Kentucky to North Carolina Car Shipping (2026 Cost Guide)
Quick answer: The cost to ship a car 467 miles from Kentucky to North Carolina typically falls between $607 and $833. The process usually takes one–four days, depending on variables like the type of transport and seasonal demand. For a personalized estimate, visit our car shipping cost calculator.
|
|
|
|
Shipping a car the reverse route? We’ve got you covered with our North Carolina 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 North Carolina 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 North Carolina:
- 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
- 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 North Carolina:
- 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 North Carolina
Ship it with your movers
If you’re relocating from Kentucky to North Carolina, consider choosing a moving company that also offers car shipping. Many long-distance movers partner with trusted auto transport providers to coordinate the process.
|
|
Licensed
Insured
Price
|
|
Drive it yourself
This option is straightforward but may not suit every situation, and it’ll put around 467 miles on your car to travel between Kentucky and North Carolina. To compare your options, see the pros and cons of driving vs. shipping.
Hire a driver
Hiring a driver to take your car from Kentucky to North Carolina is an alternative you might want to consider. However, it typically comes with a high price tag, and you’ll need to rely on the driver to care for your car.
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 North Carolina auto transport costs and transit times
The following tables provide estimated costs and shipping times for cars transported between key cities in Kentucky and North Carolina. Average distances are close to 467 miles, with delivery usually taking one–four days.
Cost to ship a car from Louisville, KY to North Carolina
| From Kentucky to North Carolina | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Louisville, KY to Charlotte, NC | $649 – $849 | 476 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Louisville, KY to Raleigh, NC | $637 – $914 | 562 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Louisville, KY to Greensboro, NC | $593 – $866 | 488 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Louisville, KY to Durham, NC | $672 – $902 | 540 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Louisville, KY to Winston-Salem, NC | $619 – $858 | 463 miles | 1 – 4 days |
Cost to ship a car from Lexington, KY to North Carolina
| From Kentucky to North Carolina | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lexington, KY to Charlotte, NC | $571 – $774 | 402 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Lexington, KY to Raleigh, NC | $631 – $807 | 495 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Lexington, KY to Greensboro, NC | $577 – $759 | 420 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Lexington, KY to Durham, NC | $619 – $816 | 472 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Lexington, KY to Winston-Salem, NC | $553 – $749 | 392 miles | 1 – 4 days |
Cost to ship a car from Bowling Green, KY to North Carolina
| From Kentucky to North Carolina | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bowling Green, KY to Charlotte, NC | $563 – $813 | 436 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Bowling Green, KY to Raleigh, NC | $715 – $923 | 580 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Bowling Green, KY to Greensboro, NC | $621 – $880 | 502 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Bowling Green, KY to Durham, NC | $664 – $950 | 554 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Bowling Green, KY to Winston-Salem, NC | $618 – $824 | 476 miles | 1 – 4 days |
Cost to ship a car from Owensboro, KY to North Carolina
| From Kentucky to North Carolina | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Owensboro, KY to Charlotte, NC | $652 – $888 | 504 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Owensboro, KY to Raleigh, NC | $689 – $1,045 | 648 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Owensboro, KY to Greensboro, NC | $677 – $904 | 570 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Owensboro, KY to Durham, NC | $668 – $1,008 | 622 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Owensboro, KY to Winston-Salem, NC | $653 – $893 | 545 miles | 1 – 6 days |
Cost to ship a car from Covington, KY to North Carolina
| From Kentucky to North Carolina | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Covington, KY to Charlotte, NC | $613 – $866 | 460 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Covington, KY to Raleigh, NC | $633 – $880 | 515 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Covington, KY to Greensboro, NC | $599 – $772 | 437 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Covington, KY to Durham, NC | $587 – $858 | 489 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Covington, KY to Winston-Salem, NC | $571 – $822 | 412 miles | 1 – 4 days |
Shipping an SUV or truck from Kentucky to North Carolina
Since vehicles like SUVs, trucks, and vans are larger and heavier, it’s a bit more expensive to ship them than a sedan. How much more?
