Virginia to Alabama Car Shipping (2025 Cost Guide)
Quick answer: The average cost to move a car 668 miles from Virginia to Alabama falls between $729 and $1,113. Delivery typically takes one–six days. The timeline can vary based on the type of transport you opt for and the time of year. To get a tailored quote, check out our car shipping cost calculator.
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Shipping a car the reverse route? We’ve got you covered with our Alabama to Virginia 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 Virginia to Alabama car shipping companies
Backed by over 400 hours of industry research, we identified the best car shipping companies for shipping your car from Virginia to Alabama:
- 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
- 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 Virginia
Prefer a hometown provider? Check out the best car shippers in Virginia ready to move your vehicle to Alabama:
- Safemile Auto Transport: 3.66 out of 5 stars
- Richmond Auto Shipping Group: 3.62 out of 5 stars
- Speedy Car Shipping Norfolk: 3.56 out of 5 stars
- Capital Exports Inc: 3.5 out of 5 stars
- Quality Services Moving: 3.5 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 Virginia to Alabama
Ship it with your movers
If you’re planning a move from Virginia to Alabama, 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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Drive it yourself
While it’s simple, this isn’t always the best option, and it’ll put about 668 extra miles on your car to travel from Virginia to Alabama. 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 Virginia to Alabama. 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!
Virginia to Alabama auto transport costs and transit times
The tables below detail the costs and estimated transit times for shipping a car between popular cities in Virginia and Alabama. The average travel distance is about 668 miles, with shipping times typically ranging from one to six days.
Cost to ship a car from Virginia Beach, VA to Alabama
| From Virginia to Alabama | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia Beach, VA to Huntsville, AL | $779 – $1,220 | 751 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Virginia Beach, VA to Montgomery, AL | $810 – $1,209 | 743 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Virginia Beach, VA to Birmingham, AL | $754 – $1,129 | 729 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Virginia Beach, VA to Mobile, AL | $863 – $1,338 | 910 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Virginia Beach, VA to Tuscaloosa, AL | $794 – $1,193 | 785 miles | 2 – 7 days |
Cost to ship a car from Chesapeake, VA to Alabama
| From Virginia to Alabama | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chesapeake, VA to Huntsville, AL | $770 – $1,152 | 749 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Chesapeake, VA to Montgomery, AL | $786 – $1,106 | 728 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Chesapeake, VA to Birmingham, AL | $815 – $1,107 | 714 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Chesapeake, VA to Mobile, AL | $828 – $1,273 | 895 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Chesapeake, VA to Tuscaloosa, AL | $779 – $1,220 | 769 miles | 2 – 7 days |
Cost to ship a car from Arlington, VA to Alabama
| From Virginia to Alabama | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arlington, VA to Huntsville, AL | $749 – $1,139 | 692 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Arlington, VA to Montgomery, AL | $851 – $1,181 | 797 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Arlington, VA to Birmingham, AL | $762 – $1,198 | 738 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Arlington, VA to Mobile, AL | $788 – $1,246 | 964 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Arlington, VA to Tuscaloosa, AL | $851 – $1,157 | 796 miles | 2 – 7 days |
Cost to ship a car from Norfolk, VA to Alabama
| From Virginia to Alabama | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Norfolk, VA to Huntsville, AL | $762 – $1,198 | 743 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Norfolk, VA to Montgomery, AL | $794 – $1,152 | 726 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Norfolk, VA to Birmingham, AL | $745 – $1,107 | 712 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Norfolk, VA to Mobile, AL | $820 – $1,324 | 893 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Norfolk, VA to Tuscaloosa, AL | $811 – $1,114 | 768 miles | 2 – 7 days |
Cost to ship a car from Richmond, VA to Alabama
| From Virginia to Alabama | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Richmond, VA to Huntsville, AL | $716 – $1,044 | 645 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Richmond, VA to Montgomery, AL | $741 – $1,073 | 692 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Richmond, VA to Birmingham, AL | $788 – $1,139 | 679 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Richmond, VA to Mobile, AL | $809 – $1,208 | 860 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Richmond, VA to Tuscaloosa, AL | $833 – $1,140 | 734 miles | 1 – 6 days |
Shipping an SUV or truck from Virginia to Alabama
Larger vehicles such as SUVs, trucks, and vans are heavier and bulkier, making them more expensive to transport than sedans.
If you’re moving one from Virginia to Alabama, expect costs to range from $911 to $1,391.
Factors that affect car shipping costs from Virginia to Alabama
When arranging car transport from the Old Dominion State to the Heart of Dixie, the following factors will determine your overall cost:
- Type of transport: Open carriers are the most economical, while enclosed transport offers greater protection for valuable or classic cars. Another option you might want to consider is top-loading. For a detailed comparison, see our guide on open vs. enclosed shipping.
- Vehicle size and type: Shipping rates rise with vehicle size and weight. Generally, larger cars cost more to ship to Alabama than smaller ones.
- Distance and route: The trip from Virginia to Alabama covers roughly 668 miles. Longer routes raise fuel and labor expenses, which increase the overall cost.
