Arkansas to Illinois Car Shipping (2024 Cost Guide)
Fact Checked by: Quick answer: The average cost to ship a car 471 miles from Arkansas to Illinois ranges from $789 to $1,104 and takes 1–4 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 Illinois to Arkansas car shipping guide.
Arkansas to Illinois auto transport costs and transit times
The table below details the costs and estimated transit times for shipping a car between popular cities in Arkansas and Illinois. The average travel distance is about 471 miles, with shipping times typically ranging from 1 to 4 days.
Cost to ship a car from Little Rock, AR to Illinois
| From Arkansas to Illinois | Distance | Cost | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Little Rock, AR to Chicago, IL | 652 miles | $904–$1,326 | 1–6 days |
| Forrest City, AR to Rockford, IL | 642 miles | $852–$1,319 | 1–6 days |
| Harrison, AR to Springfield, IL | 449 miles | $711–$1,057 | 1–4 days |
| Mountain Home, AR to Peoria, IL | 521 miles | $776–$1,045 | 1–6 days |
| Magnolia, AR to Round Lake Beach, IL | 677 miles | $919–$1,396 | 1–6 days |
Cost to ship a car from Forrest City, AR to Illinois
| From Arkansas to Illinois | Distance | Cost | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Little Rock, AR to Chicago, IL | 562 miles | $855–$1,118 | 1–6 days |
| Forrest City, AR to Rockford, IL | 610 miles | $879–$1,174 | 1–6 days |
| Harrison, AR to Springfield, IL | 407 miles | $728–$978 | 1–4 days |
| Mountain Home, AR to Peoria, IL | 486 miles | $788–$1,018 | 1–4 days |
| Magnolia, AR to Round Lake Beach, IL | 611 miles | $844–$1,272 | 1–6 days |
Cost to ship a car from Harrison, AR to Illinois
| From Arkansas to Illinois | Distance | Cost | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Little Rock, AR to Chicago, IL | 580 miles | $816–$1,141 | 1–6 days |
| Forrest City, AR to Rockford, IL | 582 miles | $894–$1,153 | 1–6 days |
| Harrison, AR to Springfield, IL | 380 miles | $719–$1,004 | 1–4 days |
| Mountain Home, AR to Peoria, IL | 457 miles | $735–$1,104 | 1–4 days |
| Magnolia, AR to Round Lake Beach, IL | 607 miles | $897–$1,260 | 1–6 days |
Cost to ship a car from Mountain Home, AR to Illinois
| From Arkansas to Illinois | Distance | Cost | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Little Rock, AR to Chicago, IL | 545 miles | $791–$1,128 | 1–6 days |
| Forrest City, AR to Rockford, IL | 542 miles | $808–$1,128 | 1–6 days |
| Harrison, AR to Springfield, IL | 340 miles | $663–$870 | 1–4 days |
| Mountain Home, AR to Peoria, IL | 417 miles | $765–$998 | 1–4 days |
| Magnolia, AR to Round Lake Beach, IL | 574 miles | $822–$1,153 | 1–6 days |
Cost to ship a car from Magnolia, AR to Illinois
| From Arkansas to Illinois | Distance | Cost | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Little Rock, AR to Chicago, IL | 780 miles | $1,013–$1,478 | 2–7 days |
| Forrest City, AR to Rockford, IL | 783 miles | $1,003–$1,492 | 2–7 days |
| Harrison, AR to Springfield, IL | 580 miles | $859–$1,189 | 1–6 days |
| Mountain Home, AR to Peoria, IL | 652 miles | $868–$1,248 | 1–6 days |
| Magnolia, AR to Round Lake Beach, IL | 807 miles | $1,011–$1,472 | 2–7 days |
Shipping an SUV or truck from Arkansas to Illinois
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 Arkansas to Illinois you should expect to pay between $986 and $1,380.
Factors that affect the price of shipping a car from Arkansas to Illinois
When transporting your vehicle from the Natural Slate to the Land of Lincoln, 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 Illinois.
- Distance and route: The journey from Arkansas to Illinois spans approximately 471 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 Arkansas, 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 Arkansas and Illinois 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 Arkansas to Illinois should take between 1 and 4 days. Expedited services are available but come at a higher cost.
