Tennessee to Iowa Car Shipping (2025 Cost Guide)
Fact Checked by: Quick answer: The average cost to ship a car 699 miles from Tennessee to Iowa ranges from $782 to $1,063 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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Shipping a car the reverse route? We’ve got you covered with our Iowa to Tennessee car shipping guide.
The best Tennessee to Iowa car shipping companies
We’ve done the research and these are the best car shipping companies to help transport your vehicle from Tennessee to Iowa:
- 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
- Competitive pricing & $0 upfront
- GPS tracking
- Multiple insurance options
- Guaranteed pickup dates available
- Door-to-door service
- 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 Tennessee to Iowa
- Drive it yourself. This is straightforward but not always an option, and it will put about 699 miles on your car going from Tennessee to Iowa. 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 Tennessee for a move to Iowa, 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 Tennessee to Iowa 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!
TN to IA auto transport costs and transit times
The tables below detail the costs and estimated transit times for shipping a car between popular cities in Tennessee and Iowa. The average travel distance is about 699 miles, with shipping times typically ranging from one to six days .
Cost to ship a car from Nashville, TN to Iowa
| From Tennessee to Iowa | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville, TN to Des Moines, IA | $793 – $1,067 | 648 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Nashville, TN to Cedar Rapids, IA | $745 – $1,041 | 592 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Nashville, TN to Davenport, IA | $652 – $977 | 542 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Nashville, TN to Sioux City, IA | $798 – $1,294 | 833 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Nashville, TN to Iowa City, IA | $684 – $951 | 567 miles | 1 – 6 days |
Cost to ship a car from Memphis, TN to Iowa
| From Tennessee to Iowa | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Memphis, TN to Des Moines, IA | $740 – $1,029 | 617 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Memphis, TN to Cedar Rapids, IA | $684 – $1,020 | 553 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Memphis, TN to Davenport, IA | $659 – $958 | 547 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Memphis, TN to Sioux City, IA | $835 – $1,119 | 728 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Memphis, TN to Iowa City, IA | $659 – $930 | 529 miles | 1 – 6 days |
Cost to ship a car from Clarksville, TN to Iowa
| From Tennessee to Iowa | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clarksville, TN to Des Moines, IA | $777 – $1,019 | 612 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Clarksville, TN to Cedar Rapids, IA | $652 – $940 | 547 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Clarksville, TN to Davenport, IA | $631 – $875 | 498 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Clarksville, TN to Sioux City, IA | $844 – $1,207 | 789 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Clarksville, TN to Iowa City, IA | $693 – $953 | 524 miles | 1 – 6 days |
Cost to ship a car from Knoxville, TN to Iowa
| From Tennessee to Iowa | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Knoxville, TN to Des Moines, IA | $807 – $1,269 | 830 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Knoxville, TN to Cedar Rapids, IA | $779 – $1,201 | 743 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Knoxville, TN to Davenport, IA | $792 – $1,050 | 664 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Knoxville, TN to Sioux City, IA | $875 – $1,373 | 1,008 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Knoxville, TN to Iowa City, IA | $825 – $1,166 | 720 miles | 1 – 6 days |
Cost to ship a car from Chattanooga, TN to Iowa
| From Tennessee to Iowa | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chattanooga, TN to Des Moines, IA | $861 – $1,256 | 776 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Chattanooga, TN to Cedar Rapids, IA | $761 – $1,131 | 723 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Chattanooga, TN to Davenport, IA | $807 – $1,105 | 672 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Chattanooga, TN to Sioux City, IA | $805 – $1,366 | 963 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Chattanooga, TN to Iowa City, IA | $789 – $1,119 | 697 miles | 1 – 6 days |
Shipping an SUV or truck from Tennessee to Iowa
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 Tennessee to Iowa you should expect to pay between $978 and $1,329.
Factors that affect car shipping costs from TN to IA
When transporting your vehicle from the Volunteer State to the Hawkeye 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 Iowa.
