Massachusetts to Illinois Car Shipping (2026 Cost Guide)
Quick answer: The average cost to ship a car 1,099 miles from Massachusetts to Illinois ranges from $802 to $1,270 and takes two–eight 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 Illinois to Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts to Illinois 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 Massachusetts to Illinois:
- 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 Massachusetts
If you'd rather hire a local company, explore the top car shippers in Massachusetts that can transport your vehicle to Illinois:
- Fox Auto Transport: 3.86 out of 5 stars
- Intercity Lines Inc: 3.84 out of 5 stars
- Fisher Shipping Company: 3.8 out of 5 stars
- Dreamline Logistics LLC: 3.8 out of 5 stars
- Preowned Auto Logistics: 3.8 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 Massachusetts to Illinois
Ship it with your movers
When moving from Massachusetts to Illinois, it can be helpful to hire a moving company that includes car shipping services. A number of long-distance moving companies work directly with reliable car shippers to arrange transport.
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Drive it yourself
While it’s simple, this isn’t always the best option, and it’ll put about 1,099 extra miles on your car to travel from Massachusetts to Illinois. To help decide, here are the pros and cons of driving vs. shipping.
Hire a driver
Another option is to pay someone to drive your car from Massachusetts to Illinois. This can be costly and hinges on trusting another person to handle your vehicle responsibly.
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.
Massachusetts to Illinois auto transport costs and transit times
Here are tables summarizing the expected costs and transit times for car shipping between well-traveled routes in Massachusetts and Illinois. The average journey covers about 1,099 miles and takes roughly two to eight days.
Cost to ship a car from Boston, MA to Illinois
| From Massachusetts to Illinois | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston, MA to Chicago, IL | $773 – $1,325 | 982 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Boston, MA to Aurora, IL | $794 – $1,321 | 1,020 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Boston, MA to Joliet, IL | $805 – $1,312 | 993 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Boston, MA to Naperville, IL | $818 – $1,257 | 1,007 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Boston, MA to Rockford, IL | $826 – $1,219 | 1,076 miles | 2 – 8 days |
Cost to ship a car from Worcester, MA to Illinois
| From Massachusetts to Illinois | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Worcester, MA to Chicago, IL | $832 – $1,216 | 945 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Worcester, MA to Aurora, IL | $829 – $1,299 | 983 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Worcester, MA to Joliet, IL | $823 – $1,189 | 956 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Worcester, MA to Naperville, IL | $791 – $1,202 | 970 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Worcester, MA to Rockford, IL | $818 – $1,207 | 1,040 miles | 2 – 8 days |
Cost to ship a car from Springfield, MA to Illinois
| From Massachusetts to Illinois | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Springfield, MA to Chicago, IL | $776 – $1,253 | 900 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Springfield, MA to Aurora, IL | $784 – $1,241 | 937 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Springfield, MA to Joliet, IL | $816 – $1,241 | 911 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Springfield, MA to Naperville, IL | $760 – $1,204 | 925 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Springfield, MA to Rockford, IL | $837 – $1,236 | 985 miles | 2 – 7 days |
Cost to ship a car from Cambridge, MA to Illinois
| From Massachusetts to Illinois | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cambridge, MA to Chicago, IL | $765 – $1,236 | 979 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Cambridge, MA to Aurora, IL | $786 – $1,295 | 1,017 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Cambridge, MA to Joliet, IL | $789 – $1,236 | 990 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Cambridge, MA to Naperville, IL | $818 – $1,308 | 1,004 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Cambridge, MA to Rockford, IL | $778 – $1,232 | 1,073 miles | 2 – 8 days |
Cost to ship a car from Lowell, MA to Illinois
| From Massachusetts to Illinois | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowell, MA to Chicago, IL | $797 – $1,198 | 986 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Lowell, MA to Aurora, IL | $762 – $1,334 | 1,023 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Lowell, MA to Joliet, IL | $781 – $1,198 | 997 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Lowell, MA to Naperville, IL | $770 – $1,245 | 1,011 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Lowell, MA to Rockford, IL | $802 – $1,321 | 1,071 miles | 2 – 8 days |
Shipping an SUV or truck from Massachusetts to Illinois
Transporting bigger vehicles like SUVs, trucks, and vans is usually more expensive than shipping a sedan due to increased weight and space requirements.
For this route from Massachusetts to Illinois, the cost for a larger vehicle is generally about $1,003–$1,588.
Factors that affect car shipping costs from Massachusetts to Illinois
If you’re shipping a car from the Bay State to the Land of Lincoln, keep these cost factors in mind:
- 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 rates rise with vehicle size and weight. Generally, larger cars cost more to ship to Illinois than smaller ones.
- Distance and route: The route from Massachusetts to Illinois is about 1,099 miles. Costs grow with longer trips due to the increased fuel and labor required.
- Time of the year: Seasonal demand impacts the price of getting your car out of Massachusetts, with summer and winter holidays often seeing a spike due to increased moving and travel activity.
- Fuel prices: Fluctuating fuel prices can significantly affect transport costs. This is an important consideration given the distance between Massachusetts and Illinois and the varying gas prices across the country.
