Illinois to North Carolina Car Shipping (2025 Cost Guide)
Quick answer: Shipping a car 819 miles from Illinois to North Carolina usually costs between $784 and $1,260. Transit time is about two–seven days, depending on the type of transport you choose and the season. For a more specific estimate, try our car shipping cost calculator.
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Shipping a car the reverse route? We’ve got you covered with our North Carolina to Illinois car shipping guide.
Our track record
Each year, 400,000+ people trust our car shipping recommendations. Here are a few reasons why:
- Founded in 2015
- 2,500+ car shipping companies analyzed
- $50,000 in moving & auto transport grants delivered
- Up-to-date pricing info & industry data
- Fact-checked for accuracy
The best Illinois to North Carolina car shipping companies
Backed by over 400 hours of industry research, we identified the best car shipping companies for shipping your car from Illinois to North Carolina:
- Best for real-time tracking: Nexus Auto Transport
- Best for accurate pricing: Sherpa Auto Transport
- Best for safety & reliability: Montway Auto Transport
- Best for budget-conscious: Navi Auto Transport
- Best for overall value: SGT Auto Transport
- GPS tracking
- Instant online quotes
- Economy option
- Ships nationwide
- Easy online scheduling
- Price Lock Promise
- Pay by credit card
- Free car wash at delivery
- No upfront deposit
- Door-to-door service
- Competitive pricing & $0 upfront
- GPS tracking
- Multiple insurance options
- Guaranteed pickup dates available
- Door-to-door service
- No hidden fees
- Free online quotes
- Door-to-door service in 48 states
- Exact pickup dates
- Ships to & from HI
Top local car shippers in Illinois
Going with a nearby mover? These recommended car shippers in Illinois can deliver your vehicle to North Carolina:
- Van 3 Auto Transport & Car: 3.92 out of 5 stars
- Dispatchray: 3.8 out of 5 stars
- Karma Auto Transport: 3.78 out of 5 stars
- Chicago Auto Shipping Group: 3.76 out of 5 stars
- BKK TRANSPORT: 3.72 out of 5 stars
How we chose the best car shipping companies
We analyzed 2,400 car shipping companies nationally and evaluated and rated them based on key factors using our unique system of methodology.
Here’s what we considered:
- Standard services: We looked at the types and variety of services each company provides. This includes whether they offer open transport, enclosed transport, or both. We also rated companies based on whether they have door-to-door shipping or just terminal pickup and delivery and the kinds of vehicles they ship. Companies that move RVs, motorcycles, and other specialty vehicles scored higher than those that just ship cars.
- Add-on services: We gave additional points to companies that provide special optional services like expedited shipping, guaranteed pickup times, car washes, and rental car reimbursement.
- Customer satisfaction: We analyzed consumer reviews on multiple major platforms, such as Yelp, Google, and Trustpilot to see whether a car shipping company delivers services promptly with good communication and within the estimated cost. We also evaluated each company’s standing within the car shipping industry as a whole by confirming U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) licensure and checked their membership in — and reputation with — trade associations.
- Availability: We awarded points to each company based on their service areas. Companies that are available in Alaska and Hawaii, in addition to the continental U.S., scored higher than those that just service the Lower 48 or fewer states.
- Scheduling and payment: We reviewed the ease with which customers can schedule services and estimate their costs through accurate quotes, price matching, flat-rate pricing, and other perks. Car shippers that give binding quotes or a price-lock promise got more positive rankings than those that are not as transparent with pricing.
Alternative ways to ship your car from Illinois to North Carolina
Ship it with your movers
If you’re relocating from Illinois to North Carolina, consider choosing a moving company that also offers car shipping. Many long-distance movers partner with trusted auto transport providers to coordinate the process.
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Drive it yourself
While it’s simple, this isn’t always the best option, and it’ll put about 819 extra miles on your car to travel from Illinois to North Carolina. To help decide, here are the pros and cons of driving vs. shipping.
Hire a driver
You can also hire someone to drive the car from Illinois to North Carolina for you. This option could be a very costly one and involves 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!
Illinois to North Carolina auto transport costs and transit times
The tables below detail the costs and estimated transit times for shipping a car between popular cities in Illinois and North Carolina. The average travel distance is about 819 miles, with shipping times typically ranging from two to seven days.
Cost to ship a car from Chicago, IL to North Carolina
| From Illinois to North Carolina | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago, IL to Charlotte, NC | $787 – $1,208 | 756 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Chicago, IL to Raleigh, NC | $792 – $1,212 | 806 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Chicago, IL to Greensboro, NC | $833 – $1,117 | 733 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Chicago, IL to Durham, NC | $770 – $1,181 | 784 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Chicago, IL to Winston-Salem, NC | $768 – $1,107 | 707 miles | 1 – 6 days |
Cost to ship a car from Aurora, IL to North Carolina
| From Illinois to North Carolina | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aurora, IL to Charlotte, NC | $778 – $1,253 | 789 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Aurora, IL to Raleigh, NC | $855 – $1,254 | 839 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Aurora, IL to Greensboro, NC | $762 – $1,126 | 766 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Aurora, IL to Durham, NC | $833 – $1,212 | 817 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Aurora, IL to Winston-Salem, NC | $833 – $1,140 | 740 miles | 1 – 6 days |
Cost to ship a car from Joliet, IL to North Carolina
| From Illinois to North Carolina | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joliet, IL to Charlotte, NC | $819 – $1,232 | 763 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Joliet, IL to Raleigh, NC | $817 – $1,236 | 813 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Joliet, IL to Greensboro, NC | $833 – $1,129 | 739 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Joliet, IL to Durham, NC | $810 – $1,217 | 791 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Joliet, IL to Winston-Salem, NC | $799 – $1,175 | 714 miles | 1 – 6 days |
Cost to ship a car from Naperville, IL to North Carolina
| From Illinois to North Carolina | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Naperville, IL to Charlotte, NC | $810 – $1,133 | 775 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Naperville, IL to Raleigh, NC | $855 – $1,242 | 826 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Naperville, IL to Greensboro, NC | $779 – $1,232 | 752 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Naperville, IL to Durham, NC | $808 – $1,236 | 804 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Naperville, IL to Winston-Salem, NC | $786 – $1,140 | 726 miles | 1 – 6 days |
Cost to ship a car from Rockford, IL to North Carolina
| From Illinois to North Carolina | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rockford, IL to Charlotte, NC | $855 – $1,229 | 846 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Rockford, IL to Raleigh, NC | $795 – $1,248 | 897 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Rockford, IL to Greensboro, NC | $784 – $1,260 | 823 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Rockford, IL to Durham, NC | $793 – $1,183 | 874 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Rockford, IL to Winston-Salem, NC | $851 – $1,229 | 797 miles | 2 – 7 days |
Shipping an SUV or truck from Illinois to North Carolina
Larger vehicles such as SUVs, trucks, and vans are heavier and bulkier, making them more expensive to transport than sedans.
