Kentucky to Iowa Car Shipping (2025 Cost Guide)
Quick answer: On average, shipping a car 666 miles from Kentucky to Iowa ranges from $760 to $1,027. Expect the trip to take around one–six days, depending on the transport method you choose and seasonal demand. For a detailed breakdown, use our car shipping cost calculator.
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Shipping a car the reverse route? We’ve got you covered with our Iowa 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 Iowa car shipping companies
After spending over 400 hours analyzing the key players in the car shipping industry, we determined that these are the best car shipping companies for moving your car from Kentucky to Iowa:
- 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
- Price matching
- One-day pickup
- New customer discount
- White-glove 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
If you'd rather hire a local company, explore the top car shippers in Kentucky that can transport your vehicle to Iowa:
- 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
Jack Cooper Transport
6709 Grade Ln, Louisville, KY 40213 US
jackcooper.com
3.66 / 5.0
Services Offered
- Enclosed transport
- Interstate shipping
- Insured shipping
- Expedited delivery
- Multi-car transport
- RVs
- Motorcycles
- Boats
Additional Information
- Pay by credit card
- DOT #: 64161
Alternative Business Names
- Pacific Motor Trucking Co.
Louisville Auto Shipping Group
9900 Corporate Campus Dr #3000, Louisville, KY 40223 US
autoshippinggroup.com/locations/auto-shipping-kentucky/louisville
3.56 / 5.0
Customers have reported a positive experience with Louisville Auto Shipping Group, highlighting their excellent communication and customer focus. However, there were significant concerns regarding the professionalism of a transport coordinator, which detracted from the overall experience.
Services Offered
- Door-to-door service
- Open transport
- Enclosed transport
- Interstate shipping
- International shipping
- Insured shipping
- Shipment tracking
- Expedited delivery
- Multi-car transport
- Detailed inspection reports
- Storage solutions
- Classic cars
- RVs
- ATVs
- Trailers
- Motorcycles
- Heavy equipment
- Boats
- Electric vehicles
- Inoperable cars
Discounts
- Military
Additional Information
- Pay by credit card
- Deposit Required
- DOT #: 2239008
Safe Way Auto Transport, LLC
501 Lake Shore Dr, Kuttawa, KY 42055 US
safewayautotransport.com
3.5 / 5.0
Safe Way Auto Transport generally receives positive feedback for its excellent communication, timely vehicle delivery, and overall professional service. However, some customers have reported issues with missed pickups and unresponsive customer support, leading to significant frustration and unsatisfactory experiences.
Services Offered
- Open transport
- Enclosed transport
- Interstate shipping
- International shipping
- Shipment tracking
- Expedited delivery
- Multi-car transport
- Detailed inspection reports
- Storage solutions
Additional Information
- Pay by money order
- Pay by cash
- Deposit Required
- DOT #: 2232026
Ceva Logistics
6712 Grade Ln, Louisville, KY 40213 US
cevalogistics.com
3.5 / 5.0
Customers appreciate the friendly staff and timely offloading services. However, issues with delivery reliability, slow check-in processes, and poor communication have been highlighted.
Services Offered
- Door-to-door service
- Open transport
- Enclosed transport
- Interstate shipping
- International shipping
- Insured shipping
- Shipment tracking
- Expedited delivery
- Storage solutions
- Trailers
- Motorcycles
- Heavy equipment
- Boats
Additional Information
- Pay by credit card
- Deposit Required
- DOT #: 187774
Highway Express Inc
1800 E Blue Lick Rd, Suite 7, Shepherdsville, KY 40165 US
highwayexpressinc.com
3.5 / 5.0
Services Offered
- Open transport
- Enclosed transport
- Interstate shipping
- Shipment tracking
- Expedited delivery
- Multi-car transport
Additional Information
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 Iowa
Ship it with your movers
If your move takes you from Kentucky to Iowa, you might want to look for a moving company that can coordinate car shipping. Many interstate moving companies already partner with established auto transport services.
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 rating
4.75 / 5
Licensed
 Insured
Price
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Drive it yourself
This is straightforward but not always an option, and it will put about 666 miles on your car going from Kentucky to Iowa. If you’re not sure, here are the pros and cons of driving your car vs. shipping it.
Hire a driver
You can hire someone to drive your car from Kentucky to Iowa, but it’s often expensive and requires confidence in the driver’s ability to deliver your car safely.
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 Iowa auto transport costs and transit times
The tables below highlight the average shipping costs and estimated timelines for transporting a car between popular cities in Kentucky and Iowa. The trip typically spans 666 miles and takes about one–six days.