The best Arkansas to Illinois 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 Arkansas to Illinois:
- 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 Arkansas to Illinois
- Drive it yourself: This is straightforward but not always an option, and it will put about 471 miles on your car going from Arkansas to Illinois. 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 Arkansas to Illinois 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 Arkansas to Illinois?
- Car insurance requirements: The liability insurance minimums for Illinois are $25,000 bodily injury liability per person, $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident, and $20,000 property damage liability per accident.
- Vehicle inspection: In Illinois, emissions inspections are mandatory on a yearly basis for eligible vehicles in the Chicago and East St. Louis metropolitan areas. The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency conducts tests on automobiles before residents can renew their vehicle registration with the Secretary of State's office.
- Driver’s license: Even if your out-of-state driver's license is valid, you must still pass a vision test and written exam if you are moving to Illinois. Within 90 days of becoming a resident in the state, you must convert your license to an Illinois non-commercial license.
- Additional taxes: According to Illinois law, the recipient or buyer of any vehicle transferred within the state must complete a Private Party Vehicle Tax Transaction form (form RUT-50) and pay the sales tax for the car within 30 days of the transfer of ownership.
Learn more with our car shipping checklist
Transporting your vehicle from Arkansas
Over 39 million people call Arkansas home. Nicknamed the Natural Slate, Arkansas has hot, humid summers and slightly drier, mild to cool winters. Arkansas is known for extreme weather and frequent storms. A typical year brings thunderstorms, tornadoes, hail, snow, and ice storms. Between both the Great Plains and the Gulf States, Arkansas receives around 60 days of thunderstorms. Movers should check their local weather station to make sure they are not being caught in any of these storms.
Transporting your vehicle to Illinois
About 22 million people are living in the Land of Lincoln of Illinois. Illinois' climate is clearly different in the northern and southern halves of the state. The northern half experiences cold winters and mild summers whereas the southern half experiences mild winters and hot and humid summers. Illinois is a part of "tornado alley"
FAQ
Does someone have to be present when picking up my car in Arkansas and when dropping off my car in Illinois?
Most companies will require someone that is at least 18 years old to be present when picking up your car in Arkansas and when dropping it off in Illinois.
Do you need car insurance when shipping your car from Arkansas to Illinois?
If you’re not driving the vehicle from Arkansas to Illinois, you aren't required to have typical car insurance. Your car hauler should have adequate insurance if an accident happened on the drive to Illinois, which you should verify before loading your car in Arkansas.
If you’re driving your car at all in either state, you should understand the requirements. In Arkansas, all drivers must maintain liability insurance that meets the state's minimum requirements, which are $25,000 per person for bodily injury or death in one accident, $50,000 for bodily injury or death of two or more persons in one accident, and $25,000 for property damage caused by an auto accident.
If you’re driving your car at all in either state, you should understand the requirements. The liability insurance minimums for Illinois are $25,000 bodily injury liability per person, $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident, and $20,000 property damage liability per accident.
How long does it take to ship a car from Arkansas to Illinois?
Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from Arkansas to Illinois is about 471 miles, and that’s as fast as about 1 day. However, most car transport companies will take 1-4 days to travel from Arkansas to Illinois.
Will I be required to have a vehicle inspection in either state?
Arkansas does not require mandatory safety or emissions inspections, but the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality encourages voluntary emissions testing for the benefit of the environment. This means that while getting your car tested for emissions is optional, it is strongly encouraged.
In Illinois, emissions inspections are mandatory on a yearly basis for eligible vehicles in the Chicago and East St. Louis metropolitan areas. The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency conducts tests on automobiles before residents can renew their vehicle registration with the Secretary of State's office.
If I have a driver’s license in Arkansas, will I need one in Illinois?
Even if your out-of-state driver's license is valid, you must still pass a vision test and written exam if you are moving to Illinois. Within 90 days of becoming a resident in the state, you must convert your license to an Illinois non-commercial license.
If I bought a car in Arkansas, will I be required to pay sales tax in Illinois after shipping it there?
It’s important to understand any tax implications if you’re having a car shipped from Arkansas to Illinois after purchasing it.
According to Illinois law, the recipient or buyer of any vehicle transferred within the state must complete a Private Party Vehicle Tax Transaction form (form RUT-50) and pay the sales tax for the car within 30 days of the transfer of ownership.
We recommend that you always check for updated tax information in both Arkansas and Illinois to avoid any hidden costs.
