Rhode Island to Alabama Car Shipping (2024 Cost Guide)
Fact Checked by: Quick answer: The average cost to ship a car 1,231 miles from Rhode Island to Alabama ranges from $918 to $1,420 and takes two–eight days depending on factors like the transport type and season. For a more detailed quote, use our car shipping cost calculator.
|
|
|
|
rating
Shipping a car the reverse route? We’ve got you covered with our Alabama to Rhode Island car shipping guide.
The best Rhode Island to Alabama car shipping companies
We’ve done the research and these are the best car shipping companies to help transport your vehicle from Rhode Island to Alabama:
- 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 Rhode Island to Alabama
- Drive it yourself. This is straightforward but not always an option, and it will put about 1,231 miles on your car going from Rhode Island to Alabama. 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 Rhode Island for a move to Alabama, 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 Rhode Island to Alabama 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!
RI to AL auto transport costs and transit times
The tables below detail the costs and estimated transit times for shipping a car between popular cities in Rhode Island and Alabama. The average travel distance is about 1,231 miles, with shipping times typically ranging from two to eight days .
Cost to ship a car from Providence, RI to Alabama
| From Rhode Island to Alabama | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Providence, RI to Huntsville, AL | $859 – $1,401 | 1,104 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Providence, RI to Birmingham, AL | $921 – $1,428 | 1,149 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Providence, RI to Montgomery, AL | $985 – $1,420 | 1,235 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Providence, RI to Mobile, AL | $1,082 – $1,562 | 1,401 miles | 3 – 8 days |
| Providence, RI to Tuscaloosa, AL | $995 – $1,523 | 1,206 miles | 2 – 8 days |
Cost to ship a car from Warwick, RI to Alabama
| From Rhode Island to Alabama | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Warwick, RI to Huntsville, AL | $781 – $1,249 | 1,097 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Warwick, RI to Birmingham, AL | $850 – $1,442 | 1,143 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Warwick, RI to Montgomery, AL | $947 – $1,493 | 1,228 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Warwick, RI to Mobile, AL | $1,035 – $1,549 | 1,394 miles | 3 – 8 days |
| Warwick, RI to Tuscaloosa, AL | $886 – $1,331 | 1,199 miles | 2 – 8 days |
Cost to ship a car from Cranston, RI to Alabama
| From Rhode Island to Alabama | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cranston, RI to Huntsville, AL | $859 – $1,345 | 1,100 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Cranston, RI to Birmingham, AL | $912 – $1,359 | 1,146 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Cranston, RI to Montgomery, AL | $909 – $1,479 | 1,232 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Cranston, RI to Mobile, AL | $964 – $1,487 | 1,398 miles | 3 – 8 days |
| Cranston, RI to Tuscaloosa, AL | $947 – $1,464 | 1,203 miles | 2 – 8 days |
Cost to ship a car from Pawtucket, RI to Alabama
| From Rhode Island to Alabama | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pawtucket, RI to Huntsville, AL | $842 – $1,373 | 1,109 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Pawtucket, RI to Birmingham, AL | $912 – $1,318 | 1,154 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Pawtucket, RI to Montgomery, AL | $1,004 – $1,464 | 1,240 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Pawtucket, RI to Mobile, AL | $1,136 – $1,658 | 1,406 miles | 3 – 8 days |
| Pawtucket, RI to Tuscaloosa, AL | $937 – $1,449 | 1,211 miles | 2 – 8 days |
Cost to ship a car from East Providence, RI to Alabama
| From Rhode Island to Alabama | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| East Providence, RI to Huntsville, AL | $930 – $1,442 | 1,104 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| East Providence, RI to Birmingham, AL | $930 – $1,401 | 1,150 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| East Providence, RI to Montgomery, AL | $966 – $1,391 | 1,235 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| East Providence, RI to Mobile, AL | $1,103 – $1,578 | 1,402 miles | 3 – 8 days |
| East Providence, RI to Tuscaloosa, AL | $909 – $1,449 | 1,207 miles | 2 – 8 days |
Shipping an SUV or truck from Rhode Island to Alabama
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 Rhode Island to Alabama you should expect to pay between $1,148 and $1,775.
Factors that affect car shipping costs from RI to AL
When transporting your vehicle from the Ocean State to the Heart of Dixie, 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 Alabama.
- Distance and route: The journey from Rhode Island to Alabama spans approximately 1,231 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 Rhode Island, 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 Rhode Island and Alabama 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 Rhode Island to Alabama should take between two and eight days. Expedited services are available but come at a higher cost.
