Kentucky to Michigan Car Shipping (2026 Cost Guide)
Quick answer: The average cost to ship a car 556 miles from Kentucky to Michigan ranges from $657 to $923 and takes one–six days depending on factors like the transport type and season. For a more detailed quote, use our car shipping cost calculator.
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Shipping a car the reverse route? We’ve got you covered with our Michigan 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 Michigan 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 Michigan:
- 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 Michigan:
- 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 Michigan
Ship it with your movers
If you need to ship your car from Kentucky for a move to Michigan, you may want to hire a moving company that can handle car shipping, as well. Many long-distance moving companies work with reputable car shippers to coordinate auto transport.
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 rating
4.75 / 5
Licensed
 Insured
Price
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Drive it yourself
This option is straightforward but may not suit every situation, and it’ll put around 556 miles on your car to travel between Kentucky and Michigan. To compare your options, see the pros and cons of driving vs. shipping.
Hire a driver
You can also hire someone to drive the car from Kentucky to Michigan 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
Shipping a car by train is a safe and low-cost way to move a car. Transporting by train is actually the cheapest shipping option available, on average.
Kentucky to Michigan 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 Michigan. The average travel distance is about 556 miles, with shipping times typically ranging from one to six days.
Cost to ship a car from Louisville, KY to Michigan
| From Kentucky to Michigan | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Louisville, KY to Detroit, MI | $554 – $706 | 362 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Louisville, KY to Grand Rapids, MI | $559 – $743 | 371 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Louisville, KY to Warren, MI | $553 – $787 | 378 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Louisville, KY to Sterling Heights, MI | $564 – $726 | 383 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Louisville, KY to Ann Arbor, MI | $511 – $757 | 352 miles | 1 – 4 days |
Cost to ship a car from Lexington, KY to Michigan
| From Kentucky to Michigan | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lexington, KY to Detroit, MI | $489 – $668 | 346 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Lexington, KY to Grand Rapids, MI | $617 – $854 | 441 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Lexington, KY to Warren, MI | $516 – $757 | 362 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Lexington, KY to Sterling Heights, MI | $522 – $757 | 366 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Lexington, KY to Ann Arbor, MI | $525 – $703 | 336 miles | 1 – 4 days |
Cost to ship a car from Bowling Green, KY to Michigan
| From Kentucky to Michigan | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bowling Green, KY to Detroit, MI | $600 – $866 | 483 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Bowling Green, KY to Grand Rapids, MI | $600 – $875 | 491 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Bowling Green, KY to Warren, MI | $649 – $875 | 498 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Bowling Green, KY to Sterling Heights, MI | $602 – $906 | 502 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Bowling Green, KY to Ann Arbor, MI | $631 – $816 | 471 miles | 1 – 4 days |
Cost to ship a car from Owensboro, KY to Michigan
| From Kentucky to Michigan | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Owensboro, KY to Detroit, MI | $601 – $849 | 467 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Owensboro, KY to Grand Rapids, MI | $623 – $805 | 430 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Owensboro, KY to Warren, MI | $624 – $866 | 484 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Owensboro, KY to Sterling Heights, MI | $631 – $807 | 488 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Owensboro, KY to Ann Arbor, MI | $631 – $849 | 454 miles | 1 – 4 days |
Cost to ship a car from Covington, KY to Michigan
| From Kentucky to Michigan | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Covington, KY to Detroit, MI | $453 – $564 | 265 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Covington, KY to Grand Rapids, MI | $511 – $750 | 361 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Covington, KY to Warren, MI | $475 – $611 | 281 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Covington, KY to Sterling Heights, MI | $480 – $642 | 286 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Covington, KY to Ann Arbor, MI | $453 – $576 | 255 miles | 1 – 4 days |
Shipping an SUV or truck from Kentucky to Michigan
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 Michigan, the price usually falls between $821 and $1,154.
