Montana to Michigan Car Shipping (2024 Cost Guide)
Fact Checked by: Quick answer: The average cost to ship a car 1,357 miles from Montana to Michigan ranges from $1,198 to $1,828 and takes 3–8 days depending on factors like the transport type and season. For a more detailed quote, use our car shipping cost calculator.
Shipping a car the reverse route? We’ve got you covered with our Michigan to Montana car shipping guide.
Montana to Michigan auto transport costs and transit times
The table below details the costs and estimated transit times for shipping a car between popular cities in Montana and Michigan. The average travel distance is about 1,357 miles, with shipping times typically ranging from 3 to 8 days.
Cost to ship a car from Billings, MT to Michigan
| From Montana to Michigan | Distance | Cost | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Billings, MT to Detroit, MI | 1,530 miles | $1,372–$2,039 | 3–9 days |
| Missoula, MT to Grand Rapids, MI | 1,301 miles | $1,248–$1,847 | 3–8 days |
| Belgrade, MT to Ann Arbor, MI | 1,489 miles | $1,343–$1,901 | 3–8 days |
| Bozeman, MT to Lansing, MI | 1,466 miles | $1,277–$1,843 | 3–8 days |
| Butte, MT to Flint, MI | 1,413 miles | $1,356–$1,901 | 3–8 days |
Cost to ship a car from Missoula, MT to Michigan
| From Montana to Michigan | Distance | Cost | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Billings, MT to Detroit, MI | 1,874 miles | $1,507–$2,372 | 3–11 days |
| Missoula, MT to Grand Rapids, MI | 1,644 miles | $1,441–$1,971 | 3–9 days |
| Belgrade, MT to Ann Arbor, MI | 1,832 miles | $1,554–$2,303 | 3–11 days |
| Bozeman, MT to Lansing, MI | 1,809 miles | $1,600–$2,189 | 3–11 days |
| Butte, MT to Flint, MI | 1,756 miles | $1,507–$2,252 | 3–11 days |
Cost to ship a car from Belgrade, MT to Michigan
| From Montana to Michigan | Distance | Cost | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Billings, MT to Detroit, MI | 1,683 miles | $1,369–$2,178 | 3–9 days |
| Missoula, MT to Grand Rapids, MI | 1,453 miles | $1,369–$1,979 | 3–8 days |
| Belgrade, MT to Ann Arbor, MI | 1,641 miles | $1,499–$2,075 | 3–9 days |
| Bozeman, MT to Lansing, MI | 1,618 miles | $1,456–$2,095 | 3–9 days |
| Butte, MT to Flint, MI | 1,565 miles | $1,344–$1,881 | 3–9 days |
Cost to ship a car from Bozeman, MT to Michigan
| From Montana to Michigan | Distance | Cost | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Billings, MT to Detroit, MI | 1,672 miles | $1,513–$2,075 | 3–9 days |
| Missoula, MT to Grand Rapids, MI | 1,443 miles | $1,369–$1,862 | 3–8 days |
| Belgrade, MT to Ann Arbor, MI | 1,631 miles | $1,456–$2,075 | 3–9 days |
| Bozeman, MT to Lansing, MI | 1,608 miles | $1,398–$2,137 | 3–9 days |
| Butte, MT to Flint, MI | 1,554 miles | $1,330–$1,881 | 3–9 days |
Cost to ship a car from Butte, MT to Michigan
| From Montana to Michigan | Distance | Cost | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Billings, MT to Detroit, MI | 1,757 miles | $1,522–$2,143 | 3–11 days |
| Missoula, MT to Grand Rapids, MI | 1,527 miles | $1,344–$1,980 | 3–9 days |
| Belgrade, MT to Ann Arbor, MI | 1,716 miles | $1,432–$2,057 | 3–9 days |
| Bozeman, MT to Lansing, MI | 1,693 miles | $1,398–$2,033 | 3–9 days |
| Butte, MT to Flint, MI | 1,639 miles | $1,398–$2,054 | 3–9 days |
Shipping an SUV or truck from Montana to Michigan
Since vehicles like SUV, 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 Montana to Michigan you should expect to pay between $1,498 and $2,285.
Factors that affect the price of shipping a car from Montana to Michigan
When transporting your vehicle from the Big Sky Country to the Wolverine 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 Michigan.
- Distance and route: The journey from Montana to Michigan spans approximately 1,357 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 Montana, 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 Montana and Michigan 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 Montana to Michigan should take between 3 and 8 days. Expedited services are available but come at a higher cost.
The best Montana to Michigan car shipping companies
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We’ve done the research and these are the best car shipping companies to help transport your vehicle from Montana to Michigan:
- Best for Overall Value: SGT Auto Transport
- Best for Quick Pick Up: Easy Auto Ship
- Best Insurance Coverage: Ship A Car Direct
- Best for accurate pricing: Sherpa Auto Transport
- Best Cross Country: Montway Auto Transport
Alternative ways to ship your car from Montana to Michigan
- Drive it yourself: This is straightforward but not always an option, and it will put about 1,357 miles on your car going from Montana to Michigan. 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 hire a moving company, they also work with reputable car shippers. Otherwise, there may be the option of even shipping your car with your household belongings!
