Washington to Iowa Car Shipping (2024 Cost Guide)
Fact Checked by: Quick answer: The average cost to ship a car 1,701 miles from Washington to Iowa ranges from $1,238 to $1,744 and takes three–nine 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 Washington car shipping guide.
The best Washington to Iowa car shipping companies
We’ve done the research and these are the best car shipping companies to help transport your vehicle from Washington 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
- 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 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 Washington to Iowa
- Drive it yourself. This is straightforward but not always an option, and it will put about 1,701 miles on your car going from Washington 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 Washington 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 Washington 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!
WA 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 Washington and Iowa. The average travel distance is about 1,701 miles, with shipping times typically ranging from three to nine days .
Cost to ship a car from Seattle, WA to Iowa
| From Washington to Iowa | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle, WA to Des Moines, IA | $1,287 – $1,726 | 1,756 miles | 3 – 11 days |
| Seattle, WA to Cedar Rapids, IA | $1,226 – $1,874 | 1,829 miles | 3 – 11 days |
| Seattle, WA to Davenport, IA | $1,257 – $1,850 | 1,911 miles | 3 – 11 days |
| Seattle, WA to Sioux City, IA | $1,196 – $1,676 | 1,558 miles | 3 – 9 days |
| Seattle, WA to Iowa City, IA | $1,302 – $1,818 | 1,857 miles | 3 – 11 days |
Cost to ship a car from Spokane, WA to Iowa
| From Washington to Iowa | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spokane, WA to Des Moines, IA | $1,103 – $1,674 | 1,478 miles | 3 – 8 days |
| Spokane, WA to Cedar Rapids, IA | $1,127 – $1,627 | 1,552 miles | 3 – 9 days |
| Spokane, WA to Davenport, IA | $1,149 – $1,790 | 1,633 miles | 3 – 9 days |
| Spokane, WA to Sioux City, IA | $985 – $1,479 | 1,281 miles | 3 – 8 days |
| Spokane, WA to Iowa City, IA | $1,093 – $1,545 | 1,579 miles | 3 – 9 days |
Cost to ship a car from Tacoma, WA to Iowa
| From Washington to Iowa | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tacoma, WA to Des Moines, IA | $1,287 – $1,761 | 1,769 miles | 3 – 11 days |
| Tacoma, WA to Cedar Rapids, IA | $1,201 – $1,874 | 1,843 miles | 3 – 11 days |
| Tacoma, WA to Davenport, IA | $1,257 – $1,947 | 1,924 miles | 3 – 11 days |
| Tacoma, WA to Sioux City, IA | $1,150 – $1,594 | 1,572 miles | 3 – 9 days |
| Tacoma, WA to Iowa City, IA | $1,226 – $1,893 | 1,870 miles | 3 – 11 days |
Cost to ship a car from Vancouver, WA to Iowa
| From Washington to Iowa | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vancouver, WA to Des Moines, IA | $1,238 – $1,815 | 1,791 miles | 3 – 11 days |
| Vancouver, WA to Cedar Rapids, IA | $1,270 – $2,045 | 1,918 miles | 3 – 11 days |
| Vancouver, WA to Davenport, IA | $1,257 – $2,025 | 1,959 miles | 3 – 11 days |
| Vancouver, WA to Sioux City, IA | $1,172 – $1,722 | 1,634 miles | 3 – 9 days |
| Vancouver, WA to Iowa City, IA | $1,270 – $1,967 | 1,905 miles | 3 – 11 days |
Cost to ship a car from Bellevue, WA to Iowa
| From Washington to Iowa | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bellevue, WA to Des Moines, IA | $1,165 – $1,708 | 1,750 miles | 3 – 11 days |
| Bellevue, WA to Cedar Rapids, IA | $1,289 – $1,949 | 1,824 miles | 3 – 11 days |
| Bellevue, WA to Davenport, IA | $1,219 – $2,006 | 1,905 miles | 3 – 11 days |
| Bellevue, WA to Sioux City, IA | $1,173 – $1,708 | 1,553 miles | 3 – 9 days |
| Bellevue, WA to Iowa City, IA | $1,315 – $1,912 | 1,851 miles | 3 – 11 days |
Shipping an SUV or truck from Washington 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 Washington to Iowa you should expect to pay between $1,548 and $2,180.
Factors that affect car shipping costs from WA to IA
When transporting your vehicle from the Evergreen 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 Washington to Iowa spans approximately 1,701 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 Washington, 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 Washington 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 Washington to Iowa should take between three and nine 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 Washington
More than 39 million people call Washington home. Nicknamed the Evergreen State, Washington state rarely experiences extreme weather to worry about. Your move should be unaffected by the weather conditions. However, it's always a good idea to check the forecast ahead of time and maybe prepare for a little rain!
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 Washington 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 Washington and when dropping it off in Iowa.
Do you need car insurance when shipping your car from Washington to Iowa?
If you’re not driving the vehicle from Washington 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 Washington.
If you’re driving your car at all in either state, you should understand the requirements. Drivers in Washington are mandated to maintain a minimum of $25,000 for individual bodily injury, $50,000 for total bodily injury in an accident, and $10,000 for property damage to meet legal requirements and enhance on-road 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 Washington to Iowa?
Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from Washington to Iowa is about 1,701 miles, and that’s as fast as about 4 days. However, most car transport companies will take three to nine days to travel from Washington to Iowa.
Will I be required to have a vehicle inspection in either state?
In the state of Washington, there are no annual safety inspections, however, vehicles must still comply with strict Clean Car standards.
In Iowa, car owners are not obligated to undergo emissions, VIN, or safety inspections.
If I have a driver’s license in Washington, 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 Washington, 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 Washington 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 Washington and Iowa to avoid any hidden costs.
What is the cheapest way to ship a car from Washington to Iowa?
The cheapest way to ship a car from Washington 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 Washington to Iowa?
Shipping a car from Washington to Iowa costs $1,238 to $1,744.
