Montana to Michigan Car Shipping (2025 Cost Guide)
Quick answer: Shipping a car 1,360 miles from Montana to Michigan usually costs between $1,048 and $1,629. Transit time is about three–eight days, depending on the type of transport you choose and the season. For a more specific estimate, try our car shipping cost calculator.
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Shipping a car the reverse route? We’ve got you covered with our Michigan to Montana 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 Montana to Michigan 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 Montana to Michigan:
- 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
- Price matching
- One-day pickup
- New customer discount
- White-glove 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 Montana
Going with a nearby mover? These recommended car shippers in Montana can deliver your vehicle to Michigan:
- Turbo Auto Transport: 3.56 out of 5 stars
- Big Sky Auto Transport: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Turbo Auto Transport
5001 49th St. SW, Great Falls, MT 59404 US
turboautotransport.com
3.56 / 5.0
Customers consistently praise the service as the best in Great Falls, Montana, highlighting exceptional customer service and expertise in truck and trailer repairs. Some emphasize the positive atmosphere and helpful staff, underscoring their willingness to assist with vehicle needs. However, no significant complaints or issues were noted, indicating overall satisfaction with the services provided.
Services Offered
- Open transport
- Enclosed transport
- Interstate shipping
- International shipping
- Insured shipping
- Expedited delivery
Additional Information
- Pay by credit card
- DOT #: 1482475
Alternative Business Names
- Turbo Transportation Group, LLC
Big Sky Auto Transport
4825 53rd Avenue SW, Great Falls, MT 59404 US
bigskyautotransport.com
3.5 / 5.0
Customers overwhelmingly praise Big Sky Auto Transport for their excellent communication, timely service, and the professionalism of their drivers. Many noted the special attention provided by the staff, making the process smooth and reassuring. However, some reviews did not mention any significant negatives, indicating overall satisfaction with the service.
Services Offered
- Open transport
- Enclosed transport
- Interstate shipping
- Insured shipping
- Expedited delivery
- Multi-car transport
- Classic cars
- RVs
- Motorcycles
- Inoperable cars
Additional Information
- Pay by credit card
- DOT #: 598761
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 Montana to Michigan
Ship it with your movers
If you’re planning a move from Montana to Michigan, you may find it convenient to work with a moving company that also handles car shipping. Many interstate movers partner with experienced car shipping services to arrange auto transport.
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 rating
4.75 / 5
Licensed
 Insured
Price
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Drive it yourself
While it’s simple, this isn’t always the best option, and it’ll put about 1,360 extra miles on your car to travel from Montana to Michigan. To help decide, here are the pros and cons of driving vs. shipping.
Hire a driver
Another option is to pay someone to drive your car from Montana to Michigan. This can be costly and hinges on trusting another person to handle your vehicle responsibly.
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!
Montana to Michigan 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 Montana and Michigan. The trip typically spans 1,360 miles and takes about three–eight days.
Cost to ship a car from Billings, MT to Michigan
| From Montana to Michigan | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Billings, MT to Detroit, MI | $1,118 – $1,564 | 1,515 miles | 3 – 9 days |
| Billings, MT to Grand Rapids, MI | $968 – $1,511 | 1,280 miles | 3 – 8 days |
| Billings, MT to Warren, MI | $1,129 – $1,729 | 1,523 miles | 3 – 9 days |
| Billings, MT to Sterling Heights, MI | $1,106 – $1,712 | 1,527 miles | 3 – 9 days |
| Billings, MT to Ann Arbor, MI | $1,062 – $1,565 | 1,473 miles | 3 – 8 days |
Cost to ship a car from Missoula, MT to Michigan
| From Montana to Michigan | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Missoula, MT to Detroit, MI | $1,343 – $1,991 | 1,857 miles | 3 – 11 days |
| Missoula, MT to Grand Rapids, MI | $1,253 – $1,873 | 1,752 miles | 3 – 11 days |
| Missoula, MT to Warren, MI | $1,292 – $1,802 | 1,864 miles | 3 – 11 days |
| Missoula, MT to Sterling Heights, MI | $1,266 – $1,821 | 1,868 miles | 3 – 11 days |
| Missoula, MT to Ann Arbor, MI | $1,279 – $1,878 | 1,814 miles | 3 – 11 days |
Cost to ship a car from Great Falls, MT to Michigan
| From Montana to Michigan | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Great Falls, MT to Detroit, MI | $1,199 – $1,812 | 1,666 miles | 3 – 9 days |
| Great Falls, MT to Grand Rapids, MI | $1,095 – $1,533 | 1,431 miles | 3 – 8 days |
| Great Falls, MT to Warren, MI | $1,223 – $1,639 | 1,673 miles | 3 – 9 days |
| Great Falls, MT to Sterling Heights, MI | $1,151 – $1,760 | 1,677 miles | 3 – 9 days |
| Great Falls, MT to Ann Arbor, MI | $1,139 – $1,708 | 1,623 miles | 3 – 9 days |
Cost to ship a car from Bozeman, MT to Michigan
| From Montana to Michigan | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bozeman, MT to Detroit, MI | $1,235 – $1,760 | 1,655 miles | 3 – 9 days |
| Bozeman, MT to Grand Rapids, MI | $1,141 – $1,630 | 1,550 miles | 3 – 9 days |
| Bozeman, MT to Warren, MI | $1,247 – $1,674 | 1,663 miles | 3 – 9 days |
| Bozeman, MT to Sterling Heights, MI | $1,175 – $1,691 | 1,667 miles | 3 – 9 days |
| Bozeman, MT to Ann Arbor, MI | $1,235 – $1,639 | 1,613 miles | 3 – 9 days |
Cost to ship a car from Butte, MT to Michigan
| From Montana to Michigan | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Butte, MT to Detroit, MI | $1,228 – $1,801 | 1,740 miles | 3 – 9 days |
| Butte, MT to Grand Rapids, MI | $1,235 – $1,812 | 1,635 miles | 3 – 9 days |
| Butte, MT to Warren, MI | $1,241 – $1,729 | 1,747 miles | 3 – 9 days |
| Butte, MT to Sterling Heights, MI | $1,216 – $1,837 | 1,752 miles | 3 – 11 days |
| Butte, MT to Ann Arbor, MI | $1,223 – $1,639 | 1,698 miles | 3 – 9 days |
Shipping an SUV or truck from Montana to Michigan
Transporting bigger vehicles like SUVs, trucks, and vans is usually more expensive than shipping a sedan due to increased weight and space requirements.