If you’re shipping a larger vehicle from Kentucky to North Carolina you should expect to pay between $759 and $1,041.
Factors that affect car shipping costs from Kentucky to North Carolina
Transporting your vehicle from the Bluegrass State to the Tar Heel 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: 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 North Carolina.
- Distance and route: Traveling from Kentucky to North Carolina involves roughly 467 miles. Greater distances increase both fuel and labor expenses.
- 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: Varying fuel costs across the country can affect shipping rates. When transporting your car from Kentucky to North Carolina, you may see the effect of these fluctuations.
- Delivery expectations: Flexible delivery dates may lower your rate. The standard shipping time is one–four days, but you can pay for expedited service.
North Carolina vehicle regulations you need to know
Moving to North Carolina means taking care of certain tasks to get your car registered and ready for the road. Here’s a summary of the key steps involved.
- Car insurance requirements: Ensure compliance with North Carolina's mandatory minimum liability insurance rules for drivers. Your coverage should meet or exceed $30,000 for bodily injury per person, $60,000 for bodily injury per accident, and $25,000 for property damage per accident. Don't forget to enhance your protection with uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. Stay informed and safeguarded on the road by meeting these state insurance requirements.
- Vehicle inspection: Before the North Carolina DMV can register a passenger vehicle, it must pass an annual safety inspection if it is less than 30 years old.
- Driver’s license: New residents in North Carolina are obligated to transfer their license or ID within 60 days of moving to the state.
- Additional taxes: If you're relocating to North Carolina, you're required to pay vehicle tax. However, you have the option to defer this payment by obtaining a limited registration plate, which will expire 60 days after it's issued. It's important to note that you must pay the property tax before the sticker on the plate reaches its expiration date.
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 North Carolina
About 10.8 million people are living in the Tar Heel State. North Carolina has mild weather year round, however, snow may affect your move in some parts of the state during winter time.
FAQ
Does someone have to be present when you ship a car for pickup in Kentucky and delivery in North Carolina?
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 North Carolina.
Do you need car insurance when shipping your car from Kentucky to North Carolina?
If you’re not driving the vehicle from Kentucky to North Carolina, you aren't required to have typical car insurance. Your car hauler should have adequate insurance if an accident happened on the drive to North Carolina, 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.
Ensure compliance with North Carolina's mandatory minimum liability insurance rules for drivers. Your coverage should meet or exceed $30,000 for bodily injury per person, $60,000 for bodily injury per accident, and $25,000 for property damage per accident. Don't forget to enhance your protection with uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. Stay informed and safeguarded on the road by meeting these state insurance requirements.
How long does it take to ship a car from Kentucky to North Carolina?
Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from Kentucky to North Carolina is about 467 miles, and that’s as fast as about 1 day. However, most car transport companies will take one to four days to travel from Kentucky to North Carolina.
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.
Before the North Carolina DMV can register a passenger vehicle, it must pass an annual safety inspection if it is less than 30 years old.
If I have a driver’s license in Kentucky, will I need one in North Carolina?
New residents in North Carolina are obligated to transfer their license or ID within 60 days of moving to the state.
If I bought a car in Kentucky, will I be required to pay sales tax in North Carolina after shipping it there?
It’s important to understand any tax implications if you’re having a car shipped from Kentucky to North Carolina after purchasing it.
If you're relocating to North Carolina, you're required to pay vehicle tax. However, you have the option to defer this payment by obtaining a limited registration plate, which will expire 60 days after it's issued. It's important to note that you must pay the property tax before the sticker on the plate reaches its expiration date.
We recommend that you always check for updated tax information in both Kentucky and North Carolina to avoid any hidden costs.
What is the cheapest way to ship a car from Kentucky to North Carolina?
The cheapest way to ship a car from Kentucky to North Carolina 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 North Carolina?
Shipping a car from Kentucky to North Carolina costs $607 to $833.
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