South Carolina to Iowa Car Shipping (2024 Cost Guide)
Fact Checked by: Quick answer: The average cost to ship a car 1,087 miles from South Carolina to Iowa ranges from $822 to $1,262 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.
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Shipping a car the reverse route? We’ve got you covered with our Iowa to South Carolina car shipping guide.
The best South Carolina to Iowa car shipping companies
We’ve done the research and these are the best car shipping companies to help transport your vehicle from South Carolina to Iowa:
- 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 South Carolina to Iowa
- Drive it yourself. This is straightforward but not always an option, and it will put about 1,087 miles on your car going from South Carolina to Iowa. 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 South Carolina for a move to Iowa, 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 South Carolina to Iowa 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!
SC to IA auto transport costs and transit times
The tables below detail the costs and estimated transit times for shipping a car between popular cities in South Carolina and Iowa. The average travel distance is about 1,087 miles, with shipping times typically ranging from two to eight days .
Cost to ship a car from Charleston, SC to Iowa
| From South Carolina to Iowa | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston, SC to Des Moines, IA | $985 – $1,493 | 1,202 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Charleston, SC to Cedar Rapids, IA | $921 – $1,442 | 1,115 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Charleston, SC to Davenport, IA | $830 – $1,340 | 1,035 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Charleston, SC to Sioux City, IA | $1,005 – $1,595 | 1,376 miles | 3 – 8 days |
| Charleston, SC to Iowa City, IA | $838 – $1,340 | 1,091 miles | 2 – 8 days |
Cost to ship a car from Columbia, SC to Iowa
| From South Carolina to Iowa | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia, SC to Des Moines, IA | $813 – $1,236 | 1,093 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Columbia, SC to Cedar Rapids, IA | $781 – $1,275 | 1,005 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Columbia, SC to Davenport, IA | $796 – $1,246 | 926 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Columbia, SC to Sioux City, IA | $995 – $1,435 | 1,292 miles | 3 – 8 days |
| Columbia, SC to Iowa City, IA | $792 – $1,267 | 981 miles | 2 – 7 days |
Cost to ship a car from North Charleston, SC to Iowa
| From South Carolina to Iowa | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Charleston, SC to Des Moines, IA | $904 – $1,387 | 1,194 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| North Charleston, SC to Cedar Rapids, IA | $850 – $1,442 | 1,107 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| North Charleston, SC to Davenport, IA | $830 – $1,275 | 1,027 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| North Charleston, SC to Sioux City, IA | $1,046 – $1,533 | 1,368 miles | 3 – 8 days |
| North Charleston, SC to Iowa City, IA | $789 – $1,367 | 1,082 miles | 2 – 8 days |
Cost to ship a car from Mount Pleasant, SC to Iowa
| From South Carolina to Iowa | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mount Pleasant, SC to Des Moines, IA | $985 – $1,508 | 1,205 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Mount Pleasant, SC to Cedar Rapids, IA | $912 – $1,359 | 1,117 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Mount Pleasant, SC to Davenport, IA | $781 – $1,340 | 1,038 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Mount Pleasant, SC to Sioux City, IA | $1,066 – $1,503 | 1,379 miles | 3 – 8 days |
| Mount Pleasant, SC to Iowa City, IA | $846 – $1,327 | 1,093 miles | 2 – 8 days |
Cost to ship a car from Rock Hill, SC to Iowa
| From South Carolina to Iowa | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rock Hill, SC to Des Moines, IA | $797 – $1,236 | 1,077 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Rock Hill, SC to Cedar Rapids, IA | $792 – $1,241 | 989 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Rock Hill, SC to Davenport, IA | $804 – $1,234 | 910 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Rock Hill, SC to Sioux City, IA | $937 – $1,464 | 1,243 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Rock Hill, SC to Iowa City, IA | $819 – $1,231 | 965 miles | 2 – 7 days |
Shipping an SUV or truck from South Carolina to Iowa
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 South Carolina to Iowa you should expect to pay between $1,028 and $1,578.
Factors that affect car shipping costs from SC to IA
When transporting your vehicle from the Palmetto State to the Hawkeye 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 Iowa.
