Kentucky to Maryland Car Shipping (2025 Cost Guide)
Quick answer: The cost to ship a car 545 miles from Kentucky to Maryland typically falls between $644 and $936. The process usually takes one–six days, depending on variables like the type of transport and seasonal demand. For a personalized estimate, visit our car shipping cost calculator.
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Shipping a car the reverse route? We’ve got you covered with our Maryland 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 Maryland car shipping companies
Through more than 400 hours of analysis of car shippers, we found that these are the top car shipping companies for transporting your vehicle from Kentucky to Maryland:
- 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
Going with a nearby mover? These recommended car shippers in Kentucky can deliver your vehicle to Maryland:
- 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 Maryland
Ship it with your movers
If your move takes you from Kentucky to Maryland, 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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Drive it yourself
This option is straightforward but may not suit every situation, and it’ll put around 545 miles on your car to travel between Kentucky and Maryland. To compare your options, see the pros and cons of driving vs. shipping.
Hire a driver
Another option is to pay someone to drive your car from Kentucky to Maryland. This can be costly and hinges on trusting another person to handle your vehicle responsibly.
Ship by train
This service provides a secure and budget-friendly option for transporting your car. Car shipping by train is actually the most economical choice.
Kentucky to Maryland auto transport costs and transit times
The tables below detail the costs and estimated transit times for shipping a car between popular cities in Kentucky and Maryland. The average travel distance is about 545 miles, with shipping times typically ranging from one to six days.
Cost to ship a car from Louisville, KY to Maryland
| From Kentucky to Maryland | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Louisville, KY to Washington DC, MD | $686 – $1,005 | 603 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Louisville, KY to Baltimore, MD | $701 – $1,066 | 610 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Louisville, KY to Columbia, MD | $737 – $1,005 | 602 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Louisville, KY to Germantown, MD | $706 – $1,036 | 579 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Louisville, KY to Silver Spring, MD | $720 – $947 | 598 miles | 1 – 6 days |
Cost to ship a car from Lexington, KY to Maryland
| From Kentucky to Maryland | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lexington, KY to Washington DC, MD | $637 – $880 | 532 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Lexington, KY to Baltimore, MD | $677 – $880 | 541 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Lexington, KY to Columbia, MD | $697 – $936 | 531 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Lexington, KY to Germantown, MD | $664 – $877 | 508 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Lexington, KY to Silver Spring, MD | $657 – $908 | 527 miles | 1 – 6 days |
Cost to ship a car from Bowling Green, KY to Maryland
| From Kentucky to Maryland | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bowling Green, KY to Washington DC, MD | $781 – $1,015 | 672 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Bowling Green, KY to Baltimore, MD | $771 – $1,104 | 698 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Bowling Green, KY to Columbia, MD | $801 – $1,049 | 691 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Bowling Green, KY to Germantown, MD | $758 – $1,121 | 668 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Bowling Green, KY to Silver Spring, MD | $725 – $1,104 | 686 miles | 1 – 6 days |
Cost to ship a car from Owensboro, KY to Maryland
| From Kentucky to Maryland | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Owensboro, KY to Washington DC, MD | $763 – $1,104 | 689 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Owensboro, KY to Baltimore, MD | $743 – $1,071 | 715 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Owensboro, KY to Columbia, MD | $743 – $1,127 | 708 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Owensboro, KY to Germantown, MD | $740 – $1,060 | 685 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Owensboro, KY to Silver Spring, MD | $767 – $1,149 | 703 miles | 1 – 6 days |
Cost to ship a car from Covington, KY to Maryland
| From Kentucky to Maryland | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Covington, KY to Washington DC, MD | $631 – $877 | 502 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Covington, KY to Baltimore, MD | $683 – $913 | 508 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Covington, KY to Columbia, MD | $664 – $904 | 501 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Covington, KY to Germantown, MD | $654 – $872 | 478 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Covington, KY to Silver Spring, MD | $629 – $925 | 496 miles | 1 – 4 days |
Shipping an SUV or truck from Kentucky to Maryland
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 Maryland, the price usually falls between $805 and $1,170.
Factors that affect car shipping costs from Kentucky to Maryland
When arranging car transport from the Bluegrass State to the Old Line State, the following factors will determine your overall cost:
- Type of transport: Open carriers are budget-friendly, while enclosed transport is recommended for high-value or classic cars. Top-loading is another option to consider. Learn more in our guide to open vs. enclosed shipping.