Factors that affect car shipping costs from Kentucky to Michigan
Transporting your vehicle from the Bluegrass State to the Wolverine 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 and heavier vehicles cost more to ship. Your car’s dimensions and weight will directly influence the price of transporting it from Kentucky to Michigan.
- Distance and route: The route from Kentucky to Michigan is about 556 miles. Costs grow with longer trips due to the increased fuel and labor required.
- Time of the year: Peak seasons like summer or holidays raise shipping demand. This makes moves out of Kentucky more expensive during these times.
- Fuel prices: Varying fuel costs across the country can affect shipping rates. When transporting your car from Kentucky to Michigan, you may see the effect of these fluctuations.
- Delivery expectations: Flexible delivery dates may lower your rate. The standard shipping time is one–six days, but you can pay for expedited service.
Michigan vehicle regulations you need to know
To drive legally after your move to Michigan, you’ll need to handle vehicle registration and a few additional steps. Here’s a simple breakdown of what’s required.
- Car insurance requirements: Michigan requires a minimum auto insurance coverage of $50,000/$100,000 for bodily injury and $10,000 for property damage in case of an accident.
- Vehicle inspection: Michigan does not require vehicle inspections for registration purposes. There is no state mandate for car safety inspections or emissions testing.
- Driver’s license: Michigan law requires new residents to promptly title and register their vehicles, with no grace period provided. A person is considered a resident if they live in the state and prove their legal presence in the US. To comply with these requirements, new residents should visit a Secretary of State office to obtain a Michigan driver's license, title, and registration as soon as they establish residency.
- Additional taxes: In Michigan, a 6% sales tax is imposed on all vehicle purchases.
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 Michigan
About 10.0 million people are living in the Wolverine State. Michigan has a continental climate, although there are two distinct regions. The southern and central parts of the Lower Peninsula (south of Saginaw Bay and from the Grand Rapids area southward) have a warmer climate with hot summers and cold winters. The northern part of the Lower Peninsula and the entire Upper Peninsula has a more severe climate (Köppen Dfb), with warm, but shorter summers and longer, cold to very cold winters. Some parts of the state average high temperatures below freezing from December through February, and into early March in the far northern parts. During the winter through the middle of February, the state is frequently subjected to heavy lake-effect snow. The state averages 30 days of thunderstorm activity per year. These can be severe, especially in the southern part of the state. The state averages 17 tornadoes per year, which are more common in the state's extreme southern section.
FAQ
Does someone have to be present when you ship a car for pickup in Kentucky and delivery in Michigan?
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 Michigan.
Do you need car insurance when shipping your car from Kentucky to Michigan?
If you’re not driving the vehicle from Kentucky to Michigan, you aren't required to have typical car insurance. Your car hauler should have adequate insurance if an accident happened on the drive to Michigan, 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.
Michigan requires a minimum auto insurance coverage of $50,000/$100,000 for bodily injury and $10,000 for property damage in case of an accident.
How long does it take to ship a car from Kentucky to Michigan?
Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from Kentucky to Michigan is about 556 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 Michigan.
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.
Michigan does not require vehicle inspections for registration purposes. There is no state mandate for car safety inspections or emissions testing.
If I have a driver’s license in Kentucky, will I need one in Michigan?
Michigan law requires new residents to promptly title and register their vehicles, with no grace period provided. A person is considered a resident if they live in the state and prove their legal presence in the US. To comply with these requirements, new residents should visit a Secretary of State office to obtain a Michigan driver's license, title, and registration as soon as they establish residency.
If I bought a car in Kentucky, will I be required to pay sales tax in Michigan after shipping it there?
It’s important to understand any tax implications if you’re having a car shipped from Kentucky to Michigan after purchasing it.
In Michigan, a 6% sales tax is imposed on all vehicle purchases.
We recommend that you always check for updated tax information in both Kentucky and Michigan to avoid any hidden costs.
What is the cheapest way to ship a car from Kentucky to Michigan?
The cheapest way to ship a car from Kentucky to Michigan 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 Michigan?
Shipping a car from Kentucky to Michigan costs $657 to $923.
