Kentucky to Arkansas Car Shipping (2025 Cost Guide)
Quick answer: The average cost to move a car 550 miles from Kentucky to Arkansas falls between $717 and $948. Delivery typically takes one–six days. The timeline can vary based on the type of transport you opt for and the time of year. To get a tailored quote, check out our car shipping cost calculator.
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Shipping a car the reverse route? We’ve got you covered with our Arkansas to Kentucky 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 Kentucky to Arkansas car shipping companies
After logging over 400 hours of research in the car shipping industry, we found that these are the best car shipping companies to help transport your vehicle from Kentucky to Arkansas:
- 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 Kentucky
Prefer a hometown provider? Check out the best car shippers in Kentucky ready to move your vehicle to Arkansas:
- Jack Cooper Transport: 3.66 out of 5 stars
- Louisville Auto Shipping Group: 3.56 out of 5 stars
- Safe Way Auto Transport, LLC: 3.5 out of 5 stars
- Ceva Logistics: 3.5 out of 5 stars
- Highway Express Inc: 3.5 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 Kentucky to Arkansas
Ship it with your movers
If you’re planning a move from Kentucky to Arkansas, you may find it convenient to work with a moving company that also handles car shipping. Many interstate movers partner with experienced car shipping services to arrange auto transport.
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Drive it yourself
While it’s straightforward, this choice isn’t always possible, and it will add roughly 550 miles to your vehicle on the route from Kentucky to Arkansas. For guidance, review the advantages and disadvantages of driving or shipping.
Hire a driver
Another option is to pay someone to drive your car from Kentucky to Arkansas. This can be costly and hinges on trusting another person to handle your vehicle responsibly.
Ship by train
Shipping by train can be a cost-effective and reliable method of moving your vehicle. Shipping a car by train is actually the least expensive way to move a vehicle.
Kentucky to Arkansas auto transport costs and transit times
Below you’ll find tables outlining car shipping costs and transit estimates for popular routes in Kentucky and Arkansas. The typical distance is about 550 miles, with shipping times generally falling between one and six days.
Cost to ship a car from Louisville, KY to Arkansas
| From Kentucky to Arkansas | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Louisville, KY to Little Rock, AR | $670 – $877 | 520 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Louisville, KY to Fayetteville, AR | $730 – $1,046 | 622 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Louisville, KY to Fort Smith, AR | $751 – $1,111 | 670 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Louisville, KY to Springdale, AR | $715 – $1,066 | 615 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Louisville, KY to Jonesboro, AR | $585 – $825 | 390 miles | 1 – 4 days |
Cost to ship a car from Lexington, KY to Arkansas
| From Kentucky to Arkansas | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lexington, KY to Little Rock, AR | $689 – $948 | 558 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Lexington, KY to Fayetteville, AR | $686 – $1,025 | 615 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Lexington, KY to Fort Smith, AR | $751 – $1,161 | 708 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Lexington, KY to Springdale, AR | $740 – $1,049 | 688 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Lexington, KY to Jonesboro, AR | $628 – $869 | 428 miles | 1 – 4 days |
Cost to ship a car from Bowling Green, KY to Arkansas
| From Kentucky to Arkansas | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bowling Green, KY to Little Rock, AR | $605 – $804 | 410 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Bowling Green, KY to Fayetteville, AR | $678 – $1,036 | 590 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Bowling Green, KY to Fort Smith, AR | $668 – $957 | 560 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Bowling Green, KY to Springdale, AR | $651 – $922 | 509 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Bowling Green, KY to Jonesboro, AR | $533 – $714 | 323 miles | 1 – 4 days |
Cost to ship a car from Owensboro, KY to Arkansas
| From Kentucky to Arkansas | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Owensboro, KY to Little Rock, AR | $628 – $801 | 437 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Owensboro, KY to Fayetteville, AR | $723 – $986 | 572 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Owensboro, KY to Fort Smith, AR | $689 – $986 | 564 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Owensboro, KY to Springdale, AR | $682 – $957 | 565 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Owensboro, KY to Jonesboro, AR | $487 – $658 | 301 miles | 1 – 4 days |
Cost to ship a car from Covington, KY to Arkansas
| From Kentucky to Arkansas | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Covington, KY to Little Rock, AR | $715 – $1,015 | 617 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Covington, KY to Fayetteville, AR | $805 – $1,161 | 714 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Covington, KY to Fort Smith, AR | $825 – $1,159 | 767 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Covington, KY to Springdale, AR | $805 – $1,127 | 706 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Covington, KY to Jonesboro, AR | $661 – $916 | 486 miles | 1 – 4 days |
Shipping an SUV or truck from Kentucky to Arkansas
Transporting bigger vehicles like SUVs, trucks, and vans is usually more expensive than shipping a sedan due to increased weight and space requirements.
