South Carolina to Illinois Car Shipping (2024 Cost Guide)
Fact Checked by: Quick answer: The average cost to ship a car 831 miles from South Carolina to Illinois ranges from $844 to $1,251 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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Shipping a car the reverse route? We’ve got you covered with our Illinois to South Carolina car shipping guide.
The best South Carolina to Illinois 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 Illinois:
- 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 Illinois
- Drive it yourself. This is straightforward but not always an option, and it will put about 831 miles on your car going from South Carolina to Illinois. 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 Illinois, 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 Illinois 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 IL 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 Illinois. The average travel distance is about 831 miles, with shipping times typically ranging from two to seven days .
Cost to ship a car from Charleston, SC to Illinois
| From South Carolina to Illinois | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston, SC to Chicago, IL | $795 – $1,247 | 910 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Charleston, SC to Aurora, IL | $820 – $1,208 | 944 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Charleston, SC to Joliet, IL | $812 – $1,322 | 918 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Charleston, SC to Naperville, IL | $861 – $1,246 | 931 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Charleston, SC to Rockford, IL | $781 – $1,275 | 1,000 miles | 2 – 8 days |
Cost to ship a car from Columbia, SC to Illinois
| From South Carolina to Illinois | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia, SC to Chicago, IL | $815 – $1,185 | 801 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Columbia, SC to Aurora, IL | $820 – $1,154 | 836 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Columbia, SC to Joliet, IL | $799 – $1,197 | 809 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Columbia, SC to Naperville, IL | $767 – $1,233 | 821 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Columbia, SC to Rockford, IL | $778 – $1,258 | 891 miles | 2 – 7 days |
Cost to ship a car from North Charleston, SC to Illinois
| From South Carolina to Illinois | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Charleston, SC to Chicago, IL | $787 – $1,322 | 902 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| North Charleston, SC to Aurora, IL | $845 – $1,297 | 936 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| North Charleston, SC to Joliet, IL | $836 – $1,234 | 910 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| North Charleston, SC to Naperville, IL | $836 – $1,221 | 923 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| North Charleston, SC to Rockford, IL | $850 – $1,254 | 992 miles | 2 – 7 days |
Cost to ship a car from Mount Pleasant, SC to Illinois
| From South Carolina to Illinois | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mount Pleasant, SC to Chicago, IL | $828 – $1,272 | 913 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Mount Pleasant, SC to Aurora, IL | $796 – $1,310 | 947 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Mount Pleasant, SC to Joliet, IL | $861 – $1,221 | 921 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Mount Pleasant, SC to Naperville, IL | $779 – $1,284 | 933 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Mount Pleasant, SC to Rockford, IL | $854 – $1,249 | 1,003 miles | 2 – 8 days |
Cost to ship a car from Rock Hill, SC to Illinois
| From South Carolina to Illinois | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rock Hill, SC to Chicago, IL | $785 – $1,179 | 780 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Rock Hill, SC to Aurora, IL | $791 – $1,173 | 814 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Rock Hill, SC to Joliet, IL | $777 – $1,120 | 788 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Rock Hill, SC to Naperville, IL | $807 – $1,233 | 800 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Rock Hill, SC to Rockford, IL | $775 – $1,194 | 870 miles | 2 – 7 days |
Shipping an SUV or truck from South Carolina to Illinois
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 Illinois you should expect to pay between $1,055 and $1,564.
Factors that affect car shipping costs from SC to IL
When transporting your vehicle from the Palmetto State to the Land of Lincoln, 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 Illinois.
- Distance and route: The journey from South Carolina to Illinois spans approximately 831 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 Illinois 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 Illinois should take between two and seven days. Expedited services are available but come at a higher cost.
Illinois vehicle regulations you need to know
- Car insurance requirements: The liability insurance minimums for Illinois are $25,000 bodily injury liability per person, $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident, and $20,000 property damage liability per accident.
- Vehicle inspection: In Illinois, emissions inspections are mandatory on a yearly basis for eligible vehicles in the Chicago and East St. Louis metropolitan areas. The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency conducts tests on automobiles before residents can renew their vehicle registration with the Secretary of State's office.
- Driver’s license: Even if your out-of-state driver's license is valid, you must still pass a vision test and written exam if you are moving to Illinois. Within 90 days of becoming a resident in the state, you must convert your license to an Illinois non-commercial license.
- Additional taxes: According to Illinois law, the recipient or buyer of any vehicle transferred within the state must complete a Private Party Vehicle Tax Transaction form (form RUT-50) and pay the sales tax for the car within 30 days of the transfer of ownership.
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 Illinois
About 22 million people are living in the Land of Lincoln. Illinois' climate is clearly different in the northern and southern halves of the state. The northern half experiences cold winters and mild summers whereas the southern half experiences mild winters and hot and humid summers. Illinois is a part of "tornado alley"
FAQ
Does someone have to be present when you ship a car for pickup in South Carolina and delivery in Illinois?
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 Illinois.
Do you need car insurance when shipping your car from South Carolina to Illinois?
If you’re not driving the vehicle from South Carolina to Illinois, you aren't required to have typical car insurance. Your car hauler should have adequate insurance if an accident happened on the drive to Illinois, 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.
The liability insurance minimums for Illinois are $25,000 bodily injury liability per person, $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident, and $20,000 property damage liability per accident.
How long does it take to ship a car from South Carolina to Illinois?
Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from South Carolina to Illinois is about 831 miles, and that’s as fast as about 2 days. However, most car transport companies will take two to seven days to travel from South Carolina to Illinois.
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 Illinois, emissions inspections are mandatory on a yearly basis for eligible vehicles in the Chicago and East St. Louis metropolitan areas. The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency conducts tests on automobiles before residents can renew their vehicle registration with the Secretary of State's office.
If I have a driver’s license in South Carolina, will I need one in Illinois?
Even if your out-of-state driver's license is valid, you must still pass a vision test and written exam if you are moving to Illinois. Within 90 days of becoming a resident in the state, you must convert your license to an Illinois non-commercial license.
If I bought a car in South Carolina, will I be required to pay sales tax in Illinois after shipping it there?
It’s important to understand any tax implications if you’re having a car shipped from South Carolina to Illinois after purchasing it.
According to Illinois law, the recipient or buyer of any vehicle transferred within the state must complete a Private Party Vehicle Tax Transaction form (form RUT-50) and pay the sales tax for the car within 30 days of the transfer of ownership.
We recommend that you always check for updated tax information in both South Carolina and Illinois to avoid any hidden costs.
What is the cheapest way to ship a car from South Carolina to Illinois?
The cheapest way to ship a car from South Carolina to Illinois 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 Illinois?
Shipping a car from South Carolina to Illinois costs $844 to $1,251.
