Michigan to Tennessee Car Shipping (2024 Cost Guide)

Quick answer: The average cost to ship a car 701 miles from Michigan to Tennessee ranges from $798 to $1,149 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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  • Established in 2007
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  • Services all 50 states
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Shipping a car the reverse route? We’ve got you covered with our Tennessee to Michigan car shipping guide.

The best Michigan to Tennessee car shipping companies

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

Best for accurate pricing
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moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.5 / 5
Check prices (833) 775-1461
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  • Price Lock Promise
  • Pay by credit card
  • Free car wash at delivery
  • No upfront deposit
  • Door-to-door service
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Check prices (833) 775-1461
Best cross-country shipper
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moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.5 / 5
Check prices (224) 206-5633
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  • No upfront payment
  • GPS tracking
  • Multiple insurance options
  • Competitive pricing
  • Door-to-door shipping
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Check prices (224) 206-5633
Best for discounts
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moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.3 / 5
Check prices (770) 501-9057
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  • Competitive pricing
  • Last-minute car shipments
  • Guaranteed & expedited shipments
  • Gap insurance coverage
  • Multiple discounts
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Check prices (770) 501-9057
Best for quick pickup
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moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.9 / 5
Check prices (888) 259-6046
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  • No upfront deposit
  • Expedited shipping
  • No hidden fees
  • Ships motorcycles & RVs
  • Discount for cash payments
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Check prices (888) 259-6046
Best for overall value
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moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.9 / 5
Check prices (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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Check prices (864) 492-1221

Alternative ways to ship your car from Michigan to Tennessee

  • Drive it yourself. This is straightforward but not always an option, and it will put about 701 miles on your car going from Michigan to Tennessee. 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 Michigan for a move to Tennessee, 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 Michigan to Tennessee 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!

MI to TN auto transport costs and transit times

The tables below detail the costs and estimated transit times for shipping a car between popular cities in Michigan and Tennessee. The average travel distance is about 701 miles, with shipping times typically ranging from one to six days .

Cost to ship a car from Detroit, MI to Tennessee

From Michigan to Tennessee Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Detroit, MI to Nashville, TN $697 – $927 534 miles 1 – 6 days
Detroit, MI to Memphis, TN $800 – $1,127 744 miles 1 – 6 days
Detroit, MI to Clarksville, TN $677 – $917 540 miles 1 – 6 days
Detroit, MI to Knoxville, TN $644 – $913 513 miles 1 – 6 days
Detroit, MI to Chattanooga, TN $708 – $1,056 621 miles 1 – 6 days

Cost to ship a car from Grand Rapids, MI to Tennessee

From Michigan to Tennessee Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Grand Rapids, MI to Nashville, TN $637 – $945 546 miles 1 – 6 days
Grand Rapids, MI to Memphis, TN $763 – $1,082 676 miles 1 – 6 days
Grand Rapids, MI to Clarksville, TN $684 – $973 536 miles 1 – 6 days
Grand Rapids, MI to Knoxville, TN $686 – $1,035 605 miles 1 – 6 days
Grand Rapids, MI to Chattanooga, TN $786 – $1,071 675 miles 1 – 6 days

Cost to ship a car from Warren, MI to Tennessee

From Michigan to Tennessee Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Warren, MI to Nashville, TN $717 – $929 552 miles 1 – 6 days
Warren, MI to Memphis, TN $809 – $1,171 761 miles 2 – 7 days
Warren, MI to Clarksville, TN $675 – $919 557 miles 1 – 6 days
Warren, MI to Knoxville, TN $704 – $917 530 miles 1 – 6 days
Warren, MI to Chattanooga, TN $708 – $990 638 miles 1 – 6 days

Cost to ship a car from Sterling Heights, MI to Tennessee

From Michigan to Tennessee Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Sterling Heights, MI to Nashville, TN $668 – $977 556 miles 1 – 6 days
Sterling Heights, MI to Memphis, TN $817 – $1,182 764 miles 2 – 7 days
Sterling Heights, MI to Clarksville, TN $661 – $957 560 miles 1 – 6 days
Sterling Heights, MI to Knoxville, TN $644 – $908 534 miles 1 – 6 days
Sterling Heights, MI to Chattanooga, TN $759 – $1,053 641 miles 1 – 6 days

Cost to ship a car from Ann Arbor, MI to Tennessee

From Michigan to Tennessee Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Ann Arbor, MI to Nashville, TN $638 – $850 521 miles 1 – 6 days
Ann Arbor, MI to Memphis, TN $776 – $1,172 730 miles 1 – 6 days
Ann Arbor, MI to Clarksville, TN $637 – $880 526 miles 1 – 6 days
Ann Arbor, MI to Knoxville, TN $648 – $881 499 miles 1 – 4 days
Ann Arbor, MI to Chattanooga, TN $744 – $1,046 607 miles 1 – 6 days

Shipping an SUV or truck from Michigan to Tennessee

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 Michigan to Tennessee you should expect to pay between $998 and $1,436.