If you’re moving one from Illinois to North Carolina, expect costs to range from $980 to $1,575.
Factors that affect car shipping costs from Illinois to North Carolina
When arranging car transport from the Land of Lincoln to the Tar Heel State, the following factors will determine your overall cost:
- 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: Larger vehicles that weigh more are costlier to ship. This directly affects pricing for transport to North Carolina.
- Distance and route: The trip from Illinois to North Carolina covers roughly 819 miles. Longer routes raise fuel and labor expenses, which increase the overall cost.
- Time of the year: Seasonal demand drives prices up. Moves from Illinois in summer or over the holidays are often more expensive.
- Fuel prices: Varying fuel costs across the country can affect shipping rates. When transporting your car from Illinois to North Carolina, you may see the effect of these fluctuations.
- 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 Illinois to North Carolina should take between two and seven days. Expedited services are available but come at a higher cost.
North Carolina vehicle regulations you need to know
To drive legally after your move to North Carolina, you’ll need to handle vehicle registration and a few additional steps. Here’s a simple breakdown of what’s required.
- Car insurance requirements: Ensure compliance with North Carolina's mandatory minimum liability insurance rules for drivers. Your coverage should meet or exceed $30,000 for bodily injury per person, $60,000 for bodily injury per accident, and $25,000 for property damage per accident. Don't forget to enhance your protection with uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. Stay informed and safeguarded on the road by meeting these state insurance requirements.
- Vehicle inspection: Before the North Carolina DMV can register a passenger vehicle, it must pass an annual safety inspection if it is less than 30 years old.
- Driver’s license: New residents in North Carolina are obligated to transfer their license or ID within 60 days of moving to the state.
- Additional taxes: If you're relocating to North Carolina, you're required to pay vehicle tax. However, you have the option to defer this payment by obtaining a limited registration plate, which will expire 60 days after it's issued. It's important to note that you must pay the property tax before the sticker on the plate reaches its expiration date.
Learn more with our car shipping checklist.
Transporting your vehicle from Illinois
More than 12.5 million people call Illinois home. Nicknamed the Land of Lincoln. 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"
Transporting your vehicle to North Carolina
About 10.8 million people are living in the Tar Heel State. North Carolina has mild weather year round, however, snow may affect your move in some parts of the state during winter time.
FAQ
Does someone have to be present when you ship a car for pickup in Illinois and delivery in North Carolina?
Most companies will require that an adult of at least 18 years of age be present when picking up your car in Illinois and when dropping it off in North Carolina.
Do you need car insurance when shipping your car from Illinois to North Carolina?
If you’re not driving the vehicle from Illinois to North 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 North Carolina, which you should verify before loading your car in Illinois.
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.
Ensure compliance with North Carolina's mandatory minimum liability insurance rules for drivers. Your coverage should meet or exceed $30,000 for bodily injury per person, $60,000 for bodily injury per accident, and $25,000 for property damage per accident. Don't forget to enhance your protection with uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. Stay informed and safeguarded on the road by meeting these state insurance requirements.
How long does it take to ship a car from Illinois to North Carolina?
Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from Illinois to North Carolina is about 819 miles, and that’s as fast as about 2 days. However, most car transport companies will take two to seven days to travel from Illinois to North Carolina.
Will I be required to have a vehicle inspection in either state?
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.
Before the North Carolina DMV can register a passenger vehicle, it must pass an annual safety inspection if it is less than 30 years old.
If I have a driver’s license in Illinois, will I need one in North Carolina?
New residents in North Carolina are obligated to transfer their license or ID within 60 days of moving to the state.
If I bought a car in Illinois, will I be required to pay sales tax in North Carolina after shipping it there?
It’s important to understand any tax implications if you’re having a car shipped from Illinois to North Carolina after purchasing it.
If you're relocating to North Carolina, you're required to pay vehicle tax. However, you have the option to defer this payment by obtaining a limited registration plate, which will expire 60 days after it's issued. It's important to note that you must pay the property tax before the sticker on the plate reaches its expiration date.
We recommend that you always check for updated tax information in both Illinois and North Carolina to avoid any hidden costs.
What is the cheapest way to ship a car from Illinois to North Carolina?
The cheapest way to ship a car from Illinois to North Carolina 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 Illinois to North Carolina?
Shipping a car from Illinois to North Carolina costs $784 to $1,260.
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