Maryland to Louisiana Car Shipping (2025 Cost Guide)
Quick answer: The average cost to ship a car 1,200 miles from Maryland to Louisiana ranges from $995 to $1,420 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 Louisiana 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 Louisiana 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 Maryland to Louisiana:
- 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 Louisiana:
- 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 Louisiana
Ship it with your movers
When moving from Maryland to Louisiana, 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 option is straightforward but may not suit every situation, and it’ll put around 1,200 miles on your car to travel between Maryland and Louisiana. To compare your options, see the pros and cons of driving vs. shipping.
Hire a driver
You can hire someone to drive your car from Maryland to Louisiana, but it’s often expensive and requires confidence in the driver’s ability to deliver your car safely.
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.
Maryland to Louisiana auto transport costs and transit times
Here are tables summarizing the expected costs and transit times for car shipping between well-traveled routes in Maryland and Louisiana. The average journey covers about 1,200 miles and takes roughly two to eight days.
Cost to ship a car from Washington DC, MD to Louisiana
| From Maryland to Louisiana | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington DC, MD to New Orleans, LA | $789 – $1,236 | 1,084 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Washington DC, MD to Baton Rouge, LA | $877 – $1,345 | 1,142 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Washington DC, MD to Shreveport, LA | $912 – $1,428 | 1,193 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Washington DC, MD to Metairie, LA | $773 – $1,262 | 1,088 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Washington DC, MD to Lafayette, LA | $886 – $1,415 | 1,195 miles | 2 – 8 days |
Cost to ship a car from Baltimore, MD to Louisiana
| From Maryland to Louisiana | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore, MD to New Orleans, LA | $904 – $1,373 | 1,122 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Baltimore, MD to Baton Rouge, LA | $850 – $1,428 | 1,179 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Baltimore, MD to Shreveport, LA | $928 – $1,464 | 1,230 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Baltimore, MD to Metairie, LA | $886 – $1,345 | 1,126 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Baltimore, MD to Lafayette, LA | $966 – $1,537 | 1,233 miles | 2 – 8 days |
Cost to ship a car from Columbia, MD to Louisiana
| From Maryland to Louisiana | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia, MD to New Orleans, LA | $842 – $1,428 | 1,110 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Columbia, MD to Baton Rouge, LA | $842 – $1,401 | 1,168 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Columbia, MD to Shreveport, LA | $966 – $1,537 | 1,219 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Columbia, MD to Metairie, LA | $877 – $1,387 | 1,114 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Columbia, MD to Lafayette, LA | $947 – $1,493 | 1,221 miles | 2 – 8 days |
Cost to ship a car from Germantown, MD to Louisiana
| From Maryland to Louisiana | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Germantown, MD to New Orleans, LA | $838 – $1,327 | 1,097 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Germantown, MD to Baton Rouge, LA | $912 – $1,401 | 1,154 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Germantown, MD to Shreveport, LA | $985 – $1,464 | 1,205 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Germantown, MD to Metairie, LA | $895 – $1,442 | 1,101 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Germantown, MD to Lafayette, LA | $947 – $1,420 | 1,208 miles | 2 – 8 days |
Cost to ship a car from Silver Spring, MD to Louisiana
| From Maryland to Louisiana | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Silver Spring, MD to New Orleans, LA | $838 – $1,236 | 1,090 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Silver Spring, MD to Baton Rouge, LA | $930 – $1,428 | 1,147 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Silver Spring, MD to Shreveport, LA | $921 – $1,345 | 1,198 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Silver Spring, MD to Metairie, LA | $854 – $1,236 | 1,094 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Silver Spring, MD to Lafayette, LA | $947 – $1,523 | 1,201 miles | 2 – 8 days |
Shipping an SUV or truck from Maryland to Louisiana
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 Louisiana you should expect to pay between $1,244 and $1,775.
Factors that affect car shipping costs from Maryland to Louisiana
When transporting your vehicle from the Old Line State to the Pelican State, these factors will influence your final price:
- 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 rates rise with vehicle size and weight. Generally, larger cars cost more to ship to Louisiana than smaller ones.
- Distance and route: Traveling from Maryland to Louisiana involves roughly 1,200 miles. Greater distances increase both fuel and labor expenses.
- Time of the year: Peak seasons like summer or holidays raise shipping demand. This makes moves out of Maryland more expensive during these times.
- Fuel prices: Since car shipping costs fluctuate with fuel costs, the cost of shipping between Maryland and Louisiana may be affected by changing gas prices across regions.
- Delivery expectations: Because it’ll make their job easier, your auto shipper may give you a pricing discount if you’re flexible on delivery dates. That being said, getting your car from Maryland to Louisiana should take between two and eight days. Expedited services are available but come at a higher cost.
Louisiana vehicle regulations you need to know
To drive legally after your move to Louisiana, you’ll need to handle vehicle registration and a few additional steps. Here’s a simple breakdown of what’s required.
- Car insurance 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.
- Vehicle inspection: 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.
- Driver’s license: New residents in Louisiana must transfer their out-of-state driver's license within 30 days of establishing residency in the state.
- Additional taxes: In Louisiana, a 4% tax is levied on all car sales by the state, with additional taxes charged by individual counties and cities.
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 Louisiana
About 4.6 million people are living in 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.
FAQ
Does someone have to be present when you ship a car for pickup in Maryland and delivery in Louisiana?
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 Louisiana.
Do you need car insurance when shipping your car from Maryland to Louisiana?
If you’re not driving the vehicle from Maryland to Louisiana, you aren't required to have typical car insurance. Your car hauler should have adequate insurance if an accident happened on the drive to Louisiana, 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.
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.
How long does it take to ship a car from Maryland to Louisiana?
Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from Maryland to Louisiana is about 1,200 miles, and that’s as fast as about 3 days. However, most car transport companies will take two to eight days to travel from Maryland to Louisiana.
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 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.
If I have a driver’s license in Maryland, will I need one in Louisiana?
New residents in Louisiana must transfer their out-of-state driver's license within 30 days of establishing residency in the state.
If I bought a car in Maryland, will I be required to pay sales tax in Louisiana after shipping it there?
It’s important to understand any tax implications if you’re having a car shipped from Maryland to Louisiana after purchasing it.
In Louisiana, a 4% tax is levied on all car sales by the state, with additional taxes charged by individual counties and cities.
We recommend that you always check for updated tax information in both Maryland and Louisiana to avoid any hidden costs.
What is the cheapest way to ship a car from Maryland to Louisiana?
The cheapest way to ship a car from Maryland to Louisiana 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 Louisiana?
Shipping a car from Maryland to Louisiana costs $995 to $1,420.
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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