Michigan to South Carolina Car Shipping (2024 Cost Guide)
Fact Checked by: Quick answer: The average cost to ship a car 927 miles from Michigan to South Carolina ranges from $1,028 to $1,485 and takes 2–7 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 South Carolina to Michigan car shipping guide.
Michigan to South Carolina auto transport costs and transit times
The table below details the costs and estimated transit times for shipping a car between popular cities in Michigan and South Carolina. The average travel distance is about 927 miles, with shipping times typically ranging from 2 to 7 days.
Cost to ship a car from Detroit, MI to South Carolina
| From Michigan to South Carolina | Distance | Cost | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit, MI to Charleston, SC | 831 miles | $949–$1,404 | 2–7 days |
| Grand Rapids, MI to Columbia, SC | 716 miles | $923–$1,426 | 1–6 days |
| Ann Arbor, MI to Rock Hill, SC | 650 miles | $932–$1,274 | 1–6 days |
| Lansing, MI to Greenville, SC | 678 miles | $892–$1,369 | 1–6 days |
| Flint, MI to Spartanburg, SC | 685 miles | $919–$1,396 | 1–6 days |
Cost to ship a car from Grand Rapids, MI to South Carolina
| From Michigan to South Carolina | Distance | Cost | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit, MI to Charleston, SC | 951 miles | $1,047–$1,561 | 2–7 days |
| Grand Rapids, MI to Columbia, SC | 835 miles | $1,008–$1,552 | 2–7 days |
| Ann Arbor, MI to Rock Hill, SC | 769 miles | $926–$1,425 | 2–7 days |
| Lansing, MI to Greenville, SC | 773 miles | $994–$1,425 | 2–7 days |
| Flint, MI to Spartanburg, SC | 780 miles | $974–$1,506 | 2–7 days |
Cost to ship a car from Ann Arbor, MI to South Carolina
| From Michigan to South Carolina | Distance | Cost | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit, MI to Charleston, SC | 818 miles | $943–$1,442 | 2–7 days |
| Grand Rapids, MI to Columbia, SC | 703 miles | $942–$1,372 | 1–6 days |
| Ann Arbor, MI to Rock Hill, SC | 636 miles | $879–$1,319 | 1–6 days |
| Lansing, MI to Greenville, SC | 664 miles | $941–$1,261 | 1–6 days |
| Flint, MI to Spartanburg, SC | 671 miles | $895–$1,300 | 1–6 days |
Cost to ship a car from Lansing, MI to South Carolina
| From Michigan to South Carolina | Distance | Cost | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit, MI to Charleston, SC | 889 miles | $976–$1,455 | 2–7 days |
| Grand Rapids, MI to Columbia, SC | 774 miles | $965–$1,453 | 2–7 days |
| Ann Arbor, MI to Rock Hill, SC | 707 miles | $923–$1,331 | 1–6 days |
| Lansing, MI to Greenville, SC | 735 miles | $926–$1,357 | 1–6 days |
| Flint, MI to Spartanburg, SC | 742 miles | $964–$1,399 | 1–6 days |
Cost to ship a car from Flint, MI to South Carolina
| From Michigan to South Carolina | Distance | Cost | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit, MI to Charleston, SC | 873 miles | $1,023–$1,468 | 2–7 days |
| Grand Rapids, MI to Columbia, SC | 757 miles | $975–$1,396 | 2–7 days |
| Ann Arbor, MI to Rock Hill, SC | 692 miles | $910–$1,276 | 1–6 days |
| Lansing, MI to Greenville, SC | 720 miles | $933–$1,412 | 1–6 days |
| Flint, MI to Spartanburg, SC | 726 miles | $954–$1,357 | 1–6 days |
Shipping an SUV or truck from Michigan to South Carolina
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 Michigan to South Carolina you should expect to pay between $1,285 and $1,856.
Factors that affect the price of shipping a car from Michigan to South Carolina
When transporting your vehicle from the Wolverine State to the Palmetto 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 South Carolina.
