Shipping Cost from South Dakota to Mexico City

Driving is usually cheaper for shorter distances, but for long cross-country moves, the cost difference shrinks, and shipping can become comparable or even cheaper once you factor in gas, lodging, food, wear-and-tear, and your time, making the decision depend on distance, vehicle, your schedule, and budget. Driving saves money on carrier fees but adds wear on your car, while shipping costs more upfront but saves time, fuel, and stress.

If you are visiting Mexico on a tourist/visitor permit, you can import your foreign-plated vehicle to Mexico using a Temporary Import Permit (TIP). Your vehicle permit when you enter as a visitor will last for a maximum of 180 days and cannot be renewed or extended beyond this time period.

The cheapest international car shipping method is usually Roll-on/Roll-off (RORO), where your car is driven onto a specialized ship, costing less than containers but offering less protection; for more security with shared costs, consider a shared container (consolidation), while air freight is the most expensive but fastest, and platforms like uShip or Shiply help find competitive quotes from reliable carriers.