Michigan to Indiana Car Shipping (2026 Cost Guide)
Quick answer: The cost to ship a car 324 miles from Michigan to Indiana typically falls between $509 and $655. The process usually takes one–four 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 Indiana to Michigan 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 Michigan to Indiana car shipping companies
After spending over 400 hours analyzing the key players in the car shipping industry, we determined that these are the best car shipping companies for moving your car from Michigan to Indiana:
- 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 Michigan
Prefer a hometown provider? Check out the best car shippers in Michigan ready to move your vehicle to Indiana:
- Detroit Auto Shipping Group: 3.8 out of 5 stars
- First Choice Of Elkhart Inc: 3.8 out of 5 stars
- Jack Cooper Transport: 3.72 out of 5 stars
- Great Lakes Logistics Llc: 3.64 out of 5 stars
- Awesome Auto Transporters LLC: 3.64 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 Michigan to Indiana
Ship it with your movers
If you’re relocating from Michigan to Indiana, consider choosing a moving company that also offers car shipping. Many long-distance movers partner with trusted auto transport providers to coordinate the process.
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Drive it yourself
While it’s simple, this isn’t always the best option, and it’ll put about 324 extra miles on your car to travel from Michigan to Indiana. To help decide, here are the pros and cons of driving vs. shipping.
Hire a driver
You can hire someone to drive your car from Michigan to Indiana, 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.
Michigan to Indiana auto transport costs and transit times
Here are tables summarizing the expected costs and transit times for car shipping between well-traveled routes in Michigan and Indiana. The average journey covers about 324 miles and takes roughly one to four days.
Cost to ship a car from Detroit, MI to Indiana
| From Michigan to Indiana | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit, MI to Indianapolis, IN | $475 – $598 | 286 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Detroit, MI to Fort Wayne, IN | $374 – $484 | 162 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Detroit, MI to Evansville, IN | $595 – $866 | 458 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Detroit, MI to South Bend, IN | $432 – $563 | 220 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Detroit, MI to Carmel, IN | $440 – $570 | 274 miles | 1 – 4 days |
Cost to ship a car from Grand Rapids, MI to Indiana
| From Michigan to Indiana | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Rapids, MI to Indianapolis, IN | $444 – $564 | 264 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Grand Rapids, MI to Fort Wayne, IN | $406 – $522 | 175 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Grand Rapids, MI to Evansville, IN | $599 – $837 | 433 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Grand Rapids, MI to South Bend, IN | $344 – $501 | 116 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Grand Rapids, MI to Carmel, IN | $419 – $594 | 239 miles | 1 – 4 days |
Cost to ship a car from Warren, MI to Indiana
| From Michigan to Indiana | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Warren, MI to Indianapolis, IN | $470 – $635 | 304 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Warren, MI to Fort Wayne, IN | $398 – $512 | 179 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Warren, MI to Evansville, IN | $600 – $866 | 476 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Warren, MI to South Bend, IN | $432 – $586 | 229 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Warren, MI to Carmel, IN | $443 – $617 | 291 miles | 1 – 4 days |
Cost to ship a car from Sterling Heights, MI to Indiana
| From Michigan to Indiana | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sterling Heights, MI to Indianapolis, IN | $465 – $635 | 308 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Sterling Heights, MI to Fort Wayne, IN | $410 – $539 | 183 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Sterling Heights, MI to Evansville, IN | $649 – $807 | 480 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Sterling Heights, MI to South Bend, IN | $441 – $560 | 232 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Sterling Heights, MI to Carmel, IN | $461 – $611 | 295 miles | 1 – 4 days |
Cost to ship a car from Ann Arbor, MI to Indiana
| From Michigan to Indiana | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ann Arbor, MI to Indianapolis, IN | $418 – $606 | 266 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Ann Arbor, MI to Fort Wayne, IN | $358 – $516 | 141 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Ann Arbor, MI to Evansville, IN | $623 – $805 | 437 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Ann Arbor, MI to South Bend, IN | $367 – $528 | 179 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Ann Arbor, MI to Carmel, IN | $418 – $559 | 253 miles | 1 – 4 days |
Shipping an SUV or truck from Michigan to Indiana
Because of their added size and weight, SUVs, trucks, and vans generally cost more to ship than smaller cars.
Shipping a larger vehicle from Michigan to Indiana usually runs between $636 and $819.
Factors that affect car shipping costs from Michigan to Indiana
If you’re shipping a car from the Wolverine State to the Hoosier State, 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: 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 Indiana.
- Distance and route: The journey from Michigan to Indiana spans about 324 miles. More miles mean more fuel and labor, raising the cost.
- Time of the year: Peak seasons like summer or holidays raise shipping demand. This makes moves out of Michigan more expensive during these times.
- Fuel prices: Fluctuating fuel prices can significantly affect transport costs. This is an important consideration given the distance between Michigan and Indiana and the varying gas prices across the country.
