Pennsylvania to Michigan Car Shipping (2024 Cost Guide)

Quick answer: The average cost to ship a car 630 miles from Pennsylvania to Michigan ranges from $761 to $1,097 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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  • 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 Pennsylvania car shipping guide.

The best Pennsylvania to Michigan car shipping companies

We’ve done the research and these are the best car shipping companies to help transport your vehicle from Pennsylvania 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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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 Pennsylvania to Michigan

  • Drive it yourself. This is straightforward but not always an option, and it will put about 630 miles on your car going from Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania 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!

PA 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 Pennsylvania and Michigan. The average travel distance is about 630 miles, with shipping times typically ranging from one to six days .

Cost to ship a car from Philadelphia, PA to Michigan

From Pennsylvania to Michigan Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Philadelphia, PA to Detroit, MI $686 – $1,009 583 miles 1 – 6 days
Philadelphia, PA to Grand Rapids, MI $760 – $1,152 716 miles 1 – 6 days
Philadelphia, PA to Warren, MI $702 – $1,068 601 miles 1 – 6 days
Philadelphia, PA to Sterling Heights, MI $694 – $976 605 miles 1 – 6 days
Philadelphia, PA to Ann Arbor, MI $693 – $999 585 miles 1 – 6 days

Cost to ship a car from Pittsburgh , PA to Michigan

From Pennsylvania to Michigan Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Pittsburgh , PA to Detroit, MI $489 – $668 285 miles 1 – 4 days
Pittsburgh , PA to Grand Rapids, MI $582 – $788 418 miles 1 – 4 days
Pittsburgh , PA to Warren, MI $534 – $687 303 miles 1 – 4 days
Pittsburgh , PA to Sterling Heights, MI $534 – $673 306 miles 1 – 4 days
Pittsburgh , PA to Ann Arbor, MI $504 – $628 287 miles 1 – 4 days

Cost to ship a car from Erie, PA to Michigan

From Pennsylvania to Michigan Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Erie, PA to Detroit, MI $430 – $630 270 miles 1 – 4 days
Erie, PA to Grand Rapids, MI $582 – $788 403 miles 1 – 4 days
Erie, PA to Warren, MI $509 – $674 287 miles 1 – 4 days
Erie, PA to Sterling Heights, MI $460 – $648 291 miles 1 – 4 days
Erie, PA to Ann Arbor, MI $466 – $624 272 miles 1 – 4 days

Cost to ship a car from Allentown, PA to Michigan

From Pennsylvania to Michigan Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Allentown, PA to Detroit, MI $669 – $940 555 miles 1 – 6 days
Allentown, PA to Grand Rapids, MI $772 – $1,139 687 miles 1 – 6 days
Allentown, PA to Warren, MI $704 – $1,017 572 miles 1 – 6 days
Allentown, PA to Sterling Heights, MI $693 – $999 577 miles 1 – 6 days
Allentown, PA to Ann Arbor, MI $683 – $959 557 miles 1 – 6 days

Cost to ship a car from Reading, PA to Michigan

From Pennsylvania to Michigan Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Reading, PA to Detroit, MI $672 – $947 541 miles 1 – 6 days
Reading, PA to Grand Rapids, MI $775 – $1,038 673 miles 1 – 6 days
Reading, PA to Warren, MI $697 – $969 558 miles 1 – 6 days
Reading, PA to Sterling Heights, MI $669 – $940 562 miles 1 – 6 days
Reading, PA to Ann Arbor, MI $692 – $966 542 miles 1 – 6 days

Shipping an SUV or truck from Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania to Michigan you should expect to pay between $951 and $1,371.

Factors that affect car shipping costs from PA to MI

When transporting your vehicle from the Keystone 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 Pennsylvania to Michigan spans approximately 630 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 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 Pennsylvania to Michigan should take between one and six 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 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 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 Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania and when dropping it off in Michigan.

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

If you’re not driving the vehicle from Pennsylvania 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 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.

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 Pennsylvania to Michigan?

Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from Pennsylvania to Michigan is about 630 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 Michigan.

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.

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 Pennsylvania, 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 Pennsylvania, 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 Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania and Michigan to avoid any hidden costs.

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

The cheapest way to ship a car from Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania to Michigan?

Shipping a car from Pennsylvania to Michigan costs $761 to $1,097.

Helpful Pennsylvania resources