For this route from Kentucky to Arkansas, the cost for a larger vehicle is generally about $896–$1,185.
Factors that affect car shipping costs from Kentucky to Arkansas
Transporting your vehicle from the Bluegrass State to the Natural State comes with a number of cost considerations, including:
- Type of transport: Options include open carriers, enclosed transport, and top-loading. Open carriers are less expensive, while enclosed transport is best for luxury or classic cars. See our comparison of open vs. enclosed auto transport for more details.
- Vehicle size and type: Larger vehicles that weigh more are costlier to ship. This directly affects pricing for transport to Arkansas.
- Distance and route: Traveling from Kentucky to Arkansas involves roughly 550 miles. Greater distances increase both fuel and labor expenses.
- Time of the year: Seasonal demand impacts the price of getting your car out of Kentucky, with summer and winter holidays often seeing a spike due to increased moving and travel activity.
- Fuel prices: Since car shipping costs fluctuate with fuel costs, the cost of shipping between Kentucky and Arkansas may be affected by changing gas prices across regions.
- 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 Kentucky to Arkansas should take between one and six days. Expedited services are available but come at a higher cost.
Arkansas vehicle regulations you need to know
After relocating to Arkansas, you’ll need to complete a few important steps to register your vehicle and make it legal to drive. Below is an overview of the main requirements to help with the process.
- Car insurance 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.
- Vehicle inspection: 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.
- Driver’s license: If you establish residency in Arkansas, you are required to obtain an Arkansas driver's license within 30 days.
- Additional taxes: In Arkansas, all car sales are subject to a state tax rate of 6.5%, with the potential for additional county and local taxes up to 5%, resulting in an average total car sales tax rate of 9.133%.
Learn more with our car shipping checklist.
Transporting your vehicle from Kentucky
More than 4.5 million people call Kentucky home. Nicknamed the Bluegrass State. Kentucky has relatively hot, humid, rainy summers, and moderately cold and rainy winters. Kentucky rarely experiences the extremes cold of the northern states nor the heat of the state in the Deep South.
Transporting your vehicle to Arkansas
About 3.1 million people are living in the Natural State. 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.
FAQ
Does someone have to be present when you ship a car for pickup in Kentucky and delivery in Arkansas?
Most companies will require that an adult of at least 18 years of age be present when picking up your car in Kentucky and when dropping it off in Arkansas.
Do you need car insurance when shipping your car from Kentucky to Arkansas?
If you’re not driving the vehicle from Kentucky to Arkansas, you aren't required to have typical car insurance. Your car hauler should have adequate insurance if an accident happened on the drive to Arkansas, which you should verify before loading your car in Kentucky.
If you’re driving your car at all in either state, you should understand the requirements. The insurance coverage includes Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability with limits of $25,000 per person/$50,000 per accident and $25,000 respectively; Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist coverage (not required); Personal Injury Protection with a limit of $10,000; and optional Collision and Comprehensive coverage for vehicle repair or replacement expenses, with no requirement.
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.
How long does it take to ship a car from Kentucky to Arkansas?
Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from Kentucky to Arkansas is about 550 miles, and that’s as fast as about 2 days. However, most car transport companies will take one to six days to travel from Kentucky to Arkansas.
Will I be required to have a vehicle inspection in either state?
When moving to Kentucky from another state, a one-time Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) inspection is required. To complete the VIN inspection, bring the vehicle and its title to the Sheriff's office in the county where the car will be registered.
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.
If I have a driver’s license in Kentucky, will I need one in Arkansas?
If you establish residency in Arkansas, you are required to obtain an Arkansas driver's license within 30 days.
If I bought a car in Kentucky, will I be required to pay sales tax in Arkansas after shipping it there?
It’s important to understand any tax implications if you’re having a car shipped from Kentucky to Arkansas after purchasing it.
In Arkansas, all car sales are subject to a state tax rate of 6.5%, with the potential for additional county and local taxes up to 5%, resulting in an average total car sales tax rate of 9.133%.
We recommend that you always check for updated tax information in both Kentucky and Arkansas to avoid any hidden costs.
What is the cheapest way to ship a car from Kentucky to Arkansas?
The cheapest way to ship a car from Kentucky to Arkansas 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 Kentucky to Arkansas?
Shipping a car from Kentucky to Arkansas costs $717 to $948.
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