Maryland to South Carolina Car Shipping (2025 Cost Guide)

Quick answer: The average cost to ship a car 523 miles from Maryland to South Carolina ranges from $792 to $1,111 and takes one–six 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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  • Price lock promise
  • Free car wash
moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.7 / 5
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  • Refundable deposit
  • Discounts available
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  • Door-to-door service
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Shipping a car the reverse route? We’ve got you covered with our South Carolina to Maryland car shipping guide.

The best Maryland to South Carolina car shipping companies

We’ve done the research and these are the best car shipping companies to help transport your vehicle from Maryland to South Carolina:

Best for accurate pricing
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moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.5 / 5
Get a quote (833) 775-1461
At A Glance
  • Price Lock Promise
  • Pay by credit card
  • Free car wash at delivery
  • No upfront deposit
  • Door-to-door service
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Get a quote (833) 775-1461
Best for Real-Time Tracking
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moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.7 / 5
Get a quote (224) 310-1412
At A Glance
  • GPS tracking
  • Instant online quotes
  • Economy option
  • Ships nationwide
  • Easy online scheduling
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Get a quote (224) 310-1412
Best cross-country shipper
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moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.5 / 5
Get a quote (224) 206-5633
At A Glance
  • Competitive pricing & $0 upfront
  • GPS tracking
  • Multiple insurance options
  • Guaranteed pickup dates available
  • Door-to-door service
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Get a quote (224) 206-5633
Best for overall value
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moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.9 / 5
Get a quote (864) 492-1221
At A Glance
  • No hidden fees
  • Free online quotes
  • Door-to-door service in 48 states
  • Exact pickup dates
  • Ships to & from HI
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Get a quote (864) 492-1221

Alternative ways to ship your car from Maryland to South Carolina

  • Drive it yourself. This is straightforward but not always an option, and it will put about 523 miles on your car going from Maryland to South Carolina. If you’re not sure, here are the pros and cons of driving your car vs shipping it.
  • Ship it with your movers. If you need to ship your car from Maryland for a move to South Carolina, 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.
  • Hire a driver. Hire someone to drive the car from Maryland to South Carolina for you. It’s an option, but will probably be a very costly one and involve trusting a driver to safely get your car to its destination.
  • Ship by train. If this is an option for you, it’s an affordable and secure way of shipping your vehicle. Shipping a car by train is actually the cheapest way to ship your car!

MD to SC auto transport costs and transit times

The tables below detail the costs and estimated transit times for shipping a car between popular cities in Maryland and South Carolina. The average travel distance is about 523 miles, with shipping times typically ranging from one to six days .

Cost to ship a car from Washington DC, MD to South Carolinatoggle

From Maryland to South Carolina Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Washington DC, MD to Charleston, SC $840 – $1,093 531 miles 1 – 6 days
Washington DC, MD to Columbia, SC $749 – $1,072 478 miles 1 – 4 days
Washington DC, MD to North Charleston, SC $760 – $1,133 522 miles 1 – 6 days
Washington DC, MD to Mount Pleasant, SC $857 – $1,173 534 miles 1 – 6 days
Washington DC, MD to Rock Hill, SC $794 – $995 425 miles 1 – 4 days

Cost to ship a car from Baltimore, MD to South Carolinatoggle

From Maryland to South Carolina Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Baltimore, MD to Charleston, SC $868 – $1,237 575 miles 1 – 6 days
Baltimore, MD to Columbia, SC $800 – $1,056 518 miles 1 – 6 days
Baltimore, MD to North Charleston, SC $847 – $1,224 563 miles 1 – 6 days
Baltimore, MD to Mount Pleasant, SC $872 – $1,188 573 miles 1 – 6 days
Baltimore, MD to Rock Hill, SC $750 – $1,019 465 miles 1 – 4 days

Cost to ship a car from Columbia, MD to South Carolinatoggle

From Maryland to South Carolina Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Columbia, MD to Charleston, SC $864 – $1,235 562 miles 1 – 6 days
Columbia, MD to Columbia, SC $832 – $1,144 510 miles 1 – 6 days
Columbia, MD to North Charleston, SC $855 – $1,141 554 miles 1 – 6 days
Columbia, MD to Mount Pleasant, SC $830 – $1,212 568 miles 1 – 6 days
Columbia, MD to Rock Hill, SC $774 – $1,083 459 miles 1 – 4 days

Cost to ship a car from Germantown, MD to South Carolinatoggle

From Maryland to South Carolina Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Germantown, MD to Charleston, SC $872 – $1,188 552 miles 1 – 6 days
Germantown, MD to Columbia, SC $776 – $1,078 500 miles 1 – 6 days
Germantown, MD to North Charleston, SC $840 – $1,150 544 miles 1 – 6 days
Germantown, MD to Mount Pleasant, SC $855 – $1,200 555 miles 1 – 6 days
Germantown, MD to Rock Hill, SC $749 – $1,057 446 miles 1 – 4 days