- Distance and route: The journey from Michigan to South Carolina spans approximately 927 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 Michigan, 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 Michigan and South Carolina 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 Michigan to South Carolina should take between 2 and 7 days. Expedited services are available but come at a higher cost.
The best Michigan to South Carolina 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 Michigan to South Carolina:
- 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 Michigan to South Carolina
- Drive it yourself: This is straightforward but not always an option, and it will put about 927 miles on your car going from Michigan to South Carolina. 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 Michigan to South Carolina 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 Michigan to South Carolina?
- Car insurance requirements: In South Carolina, it's a legal requirement for every driver to have liability insurance. Adhering to the state's minimum liability limits, commonly referred to as 25/50/25, entails securing coverage of at least $25,000 for bodily injury per person, $50,000 for total bodily injury per accident, and $25,000 for property damage per accident. Stay compliant with these essential insurance standards to drive confidently on South Carolina roads.
- Vehicle inspection: Drivers in South Carolina are not required to get a safety, VIN, or emissions inspection for their vehicle.
- Driver’s license: If you are moving to South Carolina, you will be required to obtain a South Carolina driver's license within 90 days of establishing residency in the state.
- Additional taxes: In South Carolina, there is a sales tax imposed on the purchase of a vehicle. The sales tax rate is 6%, which is collected by the dealer at the time of purchase.
Learn more with our car shipping checklist
Transporting your vehicle from Michigan
Over 39 million people call Michigan home. Nicknamed the Wolverine State, 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.
Transporting your vehicle to South Carolina
About 22 million people are living in the Palmetto State of South Carolina. South Carolina had hot and humid summers and cool to mild winters and coastal areas of the state have very mild winters. While precipitation is abundant the entire year in almost the entire state, the coast tends to have a slightly wetter summer, while inland, the spring and autumn transitions tend to be the wettest periods and winter the driest season, with November being the driest month.
FAQ
Does someone have to be present when picking up my car in Michigan and when dropping off my car in South Carolina?
Most companies will require someone that is at least 18 years old to be present when picking up your car in Michigan and when dropping it off in South Carolina.
Do you need car insurance when shipping your car from Michigan to South Carolina?
If you’re not driving the vehicle from Michigan to South Carolina, you aren't required to have typical car insurance. Your car hauler should have adequate insurance if an accident happened on the drive to South Carolina, which you should verify before loading your car in Michigan.
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.
If you’re driving your car at all in either state, you should understand the requirements. In South Carolina, it's a legal requirement for every driver to have liability insurance. Adhering to the state's minimum liability limits, commonly referred to as 25/50/25, entails securing coverage of at least $25,000 for bodily injury per person, $50,000 for total bodily injury per accident, and $25,000 for property damage per accident. Stay compliant with these essential insurance standards to drive confidently on South Carolina roads.
How long does it take to ship a car from Michigan to South Carolina?
Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from Michigan to South Carolina is about 927 miles, and that’s as fast as about 2 days. However, most car transport companies will take 2-7 days to travel from Michigan to South Carolina.
Will I be required to have a vehicle inspection in either state?
Michigan does not require vehicle inspections for registration purposes. There is no state mandate for car safety inspections or emissions testing.
Drivers in South Carolina are not required to get a safety, VIN, or emissions inspection for their vehicle.
If I have a driver’s license in Michigan, will I need one in South Carolina?
If you are moving to South Carolina, you will be required to obtain a South Carolina driver's license within 90 days of establishing residency in the state.
If I bought a car in Michigan, will I be required to pay sales tax in South Carolina after shipping it there?
It’s important to understand any tax implications if you’re having a car shipped from Michigan to South Carolina after purchasing it.
In South Carolina, there is a sales tax imposed on the purchase of a vehicle. The sales tax rate is 6%, which is collected by the dealer at the time of purchase.
We recommend that you always check for updated tax information in both Michigan and South Carolina to avoid any hidden costs.
