Rhode Island to Michigan Car Shipping (2024 Cost Guide)

Quick answer: The average cost to ship a car 891 miles from Rhode Island to Michigan ranges from $859 to $1,246 and takes two–seven 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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  • Established in 2007
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  • Services all 50 states
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Shipping a car the reverse route? We’ve got you covered with our Michigan to Rhode Island car shipping guide.

The best Rhode Island to Michigan 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 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
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  • 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 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
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  • 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
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

Alternative ways to ship your car from Rhode Island to Michigan

  • Drive it yourself. This is straightforward but not always an option, and it will put about 891 miles on your car going from Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island 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!

RI 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 Rhode Island and Michigan. The average travel distance is about 891 miles, with shipping times typically ranging from two to seven days .

Cost to ship a car from Providence, RI to Michigan

From Rhode Island to Michigan Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Providence, RI to Detroit, MI $798 – $1,083 700 miles 1 – 6 days
Providence, RI to Grand Rapids, MI $771 – $1,239 830 miles 2 – 7 days
Providence, RI to Warren, MI $798 – $1,149 703 miles 1 – 6 days
Providence, RI to Sterling Heights, MI $767 – $1,172 700 miles 1 – 6 days
Providence, RI to Ann Arbor, MI $769 – $1,150 743 miles 1 – 6 days

Cost to ship a car from Warwick, RI to Michigan

From Rhode Island to Michigan Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Warwick, RI to Detroit, MI $782 – $1,149 712 miles 1 – 6 days
Warwick, RI to Grand Rapids, MI $853 – $1,154 842 miles 2 – 7 days
Warwick, RI to Warren, MI $759 – $1,149 715 miles 1 – 6 days
Warwick, RI to Sterling Heights, MI $790 – $1,105 711 miles 1 – 6 days
Warwick, RI to Ann Arbor, MI $793 – $1,155 787 miles 2 – 7 days

Cost to ship a car from Cranston, RI to Michigan

From Rhode Island to Michigan Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Cranston, RI to Detroit, MI $805 – $1,083 705 miles 1 – 6 days
Cranston, RI to Grand Rapids, MI $771 – $1,178 835 miles 2 – 7 days
Cranston, RI to Warren, MI $743 – $1,149 707 miles 1 – 6 days
Cranston, RI to Sterling Heights, MI $805 – $1,105 703 miles 1 – 6 days
Cranston, RI to Ann Arbor, MI $841 – $1,120 791 miles 2 – 7 days

Cost to ship a car from Pawtucket, RI to Michigan

From Rhode Island to Michigan Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Pawtucket, RI to Detroit, MI $751 – $1,071 702 miles 1 – 6 days
Pawtucket, RI to Grand Rapids, MI $812 – $1,227 832 miles 2 – 7 days
Pawtucket, RI to Warren, MI $767 – $1,094 705 miles 1 – 6 days
Pawtucket, RI to Sterling Heights, MI $774 – $1,060 701 miles 1 – 6 days
Pawtucket, RI to Ann Arbor, MI $745 – $1,104 744 miles 1 – 6 days

Cost to ship a car from East Providence, RI to Michigan

From Rhode Island to Michigan Cost Distance Estimated transit time
East Providence, RI to Detroit, MI $751 – $1,060 703 miles 1 – 6 days
East Providence, RI to Grand Rapids, MI $812 – $1,239 833 miles 2 – 7 days
East Providence, RI to Warren, MI $805 – $1,127 706 miles 1 – 6 days
East Providence, RI to Sterling Heights, MI $736 – $1,105 702 miles 1 – 6 days
East Providence, RI to Ann Arbor, MI $753 – $1,172 746 miles 1 – 6 days

Shipping an SUV or truck from Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island to Michigan you should expect to pay between $1,074 and $1,558.

Factors that affect car shipping costs from RI to MI

When transporting your vehicle from the Ocean 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 Rhode Island to Michigan spans approximately 891 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 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 Rhode Island to Michigan should take between two and seven 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 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 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 Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island and when dropping it off in Michigan.

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

If you’re not driving the vehicle from Rhode Island 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 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.

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 Rhode Island to Michigan?

Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from Rhode Island to Michigan is about 891 miles, and that’s as fast as about 2 days. However, most car transport companies will take two to seven days to travel from Rhode Island to Michigan.

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.

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 Rhode Island, 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 Rhode Island, 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 Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island and Michigan to avoid any hidden costs.

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

The cheapest way to ship a car from Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island to Michigan?

Shipping a car from Rhode Island to Michigan costs $859 to $1,246.

Helpful Rhode Island resources