Cost to ship a car from Silver Spring, MD to South Carolinatoggle

From Maryland to South Carolina Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Silver Spring, MD to Charleston, SC $799 – $1,105 545 miles 1 – 6 days
Silver Spring, MD to Columbia, SC $788 – $1,137 493 miles 1 – 4 days
Silver Spring, MD to North Charleston, SC $816 – $1,105 536 miles 1 – 6 days
Silver Spring, MD to Mount Pleasant, SC $849 – $1,139 548 miles 1 – 6 days
Silver Spring, MD to Rock Hill, SC $786 – $1,037 439 miles 1 – 4 days

Shipping an SUV or truck from Maryland to South Carolinatoggle

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 South Carolina you should expect to pay between $990 and $1,389.

Factors that affect car shipping costs from MD to SC

When transporting your vehicle from the Old Line State to the Palmetto State, these factors will influence your final price:

  • 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: The dimensions and weight of your vehicle directly affect shipping costs. The larger and heavier your vehicle, the more it will cost to ship your car to South Carolina.
  • Distance and route: The journey from Maryland to South Carolina spans approximately 523 miles, influencing fuel and labor costs. The longer the distance, the bigger the price tag.
  • 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 South Carolina and the varying gas prices across the country.
  • 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 South Carolina should take between one and six days. Expedited services are available but come at a higher cost.

South Carolina vehicle regulations you need to know

  • Car insurance requirements: In South Carolina, it's a legal requirement for every driver to have liability insurance. Adhering to the state's minimum liability limits, commonly referred to as 25/50/25, entails securing coverage of at least $25,000 for bodily injury per person, $50,000 for total bodily injury per accident, and $25,000 for property damage per accident. Stay compliant with these essential insurance standards to drive confidently on South Carolina roads.
  • Vehicle inspection: Drivers in South Carolina are not required to get a safety, VIN, or emissions inspection for their vehicle.
  • Driver’s license: If you are moving to South Carolina, you will be required to obtain a South Carolina driver's license within 90 days of establishing residency in the state.
  • Additional taxes: In South Carolina, there is a sales tax imposed on the purchase of a vehicle. The sales tax rate is 6%, which is collected by the dealer at the time of purchase.

Learn more with our car shipping checklist.

Transporting your vehicle from Maryland

More than 39 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 South Carolina

About 22 million people are living in the Palmetto State. South Carolina had hot and humid summers and cool to mild winters and coastal areas of the state have very mild winters. While precipitation is abundant the entire year in almost the entire state, the coast tends to have a slightly wetter summer, while inland, the spring and autumn transitions tend to be the wettest periods and winter the driest season, with November being the driest month.

FAQ

Does someone have to be present when you ship a car for pickup in Maryland and delivery in South Carolina?toggle

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 South Carolina.

Do you need car insurance when shipping your car from Maryland to South Carolina?toggle

If you’re not driving the vehicle from Maryland to South 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 South Carolina, 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.

In South Carolina, it's a legal requirement for every driver to have liability insurance. Adhering to the state's minimum liability limits, commonly referred to as 25/50/25, entails securing coverage of at least $25,000 for bodily injury per person, $50,000 for total bodily injury per accident, and $25,000 for property damage per accident. Stay compliant with these essential insurance standards to drive confidently on South Carolina roads.

How long does it take to ship a car from Maryland to South Carolina?toggle

Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from Maryland to South Carolina is about 523 miles, and that’s as fast as about 2 days. However, most car transport companies will take one to six days to travel from Maryland to South Carolina.

Will I be required to have a vehicle inspection in either state?toggle

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.

Drivers in South Carolina are not required to get a safety, VIN, or emissions inspection for their vehicle.

If I have a driver’s license in Maryland, will I need one in South Carolina?toggle

If you are moving to South Carolina, you will be required to obtain a South Carolina driver's license within 90 days of establishing residency in the state.

If I bought a car in Maryland, will I be required to pay sales tax in South Carolina after shipping it there?toggle

It’s important to understand any tax implications if you’re having a car shipped from Maryland to South Carolina after purchasing it.

In South Carolina, there is a sales tax imposed on the purchase of a vehicle. The sales tax rate is 6%, which is collected by the dealer at the time of purchase.

We recommend that you always check for updated tax information in both Maryland and South Carolina to avoid any hidden costs.

What is the cheapest way to ship a car from Maryland to South Carolina?toggle

The cheapest way to ship a car from Maryland to South 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 Maryland to South Carolina?toggle

Shipping a car from Maryland to South Carolina costs $792 to $1,111.

Helpful Maryland resources