- Distance and route: The journey from South Carolina to Iowa spans approximately 1,087 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 South Carolina, 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 South Carolina and Iowa 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 South Carolina to Iowa should take between two and eight days. Expedited services are available but come at a higher cost.
Iowa vehicle regulations you need to know
- Car insurance requirements: Iowa requires minimum liability insurance, covering $20,000 for individual injury or death, $40,000 for multiple individuals, and $15,000 for property damage in an accident.
- Vehicle inspection: In Iowa, car owners are not obligated to undergo emissions, VIN, or safety inspections.
- Driver’s license: New residents with an out-of-state license must obtain an Iowa license within 30 days of establishing permanent residency. To do so, visit the DMV with your former state license, as it will need to be surrendered for the new license.
- Additional taxes: In Iowa, sales of vehicles requiring registration are exempt from sales tax but subject to a 5% fee for new registration.
Learn more with our car shipping checklist.
Transporting your vehicle from South Carolina
More than 39 million people call South Carolina home. Nicknamed the Palmetto State, South Carolina had hot and humid summers and cool to mild winters and coastal areas of the state have very mild winters. While precipitation is abundant the entire year in almost the entire state, the coast tends to have a slightly wetter summer, while inland, the spring and autumn transitions tend to be the wettest periods and winter the driest season, with November being the driest month.
Transporting your vehicle to Iowa
About 22 million people are living in the Hawkeye State. Iowa has a humid continental climate throughout the state. Snowfall is common in Iowa. Spring brings in severe weather season. Iowa has about 50 thunderstorm days per year and has a tornado season. Iowa is known for hot and humid summers. Be sure to check the weather before your move, especially during the springtime.
FAQ
Does someone have to be present when you ship a car for pickup in South Carolina and delivery in Iowa?
Most companies will require that an adult of at least 18 years of age be present when picking up your car in South Carolina and when dropping it off in Iowa.
Do you need car insurance when shipping your car from South Carolina to Iowa?
If you’re not driving the vehicle from South Carolina to Iowa, you aren't required to have typical car insurance. Your car hauler should have adequate insurance if an accident happened on the drive to Iowa, which you should verify before loading your car in South Carolina.
If you’re driving your car at all in either state, you should understand the requirements. In South Carolina, it's a legal requirement for every driver to have liability insurance. Adhering to the state's minimum liability limits, commonly referred to as 25/50/25, entails securing coverage of at least $25,000 for bodily injury per person, $50,000 for total bodily injury per accident, and $25,000 for property damage per accident. Stay compliant with these essential insurance standards to drive confidently on South Carolina roads.
Iowa requires minimum liability insurance, covering $20,000 for individual injury or death, $40,000 for multiple individuals, and $15,000 for property damage in an accident.
How long does it take to ship a car from South Carolina to Iowa?
Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from South Carolina to Iowa is about 1,087 miles, and that’s as fast as about 3 days. However, most car transport companies will take two to eight days to travel from South Carolina to Iowa.
Will I be required to have a vehicle inspection in either state?
Drivers in South Carolina are not required to get a safety, VIN, or emissions inspection for their vehicle.
In Iowa, car owners are not obligated to undergo emissions, VIN, or safety inspections.
If I have a driver’s license in South Carolina, will I need one in Iowa?
New residents with an out-of-state license must obtain an Iowa license within 30 days of establishing permanent residency. To do so, visit the DMV with your former state license, as it will need to be surrendered for the new license.
If I bought a car in South Carolina, will I be required to pay sales tax in Iowa after shipping it there?
It’s important to understand any tax implications if you’re having a car shipped from South Carolina to Iowa after purchasing it.
In Iowa, sales of vehicles requiring registration are exempt from sales tax but subject to a 5% fee for new registration.
We recommend that you always check for updated tax information in both South Carolina and Iowa to avoid any hidden costs.
What is the cheapest way to ship a car from South Carolina to Iowa?
The cheapest way to ship a car from South Carolina to Iowa 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 South Carolina to Iowa?
Shipping a car from South Carolina to Iowa costs $822 to $1,262.
