Kentucky to Maine Car Shipping (2026 Cost Guide)
Quick answer: Shipping a car 1,151 miles from Kentucky to Maine usually costs between $856 and $1,313. Transit time is about two–eight 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 Maine 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 Maine car shipping companies
After putting more than 400 hours of research into the car shipping industry, we identified the best car shipping companies for transporting your vehicle from Kentucky to Maine:
- Best for real-time tracking: Nexus Auto Transport
- Best for accurate pricing: Sherpa Auto Transport
- Best for budget-conscious: Navi Auto Transport
- Best for exact pickup dates: SGT Auto Transport
- Best insurance coverage: Ship A Car Direct
- 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
- 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
- Damage-free guarantee
- $500 damage or loss coverage
- No deposit
- Rental car assistance
- Inoperable car shipping
Top local car shippers in Kentucky
If you prefer to go with a local company, here are the top car shippers in Kentucky that can relocate your vehicle to Maine:
- 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 Maine
Ship it with your movers
If you’re planning a move from Kentucky to Maine, 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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 rating
4.75 / 5
Licensed
 Insured
Price
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Drive it yourself
Driving is simple but not always practical, and it adds about 1,151 miles to your car on the trip from Kentucky to Maine. If you’re weighing the options, check out the pros and cons of driving versus shipping.
Hire a driver
You might consider hiring a driver to move your car from Kentucky to Maine. Keep in mind, though, that this is usually expensive and involves trusting someone else with your vehicle.
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 Maine auto transport costs and transit times
Here are tables summarizing the expected costs and transit times for car shipping between well-traveled routes in Kentucky and Maine. The average journey covers about 1,151 miles and takes roughly two to eight days.
Cost to ship a car from Louisville, KY to Maine
| From Kentucky to Maine | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Louisville, KY to Portland, ME | $810 – $1,232 | 1,081 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Louisville, KY to Lewiston, ME | $864 – $1,408 | 1,110 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Louisville, KY to Bangor, ME | $906 – $1,457 | 1,208 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Louisville, KY to South Portland, ME | $802 – $1,207 | 1,081 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Louisville, KY to Auburn, ME | $847 – $1,286 | 1,110 miles | 2 – 8 days |
Cost to ship a car from Lexington, KY to Maine
| From Kentucky to Maine | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lexington, KY to Portland, ME | $802 – $1,321 | 1,017 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Lexington, KY to Lewiston, ME | $794 – $1,232 | 1,055 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Lexington, KY to Bangor, ME | $873 – $1,313 | 1,145 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Lexington, KY to South Portland, ME | $833 – $1,270 | 1,018 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Lexington, KY to Auburn, ME | $778 – $1,283 | 1,046 miles | 2 – 8 days |
Cost to ship a car from Bowling Green, KY to Maine
| From Kentucky to Maine | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bowling Green, KY to Portland, ME | $906 – $1,400 | 1,200 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Bowling Green, KY to Lewiston, ME | $924 – $1,500 | 1,230 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Bowling Green, KY to Bangor, ME | $1,001 – $1,451 | 1,327 miles | 3 – 8 days |
| Bowling Green, KY to South Portland, ME | $952 – $1,443 | 1,200 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Bowling Green, KY to Auburn, ME | $906 – $1,415 | 1,229 miles | 2 – 8 days |
Cost to ship a car from Owensboro, KY to Maine
| From Kentucky to Maine | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Owensboro, KY to Portland, ME | $890 – $1,367 | 1,186 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Owensboro, KY to Lewiston, ME | $887 – $1,486 | 1,216 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Owensboro, KY to Bangor, ME | $951 – $1,436 | 1,314 miles | 3 – 8 days |
| Owensboro, KY to South Portland, ME | $864 – $1,299 | 1,187 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Owensboro, KY to Auburn, ME | $980 – $1,486 | 1,215 miles | 2 – 8 days |
Cost to ship a car from Covington, KY to Maine
| From Kentucky to Maine | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Covington, KY to Portland, ME | $805 – $1,211 | 982 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Covington, KY to Lewiston, ME | $786 – $1,245 | 1,012 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Covington, KY to Bangor, ME | $830 – $1,326 | 1,110 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Covington, KY to South Portland, ME | $773 – $1,299 | 983 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Covington, KY to Auburn, ME | $754 – $1,334 | 1,011 miles | 2 – 8 days |
Shipping an SUV or truck from Kentucky to Maine
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 Maine, the price usually falls between $1,070 and $1,641.
