Wisconsin to Illinois Car Shipping (2024 Cost Guide)

Quick answer: The average cost to ship a car 255 miles from Wisconsin to Illinois ranges from $429 to $586 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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  • Services all 50 states
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Shipping a car the reverse route? We’ve got you covered with our Illinois to Wisconsin car shipping guide.

The best Wisconsin to Illinois car shipping companies

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

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
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  • 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 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
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  • 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
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

Alternative ways to ship your car from Wisconsin to Illinois

  • Drive it yourself. This is straightforward but not always an option, and it will put about 255 miles on your car going from Wisconsin to Illinois. 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 Wisconsin for a move to Illinois, 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 Wisconsin to Illinois 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!

WI to IL auto transport costs and transit times

The tables below detail the costs and estimated transit times for shipping a car between popular cities in Wisconsin and Illinois. The average travel distance is about 255 miles, with shipping times typically ranging from one to four days .

Cost to ship a car from Milwaukee, WI to Illinois

From Wisconsin to Illinois Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Milwaukee, WI to Chicago, IL $301 – $482 93 miles 1 – 4 days
Milwaukee, WI to Aurora, IL $330 – $525 112 miles 1 – 4 days
Milwaukee, WI to Joliet, IL $333 – $479 117 miles 1 – 4 days
Milwaukee, WI to Naperville, IL $319 – $464 104 miles 1 – 4 days
Milwaukee, WI to Rockford, IL $320 – $463 94 miles 1 – 4 days

Cost to ship a car from Madison, WI to Illinois

From Wisconsin to Illinois Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Madison, WI to Chicago, IL $348 – $523 152 miles 1 – 4 days
Madison, WI to Aurora, IL $360 – $499 137 miles 1 – 4 days
Madison, WI to Joliet, IL $392 – $534 162 miles 1 – 4 days
Madison, WI to Naperville, IL $379 – $514 149 miles 1 – 4 days
Madison, WI to Rockford, IL $249 – $426 73 miles 1 – 4 days

Cost to ship a car from Green Bay, WI to Illinois

From Wisconsin to Illinois Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Green Bay, WI to Chicago, IL $470 – $541 208 miles 1 – 4 days
Green Bay, WI to Aurora, IL $471 – $591 229 miles 1 – 4 days
Green Bay, WI to Joliet, IL $471 – $605 233 miles 1 – 4 days
Green Bay, WI to Naperville, IL $435 – $585 220 miles 1 – 4 days
Green Bay, WI to Rockford, IL $425 – $552 200 miles 1 – 4 days

Cost to ship a car from Kenosha, WI to Illinois

From Wisconsin to Illinois Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Kenosha, WI to Chicago, IL $223 – $390 66 miles 1 – 4 days
Kenosha, WI to Aurora, IL $281 – $481 86 miles 1 – 4 days
Kenosha, WI to Joliet, IL $317 – $468 91 miles 1 – 4 days
Kenosha, WI to Naperville, IL $270 – $418 78 miles 1 – 4 days
Kenosha, WI to Rockford, IL $275 – $467 89 miles 1 – 4 days

Cost to ship a car from Racine, WI to Illinois

From Wisconsin to Illinois Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Racine, WI to Chicago, IL $257 – $443 77 miles 1 – 4 days
Racine, WI to Aurora, IL $295 – $468 97 miles 1 – 4 days
Racine, WI to Joliet, IL $332 – $488 101 miles 1 – 4 days
Racine, WI to Naperville, IL $298 – $463 89 miles 1 – 4 days
Racine, WI to Rockford, IL $292 – $496 91 miles 1 – 4 days

Shipping an SUV or truck from Wisconsin to Illinois

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 Wisconsin to Illinois you should expect to pay between $536 and $733.

Factors that affect car shipping costs from WI to IL

When transporting your vehicle from the Badger State to the Land of Lincoln, 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 Illinois.
  • Distance and route: The journey from Wisconsin to Illinois spans approximately 255 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 Wisconsin, 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 Wisconsin and Illinois 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 Wisconsin to Illinois should take between one and four days. Expedited services are available but come at a higher cost.

