Maryland to Alabama Car Shipping (2025 Cost Guide)
Quick answer: The cost to ship a car 869 miles from Maryland to Alabama typically falls between $800 and $1,280. The process usually takes two–seven days, depending on variables like the type of transport and seasonal demand. For a personalized estimate, visit our car shipping cost calculator.
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Shipping a car the reverse route? We’ve got you covered with our Alabama to Maryland 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 Maryland to Alabama 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 Maryland to Alabama:
- Best for real-time tracking: Nexus Auto Transport
- Best for accurate pricing: Sherpa Auto Transport
- Best for safety & reliability: Montway Auto Transport
- Best for budget-conscious: Navi Auto Transport
- Best for overall value: SGT Auto Transport
- 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
- Competitive pricing & $0 upfront
- GPS tracking
- Multiple insurance options
- Guaranteed pickup dates available
- Door-to-door service
- No hidden fees
- Free online quotes
- Door-to-door service in 48 states
- Exact pickup dates
- Ships to & from HI
Top local car shippers in Maryland
If you prefer to go with a local company, here are the top car shippers in Maryland that can relocate your vehicle to Alabama:
- Baltimore Auto Shipping Group: 3.64 out of 5 stars
- Jdf International Transport: 3.58 out of 5 stars
- Right Way Auto Transport Inc: 3.56 out of 5 stars
- S J Trucking & Logistics: 3.5 out of 5 stars
- All State to State Auto Transport: 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 Maryland to Alabama
Ship it with your movers
When moving from Maryland to Alabama, 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
This is straightforward but not always an option, and it will put about 869 miles on your car going from Maryland to Alabama. If you’re not sure, here are the pros and cons of driving your car vs. shipping it.
Hire a driver
You can also hire someone to drive the car from Maryland to Alabama 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
This approach offers an affordable and safe way to transport your vehicle. In fact, shipping a car by train is considered the cheapest car shipping method.
Maryland to Alabama auto transport costs and transit times
The tables below highlight the average shipping costs and estimated timelines for transporting a car between popular cities in Maryland and Alabama. The trip typically spans 869 miles and takes about two–seven days.
Cost to ship a car from Washington DC, MD to Alabama
| From Maryland to Alabama | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington DC, MD to Huntsville, AL | $748 – $1,082 | 697 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Washington DC, MD to Montgomery, AL | $761 – $1,226 | 799 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Washington DC, MD to Birmingham, AL | $745 – $1,093 | 742 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Washington DC, MD to Mobile, AL | $844 – $1,283 | 966 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Washington DC, MD to Tuscaloosa, AL | $801 – $1,155 | 799 miles | 2 – 7 days |
Cost to ship a car from Baltimore, MD to Alabama
| From Maryland to Alabama | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore, MD to Huntsville, AL | $800 – $1,081 | 734 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Baltimore, MD to Montgomery, AL | $812 – $1,227 | 843 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Baltimore, MD to Birmingham, AL | $777 – $1,120 | 780 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Baltimore, MD to Mobile, AL | $773 – $1,340 | 1,010 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Baltimore, MD to Tuscaloosa, AL | $812 – $1,190 | 836 miles | 2 – 7 days |
Cost to ship a car from Columbia, MD to Alabama
| From Maryland to Alabama | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia, MD to Huntsville, AL | $790 – $1,172 | 723 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Columbia, MD to Montgomery, AL | $812 – $1,190 | 834 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Columbia, MD to Birmingham, AL | $817 – $1,113 | 768 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Columbia, MD to Mobile, AL | $846 – $1,353 | 1,001 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Columbia, MD to Tuscaloosa, AL | $771 – $1,227 | 825 miles | 2 – 7 days |
Cost to ship a car from Germantown, MD to Alabama
| From Maryland to Alabama | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Germantown, MD to Huntsville, AL | $805 – $1,083 | 710 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Germantown, MD to Montgomery, AL | $847 – $1,161 | 821 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Germantown, MD to Birmingham, AL | $777 – $1,194 | 755 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Germantown, MD to Mobile, AL | $825 – $1,306 | 988 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Germantown, MD to Tuscaloosa, AL | $807 – $1,221 | 812 miles | 2 – 7 days |
Cost to ship a car from Silver Spring, MD to Alabama
| From Maryland to Alabama | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Silver Spring, MD to Huntsville, AL | $759 – $1,094 | 703 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Silver Spring, MD to Montgomery, AL | $767 – $1,149 | 814 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Silver Spring, MD to Birmingham, AL | $784 – $1,127 | 748 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Silver Spring, MD to Mobile, AL | $858 – $1,254 | 981 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Silver Spring, MD to Tuscaloosa, AL | $823 – $1,233 | 805 miles | 2 – 7 days |
Shipping an SUV or truck from Maryland to Alabama
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 Maryland to Alabama you should expect to pay between $1,000 and $1,600.
