Louisiana to Alabama Car Shipping (2026 Cost Guide)
Quick answer: The average cost to ship a car 388 miles from Louisiana to Alabama ranges from $547 to $757 and takes one–four 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 Alabama to Louisiana 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 Louisiana to Alabama 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 Louisiana to Alabama:
- 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 Louisiana
Going with a nearby mover? These recommended car shippers in Louisiana can deliver your vehicle to Alabama:
- Auto Driveaway: 3.56 out of 5 stars
- Speedy Car Shipping: 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 Louisiana to Alabama
Ship it with your movers
If you need to ship your car from Louisiana for a move to Alabama, 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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Drive it yourself
Driving is simple but not always practical, and it adds about 388 miles to your car on the trip from Louisiana to Alabama. If you’re weighing the options, check out the pros and cons of driving versus shipping.
Hire a driver
Another option is to pay someone to drive your car from Louisiana to Alabama. 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.
Louisiana to Alabama auto transport costs and transit times
The tables below detail the costs and estimated transit times for shipping a car between popular cities in Louisiana and Alabama. The average travel distance is about 388 miles, with shipping times typically ranging from one to four days.
Cost to ship a car from New Orleans, LA to Alabama
| From Louisiana to Alabama | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans, LA to Huntsville, AL | $605 – $821 | 440 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| New Orleans, LA to Montgomery, AL | $470 – $675 | 309 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| New Orleans, LA to Birmingham, AL | $499 – $675 | 342 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| New Orleans, LA to Mobile, AL | $362 – $506 | 143 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| New Orleans, LA to Tuscaloosa, AL | $438 – $598 | 291 miles | 1 – 4 days |
Cost to ship a car from Baton Rouge, LA to Alabama
| From Louisiana to Alabama | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baton Rouge, LA to Huntsville, AL | $649 – $841 | 498 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Baton Rouge, LA to Montgomery, AL | $565 – $765 | 366 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Baton Rouge, LA to Birmingham, AL | $548 – $782 | 400 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Baton Rouge, LA to Mobile, AL | $418 – $554 | 201 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Baton Rouge, LA to Tuscaloosa, AL | $489 – $717 | 349 miles | 1 – 4 days |
Cost to ship a car from Shreveport, LA to Alabama
| From Louisiana to Alabama | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shreveport, LA to Huntsville, AL | $666 – $875 | 549 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Shreveport, LA to Montgomery, AL | $589 – $824 | 462 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Shreveport, LA to Birmingham, AL | $589 – $808 | 451 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Shreveport, LA to Mobile, AL | $560 – $806 | 402 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Shreveport, LA to Tuscaloosa, AL | $583 – $814 | 400 miles | 1 – 4 days |
Cost to ship a car from Metairie, LA to Alabama
| From Louisiana to Alabama | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metairie, LA to Huntsville, AL | $563 – $780 | 444 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Metairie, LA to Montgomery, AL | $475 – $688 | 313 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Metairie, LA to Birmingham, AL | $494 – $689 | 346 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Metairie, LA to Mobile, AL | $362 – $475 | 147 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Metairie, LA to Tuscaloosa, AL | $452 – $655 | 295 miles | 1 – 4 days |
Cost to ship a car from Lafayette, LA to Alabama
| From Louisiana to Alabama | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lafayette, LA to Huntsville, AL | $684 – $941 | 551 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Lafayette, LA to Montgomery, AL | $554 – $767 | 420 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Lafayette, LA to Birmingham, AL | $625 – $866 | 453 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Lafayette, LA to Mobile, AL | $427 – $594 | 254 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Lafayette, LA to Tuscaloosa, AL | $589 – $806 | 402 miles | 1 – 4 days |
Shipping an SUV or truck from Louisiana to Alabama
Larger vehicles such as SUVs, trucks, and vans are heavier and bulkier, making them more expensive to transport than sedans.
If you’re moving one from Louisiana to Alabama, expect costs to range from $684 to $946.
Factors that affect car shipping costs from Louisiana to Alabama
If you’re shipping a car from the Pelican State to the Heart of Dixie, keep these cost factors in mind:
- Type of transport: Options like open, enclosed, or top-loaded transport cater to different needs. Open carriers are cost-effective, while enclosed transport provides added protection for luxury or classic cars. If you’re not sure, check out our guide comparing open vs. enclosed car 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 Alabama.
- Distance and route: The route from Louisiana to Alabama is about 388 miles. Costs grow with longer trips due to the increased fuel and labor required.
- Time of the year: Seasonal demand drives prices up. Moves from Louisiana in summer or over the holidays are often more expensive.
- Fuel prices: Since car shipping costs fluctuate with fuel costs, the cost of shipping between Louisiana and Alabama may be affected by changing gas prices across regions.