Illinois vehicle regulations you need to know

  • Car insurance requirements: The liability insurance minimums for Illinois are $25,000 bodily injury liability per person, $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident, and $20,000 property damage liability per accident.
  • Vehicle inspection: In Illinois, emissions inspections are mandatory on a yearly basis for eligible vehicles in the Chicago and East St. Louis metropolitan areas. The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency conducts tests on automobiles before residents can renew their vehicle registration with the Secretary of State's office.
  • Driver’s license: Even if your out-of-state driver's license is valid, you must still pass a vision test and written exam if you are moving to Illinois. Within 90 days of becoming a resident in the state, you must convert your license to an Illinois non-commercial license.
  • Additional taxes: According to Illinois law, the recipient or buyer of any vehicle transferred within the state must complete a Private Party Vehicle Tax Transaction form (form RUT-50) and pay the sales tax for the car within 30 days of the transfer of ownership.

Learn more with our car shipping checklist.

Transporting your vehicle from Wisconsin

More than 39 million people call Wisconsin home. Nicknamed the Badger State, Wisconsin has warm-summers humid continental climate while the southern and southwestern portions are classified as hot-summer humid continental climate. Wisconsin also receives a large amount of regular snowfall averaging around 40 inches. Be sure to check your local weather station if you are planning your move for the summer.

Transporting your vehicle to Illinois

About 22 million people are living in the Land of Lincoln. Illinois' climate is clearly different in the northern and southern halves of the state. The northern half experiences cold winters and mild summers whereas the southern half experiences mild winters and hot and humid summers. Illinois is a part of "tornado alley"

FAQ

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

Most companies will require that an adult of at least 18 years of age be present when picking up your car in Wisconsin and when dropping it off in Illinois.

Do you need car insurance when shipping your car from Wisconsin to Illinois?

If you’re not driving the vehicle from Wisconsin to Illinois, you aren't required to have typical car insurance. Your car hauler should have adequate insurance if an accident happened on the drive to Illinois, which you should verify before loading your car in Wisconsin.

If you’re driving your car at all in either state, you should understand the requirements. Wisconsin requires auto insurance policies to provide a minimum coverage of $10,000 for property damage, $25,000 for individual injury or death, and $50,000 for injury or death involving multiple individuals.

The liability insurance minimums for Illinois are $25,000 bodily injury liability per person, $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident, and $20,000 property damage liability per accident.

How long does it take to ship a car from Wisconsin to Illinois?

Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from Wisconsin to Illinois is about 255 miles, and that’s as fast as about 1 day. However, most car transport companies will take one to four days to travel from Wisconsin to Illinois.

Will I be required to have a vehicle inspection in either state?

Safety and emission inspections are not required in Wisconsin. However, you must take your vehicle for emissions inspection available at select privately owned businesses including vehicle repair facilities, service stations, and car dealerships.

In Illinois, emissions inspections are mandatory on a yearly basis for eligible vehicles in the Chicago and East St. Louis metropolitan areas. The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency conducts tests on automobiles before residents can renew their vehicle registration with the Secretary of State's office.

If I have a driver’s license in Wisconsin, will I need one in Illinois?

Even if your out-of-state driver's license is valid, you must still pass a vision test and written exam if you are moving to Illinois. Within 90 days of becoming a resident in the state, you must convert your license to an Illinois non-commercial license.

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

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

According to Illinois law, the recipient or buyer of any vehicle transferred within the state must complete a Private Party Vehicle Tax Transaction form (form RUT-50) and pay the sales tax for the car within 30 days of the transfer of ownership.

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

What is the cheapest way to ship a car from Wisconsin to Illinois?

The cheapest way to ship a car from Wisconsin to Illinois 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 Wisconsin to Illinois?

Shipping a car from Wisconsin to Illinois costs $429 to $586.

Helpful Wisconsin resources