Pennsylvania to Illinois Car Shipping (2024 Cost Guide)
Fact Checked by: Quick answer: The average cost to ship a car 734 miles from Pennsylvania to Illinois ranges from $818 to $1,152 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 Illinois to Pennsylvania car shipping guide.
The best Pennsylvania to Illinois car shipping companies
We’ve done the research and these are the best car shipping companies to help transport your vehicle from Pennsylvania to Illinois:
- Best for accurate pricing: Sherpa Auto Transport
- Best cross-country shipper: Montway Auto Transport
- Best for quick pickup: Easy Auto Ship
- Best for discounts: AmeriFreight Car Transport
- Best for overall value: SGT Auto Transport
- 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
- No upfront deposit
- Expedited shipping
- No hidden fees
- Ships motorcycles & RVs
- Discount for cash payments
- 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
Alternative ways to ship your car from Pennsylvania to Illinois
- Drive it yourself. This is straightforward but not always an option, and it will put about 734 miles on your car going from Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania 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!
PA 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 Pennsylvania and Illinois. The average travel distance is about 734 miles, with shipping times typically ranging from one to six days .
Cost to ship a car from Philadelphia, PA to Illinois
| From Pennsylvania to Illinois | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia, PA to Chicago, IL | $795 – $1,173 | 759 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Philadelphia, PA to Aurora, IL | $843 – $1,157 | 798 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Philadelphia, PA to Joliet, IL | $787 – $1,138 | 771 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Philadelphia, PA to Naperville, IL | $818 – $1,181 | 783 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Philadelphia, PA to Rockford, IL | $789 – $1,291 | 846 miles | 2 – 7 days |
Cost to ship a car from Pittsburgh , PA to Illinois
| From Pennsylvania to Illinois | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pittsburgh , PA to Chicago, IL | $605 – $909 | 461 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Pittsburgh , PA to Aurora, IL | $643 – $900 | 498 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Pittsburgh , PA to Joliet, IL | $637 – $909 | 472 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Pittsburgh , PA to Naperville, IL | $636 – $856 | 485 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Pittsburgh , PA to Rockford, IL | $699 – $966 | 548 miles | 1 – 6 days |
Cost to ship a car from Erie, PA to Illinois
| From Pennsylvania to Illinois | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Erie, PA to Chicago, IL | $610 – $854 | 446 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Erie, PA to Aurora, IL | $662 – $847 | 483 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Erie, PA to Joliet, IL | $605 – $857 | 457 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Erie, PA to Naperville, IL | $612 – $900 | 470 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Erie, PA to Rockford, IL | $665 – $928 | 533 miles | 1 – 6 days |
Cost to ship a car from Allentown, PA to Illinois
| From Pennsylvania to Illinois | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allentown, PA to Chicago, IL | $818 – $1,129 | 731 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Allentown, PA to Aurora, IL | $827 – $1,232 | 769 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Allentown, PA to Joliet, IL | $778 – $1,209 | 742 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Allentown, PA to Naperville, IL | $811 – $1,173 | 754 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Allentown, PA to Rockford, IL | $857 – $1,272 | 818 miles | 2 – 7 days |
Cost to ship a car from Reading, PA to Illinois
| From Pennsylvania to Illinois | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading, PA to Chicago, IL | $807 – $1,152 | 716 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Reading, PA to Aurora, IL | $803 – $1,138 | 754 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Reading, PA to Joliet, IL | $818 – $1,117 | 728 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Reading, PA to Naperville, IL | $810 – $1,106 | 740 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Reading, PA to Rockford, IL | $817 – $1,188 | 803 miles | 2 – 7 days |
Shipping an SUV or truck from Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania to Illinois you should expect to pay between $1,023 and $1,440.
Factors that affect car shipping costs from PA to IL
When transporting your vehicle from the Keystone 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 Pennsylvania to Illinois spans approximately 734 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 Pennsylvania, 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 Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania to Illinois should take between one and six 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 Pennsylvania
More than 39 million people call Pennsylvania home. Nicknamed the Keystone State, Pennsylvania experiences cold winters and humid summers. Summers are generally hot and humid. Moving toward the mountainous interior of the state, the winter climate becomes colder, the number of cloudy days increases, and snowfall amounts are greater. Tornadoes occur annually in the state, sometimes in large numbers, such as 30 recorded tornadoes in 2011; generally speaking, these tornadoes do not cause significant damage.
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 Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania and when dropping it off in Illinois.
Do you need car insurance when shipping your car from Pennsylvania to Illinois?
If you’re not driving the vehicle from Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania.
If you’re driving your car at all in either state, you should understand the requirements. When relocating to Pennsylvania, ensure compliance with state regulations by obtaining car insurance with minimum liability coverage: $15,000 for bodily injury per person, $30,000 for total bodily injury per accident, and $5,000 for property damage per accident. Consider enhancing your coverage with options like collision and comprehensive coverage. It's crucial to carry proof of insurance in your vehicle at all times.
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 Pennsylvania to Illinois?
Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from Pennsylvania to Illinois is about 734 miles, and that’s as fast as about 2 days. However, most car transport companies will take one to six days to travel from Pennsylvania to Illinois.
Will I be required to have a vehicle inspection in either state?
If you are moving to Pennsylvania and bringing a vehicle with you, you will need to have it inspected within 10 days of establishing residency. This includes safety and emission test. You can find a list of inspection stations on the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation website or by searching for "vehicle inspection near me". It's a good idea to schedule an appointment in advance and bring your vehicle registration and proof of insurance.
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 Pennsylvania, 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 Pennsylvania, 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 Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania and Illinois to avoid any hidden costs.
What is the cheapest way to ship a car from Pennsylvania to Illinois?
The cheapest way to ship a car from Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania to Illinois?
Shipping a car from Pennsylvania to Illinois costs $818 to $1,152.
