it yourself. This is straightforward but not always an option, and it will put about 897 miles on your car going from New Jersey 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 New Jersey 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 New Jersey 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!
NJ 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 New Jersey and Illinois. The average travel distance is about 897 miles, with shipping times typically ranging from two to seven days .
Cost to ship a car from Trenton, NJ to Illinois
| From New Jersey to Illinois | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trenton, NJ to Chicago, IL | $809 – $1,179 | 779 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Trenton, NJ to Aurora, IL | $775 – $1,221 | 816 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Trenton, NJ to Joliet, IL | $801 – $1,214 | 790 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Trenton, NJ to Naperville, IL | $823 – $1,197 | 802 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Trenton, NJ to Rockford, IL | $840 – $1,280 | 866 miles | 2 – 7 days |
Cost to ship a car from Newark, NJ to Illinois
| From New Jersey to Illinois | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Newark, NJ to Chicago, IL | $785 – $1,120 | 780 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Newark, NJ to Aurora, IL | $823 – $1,173 | 817 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Newark, NJ to Joliet, IL | $777 – $1,132 | 791 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Newark, NJ to Naperville, IL | $767 – $1,245 | 803 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Newark, NJ to Rockford, IL | $857 – $1,169 | 867 miles | 2 – 7 days |
Cost to ship a car from Jersey City, NJ to Illinois
| From New Jersey to Illinois | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jersey City, NJ to Chicago, IL | $777 – $1,143 | 788 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Jersey City, NJ to Aurora, IL | $836 – $1,215 | 825 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Jersey City, NJ to Joliet, IL | $809 – $1,191 | 799 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Jersey City, NJ to Naperville, IL | $815 – $1,161 | 812 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Jersey City, NJ to Rockford, IL | $835 – $1,221 | 875 miles | 2 – 7 days |
Cost to ship a car from Paterson, NJ to Illinois
| From New Jersey to Illinois | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paterson, NJ to Chicago, IL | $833 – $1,120 | 777 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Paterson, NJ to Aurora, IL | $783 – $1,185 | 815 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Paterson, NJ to Joliet, IL | $809 – $1,179 | 789 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Paterson, NJ to Naperville, IL | $775 – $1,221 | 802 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Paterson, NJ to Rockford, IL | $832 – $1,280 | 864 miles | 2 – 7 days |
Cost to ship a car from Elizabeth, NJ to Illinois
| From New Jersey to Illinois | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elizabeth, NJ to Chicago, IL | $817 – $1,202 | 789 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Elizabeth, NJ to Aurora, IL | $836 – $1,227 | 826 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Elizabeth, NJ to Joliet, IL | $783 – $1,173 | 800 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Elizabeth, NJ to Naperville, IL | $847 – $1,137 | 812 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Elizabeth, NJ to Rockford, IL | $859 – $1,233 | 876 miles | 2 – 7 days |
Shipping an SUV or truck from New Jersey 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 New Jersey to Illinois you should expect to pay between $1,003 and $1,604.
Factors that affect car shipping costs from NJ to IL
When transporting your vehicle from the Garden 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 New Jersey to Illinois spans approximately 897 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 New Jersey, 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 New Jersey 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 New Jersey 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 New Jersey
More than 39 million people call New Jersey home. Nicknamed the Garden State, New Jersey summers are typically hot and humid and winters are usually cold. During winter and early spring, New Jersey can experience "nor'easters", which are capable of causing blizzards or flooding throughout the northeastern United States.
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 New Jersey 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 New Jersey and when dropping it off in Illinois.
Do you need car insurance when shipping your car from New Jersey to Illinois?
If you’re not driving the vehicle from New Jersey 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 New Jersey.
If you’re driving your car at all in either state, you should understand the requirements. In New Jersey, meet the minimum auto insurance requirements: $15,000 per person for bodily injury up to $30,000 per accident and $5,000 for property damage. Stay legally covered and financially secure on the road.
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 New Jersey to Illinois?
Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from New Jersey to Illinois is about 897 miles, and that’s as fast as about 2 days. However, most car transport companies will take two to seven days to travel from New Jersey to Illinois.
Will I be required to have a vehicle inspection in either state?
If you are planning to reside in New Jersey for a minimum of 6 months, it is mandatory to transfer the title of your vehicle, register it, and obtain a driver's license from the state. As a new resident, you have 60 days from the date of establishing your residency to register your vehicle. It is important to note that before registering your vehicle, you are required to have liability insurance coverage as per the New Jersey state laws.
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 New Jersey, 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 New Jersey, 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 New Jersey 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 New Jersey and Illinois to avoid any hidden costs.
What is the cheapest way to ship a car from New Jersey to Illinois?
The cheapest way to ship a car from New Jersey 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 New Jersey to Illinois?
Shipping a car from New Jersey to Illinois costs $802 to $1,283.