- Delivery expectations: Being flexible with your delivery window can sometimes reduce costs. Typically, cars arrive within two–eight days, but expedited options cost more.
Illinois vehicle regulations you need to know
When you move to Illinois, 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: The liability insurance minimums for Illinois are $25,000 bodily injury liability per person, $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident, and $20,000 property damage liability per accident.
- Vehicle inspection: In Illinois, emissions inspections are mandatory on a yearly basis for eligible vehicles in the Chicago and East St. Louis metropolitan areas. The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency conducts tests on automobiles before residents can renew their vehicle registration with the Secretary of State's office.
- Driver’s license: Even if your out-of-state driver's license is valid, you must still pass a vision test and written exam if you are moving to Illinois. Within 90 days of becoming a resident in the state, you must convert your license to an Illinois non-commercial license.
- Additional taxes: According to Illinois law, the recipient or buyer of any vehicle transferred within the state must complete a Private Party Vehicle Tax Transaction form (form RUT-50) and pay the sales tax for the car within 30 days of the transfer of ownership.
Learn more with our car shipping checklist.
Transporting your vehicle from Massachusetts
More than 7.0 million people call Massachusetts home. Nicknamed the Bay State. Most of Massachusetts has a humid continental climate, with cold winters and warm summers. Far southeast coastal areas are the broad transition zone to Humid Subtropical climates. The warm to hot summers render the oceanic climate rare in this transition, only applying to exposed coastal areas such as on the peninsula of Barnstable County. The climate of Boston is quite representative for the commonwealth, characterized by summer highs of around 81 °F (27 °C) and winter highs of 35 °F (2 °C), and is quite wet. Frosts are frequent all winter, even in coastal areas due to prevailing inland winds. Due to its location near the Atlantic, Massachusetts is vulnerable to nor'easters, hurricanes, and tropical storms.
Transporting your vehicle to Illinois
About 12.5 million people are living in the Land of Lincoln. Illinois' climate is clearly different in the northern and southern halves of the state. The northern half experiences cold winters and mild summers whereas the southern half experiences mild winters and hot and humid summers. Illinois is a part of "tornado alley"
FAQ
Does someone have to be present when you ship a car for pickup in Massachusetts and delivery in Illinois?
Most companies will require that an adult of at least 18 years of age be present when picking up your car in Massachusetts and when dropping it off in Illinois.
Do you need car insurance when shipping your car from Massachusetts to Illinois?
If you’re not driving the vehicle from Massachusetts to Illinois, you aren't required to have typical car insurance. Your car hauler should have adequate insurance if an accident happened on the drive to Illinois, which you should verify before loading your car in Massachusetts.
If you’re driving your car at all in either state, you should understand the requirements. Massachusetts mandates minimum car insurance coverage, including $20,000/$40,000 for bodily injury liability, $5,000 for property damage, $20,000/$40,000 for uninsured motorist bodily injury, and $8,000 for personal injury protection.
The liability insurance minimums for Illinois are $25,000 bodily injury liability per person, $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident, and $20,000 property damage liability per accident.
How long does it take to ship a car from Massachusetts to Illinois?
Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from Massachusetts to Illinois is about 1,099 miles, and that’s as fast as about 3 days. However, most car transport companies will take two to eight days to travel from Massachusetts to Illinois.
Will I be required to have a vehicle inspection in either state?
Every year, all vehicles in Massachusetts must undergo a safety inspection. New cars registered in the state must be inspected within 7 days of their registration date.
In Illinois, emissions inspections are mandatory on a yearly basis for eligible vehicles in the Chicago and East St. Louis metropolitan areas. The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency conducts tests on automobiles before residents can renew their vehicle registration with the Secretary of State's office.
If I have a driver’s license in Massachusetts, will I need one in Illinois?
Even if your out-of-state driver's license is valid, you must still pass a vision test and written exam if you are moving to Illinois. Within 90 days of becoming a resident in the state, you must convert your license to an Illinois non-commercial license.
If I bought a car in Massachusetts, will I be required to pay sales tax in Illinois after shipping it there?
It’s important to understand any tax implications if you’re having a car shipped from Massachusetts to Illinois after purchasing it.
According to Illinois law, the recipient or buyer of any vehicle transferred within the state must complete a Private Party Vehicle Tax Transaction form (form RUT-50) and pay the sales tax for the car within 30 days of the transfer of ownership.
We recommend that you always check for updated tax information in both Massachusetts and Illinois to avoid any hidden costs.
What is the cheapest way to ship a car from Massachusetts to Illinois?
The cheapest way to ship a car from Massachusetts to Illinois 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 Massachusetts to Illinois?
Shipping a car from Massachusetts to Illinois costs $802 to $1,270.
150 Pleasant St Suite 209, Easthampton, MA 01027 US
552 Old West Brookfield Rd, Warren, MA 01083 US
27B Midstate Dr Suite 106, Auburn, MA 01501 US
2464 Massachusetts Ave #220, Cambridge, MA 02140 US
222 Jubilee Dr., Peabody, MA 01960 US