Idaho to Colorado Car Shipping (2024 Cost Guide)

Factors that affect the price of shipping a car from Idaho to Colorado

When transporting your vehicle from the Gem State to the Centennial 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 Colorado.
• Distance and route: The journey from Idaho to Colorado spans approximately 846 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 Idaho, 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 Idaho and Colorado 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 Idaho to Colorado should take between 2 and 7 days. Expedited services are available but come at a higher cost.

The best Idaho to Colorado car shipping companies

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

• Best for Quick Pick Up: Easy Auto Ship
• Best for accurate pricing: Sherpa Auto Transport
• Best Insurance Coverage: Ship A Car Direct
• Best Cross Country: Montway Auto Transport
• Best for discounts: AmeriFreight Car Transport

Alternative ways to ship your car from Idaho to Colorado

• Drive it yourself: This is straightforward but not always an option, and it will put about 846 miles on your car going from Idaho to Colorado. 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 Idaho to Colorado 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 Idaho to Colorado?

• Car insurance 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.
• Vehicle inspection: 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.
• Driver’s license: To obtain a Colorado driver's license, new residents must visit a Colorado DMV office in person. The process cannot be done online or by phone. A valid out-of-state license is required, with no suspensions, revocations, or cancellations, and must not have been deemed unfit to drive by CO DMV or a court.
• Additional taxes: Vehicles purchased outside Colorado are not taxed, but if they are registered in Colorado, the buyer must pay use and local taxes. If the buyer has already paid taxes in the state of purchase, they may claim credit towards the use tax. No use tax applies to vehicles brought into Colorado by a nonresident becoming a resident, but rules may differ for those who lease vehicles.

Learn more with our car shipping checklist

Transporting your vehicle from Idaho

Over 39 million people call Idaho home. Nicknamed the Gem State, The climate in Idaho varies widely. In the west cloud cover, humidity, and precipitation are at their maximum extent. Idaho can be hot but have relatively low humidity and cooler evenings during the summer months. It is important to know that winters in Idaho can be cold.

Transporting your vehicle to Colorado

About 22 million people are living in the Centennial State of Colorado. 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.

FAQ

Does someone have to be present when picking up my car in Idaho and when dropping off my car in Colorado?

Most companies will require someone that is at least 18 years old to be present when picking up your car in Idaho and when dropping it off in Colorado.

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

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

If you’re driving your car at all in either state, you should understand the requirements. Idaho's minimum insurance mandates include $25,000 for bodily injury per person, $50,000 for bodily injury per accident, and $15,000 for property damage per accident.

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.

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

Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from Idaho to Colorado is about 846 miles, and that’s as fast as about 2 days. However, most car transport companies will take 2-7 days to travel from Idaho to Colorado.

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

In Idaho, all vehicles in Ada and Canyon Counties are required to pass an emissions test every two years. Additionally, out-of-state vehicle registrations must go through a one-time Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) inspection.

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.

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

To obtain a Colorado driver's license, new residents must visit a Colorado DMV office in person. The process cannot be done online or by phone. A valid out-of-state license is required, with no suspensions, revocations, or cancellations, and must not have been deemed unfit to drive by CO DMV or a court.

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

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

Vehicles purchased outside Colorado are not taxed, but if they are registered in Colorado, the buyer must pay use and local taxes. If the buyer has already paid taxes in the state of purchase, they may claim credit towards the use tax. No use tax applies to vehicles brought into Colorado by a nonresident becoming a resident, but rules may differ for those who lease vehicles.

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

Helpful Idaho resources