Virginia to Kentucky Car Shipping (2024 Cost Guide)
Fact Checked by: Quick answer: The average cost to ship a car 418 miles from Virginia to Kentucky ranges from $636 to $838 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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Shipping a car the reverse route? We’ve got you covered with our Kentucky to Virginia car shipping guide.
The best Virginia to Kentucky car shipping companies
We’ve done the research and these are the best car shipping companies to help transport your vehicle from Virginia to Kentucky:
- Best for accurate pricing: Sherpa Auto Transport
- Best cross-country shipper: Montway Auto Transport
- Best for discounts: AmeriFreight Car Transport
- Best for quick pickup: Easy Auto Ship
- 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
- Competitive pricing
- Last-minute car shipments
- Guaranteed & expedited shipments
- Gap insurance coverage
- Multiple discounts
- No upfront deposit
- Expedited shipping
- No hidden fees
- Ships motorcycles & RVs
- Discount for cash payments
- 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 Virginia to Kentucky
- Drive it yourself. This is straightforward but not always an option, and it will put about 418 miles on your car going from Virginia 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 Virginia 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 Virginia 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!
VA 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 Virginia and Kentucky. The average travel distance is about 418 miles, with shipping times typically ranging from one to four days .
Cost to ship a car from Virginia Beach, VA to Kentucky
| From Virginia to Kentucky | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia Beach, VA to Louisville, KY | $722 – $1,081 | 669 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Virginia Beach, VA to Lexington, KY | $679 – $1,039 | 597 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Virginia Beach, VA to Bowling Green, KY | $843 – $1,197 | 757 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Virginia Beach, VA to Owensboro, KY | $819 – $1,208 | 772 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Virginia Beach, VA to Covington, KY | $709 – $1,027 | 617 miles | 1 – 6 days |
Cost to ship a car from Chesapeake, VA to Kentucky
| From Virginia to Kentucky | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chesapeake, VA to Louisville, KY | $760 – $1,124 | 667 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Chesapeake, VA to Lexington, KY | $722 – $1,029 | 595 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Chesapeake, VA to Bowling Green, KY | $835 – $1,138 | 755 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Chesapeake, VA to Owensboro, KY | $803 – $1,173 | 771 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Chesapeake, VA to Covington, KY | $702 – $1,058 | 615 miles | 1 – 6 days |
Cost to ship a car from Arlington, VA to Kentucky
| From Virginia to Kentucky | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arlington, VA to Louisville, KY | $722 – $1,039 | 579 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Arlington, VA to Lexington, KY | $652 – $933 | 508 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Arlington, VA to Bowling Green, KY | $745 – $1,081 | 667 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Arlington, VA to Owensboro, KY | $765 – $1,073 | 683 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Arlington, VA to Covington, KY | $665 – $924 | 508 miles | 1 – 6 days |
Cost to ship a car from Norfolk, VA to Kentucky
| From Virginia to Kentucky | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Norfolk, VA to Louisville, KY | $790 – $1,135 | 661 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Norfolk, VA to Lexington, KY | $708 – $959 | 590 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Norfolk, VA to Bowling Green, KY | $810 – $1,117 | 749 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Norfolk, VA to Owensboro, KY | $827 – $1,138 | 764 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Norfolk, VA to Covington, KY | $768 – $986 | 609 miles | 1 – 6 days |
Cost to ship a car from Richmond, VA to Kentucky
| From Virginia to Kentucky | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Richmond, VA to Louisville, KY | $690 – $1,017 | 563 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Richmond, VA to Lexington, KY | $649 – $856 | 492 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Richmond, VA to Bowling Green, KY | $783 – $1,113 | 651 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Richmond, VA to Owensboro, KY | $729 – $1,081 | 666 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Richmond, VA to Covington, KY | $652 – $942 | 511 miles | 1 – 6 days |
Shipping an SUV or truck from Virginia 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 Virginia to Kentucky you should expect to pay between $795 and $1,048.
Factors that affect car shipping costs from VA to KY
When transporting your vehicle from the Old Dominion 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 Virginia to Kentucky spans approximately 418 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 Virginia, 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 Virginia 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 Virginia 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 Virginia
More than 39 million people call Virginia home. Nicknamed the Old Dominion State, Virginia has humid hot and humid summers and cool to mild winters. The Atlantic Ocean and Gulf Stream have a strong effect on eastern and southeastern coastal areas of the Commonwealth, making the climate there warmer and more constant.
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 Virginia 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 Virginia and when dropping it off in Kentucky.
Do you need car insurance when shipping your car from Virginia to Kentucky?
If you’re not driving the vehicle from Virginia 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 Virginia.
If you’re driving your car at all in either state, you should understand the requirements. It's crucial for drivers to have liability insurance, meeting the state's minimum coverage requirements: $25,000 for individual injury or death, $50,000 for injury or death involving multiple individuals, and $20,000 for property damage. Elevate your road safety with mandatory uninsured motorist coverage, ensuring protection with matching limits. Stay road-ready by fulfilling these insurance obligations in Virginia.
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 Virginia to Kentucky?
Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from Virginia to Kentucky is about 418 miles, and that’s as fast as about 1 day. However, most car transport companies will take one to four days to travel from Virginia to Kentucky.
Will I be required to have a vehicle inspection in either state?
All vehicles must pass annual safety and emissions inspections at DMV-approved stations. Vehicles that fail can be re-inspected for free within 60 days. Upon passing, a sticker is issued to indicate the vehicle's compliance.
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 Virginia, 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 Virginia, 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 Virginia 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 Virginia and Kentucky to avoid any hidden costs.
What is the cheapest way to ship a car from Virginia to Kentucky?
The cheapest way to ship a car from Virginia 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 Virginia to Kentucky?
Shipping a car from Virginia to Kentucky costs $636 to $838.