- Delivery expectations: Flexible delivery dates may lower your rate. The standard shipping time is one–four days, but you can pay for expedited service.
Indiana vehicle regulations you need to know
Moving to Indiana means taking care of certain tasks to get your car registered and ready for the road. Here’s a summary of the key steps involved.
- Car insurance requirements: Indiana's minimum auto insurance coverage is $25,000/$50,000/$10,000, providing $25,000 per person and a maximum of $50,000 per incident for bodily injury, along with $10,000 for property damage in the event of a covered accident. Liability coverage in Indiana includes property damage, protecting your assets in case you're legally responsible for damages to another party's property, and bodily injury, covering expenses related to harm sustained by others in a covered accident.
- Vehicle inspection: Indiana does not mandate safety inspections for vehicles. However, the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles requires a VIN inspection for vehicles not previously registered in the state.
- Driver’s license: As a new resident of Indiana, you have 60 days to obtain an Indiana driver's license if you have a valid license from another state. You must also transfer the titles and registrations of your vehicles from your previous state to Indiana.
- Additional taxes: If you purchase a car in another state and pay sales tax there, you receive a credit for the amount paid. If the tax rate in that state is lower than Indiana's 7%, you'll need to pay the difference in order to obtain the Indiana title for the car.
Learn more with our car shipping checklist.
Transporting your vehicle from Michigan
More than 10.0 million people call Michigan home. Nicknamed the Wolverine State. Michigan has a continental climate, although there are two distinct regions. The southern and central parts of the Lower Peninsula (south of Saginaw Bay and from the Grand Rapids area southward) have a warmer climate with hot summers and cold winters. The northern part of the Lower Peninsula and the entire Upper Peninsula has a more severe climate (Köppen Dfb), with warm, but shorter summers and longer, cold to very cold winters. Some parts of the state average high temperatures below freezing from December through February, and into early March in the far northern parts. During the winter through the middle of February, the state is frequently subjected to heavy lake-effect snow. The state averages 30 days of thunderstorm activity per year. These can be severe, especially in the southern part of the state. The state averages 17 tornadoes per year, which are more common in the state's extreme southern section.
Transporting your vehicle to Indiana
About 6.8 million people are living in the Hoosier State. In the past, most of Indiana had cold winters and hot, wet summers. Only the very bottom of the state had a different climate with more rain. But currently, about half of Indiana now has that rainier climate. The temperatures are different in the northern and southern parts of the state.
FAQ
Does someone have to be present when you ship a car for pickup in Michigan and delivery in Indiana?
Most companies will require that an adult of at least 18 years of age be present when picking up your car in Michigan and when dropping it off in Indiana.
Do you need car insurance when shipping your car from Michigan to Indiana?
If you’re not driving the vehicle from Michigan to Indiana, you aren't required to have typical car insurance. Your car hauler should have adequate insurance if an accident happened on the drive to Indiana, which you should verify before loading your car in Michigan.
If you’re driving your car at all in either state, you should understand the requirements. Michigan requires a minimum auto insurance coverage of $50,000/$100,000 for bodily injury and $10,000 for property damage in case of an accident.
Indiana's minimum auto insurance coverage is $25,000/$50,000/$10,000, providing $25,000 per person and a maximum of $50,000 per incident for bodily injury, along with $10,000 for property damage in the event of a covered accident. Liability coverage in Indiana includes property damage, protecting your assets in case you're legally responsible for damages to another party's property, and bodily injury, covering expenses related to harm sustained by others in a covered accident.
How long does it take to ship a car from Michigan to Indiana?
Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from Michigan to Indiana is about 324 miles, and that’s as fast as about 1 day. However, most car transport companies will take one to four days to travel from Michigan to Indiana.
Will I be required to have a vehicle inspection in either state?
Michigan does not require vehicle inspections for registration purposes. There is no state mandate for car safety inspections or emissions testing.
Indiana does not mandate safety inspections for vehicles. However, the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles requires a VIN inspection for vehicles not previously registered in the state.
If I have a driver’s license in Michigan, will I need one in Indiana?
As a new resident of Indiana, you have 60 days to obtain an Indiana driver's license if you have a valid license from another state. You must also transfer the titles and registrations of your vehicles from your previous state to Indiana.
If I bought a car in Michigan, will I be required to pay sales tax in Indiana after shipping it there?
It’s important to understand any tax implications if you’re having a car shipped from Michigan to Indiana after purchasing it.
If you purchase a car in another state and pay sales tax there, you receive a credit for the amount paid. If the tax rate in that state is lower than Indiana's 7%, you'll need to pay the difference in order to obtain the Indiana title for the car.
We recommend that you always check for updated tax information in both Michigan and Indiana to avoid any hidden costs.
What is the cheapest way to ship a car from Michigan to Indiana?
The cheapest way to ship a car from Michigan to Indiana 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 Michigan to Indiana?
Shipping a car from Michigan to Indiana costs $509 to $655.
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