Car/Vehicle Shipping Cost from Des Moines, Iowa to Chicago, Illinois

Generally, driving is cheaper than shipping for shorter distances, but the cost difference shrinks and shipping can become a better value for long hauls when factoring in hidden costs like wear & tear, time, and your own travel expenses (lodging, food). For very long trips (1000+ miles) or unreliable cars, the added costs of driving (depreciation, maintenance, fatigue) might make shipping more economical overall, say Move.org and SoFi.

The cheapest way to ship a car to another state is by using an open transport carrier, which is a large trailer hauling multiple cars, as it spreads costs and is much cheaper than enclosed transport. To save even more, choose terminal-to-terminal service over door-to-door, book in advance, be flexible with dates (off-peak is best), and compare quotes from multiple companies like Montway Auto Transport and Ship a Car Direct, and.

Shipping a car to Chicago costs $650–$1,300, with open carrier rates averaging $0.60–$1.00 per mile. Average transit time to Chicago ranges from 3–8 days, depending on origin city, route congestion, and transport type.