Factors that affect car shipping costs from MI to TN

When transporting your vehicle from the Wolverine State to the Volunteer 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 Tennessee.
  • Distance and route: The journey from Michigan to Tennessee spans approximately 701 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 Michigan, 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 Michigan and Tennessee 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 Michigan to Tennessee should take between one and six days. Expedited services are available but come at a higher cost.

Tennessee vehicle regulations you need to know

  • Car insurance requirements: Tennessee drivers need to fulfill liability insurance criteria of 25/50/15 ($25,000 for individual bodily injury, $50,000 for total bodily injury per accident, and $15,000 for property damage per accident). Valid proof of insurance is crucial for registration and may be requested by law enforcement during traffic stops. Motorists have the flexibility to choose additional coverage for an added layer of vehicle protection.
  • Vehicle inspection: In Tennessee, vehicles must pass annual safety and emissions inspection. Cost is around $15 and more information can be found at Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security's website.
  • Driver’s license: To obtain a driver's license in Tennessee, individuals must be at least 15 years old (with a Learner's Permit) or 16 years old (with a regular driver's license), pass written, vision and driving tests, provide proof of identity, residency, legal presence, and social security number, pass a medical examination if required, pay the required fee, Hold the Learner's Permit for at least 180 days before taking the skills test for the driver's license and comply with the graduated licensing system restrictions for the first 6 months.
  • Additional taxes: When moving to Tennessee, you will be required to pay state income tax and property tax. The state income tax rate in Tennessee is a flat rate of 3%. Property taxes in Tennessee are determined by the county in which the property is located, and can vary widely depending on the area. Additionally, sales tax in Tennessee is 7%, but varies depending on the local area. Some cities and counties in Tennessee also have additional local sales taxes.

Learn more with our car shipping checklist.

Transporting your vehicle from Michigan

More than 39 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 Tennessee

About 22 million people are living in the Volunteer State. Most of Tennessee has hot and humid summers and cool to mild winters, with the exception of some of the higher elevations in the Appalachians, which has mild summers and cool winters. The state averages about 15 tornadoes a year.

FAQ

Does someone have to be present when you ship a car for pickup in Michigan and delivery in Tennessee?

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 Tennessee.

Do you need car insurance when shipping your car from Michigan to Tennessee?

If you’re not driving the vehicle from Michigan to Tennessee, you aren't required to have typical car insurance. Your car hauler should have adequate insurance if an accident happened on the drive to Tennessee, 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.

Tennessee drivers need to fulfill liability insurance criteria of 25/50/15 ($25,000 for individual bodily injury, $50,000 for total bodily injury per accident, and $15,000 for property damage per accident). Valid proof of insurance is crucial for registration and may be requested by law enforcement during traffic stops. Motorists have the flexibility to choose additional coverage for an added layer of vehicle protection.

How long does it take to ship a car from Michigan to Tennessee?

Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from Michigan to Tennessee is about 701 miles, and that’s as fast as about 2 days. However, most car transport companies will take one to six days to travel from Michigan to Tennessee.

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.

In Tennessee, vehicles must pass annual safety and emissions inspection. Cost is around $15 and more information can be found at Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security's website.

If I have a driver’s license in Michigan, will I need one in Tennessee?

To obtain a driver's license in Tennessee, individuals must be at least 15 years old (with a Learner's Permit) or 16 years old (with a regular driver's license), pass written, vision and driving tests, provide proof of identity, residency, legal presence, and social security number, pass a medical examination if required, pay the required fee, Hold the Learner's Permit for at least 180 days before taking the skills test for the driver's license and comply with the graduated licensing system restrictions for the first 6 months.

If I bought a car in Michigan, will I be required to pay sales tax in Tennessee after shipping it there?

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

When moving to Tennessee, you will be required to pay state income tax and property tax. The state income tax rate in Tennessee is a flat rate of 3%. Property taxes in Tennessee are determined by the county in which the property is located, and can vary widely depending on the area. Additionally, sales tax in Tennessee is 7%, but varies depending on the local area. Some cities and counties in Tennessee also have additional local sales taxes.

We recommend that you always check for updated tax information in both Michigan and Tennessee to avoid any hidden costs.

What is the cheapest way to ship a car from Michigan to Tennessee?

The cheapest way to ship a car from Michigan to Tennessee 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 Tennessee?

Shipping a car from Michigan to Tennessee costs $798 to $1,149.

Helpful Michigan resources