South Dakota to Michigan Car Shipping (2024 Cost Guide)

Quick answer: The average cost to ship a car 1,023 miles from South Dakota to Michigan ranges from $848 to $1,343 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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  • Price lock promise
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  • Established in 2007
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  • No deposit
  • Quick pickup

Shipping a car the reverse route? We’ve got you covered with our Michigan to South Dakota car shipping guide.

The best South Dakota to Michigan 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 Michigan:

Best for accurate pricing
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moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.5 / 5
Check prices (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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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
At A Glance
  • 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
At A Glance
  • 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 Dakota to Michigan

  • Drive it yourself. This is straightforward but not always an option, and it will put about 1,023 miles on your car going from South Dakota to Michigan. 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 Michigan, 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 Michigan 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 MI 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 Michigan. The average travel distance is about 1,023 miles, with shipping times typically ranging from two to eight days .

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

From South Dakota to Michigan Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Sioux Falls, SD to Detroit, MI $809 – $1,283 859 miles 2 – 7 days
Sioux Falls, SD to Grand Rapids, MI $771 – $1,150 755 miles 2 – 7 days
Sioux Falls, SD to Warren, MI $784 – $1,221 867 miles 2 – 7 days
Sioux Falls, SD to Sterling Heights, MI $784 – $1,221 872 miles 2 – 7 days
Sioux Falls, SD to Ann Arbor, MI $833 – $1,163 817 miles 2 – 7 days

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

From South Dakota to Michigan Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Rapid City, SD to Detroit, MI $923 – $1,375 1,197 miles 2 – 8 days
Rapid City, SD to Grand Rapids, MI $815 – $1,343 1,093 miles 2 – 8 days
Rapid City, SD to Warren, MI $968 – $1,497 1,205 miles 2 – 8 days
Rapid City, SD to Sterling Heights, MI $920 – $1,526 1,210 miles 2 – 8 days
Rapid City, SD to Ann Arbor, MI $870 – $1,446 1,155 miles 2 – 8 days

Cost to ship a car from Aberdeen, SD to Michigan

From South Dakota to Michigan Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Aberdeen, SD to Detroit, MI $785 – $1,308 984 miles 2 – 7 days
Aberdeen, SD to Grand Rapids, MI $795 – $1,298 880 miles 2 – 7 days
Aberdeen, SD to Warren, MI $868 – $1,308 993 miles 2 – 7 days
Aberdeen, SD to Sterling Heights, MI $794 – $1,334 997 miles 2 – 7 days
Aberdeen, SD to Ann Arbor, MI $797 – $1,313 943 miles 2 – 7 days

Cost to ship a car from Brookings, SD to Michigan

From South Dakota to Michigan Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Brookings, SD to Detroit, MI $867 – $1,283 864 miles 2 – 7 days
Brookings, SD to Grand Rapids, MI $811 – $1,232 761 miles 2 – 7 days
Brookings, SD to Warren, MI $817 – $1,258 874 miles 2 – 7 days
Brookings, SD to Sterling Heights, MI $820 – $1,210 877 miles 2 – 7 days
Brookings, SD to Ann Arbor, MI $800 – $1,151 823 miles 2 – 7 days

Cost to ship a car from Watertown, SD to Michigan

From South Dakota to Michigan Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Watertown, SD to Detroit, MI $845 – $1,286 892 miles 2 – 7 days
Watertown, SD to Grand Rapids, MI $851 – $1,205 789 miles 2 – 7 days
Watertown, SD to Warren, MI $805 – $1,287 901 miles 2 – 7 days
Watertown, SD to Sterling Heights, MI $838 – $1,313 905 miles 2 – 7 days
Watertown, SD to Ann Arbor, MI $817 – $1,246 851 miles 2 – 7 days

Shipping an SUV or truck from South Dakota to Michigan

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 Michigan you should expect to pay between $1,060 and $1,679.

Factors that affect car shipping costs from SD to MI

When transporting your vehicle from the Mount Rushmore State to the Wolverine 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 Michigan.
  • Distance and route: The journey from South Dakota to Michigan spans approximately 1,023 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 Michigan 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 Michigan should take between two and eight days. Expedited services are available but come at a higher cost.

Michigan vehicle regulations you need to know

  • Car insurance requirements: Michigan requires a minimum auto insurance coverage of $50,000/$100,000 for bodily injury and $10,000 for property damage in case of an accident.
  • Vehicle inspection: Michigan does not require vehicle inspections for registration purposes. There is no state mandate for car safety inspections or emissions testing.
  • Driver’s license: Michigan law requires new residents to promptly title and register their vehicles, with no grace period provided. A person is considered a resident if they live in the state and prove their legal presence in the US. To comply with these requirements, new residents should visit a Secretary of State office to obtain a Michigan driver's license, title, and registration as soon as they establish residency.
  • Additional taxes: In Michigan, a 6% sales tax is imposed on all vehicle purchases.

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 Michigan

About 22 million people are living in the Wolverine State. Michigan has a continental climate, although there are two distinct regions. The southern and central parts of the Lower Peninsula (south of Saginaw Bay and from the Grand Rapids area southward) have a warmer climate with hot summers and cold winters. The northern part of the Lower Peninsula and the entire Upper Peninsula has a more severe climate (Köppen Dfb), with warm, but shorter summers and longer, cold to very cold winters. Some parts of the state average high temperatures below freezing from December through February, and into early March in the far northern parts. During the winter through the middle of February, the state is frequently subjected to heavy lake-effect snow. The state averages 30 days of thunderstorm activity per year. These can be severe, especially in the southern part of the state. The state averages 17 tornadoes per year, which are more common in the state's extreme southern section.

FAQ

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

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 Michigan.

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

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

Michigan requires a minimum auto insurance coverage of $50,000/$100,000 for bodily injury and $10,000 for property damage in case of an accident.

How long does it take to ship a car from South Dakota to Michigan?

Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from South Dakota to Michigan is about 1,023 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 Dakota to Michigan.

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.

Michigan does not require vehicle inspections for registration purposes. There is no state mandate for car safety inspections or emissions testing.

If I have a driver’s license in South Dakota, will I need one in Michigan?

Michigan law requires new residents to promptly title and register their vehicles, with no grace period provided. A person is considered a resident if they live in the state and prove their legal presence in the US. To comply with these requirements, new residents should visit a Secretary of State office to obtain a Michigan driver's license, title, and registration as soon as they establish residency.

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

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

In Michigan, a 6% sales tax is imposed on all vehicle purchases.

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

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

The cheapest way to ship a car from South Dakota to Michigan 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 Michigan?

Shipping a car from South Dakota to Michigan costs $848 to $1,343.

Helpful South Dakota resources