- Delivery expectations: Flexible delivery dates may lower your rate. The standard shipping time is one–four days, but you can pay for expedited service.
Alabama vehicle regulations you need to know
After relocating to Alabama, you’ll need to complete a few important steps to register your vehicle and make it legal to drive. Below is an overview of the main requirements to help with the process.
- Car insurance requirements: Alabama state government requires motorists possess liability insurance, which must provide a minimum coverage of 25/50/25. This specification includes coverage for bodily injury per person, bodily injury per accident, and property damage per accident.
- Vehicle inspection: In Alabama, a safety inspection must be completed prior to selling a vehicle and a VIN inspection is mandatory when registering an out-of-state vehicle. Emissions inspections are not required by the state, though cities and municipalities may have their own laws mandating them.
- Driver’s license: When you move to Alabama with an out-of-state driver's license, you have 30 days to surrender it and obtain an Alabama license.
- Additional taxes: In Alabama, a 2% state sales tax is levied on the purchase of vehicles, including off-road motorcycles and ATVs. With the addition of city and county vehicle sales taxes, the total sales tax owed will amount to between 3.375% and 4% of the vehicle's cost.
Learn more with our car shipping checklist.
Transporting your vehicle from Louisiana
More than 4.6 million people call Louisiana home. Nicknamed the Pelican State. Louisiana has long hot humid summers and short mild winters. Rain is frequent throughout the year, although from April to September is slightly wetter than the rest of the year. Louisiana is often affected by tropical cyclones and is very vulnerable to major hurricanes, particularly around the New Orleans area. Lousiana averages about 27 tornadoes annually; they are most common from January through March in the south and from February through March in the North.
Transporting your vehicle to Alabama
About 5.1 million people are living in the Heart of Dixie. Alabama has one of the hottest summers in the US and mild winters with copious amounts of precipitation throughout the year. Areas around the Gulf in Alabama are prone to tropical storms and hurricanes. Alabama also has tornado activity, which typically occurs in the spring It would be a good idea to check for tornado activity in the area you are looking to move to Alabama.
FAQ
Does someone have to be present when you ship a car for pickup in Louisiana and delivery in Alabama?
Most companies will require that an adult of at least 18 years of age be present when picking up your car in Louisiana and when dropping it off in Alabama.
Do you need car insurance when shipping your car from Louisiana to Alabama?
If you’re not driving the vehicle from Louisiana to Alabama, you aren't required to have typical car insurance. Your car hauler should have adequate insurance if an accident happened on the drive to Alabama, which you should verify before loading your car in Louisiana.
If you’re driving your car at all in either state, you should understand the requirements. The insurance limit represents the maximum payout for a claim, and in Louisiana, the minimum liability limits are $15,000 for bodily injury per person, $30,000 for bodily injury per accident, and $25,000 for property damage; these limits can be raised beyond the state-mandated minimums.
Alabama state government requires motorists possess liability insurance, which must provide a minimum coverage of 25/50/25. This specification includes coverage for bodily injury per person, bodily injury per accident, and property damage per accident.
How long does it take to ship a car from Louisiana to Alabama?
Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from Louisiana to Alabama is about 388 miles, and that’s as fast as about 1 day. However, most car transport companies will take one to four days to travel from Louisiana to Alabama.
Will I be required to have a vehicle inspection in either state?
In Louisiana, the annual safety and emissions inspection includes checks on the vehicle's safety equipment, anti-tampering of emissions systems, and a test on the integrity of the gas cap.
In Alabama, a safety inspection must be completed prior to selling a vehicle and a VIN inspection is mandatory when registering an out-of-state vehicle. Emissions inspections are not required by the state, though cities and municipalities may have their own laws mandating them.
If I have a driver’s license in Louisiana, will I need one in Alabama?
When you move to Alabama with an out-of-state driver's license, you have 30 days to surrender it and obtain an Alabama license.
If I bought a car in Louisiana, will I be required to pay sales tax in Alabama after shipping it there?
It’s important to understand any tax implications if you’re having a car shipped from Louisiana to Alabama after purchasing it.
In Alabama, a 2% state sales tax is levied on the purchase of vehicles, including off-road motorcycles and ATVs. With the addition of city and county vehicle sales taxes, the total sales tax owed will amount to between 3.375% and 4% of the vehicle's cost.
We recommend that you always check for updated tax information in both Louisiana and Alabama to avoid any hidden costs.
What is the cheapest way to ship a car from Louisiana to Alabama?
The cheapest way to ship a car from Louisiana to Alabama 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 Louisiana to Alabama?
Shipping a car from Louisiana to Alabama costs $547 to $757.
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