Rhode Island to Massachusetts Car Shipping (2024 Cost Guide)
Fact Checked by: Quick answer: The average cost to ship a car 76 miles from Rhode Island to Massachusetts ranges from $249 to $409 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 Massachusetts to Rhode Island car shipping guide.
The best Rhode Island to Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts:
- 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 Massachusetts
- Drive it yourself. This is straightforward but not always an option, and it will put about 76 miles on your car going from Rhode Island to Massachusetts. 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 Massachusetts, 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 Massachusetts 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 MA 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 Massachusetts. The average travel distance is about 76 miles, with shipping times typically ranging from one to four days .
Cost to ship a car from Providence, RI to Massachusetts
| From Rhode Island to Massachusetts | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Providence, RI to Boston, MA | $211 – $343 | 50 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Providence, RI to Worcester, MA | $199 – $346 | 39 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Providence, RI to Springfield, MA | $301 – $449 | 85 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Providence, RI to Cambridge, MA | $207 – $357 | 55 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Providence, RI to Lowell, MA | $241 – $375 | 69 miles | 1 – 4 days |
Cost to ship a car from Warwick, RI to Massachusetts
| From Rhode Island to Massachusetts | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Warwick, RI to Boston, MA | $234 – $383 | 62 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Warwick, RI to Worcester, MA | $207 – $343 | 50 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Warwick, RI to Springfield, MA | $304 – $492 | 96 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Warwick, RI to Cambridge, MA | $237 – $390 | 66 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Warwick, RI to Lowell, MA | $301 – $444 | 81 miles | 1 – 4 days |
Cost to ship a car from Cranston, RI to Massachusetts
| From Rhode Island to Massachusetts | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cranston, RI to Boston, MA | $199 – $353 | 54 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Cranston, RI to Worcester, MA | $214 – $353 | 43 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Cranston, RI to Springfield, MA | $278 – $454 | 89 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Cranston, RI to Cambridge, MA | $214 – $336 | 59 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Cranston, RI to Lowell, MA | $259 – $430 | 73 miles | 1 – 4 days |
Cost to ship a car from Pawtucket, RI to Massachusetts
| From Rhode Island to Massachusetts | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pawtucket, RI to Boston, MA | $209 – $357 | 45 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Pawtucket, RI to Worcester, MA | $209 – $343 | 40 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Pawtucket, RI to Springfield, MA | $301 – $454 | 86 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Pawtucket, RI to Cambridge, MA | $197 – $353 | 50 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Pawtucket, RI to Lowell, MA | $246 – $398 | 65 miles | 1 – 4 days |
Cost to ship a car from East Providence, RI to Massachusetts
| From Rhode Island to Massachusetts | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| East Providence, RI to Boston, MA | $199 – $364 | 53 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| East Providence, RI to Worcester, MA | $214 – $360 | 42 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| East Providence, RI to Springfield, MA | $295 – $472 | 88 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| East Providence, RI to Cambridge, MA | $207 – $346 | 58 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| East Providence, RI to Lowell, MA | $262 – $448 | 72 miles | 1 – 4 days |
Shipping an SUV or truck from Rhode Island to Massachusetts
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 Massachusetts you should expect to pay between $311 and $511.
Factors that affect car shipping costs from RI to MA
When transporting your vehicle from the Ocean State to the Bay 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 Massachusetts.
- Distance and route: The journey from Rhode Island to Massachusetts spans approximately 76 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 Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts should take between one and four days. Expedited services are available but come at a higher cost.
Massachusetts vehicle regulations you need to know
- Car insurance requirements: Massachusetts mandates minimum car insurance coverage, including $20,000/$40,000 for bodily injury liability, $5,000 for property damage, $20,000/$40,000 for uninsured motorist bodily injury, and $8,000 for personal injury protection.
- Vehicle inspection: Every year, all vehicles in Massachusetts must undergo a safety inspection. New cars registered in the state must be inspected within 7 days of their registration date.
- Driver’s license: As a new resident in Massachusetts, you must convert your out-of-state vehicle registration to the state within 30 days of establishing residency. The vehicle can be titled and registered at the same time.
- Additional taxes: As a buyer, transferee, or user of a motor vehicle or trailer in Massachusetts, you are responsible for paying a sales or use tax of 6.25%.
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 Massachusetts
About 22 million people are living in the Bay State. Most of Massachusetts has a humid continental climate, with cold winters and warm summers. Far southeast coastal areas are the broad transition zone to Humid Subtropical climates. The warm to hot summers render the oceanic climate rare in this transition, only applying to exposed coastal areas such as on the peninsula of Barnstable County. The climate of Boston is quite representative for the commonwealth, characterized by summer highs of around 81 °F (27 °C) and winter highs of 35 °F (2 °C), and is quite wet. Frosts are frequent all winter, even in coastal areas due to prevailing inland winds. Due to its location near the Atlantic, Massachusetts is vulnerable to nor'easters, hurricanes, and tropical storms.
FAQ
Does someone have to be present when you ship a car for pickup in Rhode Island and delivery in Massachusetts?
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 Massachusetts.
Do you need car insurance when shipping your car from Rhode Island to Massachusetts?
If you’re not driving the vehicle from Rhode Island to Massachusetts, you aren't required to have typical car insurance. Your car hauler should have adequate insurance if an accident happened on the drive to Massachusetts, 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.
Massachusetts mandates minimum car insurance coverage, including $20,000/$40,000 for bodily injury liability, $5,000 for property damage, $20,000/$40,000 for uninsured motorist bodily injury, and $8,000 for personal injury protection.
How long does it take to ship a car from Rhode Island to Massachusetts?
Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from Rhode Island to Massachusetts is about 76 miles, and that’s as fast as about 1 day. However, most car transport companies will take one to four days to travel from Rhode Island to Massachusetts.
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.
Every year, all vehicles in Massachusetts must undergo a safety inspection. New cars registered in the state must be inspected within 7 days of their registration date.
If I have a driver’s license in Rhode Island, will I need one in Massachusetts?
As a new resident in Massachusetts, you must convert your out-of-state vehicle registration to the state within 30 days of establishing residency. The vehicle can be titled and registered at the same time.
If I bought a car in Rhode Island, will I be required to pay sales tax in Massachusetts after shipping it there?
It’s important to understand any tax implications if you’re having a car shipped from Rhode Island to Massachusetts after purchasing it.
As a buyer, transferee, or user of a motor vehicle or trailer in Massachusetts, you are responsible for paying a sales or use tax of 6.25%.
We recommend that you always check for updated tax information in both Rhode Island and Massachusetts to avoid any hidden costs.
What is the cheapest way to ship a car from Rhode Island to Massachusetts?
The cheapest way to ship a car from Rhode Island to Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts?
Shipping a car from Rhode Island to Massachusetts costs $249 to $409.