For this route from Montana to Michigan, the cost for a larger vehicle is generally about $1,310–$2,036.
Factors that affect car shipping costs from Montana to Michigan
When transporting your vehicle from the Big Sky Country to the Wolverine State, these factors will influence your final price:
- Type of transport: Open carriers are budget-friendly, while enclosed transport is recommended for high-value or classic cars. Top-loading is another option to consider. Learn more in our guide to open vs. enclosed shipping.
- Vehicle size and type: Shipping costs are higher for bigger and heavier vehicles. Your car’s weight and dimensions play a direct role in the total cost to ship it to Michigan.
- Distance and route: The journey from Montana to Michigan spans approximately 1,360 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 Montana, with summer and winter holidays often seeing a spike due to increased moving and travel activity.
- Fuel prices: Varying fuel costs across the country can affect shipping rates. When transporting your car from Montana to Michigan, you may see the effect of these fluctuations.
- Delivery expectations: Shippers may offer lower pricing if your schedule allows for flexible delivery dates. Standard delivery takes three–eight days, while expedited service costs more.
Michigan vehicle regulations you need to know
Moving to Michigan 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: 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.
- Vehicle inspection: Michigan does not require vehicle inspections for registration purposes. There is no state mandate for car safety inspections or emissions testing.
- Driver’s license: Michigan law requires new residents to promptly title and register their vehicles, with no grace period provided. A person is considered a resident if they live in the state and prove their legal presence in the US. To comply with these requirements, new residents should visit a Secretary of State office to obtain a Michigan driver's license, title, and registration as soon as they establish residency.
- Additional taxes: In Michigan, a 6% sales tax is imposed on all vehicle purchases.
Learn more with our car shipping checklist.
Transporting your vehicle from Montana
More than 1.1 million people call Montana home. Nicknamed the Big Sky Country. Montana has a lot of variation in geography, topography, and elevation, and the climate is equally varied. The western half is mountainous, interrupted by numerous large valleys. Eastern Montana comprises plains and badlands, broken by hills and isolated mountain ranges, The Continental Divide has a considerable effect on the climate, as it restricts the flow of warmer air from the Pacific from moving east, and drier continental air from moving west. The area west of the divide has a modified northern Pacific Coast climate, with milder winters, cooler summers, less wind, and a longer growing season. Low clouds and fog often form in the valleys west of the divide in winter, but this is rarely seen in the east.
Transporting your vehicle to Michigan
About 10.0 million people are living in 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.
FAQ
Does someone have to be present when you ship a car for pickup in Montana and delivery in Michigan?
Most companies will require that an adult of at least 18 years of age be present when picking up your car in Montana and when dropping it off in Michigan.
Do you need car insurance when shipping your car from Montana to Michigan?
If you’re not driving the vehicle from Montana to Michigan, you aren't required to have typical car insurance. Your car hauler should have adequate insurance if an accident happened on the drive to Michigan, which you should verify before loading your car in Montana.
If you’re driving your car at all in either state, you should understand the requirements. In Montana, drivers must meet legal requirements for minimum car insurance liability coverage to ensure financial responsibility in accidents. Mandated by state regulations, this includes $25,000 per person for bodily injury and $50,000 per accident for bodily injury, covering collective medical expenses in case of multiple injuries, capped at $50,000 for the entire incident. Additionally, there's a required minimum of $20,000 per accident for property damage, crucial for addressing costs related to damage to another party's vehicle or property. Adhering to these insurance requirements is imperative for all motorists, ensuring compliance with state laws and contributing to a secure and responsible driving environment on Montana roadways.
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.
How long does it take to ship a car from Montana to Michigan?
Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from Montana to Michigan is about 1,360 miles, and that’s as fast as about 3 days. However, most car transport companies will take three to eight days to travel from Montana to Michigan.
Will I be required to have a vehicle inspection in either state?
If you are moving to Montana, you are not required to have your vehicle inspected.
Michigan does not require vehicle inspections for registration purposes. There is no state mandate for car safety inspections or emissions testing.
If I have a driver’s license in Montana, will I need one in Michigan?
Michigan law requires new residents to promptly title and register their vehicles, with no grace period provided. A person is considered a resident if they live in the state and prove their legal presence in the US. To comply with these requirements, new residents should visit a Secretary of State office to obtain a Michigan driver's license, title, and registration as soon as they establish residency.
If I bought a car in Montana, will I be required to pay sales tax in Michigan after shipping it there?
It’s important to understand any tax implications if you’re having a car shipped from Montana to Michigan after purchasing it.
In Michigan, a 6% sales tax is imposed on all vehicle purchases.
We recommend that you always check for updated tax information in both Montana and Michigan to avoid any hidden costs.
What is the cheapest way to ship a car from Montana to Michigan?
The cheapest way to ship a car from Montana to Michigan 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 Montana to Michigan?
Shipping a car from Montana to Michigan costs $1,048 to $1,629.
