North Dakota to Iowa 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 North Dakota and when dropping it off in Iowa.

If you’re not driving the vehicle from North Dakota to Iowa, you aren't required to have typical car insurance. Your car hauler should have adequate insurance if an accident happened on the drive to Iowa, which you should verify before loading your car in North Dakota.

If you’re driving your car at all in either state, you should understand the requirements. North Dakota mandates that all vehicles carry minimum liability insurance coverage, which includes $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for bodily injury and property damage. Additionally, drivers must have $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage. Basic personal injury protection is also required, providing $150 per week with a maximum of $30,000.

Iowa requires minimum liability insurance, covering $20,000 for individual injury or death, $40,000 for multiple individuals, and $15,000 for property damage in an accident.

Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from North Dakota to Iowa is about 713 miles, and that’s as fast as about 2 days. However, most car transport companies will take one to six days to travel from North Dakota to Iowa.

As a new resident in North Dakota, you have 90 days to have your vehicle inspected and registered in the state. There is no requirement for smog or emissions testing in North Dakota.

In Iowa, car owners are not obligated to undergo emissions, VIN, or safety inspections.

New residents with an out-of-state license must obtain an Iowa license within 30 days of establishing permanent residency. To do so, visit the DMV with your former state license, as it will need to be surrendered for the new license.

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

In Iowa, sales of vehicles requiring registration are exempt from sales tax but subject to a 5% fee for new registration.

We recommend that you always check for updated tax information in both North Dakota and Iowa to avoid any hidden costs.

The cheapest way to ship a car from North Dakota to Iowa 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 North Dakota to Iowa costs $877 to $1,277.