Cost to ship a car from Louisville, KY to Iowa
| From Kentucky to Iowa | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Louisville, KY to Des Moines, IA | $700 – $989 | 588 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Louisville, KY to Cedar Rapids, IA | $652 – $906 | 502 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Louisville, KY to Davenport, IA | $600 – $846 | 422 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Louisville, KY to Sioux City, IA | $811 – $1,220 | 765 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Louisville, KY to Iowa City, IA | $649 – $927 | 477 miles | 1 – 4 days |
Cost to ship a car from Lexington, KY to Iowa
| From Kentucky to Iowa | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lexington, KY to Des Moines, IA | $783 – $1,135 | 659 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Lexington, KY to Cedar Rapids, IA | $662 – $979 | 572 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Lexington, KY to Davenport, IA | $643 – $909 | 492 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Lexington, KY to Sioux City, IA | $797 – $1,229 | 836 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Lexington, KY to Iowa City, IA | $672 – $985 | 548 miles | 1 – 6 days |
Cost to ship a car from Bowling Green, KY to Iowa
| From Kentucky to Iowa | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bowling Green, KY to Des Moines, IA | $776 – $1,002 | 635 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Bowling Green, KY to Cedar Rapids, IA | $669 – $940 | 571 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Bowling Green, KY to Davenport, IA | $623 – $900 | 489 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Bowling Green, KY to Sioux City, IA | $817 – $1,151 | 811 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Bowling Green, KY to Iowa City, IA | $712 – $910 | 546 miles | 1 – 6 days |
Cost to ship a car from Owensboro, KY to Iowa
| From Kentucky to Iowa | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Owensboro, KY to Des Moines, IA | $683 – $940 | 557 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Owensboro, KY to Cedar Rapids, IA | $675 – $883 | 492 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Owensboro, KY to Davenport, IA | $630 – $788 | 410 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Owensboro, KY to Sioux City, IA | $826 – $1,163 | 733 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Owensboro, KY to Iowa City, IA | $663 – $918 | 468 miles | 1 – 4 days |
Cost to ship a car from Covington, KY to Iowa
| From Kentucky to Iowa | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Covington, KY to Des Moines, IA | $686 – $979 | 587 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Covington, KY to Cedar Rapids, IA | $672 – $942 | 501 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Covington, KY to Davenport, IA | $606 – $846 | 421 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Covington, KY to Sioux City, IA | $787 – $1,161 | 764 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Covington, KY to Iowa City, IA | $636 – $874 | 476 miles | 1 – 4 days |
Shipping an SUV or truck from Kentucky to Iowa
SUVs, trucks, and vans typically cost more to ship than smaller cars because of their size and weight.
For a larger vehicle going from Kentucky to Iowa, the price usually falls between $950 and $1,284.
Factors that affect car shipping costs from Kentucky to Iowa
Transporting your vehicle from the Bluegrass State to the Hawkeye State comes with a number of cost considerations, including:
- Type of transport: Open carriers are the most economical, while enclosed transport offers greater protection for valuable or classic cars. Another option you might want to consider is top-loading. For a detailed comparison, see our guide on open vs. enclosed shipping.
- Vehicle size and type: Larger and heavier vehicles cost more to ship. Your car’s dimensions and weight will directly influence the price of transporting it from Kentucky to Iowa.
- Distance and route: The route from Kentucky to Iowa is about 666 miles. Costs grow with longer trips due to the increased fuel and labor required.
- 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: Variability in fuel prices across states affects the cost of moving a vehicle between Kentucky and Iowa.
- 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 Iowa should take between one and six days. Expedited services are available but come at a higher cost.
Iowa vehicle regulations you need to know
Once you arrive in Iowa, registering your vehicle and ensuring it’s road-legal will require a few specific actions. The list below outlines the most important requirements.
- 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 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 Iowa
About 3.2 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 Kentucky and delivery in Iowa?
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 Iowa.
Do you need car insurance when shipping your car from Kentucky to Iowa?
If you’re not driving the vehicle from Kentucky 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 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.
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 Kentucky to Iowa?
Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from Kentucky to Iowa is about 666 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 Iowa.
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.
In Iowa, car owners are not obligated to undergo emissions, VIN, or safety inspections.
If I have a driver’s license in Kentucky, will I need one in Iowa?
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 Kentucky, will I be required to pay sales tax in Iowa after shipping it there?
It’s important to understand any tax implications if you’re having a car shipped from Kentucky 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 Kentucky and Iowa to avoid any hidden costs.
What is the cheapest way to ship a car from Kentucky to Iowa?
The cheapest way to ship a car from Kentucky 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 Kentucky to Iowa?
Shipping a car from Kentucky to Iowa costs $760 to $1,027.
