South Carolina to Virginia Car Shipping (2024 Cost Guide)

Quick answer: The average cost to ship a car 342 miles from South Carolina to Virginia ranges from $567 to $731 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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  • No deposit
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Shipping a car the reverse route? We’ve got you covered with our Virginia to South Carolina car shipping guide.

The best South Carolina to Virginia 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 Virginia:

Best for accurate pricing
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moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.5 / 5
Check prices (833) 775-1461
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  • 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 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
Best for discounts
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moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.3 / 5
Check prices (770) 501-9057
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  • 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
At A Glance
  • 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

Alternative ways to ship your car from South Carolina to Virginia

  • Drive it yourself. This is straightforward but not always an option, and it will put about 342 miles on your car going from South Carolina to Virginia. 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 Virginia, 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 Virginia 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 VA 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 Virginia. The average travel distance is about 342 miles, with shipping times typically ranging from one to four days .

Cost to ship a car from Charleston, SC to Virginia

From South Carolina to Virginia Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Charleston, SC to Virginia Beach, VA $618 – $892 454 miles 1 – 4 days
Charleston, SC to Chesapeake, VA $617 – $854 438 miles 1 – 4 days
Charleston, SC to Arlington, VA $672 – $947 528 miles 1 – 6 days
Charleston, SC to Norfolk, VA $641 – $828 437 miles 1 – 4 days
Charleston, SC to Richmond, VA $636 – $863 423 miles 1 – 4 days

Cost to ship a car from Columbia, SC to Virginia

From South Carolina to Virginia Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Columbia, SC to Virginia Beach, VA $618 – $830 402 miles 1 – 4 days
Columbia, SC to Chesapeake, VA $598 – $811 385 miles 1 – 4 days
Columbia, SC to Arlington, VA $643 – $927 475 miles 1 – 4 days
Columbia, SC to Norfolk, VA $587 – $795 385 miles 1 – 4 days
Columbia, SC to Richmond, VA $587 – $772 370 miles 1 – 4 days

Cost to ship a car from North Charleston, SC to Virginia

From South Carolina to Virginia Cost Distance Estimated transit time
North Charleston, SC to Virginia Beach, VA $617 – $879 446 miles 1 – 4 days
North Charleston, SC to Chesapeake, VA $654 – $828 430 miles 1 – 4 days
North Charleston, SC to Arlington, VA $691 – $906 519 miles 1 – 6 days
North Charleston, SC to Norfolk, VA $604 – $845 429 miles 1 – 4 days
North Charleston, SC to Richmond, VA $612 – $788 414 miles 1 – 4 days

Cost to ship a car from Mount Pleasant, SC to Virginia

From South Carolina to Virginia Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Mount Pleasant, SC to Virginia Beach, VA $644 – $892 457 miles 1 – 4 days
Mount Pleasant, SC to Chesapeake, VA $635 – $862 441 miles 1 – 4 days
Mount Pleasant, SC to Arlington, VA $672 – $985 531 miles 1 – 6 days
Mount Pleasant, SC to Norfolk, VA $648 – $896 440 miles 1 – 4 days
Mount Pleasant, SC to Richmond, VA $610 – $896 426 miles 1 – 4 days

Cost to ship a car from Rock Hill, SC to Virginia

From South Carolina to Virginia Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Rock Hill, SC to Virginia Beach, VA $570 – $795 367 miles 1 – 4 days
Rock Hill, SC to Chesapeake, VA $582 – $803 350 miles 1 – 4 days
Rock Hill, SC to Arlington, VA $588 – $797 421 miles 1 – 4 days
Rock Hill, SC to Norfolk, VA $587 – $757 350 miles 1 – 4 days
Rock Hill, SC to Richmond, VA $493 – $715 316 miles 1 – 4 days

Shipping an SUV or truck from South Carolina to Virginia

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 Virginia you should expect to pay between $709 and $914.

Factors that affect car shipping costs from SC to VA

When transporting your vehicle from the Palmetto State to the Old Dominion 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 Virginia.
  • Distance and route: The journey from South Carolina to Virginia spans approximately 342 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 Virginia 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 Virginia should take between one and four days. Expedited services are available but come at a higher cost.