Alabama vehicle regulations you need to know
- Car insurance requirements: Alabama state government requires motorists possess liability insurance, which must provide a minimum coverage of 25/50/25. This specification includes coverage for bodily injury per person, bodily injury per accident, and property damage per accident.
- Vehicle inspection: In Alabama, a safety inspection must be completed prior to selling a vehicle and a VIN inspection is mandatory when registering an out-of-state vehicle. Emissions inspections are not required by the state, though cities and municipalities may have their own laws mandating them.
- Driver’s license: When you move to Alabama with an out-of-state driver's license, you have 30 days to surrender it and obtain an Alabama license.
- Additional taxes: In Alabama, a 2% state sales tax is levied on the purchase of vehicles, including off-road motorcycles and ATVs. With the addition of city and county vehicle sales taxes, the total sales tax owed will amount to between 3.375% and 4% of the vehicle's cost.
Learn more with our car shipping checklist.
Transporting your vehicle from Rhode Island
More than 39 million people call Rhode Island home. Nicknamed the Ocean State, Rhode Island has warm summers and cold winters. The state's southern coastal portions have hot summers and cool winters with a mix of rain and snow.
Transporting your vehicle to Alabama
About 22 million people are living in the Heart of Dixie. Alabama has one of the hottest summers in the US and mild winters with copious amounts of precipitation throughout the year. Areas around the Gulf in Alabama are prone to tropical storms and hurricanes. Alabama also has tornado activity, which typically occurs in the spring It would be a good idea to check for tornado activity in the area you are looking to move to.
FAQ
Does someone have to be present when you ship a car for pickup in Rhode Island and delivery in Alabama?
Most companies will require that an adult of at least 18 years of age be present when picking up your car in Rhode Island and when dropping it off in Alabama.
Do you need car insurance when shipping your car from Rhode Island to Alabama?
If you’re not driving the vehicle from Rhode Island to Alabama, you aren't required to have typical car insurance. Your car hauler should have adequate insurance if an accident happened on the drive to Alabama, which you should verify before loading your car in Rhode Island.
If you’re driving your car at all in either state, you should understand the requirements. When relocating to Rhode Island, it's essential to secure car insurance meeting the state's minimum requirements, which include liability coverage of $25,000 per person for bodily injury, $50,000 total for bodily injury per accident, and $25,000 for property damage per accident. Additionally, Rhode Island mandates all drivers to carry uninsured motorist coverage for comprehensive protection.
Alabama state government requires motorists possess liability insurance, which must provide a minimum coverage of 25/50/25. This specification includes coverage for bodily injury per person, bodily injury per accident, and property damage per accident.
How long does it take to ship a car from Rhode Island to Alabama?
Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from Rhode Island to Alabama is about 1,231 miles, and that’s as fast as about 3 days. However, most car transport companies will take two to eight days to travel from Rhode Island to Alabama.
Will I be required to have a vehicle inspection in either state?
All newly registered vehicles (except new vehicles) must pass a Safety and Emissions inspection or have a valid inspection certificate within 5 days of registration. If not, the registration may be suspended. New vehicles are exempt from inspection for 2 years or until they reach 24,000 miles. Different categories of vehicles have different inspection requirements and must be inspected at a licensed station.
In Alabama, a safety inspection must be completed prior to selling a vehicle and a VIN inspection is mandatory when registering an out-of-state vehicle. Emissions inspections are not required by the state, though cities and municipalities may have their own laws mandating them.
If I have a driver’s license in Rhode Island, will I need one in Alabama?
When you move to Alabama with an out-of-state driver's license, you have 30 days to surrender it and obtain an Alabama license.
If I bought a car in Rhode Island, will I be required to pay sales tax in Alabama after shipping it there?
It’s important to understand any tax implications if you’re having a car shipped from Rhode Island to Alabama after purchasing it.
In Alabama, a 2% state sales tax is levied on the purchase of vehicles, including off-road motorcycles and ATVs. With the addition of city and county vehicle sales taxes, the total sales tax owed will amount to between 3.375% and 4% of the vehicle's cost.
We recommend that you always check for updated tax information in both Rhode Island and Alabama to avoid any hidden costs.
What is the cheapest way to ship a car from Rhode Island to Alabama?
The cheapest way to ship a car from Rhode Island to Alabama 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 Rhode Island to Alabama?
Shipping a car from Rhode Island to Alabama costs $918 to $1,420.