- Hire a driver: Hire someone to drive the car from Montana to Michigan 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!
What else should you know about shipping a car from Montana to Michigan?
- Car insurance requirements: Michigan requires a minimum auto insurance coverage of $50,000/$100,000 for bodily injury and $10,000 for property damage in case of an accident.
- Vehicle inspection: Michigan does not require vehicle inspections for registration purposes. There is no state mandate for car safety inspections or emissions testing.
- Driver’s license: Michigan law requires new residents to promptly title and register their vehicles, with no grace period provided. A person is considered a resident if they live in the state and prove their legal presence in the US. To comply with these requirements, new residents should visit a Secretary of State office to obtain a Michigan driver's license, title, and registration as soon as they establish residency.
- Additional taxes: In Michigan, a 6% sales tax is imposed on all vehicle purchases.
Learn more with our car shipping checklist
Transporting your vehicle from Montana
Over 39 million people call Montana home. Nicknamed the Big Sky Country, Montana has a lot of variation in geography, topography, and elevation, and the climate is equally varied. The western half is mountainous, interrupted by numerous large valleys. Eastern Montana comprises plains and badlands, broken by hills and isolated mountain ranges, The Continental Divide has a considerable effect on the climate, as it restricts the flow of warmer air from the Pacific from moving east, and drier continental air from moving west. The area west of the divide has a modified northern Pacific Coast climate, with milder winters, cooler summers, less wind, and a longer growing season. Low clouds and fog often form in the valleys west of the divide in winter, but this is rarely seen in the east.
Transporting your vehicle to Michigan
About 22 million people are living in the Wolverine State of Michigan. Michigan has a continental climate, although there are two distinct regions. The southern and central parts of the Lower Peninsula (south of Saginaw Bay and from the Grand Rapids area southward) have a warmer climate with hot summers and cold winters. The northern part of the Lower Peninsula and the entire Upper Peninsula has a more severe climate (Köppen Dfb), with warm, but shorter summers and longer, cold to very cold winters. Some parts of the state average high temperatures below freezing from December through February, and into early March in the far northern parts. During the winter through the middle of February, the state is frequently subjected to heavy lake-effect snow. The state averages 30 days of thunderstorm activity per year. These can be severe, especially in the southern part of the state. The state averages 17 tornadoes per year, which are more common in the state's extreme southern section.
FAQ
Does someone have to be present when picking up my car in Montana and when dropping off my car in Michigan?
Most companies will require someone that is at least 18 years old to be present when picking up your car in Montana and when dropping it off in Michigan.
Do you need car insurance when shipping your car from Montana to Michigan?
If you’re not driving the vehicle from Montana to Michigan, you aren't required to have typical car insurance. Your car hauler should have adequate insurance if an accident happened on the drive to Michigan, which you should verify before loading your car in Montana.
If you’re driving your car at all in either state, you should understand the requirements. In Montana, drivers must meet legal requirements for minimum car insurance liability coverage to ensure financial responsibility in accidents. Mandated by state regulations, this includes $25,000 per person for bodily injury and $50,000 per accident for bodily injury, covering collective medical expenses in case of multiple injuries, capped at $50,000 for the entire incident. Additionally, there's a required minimum of $20,000 per accident for property damage, crucial for addressing costs related to damage to another party's vehicle or property. Adhering to these insurance requirements is imperative for all motorists, ensuring compliance with state laws and contributing to a secure and responsible driving environment on Montana roadways.
If you’re driving your car at all in either state, you should understand the requirements. Michigan requires a minimum auto insurance coverage of $50,000/$100,000 for bodily injury and $10,000 for property damage in case of an accident.
How long does it take to ship a car from Montana to Michigan?
Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from Montana to Michigan is about 1357 miles, and that’s as fast as about 3 days. However, most car transport companies will take 3-8 days to travel from Montana to Michigan.
Will I be required to have a vehicle inspection in either state?
If you are moving to Montana, you are not required to have your vehicle inspected.
Michigan does not require vehicle inspections for registration purposes. There is no state mandate for car safety inspections or emissions testing.
If I have a driver’s license in Montana, will I need one in Michigan?
Michigan law requires new residents to promptly title and register their vehicles, with no grace period provided. A person is considered a resident if they live in the state and prove their legal presence in the US. To comply with these requirements, new residents should visit a Secretary of State office to obtain a Michigan driver's license, title, and registration as soon as they establish residency.
If I bought a car in Montana, will I be required to pay sales tax in Michigan after shipping it there?
It’s important to understand any tax implications if you’re having a car shipped from Montana to Michigan after purchasing it.
In Michigan, a 6% sales tax is imposed on all vehicle purchases.
We recommend that you always check for updated tax information in both Montana and Michigan to avoid any hidden costs.
