Car/Vehicle Shipping Cost from Phoenix, Arizona to Iowa

Shipping a car across 1,365 miles from Iowa to Arizona usually costs between $941 and $1,541 and can take about 3-8 days, depending on transport type and timing. Pro Tip: The Iowa to Arizona route is popular with snowbirds heading for warmer weather in the winter. Booking 2–4 weeks ahead usually gets better pricing.

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 loads your vehicle onto a large, multi-car trailer, often for hundreds less than enclosed options, especially if you opt for terminal-to-terminal delivery, book in the off-season (fall/spring), and stay flexible with dates, saving more by avoiding last-minute costs and using companies like Montway Auto Transport or Ship a Car Direct.