Tennessee to Kentucky Car Shipping (2024 Cost Guide)

Quick answer: The average cost to ship a car 286 miles from Tennessee to Kentucky ranges from $504 to $635 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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  • 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 Kentucky to Tennessee car shipping guide.

The best Tennessee to Kentucky car shipping companies

We’ve done the research and these are the best car shipping companies to help transport your vehicle from Tennessee to Kentucky:

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 Tennessee to Kentucky

  • Drive it yourself. This is straightforward but not always an option, and it will put about 286 miles on your car going from Tennessee to Kentucky. 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 Kentucky, 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 Kentucky 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 KY 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 Kentucky. The average travel distance is about 286 miles, with shipping times typically ranging from one to four days .

Cost to ship a car from Nashville, TN to Kentucky

From Tennessee to Kentucky Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Nashville, TN to Louisville, KY $418 – $532 175 miles 1 – 4 days
Nashville, TN to Lexington, KY $434 – $576 213 miles 1 – 4 days
Nashville, TN to Bowling Green, KY $249 – $411 66 miles 1 – 4 days
Nashville, TN to Owensboro, KY $382 – $521 134 miles 1 – 4 days
Nashville, TN to Covington, KY $462 – $587 270 miles 1 – 4 days

Cost to ship a car from Memphis, TN to Kentucky

From Tennessee to Kentucky Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Memphis, TN to Louisville, KY $604 – $819 384 miles 1 – 4 days
Memphis, TN to Lexington, KY $588 – $855 421 miles 1 – 4 days
Memphis, TN to Bowling Green, KY $444 – $587 274 miles 1 – 4 days
Memphis, TN to Owensboro, KY $460 – $674 286 miles 1 – 4 days
Memphis, TN to Covington, KY $643 – $847 479 miles 1 – 4 days

Cost to ship a car from Clarksville, TN to Kentucky

From Tennessee to Kentucky Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Clarksville, TN to Louisville, KY $410 – $532 181 miles 1 – 4 days
Clarksville, TN to Lexington, KY $479 – $600 218 miles 1 – 4 days
Clarksville, TN to Bowling Green, KY $228 – $383 60 miles 1 – 4 days
Clarksville, TN to Owensboro, KY $346 – $499 107 miles 1 – 4 days
Clarksville, TN to Covington, KY $484 – $648 276 miles 1 – 4 days

Cost to ship a car from Knoxville, TN to Kentucky

From Tennessee to Kentucky Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Knoxville, TN to Louisville, KY $461 – $643 247 miles 1 – 4 days
Knoxville, TN to Lexington, KY $410 – $571 175 miles 1 – 4 days
Knoxville, TN to Bowling Green, KY $466 – $588 206 miles 1 – 4 days
Knoxville, TN to Owensboro, KY $430 – $642 274 miles 1 – 4 days
Knoxville, TN to Covington, KY $447 – $594 249 miles 1 – 4 days

Cost to ship a car from Chattanooga, TN to Kentucky

From Tennessee to Kentucky Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Chattanooga, TN to Louisville, KY $498 – $687 306 miles 1 – 4 days
Chattanooga, TN to Lexington, KY $470 – $635 284 miles 1 – 4 days
Chattanooga, TN to Bowling Green, KY $442 – $598 196 miles 1 – 4 days
Chattanooga, TN to Owensboro, KY $430 – $599 265 miles 1 – 4 days
Chattanooga, TN to Covington, KY $548 – $741 358 miles 1 – 4 days

Shipping an SUV or truck from Tennessee to Kentucky

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 Kentucky you should expect to pay between $630 and $794.

Factors that affect car shipping costs from TN to KY

When transporting your vehicle from the Volunteer State to the Bluegrass 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 Kentucky.
  • Distance and route: The journey from Tennessee to Kentucky spans approximately 286 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 Kentucky 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 Kentucky should take between one and four days. Expedited services are available but come at a higher cost.

Kentucky vehicle regulations you need to know

  • Car insurance requirements: The insurance coverage includes Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability with limits of $25,000 per person/$50,000 per accident and $25,000 respectively; Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist coverage (not required); Personal Injury Protection with a limit of $10,000; and optional Collision and Comprehensive coverage for vehicle repair or replacement expenses, with no requirement.
  • Vehicle inspection: When moving to Kentucky from another state, a one-time Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) inspection is required. To complete the VIN inspection, bring the vehicle and its title to the Sheriff's office in the county where the car will be registered.
  • Driver’s license: New residents in Kentucky have a 30-day time frame to obtain a Kentucky driver's license.
  • Additional taxes: In Kentucky, a 6% motor vehicle usage tax is imposed on the retail price of vehicles registered for the first time in the state.

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 Kentucky

About 22 million people are living in the Bluegrass State. Kentucky has relatively hot, humid, rainy summers, and moderately cold and rainy winters. Kansas rarely experiences the extremes cold of the northern states nor the heat of the state in the Deep South.

FAQ

Does someone have to be present when you ship a car for pickup in Tennessee and delivery in Kentucky?

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 Kentucky.

Do you need car insurance when shipping your car from Tennessee to Kentucky?

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

The insurance coverage includes Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability with limits of $25,000 per person/$50,000 per accident and $25,000 respectively; Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist coverage (not required); Personal Injury Protection with a limit of $10,000; and optional Collision and Comprehensive coverage for vehicle repair or replacement expenses, with no requirement.

How long does it take to ship a car from Tennessee to Kentucky?

Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from Tennessee to Kentucky is about 286 miles, and that’s as fast as about 1 day. However, most car transport companies will take one to four days to travel from Tennessee to Kentucky.

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.

When moving to Kentucky from another state, a one-time Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) inspection is required. To complete the VIN inspection, bring the vehicle and its title to the Sheriff's office in the county where the car will be registered.

If I have a driver’s license in Tennessee, will I need one in Kentucky?

New residents in Kentucky have a 30-day time frame to obtain a Kentucky driver's license.

If I bought a car in Tennessee, will I be required to pay sales tax in Kentucky after shipping it there?

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

In Kentucky, a 6% motor vehicle usage tax is imposed on the retail price of vehicles registered for the first time in the state.

We recommend that you always check for updated tax information in both Tennessee and Kentucky to avoid any hidden costs.

What is the cheapest way to ship a car from Tennessee to Kentucky?

The cheapest way to ship a car from Tennessee to Kentucky 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 Kentucky?

Shipping a car from Tennessee to Kentucky costs $504 to $635.

Helpful Tennessee resources