South Dakota to Louisiana Car Shipping (2024 Cost Guide)
Fact Checked by: Quick answer: The average cost to ship a car 1,288 miles from South Dakota to Louisiana ranges from $987 to $1,556 and takes three–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 Louisiana to South Dakota car shipping guide.
The best South Dakota to Louisiana 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 Louisiana:
- Best for accurate pricing: Sherpa Auto Transport
- Best cross-country shipper: Montway Auto Transport
- Best for quick pickup: Easy Auto Ship
- Best for discounts: AmeriFreight Car Transport
- Best for overall value: SGT Auto Transport
- 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
- No upfront deposit
- Expedited shipping
- No hidden fees
- Ships motorcycles & RVs
- Discount for cash payments
- 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
Alternative ways to ship your car from South Dakota to Louisiana
- Drive it yourself. This is straightforward but not always an option, and it will put about 1,288 miles on your car going from South Dakota to Louisiana. 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 Louisiana, 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 Louisiana 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 LA 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 Louisiana. The average travel distance is about 1,288 miles, with shipping times typically ranging from three to eight days .
Cost to ship a car from Sioux Falls, SD to Louisiana
| From South Dakota to Louisiana | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sioux Falls, SD to New Orleans, LA | $949 – $1,422 | 1,210 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Sioux Falls, SD to Baton Rouge, LA | $896 – $1,347 | 1,128 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Sioux Falls, SD to Shreveport, LA | $797 – $1,274 | 915 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Sioux Falls, SD to Metairie, LA | $949 – $1,556 | 1,205 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Sioux Falls, SD to Lafayette, LA | $914 – $1,347 | 1,129 miles | 2 – 8 days |
Cost to ship a car from Rapid City, SD to Louisiana
| From South Dakota to Louisiana | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rapid City, SD to New Orleans, LA | $1,129 – $1,696 | 1,553 miles | 3 – 9 days |
| Rapid City, SD to Baton Rouge, LA | $1,128 – $1,662 | 1,470 miles | 3 – 8 days |
| Rapid City, SD to Shreveport, LA | $968 – $1,452 | 1,245 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Rapid City, SD to Metairie, LA | $1,164 – $1,679 | 1,547 miles | 3 – 9 days |
| Rapid City, SD to Lafayette, LA | $1,040 – $1,565 | 1,448 miles | 3 – 8 days |
Cost to ship a car from Aberdeen, SD to Louisiana
| From South Dakota to Louisiana | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aberdeen, SD to New Orleans, LA | $1,139 – $1,662 | 1,409 miles | 3 – 8 days |
| Aberdeen, SD to Baton Rouge, LA | $976 – $1,629 | 1,327 miles | 3 – 8 days |
| Aberdeen, SD to Shreveport, LA | $923 – $1,460 | 1,113 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Aberdeen, SD to Metairie, LA | $1,128 – $1,533 | 1,404 miles | 3 – 8 days |
| Aberdeen, SD to Lafayette, LA | $1,048 – $1,536 | 1,328 miles | 3 – 8 days |
Cost to ship a car from Brookings, SD to Louisiana
| From South Dakota to Louisiana | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brookings, SD to New Orleans, LA | $949 – $1,437 | 1,263 miles | 3 – 8 days |
| Brookings, SD to Baton Rouge, LA | $852 – $1,474 | 1,181 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Brookings, SD to Shreveport, LA | $862 – $1,298 | 967 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Brookings, SD to Metairie, LA | $968 – $1,497 | 1,258 miles | 3 – 8 days |
| Brookings, SD to Lafayette, LA | $923 – $1,432 | 1,182 miles | 2 – 8 days |
Cost to ship a car from Watertown, SD to Louisiana
| From South Dakota to Louisiana | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Watertown, SD to New Orleans, LA | $976 – $1,567 | 1,310 miles | 3 – 8 days |
| Watertown, SD to Baton Rouge, LA | $1,007 – $1,541 | 1,227 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Watertown, SD to Shreveport, LA | $782 – $1,291 | 1,014 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Watertown, SD to Metairie, LA | $1,048 – $1,567 | 1,304 miles | 3 – 8 days |
| Watertown, SD to Lafayette, LA | $997 – $1,511 | 1,228 miles | 2 – 8 days |
Shipping an SUV or truck from South Dakota to Louisiana
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 Louisiana you should expect to pay between $1,234 and $1,945.
