Colorado to Iowa Car Shipping (2025 Cost Guide)

Quick answer: The average cost to ship a car 775 miles from Colorado to Iowa ranges from $954 to $1,492 and takes two–seven days depending on factors like the transport type and season. For a more detailed quote, use our car shipping cost calculator.

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moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.7 / 5
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  • Refundable deposit
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  • Door-to-door service
  • No upfront payment

Shipping a car the reverse route? We’ve got you covered with our Iowa to Colorado car shipping guide.

The best Colorado to Iowa car shipping companies

We’ve done the research and these are the best car shipping companies to help transport your vehicle from Colorado to Iowa:

Best for accurate pricing
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moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.5 / 5
Get a quote (833) 775-1461
At A Glance
  • Price Lock Promise
  • Pay by credit card
  • Free car wash at delivery
  • No upfront deposit
  • Door-to-door service
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Get a quote (833) 775-1461
Best for Real-Time Tracking
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moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.7 / 5
Get a quote (224) 310-1412
At A Glance
  • GPS tracking
  • Instant online quotes
  • Economy option
  • Ships nationwide
  • Easy online scheduling
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Get a quote (224) 310-1412
Best cross-country shipper
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moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.5 / 5
Get a quote (224) 206-5633
At A Glance
  • Competitive pricing & $0 upfront
  • GPS tracking
  • Multiple insurance options
  • Guaranteed pickup dates available
  • Door-to-door service
read our full review
Get a quote (224) 206-5633
Best for overall value
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moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.9 / 5
Get a quote (864) 492-1221
At A Glance
  • No hidden fees
  • Free online quotes
  • Door-to-door service in 48 states
  • Exact pickup dates
  • Ships to & from HI
read our full review
Get a quote (864) 492-1221

Alternative ways to ship your car from Colorado to Iowa

  • Drive it yourself. This is straightforward but not always an option, and it will put about 775 miles on your car going from Colorado to Iowa. 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 need to ship your car from Colorado for a move to Iowa, you may want to hire a moving company that can handle car shipping, as well. Many long-distance moving companies work with reputable car shippers to coordinate auto transport.
  • Hire a driver. Hire someone to drive the car from Colorado to Iowa 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!

CO to IA auto transport costs and transit times

The tables below detail the costs and estimated transit times for shipping a car between popular cities in Colorado and Iowa. The average travel distance is about 775 miles, with shipping times typically ranging from two to seven days .

Cost to ship a car from Denver, CO to Iowatoggle

From Colorado to Iowa Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Denver, CO to Des Moines, IA $969 – $1,260 670 miles 1 – 6 days
Denver, CO to Cedar Rapids, IA $994 – $1,405 792 miles 2 – 7 days
Denver, CO to Davenport, IA $1,018 – $1,523 841 miles 2 – 7 days
Denver, CO to Iowa City, IA $994 – $1,391 785 miles 2 – 7 days
Denver, CO to Ankeny, IA $900 – $1,383 681 miles 1 – 6 days

Cost to ship a car from Colorado Springs, CO to Iowatoggle

From Colorado to Iowa Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Colorado Springs, CO to Des Moines, IA $925 – $1,399 740 miles 1 – 6 days
Colorado Springs, CO to Cedar Rapids, IA $1,043 – $1,452 859 miles 2 – 7 days
Colorado Springs, CO to Davenport, IA $987 – $1,532 910 miles 2 – 7 days
Colorado Springs, CO to Iowa City, IA $973 – $1,558 854 miles 2 – 7 days
Colorado Springs, CO to Ankeny, IA $983 – $1,469 749 miles 1 – 6 days

Cost to ship a car from Aurora, CO to Iowatoggle

From Colorado to Iowa Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Aurora, CO to Des Moines, IA $886 – $1,378 672 miles 1 – 6 days
Aurora, CO to Cedar Rapids, IA $954 – $1,434 792 miles 2 – 7 days
Aurora, CO to Davenport, IA $1,028 – $1,537 841 miles 2 – 7 days
Aurora, CO to Iowa City, IA $974 – $1,434 785 miles 2 – 7 days
Aurora, CO to Ankeny, IA $966 – $1,302 681 miles 1 – 6 days

Cost to ship a car from Fort Collins, CO to Iowatoggle

From Colorado to Iowa Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Fort Collins, CO to Des Moines, IA $915 – $1,294 649 miles 1 – 6 days
Fort Collins, CO to Cedar Rapids, IA $1,014 – $1,396 769 miles 2 – 7 days
Fort Collins, CO to Davenport, IA $1,021 – $1,442 819 miles 2 – 7 days
Fort Collins, CO to Iowa City, IA $965 – $1,367 763 miles 2 – 7 days
Fort Collins, CO to Ankeny, IA $923 – $1,326 659 miles 1 – 6 days

Cost to ship a car from Lakewood, CO to Iowatoggle

From Colorado to Iowa Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Lakewood, CO to Des Moines, IA $975 – $1,356 676 miles 1 – 6 days
Lakewood, CO to Cedar Rapids, IA $1,033 – $1,463 796 miles 2 – 7 days
Lakewood, CO to Davenport, IA $1,008 – $1,433 846 miles 2 – 7 days
Lakewood, CO to Iowa City, IA $964 – $1,449 790 miles 2 – 7 days
Lakewood, CO to Ankeny, IA $938 – $1,383 686 miles 1 – 6 days

Shipping an SUV or truck from Colorado to Iowatoggle

Since vehicles like SUVs, 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 Colorado to Iowa you should expect to pay between $1,193 and $1,865.