- Time of the year: Shipping costs rise during peak moving seasons and around major holidays. Moves out of Virginia in summer or winter are often more expensive due to higher demand.
- Fuel prices: Variability in fuel prices across states affects the cost of moving a vehicle between Virginia and Alabama.
- Delivery expectations: Being flexible with your delivery window can sometimes reduce costs. Typically, cars arrive within one–six days, but expedited options cost more.
Alabama vehicle regulations you need to know
After relocating to Alabama, you’ll need to complete a few important steps to register your vehicle and make it legal to drive. Below is an overview of the main requirements to help with the process.
- Car insurance requirements: Alabama state government requires motorists possess liability insurance, which must provide a minimum coverage of 25/50/25. This specification includes coverage for bodily injury per person, bodily injury per accident, and property damage per accident.
- Vehicle inspection: In Alabama, a safety inspection must be completed prior to selling a vehicle and a VIN inspection is mandatory when registering an out-of-state vehicle. Emissions inspections are not required by the state, though cities and municipalities may have their own laws mandating them.
- Driver’s license: When you move to Alabama with an out-of-state driver's license, you have 30 days to surrender it and obtain an Alabama license.
- Additional taxes: In Alabama, a 2% state sales tax is levied on the purchase of vehicles, including off-road motorcycles and ATVs. With the addition of city and county vehicle sales taxes, the total sales tax owed will amount to between 3.375% and 4% of the vehicle's cost.
Learn more with our car shipping checklist.
Transporting your vehicle from Virginia
More than 8.7 million people call Virginia home. Nicknamed the Old Dominion State. Virginia has humid hot and humid summers and cool to mild winters. The Atlantic Ocean and Gulf Stream have a strong effect on eastern and southeastern coastal areas of the Commonwealth, making the climate there warmer and more constant.
Transporting your vehicle to Alabama
About 5.1 million people are living in the Heart of Dixie. Alabama has one of the hottest summers in the US and mild winters with copious amounts of precipitation throughout the year. Areas around the Gulf in Alabama are prone to tropical storms and hurricanes. Alabama also has tornado activity, which typically occurs in the spring It would be a good idea to check for tornado activity in the area you are looking to move to Alabama.
FAQ
Does someone have to be present when you ship a car for pickup in Virginia and delivery in Alabama?
Most companies will require that an adult of at least 18 years of age be present when picking up your car in Virginia and when dropping it off in Alabama.
Do you need car insurance when shipping your car from Virginia to Alabama?
If you’re not driving the vehicle from Virginia to Alabama, you aren't required to have typical car insurance. Your car hauler should have adequate insurance if an accident happened on the drive to Alabama, which you should verify before loading your car in Virginia.
If you’re driving your car at all in either state, you should understand the requirements. It's crucial for drivers to have liability insurance, meeting the state's minimum coverage requirements: $25,000 for individual injury or death, $50,000 for injury or death involving multiple individuals, and $20,000 for property damage. Elevate your road safety with mandatory uninsured motorist coverage, ensuring protection with matching limits. Stay road-ready by fulfilling these insurance obligations in Virginia.
Alabama state government requires motorists possess liability insurance, which must provide a minimum coverage of 25/50/25. This specification includes coverage for bodily injury per person, bodily injury per accident, and property damage per accident.
How long does it take to ship a car from Virginia to Alabama?
Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from Virginia to Alabama is about 668 miles, and that’s as fast as about 2 days. However, most car transport companies will take one to six days to travel from Virginia to Alabama.
Will I be required to have a vehicle inspection in either state?
All vehicles must pass annual safety and emissions inspections at DMV-approved stations. Vehicles that fail can be re-inspected for free within 60 days. Upon passing, a sticker is issued to indicate the vehicle's compliance.
In Alabama, a safety inspection must be completed prior to selling a vehicle and a VIN inspection is mandatory when registering an out-of-state vehicle. Emissions inspections are not required by the state, though cities and municipalities may have their own laws mandating them.
If I have a driver’s license in Virginia, will I need one in Alabama?
When you move to Alabama with an out-of-state driver's license, you have 30 days to surrender it and obtain an Alabama license.
If I bought a car in Virginia, will I be required to pay sales tax in Alabama after shipping it there?
It’s important to understand any tax implications if you’re having a car shipped from Virginia to Alabama after purchasing it.
In Alabama, a 2% state sales tax is levied on the purchase of vehicles, including off-road motorcycles and ATVs. With the addition of city and county vehicle sales taxes, the total sales tax owed will amount to between 3.375% and 4% of the vehicle's cost.
We recommend that you always check for updated tax information in both Virginia and Alabama to avoid any hidden costs.
What is the cheapest way to ship a car from Virginia to Alabama?
The cheapest way to ship a car from Virginia to Alabama 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 Virginia to Alabama?
Shipping a car from Virginia to Alabama costs $729 to $1,113.
500 E Main St 16th floor, Norfolk, VA 23510 US
1518 Willow Lawn Dr, Richmond, VA 23230 US
2607 Wyoming Ave, Norfolk, VA 23513 US
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