Virginia vehicle regulations you need to know

  • Car insurance requirements: It's crucial for drivers to have liability insurance, meeting the state's minimum coverage requirements: $25,000 for individual injury or death, $50,000 for injury or death involving multiple individuals, and $20,000 for property damage. Elevate your road safety with mandatory uninsured motorist coverage, ensuring protection with matching limits. Stay road-ready by fulfilling these insurance obligations in Virginia.
  • Vehicle inspection: All vehicles must pass annual safety and emissions inspections at DMV-approved stations. Vehicles that fail can be re-inspected for free within 60 days. Upon passing, a sticker is issued to indicate the vehicle's compliance.
  • Driver’s license: To obtain a driver's license, individuals must pass written, vision, and driving tests. To be eligible, individuals must be at least 16 years old and have held a learner's permit for at least 9 months. Specialized license types such as motorcycle, commercial, and provisional for under 18 are also available. Drivers with a valid out-of-state license can convert it without taking the test. Driver's licenses are issued by the DMV and are valid for 8 years, and can be renewed online or in person.
  • Additional taxes: When moving to Virginia, you will need to register your vehicle with the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) within 30 days of establishing residency in the state. As part of the registration process, you will be required to pay various taxes and fees, including a personal property tax on your vehicle. The amount of tax you will need to pay will depend on the value of your vehicle and the county or city in which you reside. Additionally, you may also need to pay a one-time vehicle titling fee, depending on the age of your vehicle. You should check with the Virginia DMV for specific details and requirements.

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 Virginia

About 22 million people are living in the Old Dominion State. Virginia has humid hot and humid summers and cool to mild winters. The Atlantic Ocean and Gulf Stream have a strong effect on eastern and southeastern coastal areas of the Commonwealth, making the climate there warmer and more constant.

FAQ

Does someone have to be present when you ship a car for pickup in South Carolina and delivery in Virginia?

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 Virginia.

Do you need car insurance when shipping your car from South Carolina to Virginia?

If you’re not driving the vehicle from South Carolina to Virginia, you aren't required to have typical car insurance. Your car hauler should have adequate insurance if an accident happened on the drive to Virginia, 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.

It's crucial for drivers to have liability insurance, meeting the state's minimum coverage requirements: $25,000 for individual injury or death, $50,000 for injury or death involving multiple individuals, and $20,000 for property damage. Elevate your road safety with mandatory uninsured motorist coverage, ensuring protection with matching limits. Stay road-ready by fulfilling these insurance obligations in Virginia.

How long does it take to ship a car from South Carolina to Virginia?

Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from South Carolina to Virginia is about 342 miles, and that’s as fast as about 1 day. However, most car transport companies will take one to four days to travel from South Carolina to Virginia.

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.

All vehicles must pass annual safety and emissions inspections at DMV-approved stations. Vehicles that fail can be re-inspected for free within 60 days. Upon passing, a sticker is issued to indicate the vehicle's compliance.

If I have a driver’s license in South Carolina, will I need one in Virginia?

To obtain a driver's license, individuals must pass written, vision, and driving tests. To be eligible, individuals must be at least 16 years old and have held a learner's permit for at least 9 months. Specialized license types such as motorcycle, commercial, and provisional for under 18 are also available. Drivers with a valid out-of-state license can convert it without taking the test. Driver's licenses are issued by the DMV and are valid for 8 years, and can be renewed online or in person.

If I bought a car in South Carolina, will I be required to pay sales tax in Virginia after shipping it there?

It’s important to understand any tax implications if you’re having a car shipped from South Carolina to Virginia after purchasing it.

When moving to Virginia, you will need to register your vehicle with the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) within 30 days of establishing residency in the state. As part of the registration process, you will be required to pay various taxes and fees, including a personal property tax on your vehicle. The amount of tax you will need to pay will depend on the value of your vehicle and the county or city in which you reside. Additionally, you may also need to pay a one-time vehicle titling fee, depending on the age of your vehicle. You should check with the Virginia DMV for specific details and requirements.

We recommend that you always check for updated tax information in both South Carolina and Virginia to avoid any hidden costs.

What is the cheapest way to ship a car from South Carolina to Virginia?

The cheapest way to ship a car from South Carolina to Virginia 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 Virginia?

Shipping a car from South Carolina to Virginia costs $567 to $731.

Helpful South Carolina resources