Factors that affect car shipping costs from CO to IA

When transporting your vehicle from the Centennial State to the Hawkeye 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 Iowa.
  • Distance and route: The journey from Colorado to Iowa spans approximately 775 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 Colorado, 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 Colorado and Iowa 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 Colorado to Iowa should take between two and seven days. Expedited services are available but come at a higher cost.

Iowa vehicle regulations you need to know

  • Car insurance requirements: Iowa requires minimum liability insurance, covering $20,000 for individual injury or death, $40,000 for multiple individuals, and $15,000 for property damage in an accident.
  • Vehicle inspection: In Iowa, car owners are not obligated to undergo emissions, VIN, or safety inspections.
  • Driver’s license: New residents with an out-of-state license must obtain an Iowa license within 30 days of establishing permanent residency. To do so, visit the DMV with your former state license, as it will need to be surrendered for the new license.
  • Additional taxes: In Iowa, sales of vehicles requiring registration are exempt from sales tax but subject to a 5% fee for new registration.

Learn more with our car shipping checklist.

Transporting your vehicle from Colorado

More than 39 million people call Colorado home. Nicknamed the Centennial State, Colorado has a relatively complex climate. Ranging from the famous mountain region of the state to desert. Therefore, keep track of the weather of your new city on move day. The most extreme weather that happens in Colorado happens in the least populated areas of the state but you may drive through these regions to get to your new home so be wary of that too.

Transporting your vehicle to Iowa

About 22 million people are living in the Hawkeye State. Iowa has a humid continental climate throughout the state. Snowfall is common in Iowa. Spring brings in severe weather season. Iowa has about 50 thunderstorm days per year and has a tornado season. Iowa is known for hot and humid summers. Be sure to check the weather before your move, especially during the springtime.

FAQ

Does someone have to be present when you ship a car for pickup in Colorado and delivery in Iowa?toggle

Most companies will require that an adult of at least 18 years of age be present when picking up your car in Colorado and when dropping it off in Iowa.

Do you need car insurance when shipping your car from Colorado to Iowa?toggle

If you’re not driving the vehicle from Colorado to Iowa, you aren't required to have typical car insurance. Your car hauler should have adequate insurance if an accident happened on the drive to Iowa, which you should verify before loading your car in Colorado.

If you’re driving your car at all in either state, you should understand the requirements. To drive in Colorado, you must have insurance with minimum 25/50/10 liability limits, covering $25,000 per person for bodily injury, $50,000 per accident for bodily injury, and $15,000 for property damage. While meeting the state's minimum requirement, it's advisable to consider factors for determining optimal coverage levels.

Iowa requires minimum liability insurance, covering $20,000 for individual injury or death, $40,000 for multiple individuals, and $15,000 for property damage in an accident.

How long does it take to ship a car from Colorado to Iowa?toggle

Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from Colorado to Iowa is about 775 miles, and that’s as fast as about 2 days. However, most car transport companies will take two to seven days to travel from Colorado to Iowa.

Will I be required to have a vehicle inspection in either state?toggle

To register and title your vehicle in Colorado within 90 days of moving, you'll need to provide the DMV with an out-of-state vehicle title, proof of a valid Colorado auto insurance policy, verifiable identification, and documentation of the vehicle's weight.

In Iowa, car owners are not obligated to undergo emissions, VIN, or safety inspections.

If I have a driver’s license in Colorado, will I need one in Iowa?toggle

New residents with an out-of-state license must obtain an Iowa license within 30 days of establishing permanent residency. To do so, visit the DMV with your former state license, as it will need to be surrendered for the new license.

If I bought a car in Colorado, will I be required to pay sales tax in Iowa after shipping it there?toggle

It’s important to understand any tax implications if you’re having a car shipped from Colorado to Iowa after purchasing it.

In Iowa, sales of vehicles requiring registration are exempt from sales tax but subject to a 5% fee for new registration.

We recommend that you always check for updated tax information in both Colorado and Iowa to avoid any hidden costs.

What is the cheapest way to ship a car from Colorado to Iowa?toggle

The cheapest way to ship a car from Colorado to Iowa is to ship it on a train or choose an open trailer transport method, avoid expedited shipping, and be flexible with your pickup dates.

How much does it cost to ship a car from Colorado to Iowa?toggle

Shipping a car from Colorado to Iowa costs $954 to $1,492.

Helpful Colorado resources