Factors that affect car shipping costs from Maryland to Alabama
When transporting your vehicle from the Old Line State to the Heart of Dixie, these factors will influence your final price:
- Type of transport: Common choices include open carriers, enclosed carriers, and top-loading. Open carriers are the least expensive, while enclosed shipping is better for classic or high-end cars. More details are available in our open vs. enclosed car shipping guide.
- 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 Maryland to Alabama.
- Distance and route: Traveling from Maryland to Alabama involves roughly 869 miles. Greater distances increase both fuel and labor expenses.
- Time of the year: Seasonal demand impacts the price of getting your car out of Maryland, 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 Maryland and Alabama 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–seven days, but expedited options cost more.
Alabama vehicle regulations you need to know
To drive legally after your move to Alabama, you’ll need to handle vehicle registration and a few additional steps. Here’s a simple breakdown of what’s required.
- 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 Maryland
More than 6.2 million people call Maryland home. Nicknamed the Old Line State. Maryland has a wide array of climates, due to local variances in elevation, proximity to water, and protection from colder weather due to downslope winds. The eastern half of Maryland — which includes the cities of Ocean City, Salisbury, Annapolis, and the southern and eastern suburbs of Washington, D.C., and Baltimore — lies on the Atlantic Coastal Plain, with flat topography and sandy or muddy soil. This region has a humid subtropical climate, with hot, humid summers and a short, mild-to-cool winter
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 Maryland 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 Maryland and when dropping it off in Alabama.
Do you need car insurance when shipping your car from Maryland to Alabama?
If you’re not driving the vehicle from Maryland 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 Maryland.
If you’re driving your car at all in either state, you should understand the requirements. All vehicles in Maryland must maintain insurance coverage from a Maryland-licensed insurance company at all times, with mandatory minimum coverage of $30,000 for bodily injury per person, $60,000 for multiple people, and $15,000 for property damage.
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 Maryland to Alabama?
Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from Maryland to Alabama is about 869 miles, and that’s as fast as about 2 days. However, most car transport companies will take two to seven days to travel from Maryland to Alabama.
Will I be required to have a vehicle inspection in either state?
If you recently relocated to Maryland or bought a vehicle, you must get it inspected at an authorized inspection station before registering the vehicle. New residents are mandated to undergo a vehicle safety inspection before obtaining car registration.
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 Maryland, 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 Maryland, 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 Maryland 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 Maryland and Alabama to avoid any hidden costs.
What is the cheapest way to ship a car from Maryland to Alabama?
The cheapest way to ship a car from Maryland 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 Maryland to Alabama?
Shipping a car from Maryland to Alabama costs $800 to $1,280.
210 E Lexington St #100, Baltimore, MD 21202 US
1301 York Road Suite 800, Lutherville Timonium, MD 21093 US
1911 East Old Philadelphia Road, Elkton, MD 21921 US
140 Western Maryland Pkwy Unit D, Hagerstown, MD 21740 US
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