West Virginia to Iowa Car Shipping (2025 Cost Guide)

Quick answer: The average cost to ship a car 856 miles from West Virginia to Iowa ranges from $896 to $1,479 and takes two–seven 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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  • Services all 50 states
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  • Door-to-door service
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Shipping a car the reverse route? We’ve got you covered with our Iowa to West Virginia car shipping guide.

The best West Virginia to Iowa car shipping companies

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

Best for accurate pricing
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moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.5 / 5
Get a quote (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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Get a quote (833) 775-1461
Best for discounts
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moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.3 / 5
Get a quote (770) 501-9057
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  • Competitive pricing
  • Last-minute car shipments
  • Guaranteed & expedited shipments
  • Gap insurance coverage
  • Multiple discounts
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Get a quote (770) 501-9057
Best cross-country shipper
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moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.5 / 5
Get a quote (224) 206-5633
At A Glance
  • Competitive pricing & $0 upfront
  • GPS tracking
  • Multiple insurance options
  • Guaranteed pickup dates available
  • Door-to-door service
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Get a quote (224) 206-5633
Best for overall value
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moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.9 / 5
Get a quote (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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Get a quote (864) 492-1221
Best for quick pickup
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moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.9 / 5
Get a quote (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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Get a quote (888) 259-6046

Alternative ways to ship your car from West Virginia to Iowa

  • Drive it yourself. This is straightforward but not always an option, and it will put about 856 miles on your car going from West Virginia 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 West Virginia 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 West Virginia 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!

WV 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 West Virginia and Iowa. The average travel distance is about 856 miles, with shipping times typically ranging from two to seven days .

Cost to ship a car from Charleston, WV to Iowatoggle

From West Virginia to Iowa Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Charleston, WV to Des Moines, IA $935 – $1,336 784 miles 2 – 7 days
Charleston, WV to Cedar Rapids, IA $851 – $1,226 700 miles 1 – 6 days
Charleston, WV to Davenport, IA $794 – $1,139 620 miles 1 – 6 days
Charleston, WV to Iowa City, IA $900 – $1,263 675 miles 1 – 6 days
Charleston, WV to Ankeny, IA $962 – $1,309 787 miles 2 – 7 days

Cost to ship a car from Huntington, WV to Iowatoggle

From West Virginia to Iowa Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Huntington, WV to Des Moines, IA $916 – $1,251 734 miles 1 – 6 days
Huntington, WV to Cedar Rapids, IA $827 – $1,157 647 miles 1 – 6 days
Huntington, WV to Davenport, IA $757 – $1,063 567 miles 1 – 6 days
Huntington, WV to Iowa City, IA $852 – $1,197 623 miles 1 – 6 days
Huntington, WV to Ankeny, IA $871 – $1,238 735 miles 1 – 6 days

Cost to ship a car from Morgantown, WV to Iowatoggle

From West Virginia to Iowa Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Morgantown, WV to Des Moines, IA $911 – $1,349 844 miles 2 – 7 days
Morgantown, WV to Cedar Rapids, IA $890 – $1,260 758 miles 2 – 7 days
Morgantown, WV to Davenport, IA $900 – $1,263 679 miles 1 – 6 days
Morgantown, WV to Iowa City, IA $880 – $1,342 733 miles 1 – 6 days
Morgantown, WV to Ankeny, IA $911 – $1,446 846 miles 2 – 7 days

Cost to ship a car from Parkersburg, WV to Iowatoggle

From West Virginia to Iowa Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Parkersburg, WV to Des Moines, IA $871 – $1,287 762 miles 2 – 7 days
Parkersburg, WV to Cedar Rapids, IA $856 – $1,213 676 miles 1 – 6 days
Parkersburg, WV to Davenport, IA $825 – $1,163 595 miles 1 – 6 days
Parkersburg, WV to Iowa City, IA $825 – $1,259 651 miles 1 – 6 days
Parkersburg, WV to Ankeny, IA $944 – $1,327 763 miles 2 – 7 days

Cost to ship a car from Wheeling, WV to Iowatoggle

From West Virginia to Iowa Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Wheeling, WV to Des Moines, IA $871 – $1,336 778 miles 2 – 7 days
Wheeling, WV to Cedar Rapids, IA $865 – $1,276 691 miles 1 – 6 days
Wheeling, WV to Davenport, IA $852 – $1,162 612 miles 1 – 6 days
Wheeling, WV to Iowa City, IA $825 – $1,284 667 miles 1 – 6 days
Wheeling, WV to Ankeny, IA $962 – $1,363 779 miles 2 – 7 days

Shipping an SUV or truck from West Virginia to Iowatoggle

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 West Virginia to Iowa you should expect to pay between $1,120 and $1,849.

Factors that affect car shipping costs from WV to IA

When transporting your vehicle from the Mountain 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 West Virginia to Iowa spans approximately 856 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 West 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 West Virginia 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 West Virginia to Iowa should take between two and seven 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 West Virginia

More than 39 million people call West Virginia home. Nicknamed the Mountain State, West Virginia has warm to hot, humid summers and chilly winters. Be sure to check the weather during your move to avoid inclement weather.

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 West Virginia and delivery in Iowa?toggle

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

Do you need car insurance when shipping your car from West Virginia to Iowa?toggle

If you’re not driving the vehicle from West Virginia 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 West Virginia.

If you’re driving your car at all in either state, you should understand the requirements. West Virginia's required minimum insurance standards, encompassing liability coverage at $25,000/$50,000 for bodily injury and $25,000 for property damage.

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 West Virginia to Iowa?toggle

Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from West Virginia to Iowa is about 856 miles, and that’s as fast as about 2 days. However, most car transport companies will take two to seven days to travel from West Virginia to Iowa.

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

New residents are given 10 days from the date they title a vehicle to have a West Virginia safety inspection at any official inspection station licensed by the West Virginia State Police.

In Iowa, car owners are not obligated to undergo emissions, VIN, or safety inspections.

If I have a driver’s license in West Virginia, will I need one in Iowa?toggle

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 West Virginia, will I be required to pay sales tax in Iowa after shipping it there?toggle

It’s important to understand any tax implications if you’re having a car shipped from West Virginia 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 West Virginia and Iowa to avoid any hidden costs.

What is the cheapest way to ship a car from West Virginia to Iowa?toggle

The cheapest way to ship a car from West Virginia 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 West Virginia to Iowa?toggle

Shipping a car from West Virginia to Iowa costs $896 to $1,479.

Helpful West Virginia resources