Factors that affect car shipping costs from Kentucky to Maine
When arranging car transport from the Bluegrass State to the Pine Tree State, the following factors will determine your overall cost:
- 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: Shipping costs are higher for bigger and heavier vehicles. Your car’s weight and dimensions play a direct role in the total cost to ship it to Maine.
- Distance and route: The journey from Kentucky to Maine spans about 1,151 miles. More miles mean more fuel and labor, raising the cost.
- Time of the year: Shipping costs rise during peak moving seasons and around major holidays. Moves out of Kentucky in summer or winter are often more expensive due to higher demand.
- Fuel prices: Since car shipping costs fluctuate with fuel costs, the cost of shipping between Kentucky and Maine 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 Maine should take between two and eight days. Expedited services are available but come at a higher cost.
Maine vehicle regulations you need to know
When you move to Maine, there are a few important steps you’ll need to take to get your vehicle registered and road-ready. Here’s a breakdown of the key requirements to make your transition as smooth as possible.
- Car insurance requirements: In Maine, drivers must carry a minimum liability coverage of 50/100/25, requiring $50,000 for bodily injury per person, $100,000 for all injuries per accident, and $25,000 for property damage, as per car insurance laws.
- Vehicle inspection: The State of Maine requires annual safety inspections for all vehicles used on public roads to ensure they are in proper working condition and safe to operate. Safety inspections in Maine can be carried out at any official service station of the Maine Department of Transportation.
- Driver’s license: New residents of Maine are required to obtain a new state license within 30 days of establishing residency. If you are moving to Maine and possess a valid or recently expired (within the past 5 years) out-of-state driver's license from another US state, you can obtain a Class C license, including a REAL ID license, by visiting a Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles office.
- Additional taxes: Maine requires registered car owners to pay an annual excise tax for motor vehicles, trailers, mobile homes, and stock vehicles. This tax is calculated by multiplying the current Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of the vehicle by the mileage rate.
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 Maine
About 1.4 million people are living in the Pine Tree State. Maine has a humid continental climate. with warm and sometimes humid summers, and long, cold and very snowy winters. Winters are especially severe in the Northern and Western parts of Maine, while coastal areas are moderated slightly by the Atlantic Ocean, resulting in marginally milder winters and cooler summers than inland regions.
FAQ
Does someone have to be present when you ship a car for pickup in Kentucky and delivery in Maine?
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 Maine.
Do you need car insurance when shipping your car from Kentucky to Maine?
If you’re not driving the vehicle from Kentucky to Maine, you aren't required to have typical car insurance. Your car hauler should have adequate insurance if an accident happened on the drive to Maine, 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 Maine, drivers must carry a minimum liability coverage of 50/100/25, requiring $50,000 for bodily injury per person, $100,000 for all injuries per accident, and $25,000 for property damage, as per car insurance laws.
How long does it take to ship a car from Kentucky to Maine?
Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from Kentucky to Maine is about 1,151 miles, and that’s as fast as about 3 days. However, most car transport companies will take two to eight days to travel from Kentucky to Maine.
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.
The State of Maine requires annual safety inspections for all vehicles used on public roads to ensure they are in proper working condition and safe to operate. Safety inspections in Maine can be carried out at any official service station of the Maine Department of Transportation.
If I have a driver’s license in Kentucky, will I need one in Maine?
New residents of Maine are required to obtain a new state license within 30 days of establishing residency. If you are moving to Maine and possess a valid or recently expired (within the past 5 years) out-of-state driver's license from another US state, you can obtain a Class C license, including a REAL ID license, by visiting a Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles office.
If I bought a car in Kentucky, will I be required to pay sales tax in Maine after shipping it there?
It’s important to understand any tax implications if you’re having a car shipped from Kentucky to Maine after purchasing it.
Maine requires registered car owners to pay an annual excise tax for motor vehicles, trailers, mobile homes, and stock vehicles. This tax is calculated by multiplying the current Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of the vehicle by the mileage rate.
We recommend that you always check for updated tax information in both Kentucky and Maine to avoid any hidden costs.
What is the cheapest way to ship a car from Kentucky to Maine?
The cheapest way to ship a car from Kentucky to Maine 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 Maine?
Shipping a car from Kentucky to Maine costs $856 to $1,313.
