Ohio to Kentucky Car Shipping (2024 Cost Guide)
Fact Checked by: Quick answer: The average cost to ship a car 249 miles from Ohio to Kentucky ranges from $451 to $605 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.
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Shipping a car the reverse route? We’ve got you covered with our Kentucky to Ohio car shipping guide.
The best Ohio to Kentucky car shipping companies
We’ve done the research and these are the best car shipping companies to help transport your vehicle from Ohio 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 Ohio to Kentucky
- Drive it yourself. This is straightforward but not always an option, and it will put about 249 miles on your car going from Ohio 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 Ohio 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 Ohio 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!
OH 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 Ohio and Kentucky. The average travel distance is about 249 miles, with shipping times typically ranging from one to four days .
Cost to ship a car from Columbus, OH to Kentucky
| From Ohio to Kentucky | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus, OH to Louisville, KY | $429 – $575 | 206 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Columbus, OH to Lexington, KY | $417 – $565 | 189 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Columbus, OH to Bowling Green, KY | $561 – $759 | 326 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Columbus, OH to Owensboro, KY | $508 – $672 | 312 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Columbus, OH to Covington, KY | $338 – $483 | 109 miles | 1 – 4 days |
Cost to ship a car from Cleveland, OH to Kentucky
| From Ohio to Kentucky | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cleveland, OH to Louisville, KY | $555 – $744 | 348 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Cleveland, OH to Lexington, KY | $550 – $737 | 331 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Cleveland, OH to Bowling Green, KY | $636 – $847 | 468 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Cleveland, OH to Owensboro, KY | $642 – $855 | 454 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Cleveland, OH to Covington, KY | $438 – $610 | 251 miles | 1 – 4 days |
Cost to ship a car from Cincinnati, OH to Kentucky
| From Ohio to Kentucky | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati, OH to Louisville, KY | $304 – $473 | 99 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Cincinnati, OH to Lexington, KY | $272 – $454 | 83 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Cincinnati, OH to Bowling Green, KY | $471 – $614 | 220 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Cincinnati, OH to Owensboro, KY | $443 – $598 | 206 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Cincinnati, OH to Covington, KY | $201 – $364 | 1 miles | 1 – 4 days |
Cost to ship a car from Toledo, OH to Kentucky
| From Ohio to Kentucky | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toledo, OH to Louisville, KY | $523 – $658 | 301 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Toledo, OH to Lexington, KY | $488 – $634 | 283 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Toledo, OH to Bowling Green, KY | $569 – $795 | 421 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Toledo, OH to Owensboro, KY | $593 – $804 | 406 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Toledo, OH to Covington, KY | $465 – $552 | 204 miles | 1 – 4 days |
Cost to ship a car from Akron, OH to Kentucky
| From Ohio to Kentucky | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Akron, OH to Louisville, KY | $518 – $766 | 332 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Akron, OH to Lexington, KY | $492 – $700 | 314 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Akron, OH to Bowling Green, KY | $630 – $864 | 452 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Akron, OH to Owensboro, KY | $640 – $835 | 437 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Akron, OH to Covington, KY | $457 – $611 | 235 miles | 1 – 4 days |
Shipping an SUV or truck from Ohio 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 Ohio to Kentucky you should expect to pay between $564 and $756.
Factors that affect car shipping costs from OH to KY
When transporting your vehicle from the Buckeye 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 Ohio to Kentucky spans approximately 249 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 Ohio, 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 Ohio 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 Ohio 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 Ohio
More than 39 million people call Ohio home. Nicknamed the Buckeye State, Ohio forms a part of what's considered both the snowbelt and the tornado alley which means your move may be affected if either of these are impacting the state on your move day.
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 Ohio 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 Ohio and when dropping it off in Kentucky.
Do you need car insurance when shipping your car from Ohio to Kentucky?
If you’re not driving the vehicle from Ohio 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 Ohio.
If you’re driving your car at all in either state, you should understand the requirements. In Ohio, it's mandatory for drivers to have car insurance with a minimum coverage of $25,000 for bodily injury per person, $50,000 for bodily injury per accident, and $25,000 for property damage liability. Meeting these requirements is essential for vehicle registration and serves as financial protection in case of an at-fault accident. Explore the option of increasing your liability limits and acquiring additional coverage for enhanced protection.
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 Ohio to Kentucky?
Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from Ohio to Kentucky is about 249 miles, and that’s as fast as about 1 day. However, most car transport companies will take one to four days to travel from Ohio to Kentucky.
Will I be required to have a vehicle inspection in either state?
New residents must get their car smog checked during registration, which will also include a free VIN check. Ohio doesn't require safety inspections, but you may choose to have a car check for peace of mind.
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 Ohio, 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 Ohio, 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 Ohio 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 Ohio and Kentucky to avoid any hidden costs.
What is the cheapest way to ship a car from Ohio to Kentucky?
The cheapest way to ship a car from Ohio 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 Ohio to Kentucky?
Shipping a car from Ohio to Kentucky costs $451 to $605.