- Vehicle size and type: Shipping rates rise with vehicle size and weight. Generally, larger cars cost more to ship to Maryland than smaller ones.
- Distance and route: The trip from Kentucky to Maryland covers roughly 545 miles. Longer routes raise fuel and labor expenses, which increase the overall cost.
- 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: Rising or falling gas prices directly influence car shipping costs between Kentucky and Maryland.
- 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 Maryland should take between one and six days. Expedited services are available but come at a higher cost.
Maryland vehicle regulations you need to know
To drive legally after your move to Maryland, you’ll need to handle vehicle registration and a few additional steps. Here’s a simple breakdown of what’s required.
- Car insurance requirements: All vehicles in Maryland must maintain insurance coverage from a Maryland-licensed insurance company at all times, with mandatory minimum coverage of $30,000 for bodily injury per person, $60,000 for multiple people, and $15,000 for property damage.
- Vehicle inspection: If you recently relocated to Maryland or bought a vehicle, you must get it inspected at an authorized inspection station before registering the vehicle. New residents are mandated to undergo a vehicle safety inspection before obtaining car registration.
- Driver’s license: As a new resident of Maryland, it's mandatory to obtain a Maryland driver's license within 60 days. You need to surrender your previous state's driver's license before obtaining a Maryland one.
- Additional taxes: The sales tax in Maryland is set at 6%. This applies to both new and used car purchases, adding an additional 6% to the cost. Fortunately for Maryland residents, there is no sales tax imposed by any other governing level in the state.
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 Maryland
About 6.2 million people are living in the Old Line State. Maryland has a wide array of climates, due to local variances in elevation, proximity to water, and protection from colder weather due to downslope winds. The eastern half of Maryland — which includes the cities of Ocean City, Salisbury, Annapolis, and the southern and eastern suburbs of Washington, D.C., and Baltimore — lies on the Atlantic Coastal Plain, with flat topography and sandy or muddy soil. This region has a humid subtropical climate, with hot, humid summers and a short, mild-to-cool winter
FAQ
Does someone have to be present when you ship a car for pickup in Kentucky and delivery in Maryland?
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 Maryland.
Do you need car insurance when shipping your car from Kentucky to Maryland?
If you’re not driving the vehicle from Kentucky to Maryland, you aren't required to have typical car insurance. Your car hauler should have adequate insurance if an accident happened on the drive to Maryland, 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.
All vehicles in Maryland must maintain insurance coverage from a Maryland-licensed insurance company at all times, with mandatory minimum coverage of $30,000 for bodily injury per person, $60,000 for multiple people, and $15,000 for property damage.
How long does it take to ship a car from Kentucky to Maryland?
Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from Kentucky to Maryland is about 545 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 Maryland.
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.
If you recently relocated to Maryland or bought a vehicle, you must get it inspected at an authorized inspection station before registering the vehicle. New residents are mandated to undergo a vehicle safety inspection before obtaining car registration.
If I have a driver’s license in Kentucky, will I need one in Maryland?
As a new resident of Maryland, it's mandatory to obtain a Maryland driver's license within 60 days. You need to surrender your previous state's driver's license before obtaining a Maryland one.
If I bought a car in Kentucky, will I be required to pay sales tax in Maryland after shipping it there?
It’s important to understand any tax implications if you’re having a car shipped from Kentucky to Maryland after purchasing it.
The sales tax in Maryland is set at 6%. This applies to both new and used car purchases, adding an additional 6% to the cost. Fortunately for Maryland residents, there is no sales tax imposed by any other governing level in the state.
We recommend that you always check for updated tax information in both Kentucky and Maryland to avoid any hidden costs.
What is the cheapest way to ship a car from Kentucky to Maryland?
The cheapest way to ship a car from Kentucky to Maryland 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 Maryland?
Shipping a car from Kentucky to Maryland costs $644 to $936.
6709 Grade Ln, Louisville, KY 40213 US
9900 Corporate Campus Dr #3000, Louisville, KY 40223 US
501 Lake Shore Dr, Kuttawa, KY 42055 US
6712 Grade Ln, Louisville, KY 40213 US
1800 E Blue Lick Rd, Suite 7, Shepherdsville, KY 40165 US