New Jersey to Kentucky Car Shipping (2024 Cost Guide)
Fact Checked by: Quick answer: The average cost to ship a car 680 miles from New Jersey to Kentucky ranges from $725 to $1,082 and takes one–six 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 Kentucky to New Jersey car shipping guide.
The best New Jersey to Kentucky 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 Kentucky:
- 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 Kentucky
- Drive it yourself. This is straightforward but not always an option, and it will put about 680 miles on your car going from New Jersey 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 New Jersey 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 New Jersey 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!
NJ 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 New Jersey and Kentucky. The average travel distance is about 680 miles, with shipping times typically ranging from one to six days .
Cost to ship a car from Trenton, NJ to Kentucky
| From New Jersey to Kentucky | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trenton, NJ to Louisville, KY | $786 – $1,147 | 692 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Trenton, NJ to Lexington, KY | $781 – $1,089 | 654 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Trenton, NJ to Bowling Green, KY | $839 – $1,137 | 812 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Trenton, NJ to Owensboro, KY | $777 – $1,179 | 798 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Trenton, NJ to Covington, KY | $734 – $957 | 595 miles | 1 – 6 days |
Cost to ship a car from Newark, NJ to Kentucky
| From New Jersey to Kentucky | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Newark, NJ to Louisville, KY | $800 – $1,184 | 728 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Newark, NJ to Lexington, KY | $725 – $1,049 | 694 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Newark, NJ to Bowling Green, KY | $853 – $1,215 | 848 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Newark, NJ to Owensboro, KY | $812 – $1,275 | 833 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Newark, NJ to Covington, KY | $767 – $990 | 631 miles | 1 – 6 days |
Cost to ship a car from Jersey City, NJ to Kentucky
| From New Jersey to Kentucky | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jersey City, NJ to Louisville, KY | $824 – $1,150 | 734 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Jersey City, NJ to Lexington, KY | $736 – $1,127 | 702 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Jersey City, NJ to Bowling Green, KY | $775 – $1,268 | 854 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Jersey City, NJ to Owensboro, KY | $780 – $1,178 | 840 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Jersey City, NJ to Covington, KY | $730 – $1,042 | 638 miles | 1 – 6 days |
Cost to ship a car from Paterson, NJ to Kentucky
| From New Jersey to Kentucky | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paterson, NJ to Louisville, KY | $761 – $1,184 | 735 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Paterson, NJ to Lexington, KY | $759 – $1,083 | 702 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Paterson, NJ to Bowling Green, KY | $840 – $1,268 | 855 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Paterson, NJ to Owensboro, KY | $780 – $1,190 | 841 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Paterson, NJ to Covington, KY | $730 – $1,032 | 639 miles | 1 – 6 days |
Cost to ship a car from Elizabeth, NJ to Kentucky
| From New Jersey to Kentucky | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elizabeth, NJ to Louisville, KY | $808 – $1,195 | 729 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Elizabeth, NJ to Lexington, KY | $801 – $1,082 | 697 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Elizabeth, NJ to Bowling Green, KY | $800 – $1,231 | 850 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Elizabeth, NJ to Owensboro, KY | $812 – $1,166 | 836 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Elizabeth, NJ to Covington, KY | $767 – $1,011 | 633 miles | 1 – 6 days |
Shipping an SUV or truck from New Jersey 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 New Jersey to Kentucky you should expect to pay between $906 and $1,353.
Factors that affect car shipping costs from NJ to KY
When transporting your vehicle from the Garden 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 New Jersey to Kentucky spans approximately 680 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 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 New Jersey to Kentucky should take between one and six 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 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 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 New Jersey 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 New Jersey and when dropping it off in Kentucky.
Do you need car insurance when shipping your car from New Jersey to Kentucky?
If you’re not driving the vehicle from New Jersey 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 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 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 New Jersey to Kentucky?
Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from New Jersey to Kentucky is about 680 miles, and that’s as fast as about 2 days. However, most car transport companies will take one to six days to travel from New Jersey to Kentucky.
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.
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 New Jersey, 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 New Jersey, 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 New Jersey 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 New Jersey and Kentucky to avoid any hidden costs.
What is the cheapest way to ship a car from New Jersey to Kentucky?
The cheapest way to ship a car from New Jersey 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 New Jersey to Kentucky?
Shipping a car from New Jersey to Kentucky costs $725 to $1,082.