Factors that affect car shipping costs from SD to LA
When transporting your vehicle from the Mount Rushmore State to the Pelican 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 Louisiana.
- Distance and route: The journey from South Dakota to Louisiana spans approximately 1,288 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 Louisiana 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 Louisiana should take between three and eight days. Expedited services are available but come at a higher cost.
Louisiana vehicle regulations you need to know
- Car insurance requirements: The insurance limit represents the maximum payout for a claim, and in Louisiana, the minimum liability limits are $15,000 for bodily injury per person, $30,000 for bodily injury per accident, and $25,000 for property damage; these limits can be raised beyond the state-mandated minimums.
- Vehicle inspection: In Louisiana, the annual safety and emissions inspection includes checks on the vehicle's safety equipment, anti-tampering of emissions systems, and a test on the integrity of the gas cap.
- Driver’s license: New residents in Louisiana must transfer their out-of-state driver's license within 30 days of establishing residency in the state.
- Additional taxes: In Louisiana, a 4% tax is levied on all car sales by the state, with additional taxes charged by individual counties and cities.
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 Louisiana
About 22 million people are living in the Pelican State. Louisiana has long hot humid summers and short mild winters. Rain is frequent throughout the year, although from April to September is slightly wetter than the rest of the year. Louisiana is often affected by tropical cyclones and is very vulnerable to major hurricanes, particularly around the New Orleans area. Lousiana averages about 27 tornadoes annually; they are most common from January through March in the south and from February through March in the North.
FAQ
Does someone have to be present when you ship a car for pickup in South Dakota and delivery in Louisiana?
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 Louisiana.
Do you need car insurance when shipping your car from South Dakota to Louisiana?
If you’re not driving the vehicle from South Dakota to Louisiana, you aren't required to have typical car insurance. Your car hauler should have adequate insurance if an accident happened on the drive to Louisiana, 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 insurance limit represents the maximum payout for a claim, and in Louisiana, the minimum liability limits are $15,000 for bodily injury per person, $30,000 for bodily injury per accident, and $25,000 for property damage; these limits can be raised beyond the state-mandated minimums.
How long does it take to ship a car from South Dakota to Louisiana?
Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from South Dakota to Louisiana is about 1,288 miles, and that’s as fast as about 3 days. However, most car transport companies will take three to eight days to travel from South Dakota to Louisiana.
Will I be required to have a vehicle inspection in either state?
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 Louisiana, the annual safety and emissions inspection includes checks on the vehicle's safety equipment, anti-tampering of emissions systems, and a test on the integrity of the gas cap.
If I have a driver’s license in South Dakota, will I need one in Louisiana?
New residents in Louisiana must transfer their out-of-state driver's license within 30 days of establishing residency in the state.
If I bought a car in South Dakota, will I be required to pay sales tax in Louisiana after shipping it there?
It’s important to understand any tax implications if you’re having a car shipped from South Dakota to Louisiana after purchasing it.
In Louisiana, a 4% tax is levied on all car sales by the state, with additional taxes charged by individual counties and cities.
We recommend that you always check for updated tax information in both South Dakota and Louisiana to avoid any hidden costs.
What is the cheapest way to ship a car from South Dakota to Louisiana?
The cheapest way to ship a car from South Dakota to Louisiana 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 Louisiana?
Shipping a car from South Dakota to Louisiana costs $987 to $1,556.
