Montana to New Mexico Car Shipping (2025 Cost Guide)

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 New Mexico.

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

Out-of-state insurance is acceptable in New Mexico, provided it meets the state's minimums $25,000 per person, $50,000 per accident for bodily injury, and $10,000 for property damage. To comply, submit a signed Affidavit of Non-Use/Out-of-State insurance to the New Mexico Insurance Identification Database (IIDB). Ensure legal coverage with a submitted affidavit.

Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from Montana to New Mexico is about 1,095 miles, and that’s as fast as about 3 days. However, most car transport companies will take two to eight days to travel from Montana to New Mexico.

If you are moving to Montana, you are not required to have your vehicle inspected.

Individuals relocating to New Mexico from another state must have their vehicle inspected for its VIN at a certified MVD facility.

To get your New Mexico driver's license, visit MVD Express with the required documents. A driver's license serves as both a legal permit to drive and an ID, so you must prove your residency and identity. Bring your current out-of-state driver's license, an ID number such as your social security card, two forms of proof of New Mexico address.

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

If a vehicle is purchased in a different state and a tax similar to a gross receipts or sales tax has already been paid, the amount of that tax may be applied towards the MVET (motor vehicle excise tax) owed on that same vehicle.

We recommend that you always check for updated tax information in both Montana and New Mexico to avoid any hidden costs.

The cheapest way to ship a car from Montana to New Mexico is to ship it on a train or choose an open trailer transport method, avoid expedited shipping, and be flexible with your pickup dates.

Shipping a car from Montana to New Mexico costs $897 to $1,325.