South Dakota to Illinois Car Shipping (2025 Cost Guide)

Quick answer: The average cost to ship a car 716 miles from South Dakota to Illinois ranges from $825 to $1,109 and takes one–six 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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  • Door-to-door service
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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 Illinois to South Dakota car shipping guide.

The best South Dakota 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 Dakota to Illinois:

Best for accurate pricing
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moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.5 / 5
Get a quote (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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Get a quote (833) 775-1461
Best cross-country shipper
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moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.5 / 5
Get a quote (224) 206-5633
At A Glance
  • Competitive pricing & $0 upfront
  • GPS tracking
  • Multiple insurance options
  • Guaranteed pickup dates available
  • Door-to-door service
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Get a quote (224) 206-5633
Best for discounts
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moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.3 / 5
Get a quote (770) 501-9057
At A Glance
  • Competitive pricing
  • Last-minute car shipments
  • Guaranteed & expedited shipments
  • Gap insurance coverage
  • Multiple discounts
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Get a quote (770) 501-9057
Best for overall value
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moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.9 / 5
Get a quote (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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Get a quote (864) 492-1221
Best for quick pickup
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moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.9 / 5
Get a quote (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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Get a quote (888) 259-6046

Alternative ways to ship your car from South Dakota to Illinois

  • Drive it yourself. This is straightforward but not always an option, and it will put about 716 miles on your car going from South Dakota 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 Dakota 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 Dakota 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!

SD 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 Dakota and Illinois. The average travel distance is about 716 miles, with shipping times typically ranging from one to six days .

Cost to ship a car from Sioux Falls, SD to Illinoistoggle

From South Dakota to Illinois Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Sioux Falls, SD to Chicago, IL $734 – $1,029 574 miles 1 – 6 days
Sioux Falls, SD to Aurora, IL $698 – $1,029 564 miles 1 – 6 days
Sioux Falls, SD to Joliet, IL $684 – $1,010 574 miles 1 – 6 days
Sioux Falls, SD to Naperville, IL $713 – $980 574 miles 1 – 6 days
Sioux Falls, SD to Rockford, IL $646 – $898 500 miles 1 – 6 days

Cost to ship a car from Rapid City, SD to Illinoistoggle

From South Dakota to Illinois Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Rapid City, SD to Chicago, IL $865 – $1,264 912 miles 2 – 7 days
Rapid City, SD to Aurora, IL $798 – $1,264 902 miles 2 – 7 days
Rapid City, SD to Joliet, IL $848 – $1,341 919 miles 2 – 7 days
Rapid City, SD to Naperville, IL $873 – $1,251 912 miles 2 – 7 days
Rapid City, SD to Rockford, IL $865 – $1,207 838 miles 2 – 7 days

Cost to ship a car from Aberdeen, SD to Illinoistoggle

From South Dakota to Illinois Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Aberdeen, SD to Chicago, IL $750 – $1,130 698 miles 1 – 6 days
Aberdeen, SD to Aurora, IL $805 – $1,152 688 miles 1 – 6 days
Aberdeen, SD to Joliet, IL $801 – $1,154 721 miles 1 – 6 days
Aberdeen, SD to Naperville, IL $766 – $1,074 699 miles 1 – 6 days
Aberdeen, SD to Rockford, IL $762 – $988 624 miles 1 – 6 days

Cost to ship a car from Brookings, SD to Illinoistoggle

From South Dakota to Illinois Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Brookings, SD to Chicago, IL $752 – $1,041 579 miles 1 – 6 days
Brookings, SD to Aurora, IL $747 – $1,092 613 miles 1 – 6 days
Brookings, SD to Joliet, IL $747 – $1,099 626 miles 1 – 6 days
Brookings, SD to Naperville, IL $703 – $1,029 623 miles 1 – 6 days
Brookings, SD to Rockford, IL $707 – $921 548 miles 1 – 6 days

Cost to ship a car from Watertown, SD to Illinoistoggle

From South Dakota to Illinois Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Watertown, SD to Chicago, IL $718 – $998 608 miles 1 – 6 days
Watertown, SD to Aurora, IL $745 – $990 598 miles 1 – 6 days
Watertown, SD to Joliet, IL $725 – $1,025 631 miles 1 – 6 days
Watertown, SD to Naperville, IL $762 – $1,040 608 miles 1 – 6 days
Watertown, SD to Rockford, IL $693 – $977 534 miles 1 – 6 days

Shipping an SUV or truck from South Dakota to Illinoistoggle

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 Dakota to Illinois you should expect to pay between $1,031 and $1,386.

Factors that affect car shipping costs from SD to IL

When transporting your vehicle from the Mount Rushmore 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 Dakota to Illinois spans approximately 716 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 Dakota, 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 Dakota 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 Dakota to Illinois should take between one and six 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 Dakota

More than 39 million people call South Dakota home. Nicknamed the Mount Rushmore State, In South Dakota, drivers are required to have liability insurance coverage with at least the following minimum limits: $25,000 for bodily injury or death per person in an accident, $50,000 for total bodily injury or death per accident, and $25,000 for property damage per accident.

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 Dakota and delivery in Illinois?toggle

Most companies will require that an adult of at least 18 years of age be present when picking up your car in South Dakota and when dropping it off in Illinois.

Do you need car insurance when shipping your car from South Dakota to Illinois?toggle

If you’re not driving the vehicle from South Dakota 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 Dakota.

If you’re driving your car at all in either state, you should understand the requirements. In South Dakota, drivers must show proof of financial responsibility, typically met through car insurance. Key coverage includes: Bodily Injury Liability (25/50/25): $25,000/person, $50,000/accident for injuries. Property Damage Liability (25/50/25): $25,000/accident for property damage. Uninsured Motorist Coverage (UM): Required for personal injuries caused by uninsured drivers or hit-and-runs. Underinsured Motorist Coverage (UIM): Covers personal injuries from motorists with insufficient insurance. Note: Coverages are not stackable; they operate independently.

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 Dakota to Illinois?toggle

Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from South Dakota to Illinois is about 716 miles, and that’s as fast as about 2 days. However, most car transport companies will take one to six days to travel from South Dakota to Illinois.

Will I be required to have a vehicle inspection in either state?toggle

South Dakota does not have a mandatory vehicle inspection program for passenger vehicles. However, commercial vehicles and buses are required to pass annual inspections. If you are a new resident of South Dakota, you are required to obtain a South Dakota driver's license within 90 days of becoming a resident.

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 Dakota, will I need one in Illinois?toggle

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 Dakota, will I be required to pay sales tax in Illinois after shipping it there?toggle

It’s important to understand any tax implications if you’re having a car shipped from South Dakota 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 Dakota and Illinois to avoid any hidden costs.

What is the cheapest way to ship a car from South Dakota to Illinois?toggle

The cheapest way to ship a car from South Dakota 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 Dakota to Illinois?toggle

Shipping a car from South Dakota to Illinois costs $825 to $1,109.

Helpful South Dakota resources