- Distance and route: The journey from Tennessee to Iowa spans approximately 699 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 Tennessee, 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 Tennessee and Iowa 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 Tennessee to Iowa should take between one and six days. Expedited services are available but come at a higher cost.
Iowa vehicle regulations you need to know
- Car insurance requirements: Iowa requires minimum liability insurance, covering $20,000 for individual injury or death, $40,000 for multiple individuals, and $15,000 for property damage in an accident.
- Vehicle inspection: In Iowa, car owners are not obligated to undergo emissions, VIN, or safety inspections.
- Driver’s license: New residents with an out-of-state license must obtain an Iowa license within 30 days of establishing permanent residency. To do so, visit the DMV with your former state license, as it will need to be surrendered for the new license.
- Additional taxes: In Iowa, sales of vehicles requiring registration are exempt from sales tax but subject to a 5% fee for new registration.
Learn more with our car shipping checklist.
Transporting your vehicle from Tennessee
More than 39 million people call Tennessee home. Nicknamed the Volunteer State, Most of Tennessee has hot and humid summers and cool to mild winters, with the exception of some of the higher elevations in the Appalachians, which has mild summers and cool winters. The state averages about 15 tornadoes a year.
Transporting your vehicle to Iowa
About 22 million people are living in the Hawkeye State. Iowa has a humid continental climate throughout the state. Snowfall is common in Iowa. Spring brings in severe weather season. Iowa has about 50 thunderstorm days per year and has a tornado season. Iowa is known for hot and humid summers. Be sure to check the weather before your move, especially during the springtime.
FAQ
Does someone have to be present when you ship a car for pickup in Tennessee and delivery in Iowa?
Most companies will require that an adult of at least 18 years of age be present when picking up your car in Tennessee and when dropping it off in Iowa.
Do you need car insurance when shipping your car from Tennessee to Iowa?
If you’re not driving the vehicle from Tennessee to Iowa, you aren't required to have typical car insurance. Your car hauler should have adequate insurance if an accident happened on the drive to Iowa, which you should verify before loading your car in Tennessee.
If you’re driving your car at all in either state, you should understand the requirements. Tennessee drivers need to fulfill liability insurance criteria of 25/50/15 ($25,000 for individual bodily injury, $50,000 for total bodily injury per accident, and $15,000 for property damage per accident). Valid proof of insurance is crucial for registration and may be requested by law enforcement during traffic stops. Motorists have the flexibility to choose additional coverage for an added layer of vehicle protection.
Iowa requires minimum liability insurance, covering $20,000 for individual injury or death, $40,000 for multiple individuals, and $15,000 for property damage in an accident.
How long does it take to ship a car from Tennessee to Iowa?
Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from Tennessee to Iowa is about 699 miles, and that’s as fast as about 2 days. However, most car transport companies will take one to six days to travel from Tennessee to Iowa.
Will I be required to have a vehicle inspection in either state?
In Tennessee, vehicles must pass annual safety and emissions inspection. Cost is around $15 and more information can be found at Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security's website.
In Iowa, car owners are not obligated to undergo emissions, VIN, or safety inspections.
If I have a driver’s license in Tennessee, will I need one in Iowa?
New residents with an out-of-state license must obtain an Iowa license within 30 days of establishing permanent residency. To do so, visit the DMV with your former state license, as it will need to be surrendered for the new license.
If I bought a car in Tennessee, will I be required to pay sales tax in Iowa after shipping it there?
It’s important to understand any tax implications if you’re having a car shipped from Tennessee to Iowa after purchasing it.
In Iowa, sales of vehicles requiring registration are exempt from sales tax but subject to a 5% fee for new registration.
We recommend that you always check for updated tax information in both Tennessee and Iowa to avoid any hidden costs.
What is the cheapest way to ship a car from Tennessee to Iowa?
The cheapest way to ship a car from Tennessee to Iowa 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 Tennessee to Iowa?
Shipping a car from Tennessee to Iowa costs $782 to $1,063.
