Washington to Illinois Car Shipping (2025 Cost Guide)
Fact Checked by: Quick answer: The average cost to ship a car 1,947 miles from Washington to Illinois ranges from $1,561 to $2,488 and takes three–eleven 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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Shipping a car the reverse route? We’ve got you covered with our Illinois to Washington car shipping guide.
The best Washington to Illinois car shipping companies
We’ve done the research and these are the best car shipping companies to help transport your vehicle from Washington to Illinois:
- Best for accurate pricing: Sherpa Auto Transport
- Best for discounts: AmeriFreight Car Transport
- Best cross-country shipper: Montway Auto Transport
- Best for overall value: SGT Auto Transport
- Best for quick pickup: Easy Auto Ship
- Price Lock Promise
- Pay by credit card
- Free car wash at delivery
- No upfront deposit
- Door-to-door service
- Competitive pricing
- Last-minute car shipments
- Guaranteed & expedited shipments
- Gap insurance coverage
- Multiple discounts
- 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
- No upfront deposit
- Expedited shipping
- No hidden fees
- Ships motorcycles & RVs
- Discount for cash payments
Alternative ways to ship your car from Washington to Illinois
- Drive it yourself. This is straightforward but not always an option, and it will put about 1,947 miles on your car going from Washington to Illinois. 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 Washington for a move to Illinois, 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 Washington to Illinois 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!
WA to IL auto transport costs and transit times
The tables below detail the costs and estimated transit times for shipping a car between popular cities in Washington and Illinois. The average travel distance is about 1,947 miles, with shipping times typically ranging from three to eleven days .
Cost to ship a car from Seattle, WA to Illinois
| From Washington to Illinois | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle, WA to Chicago, IL | $1,663 – $2,499 | 2,064 miles | 4 – 12 days |
| Seattle, WA to Aurora, IL | $1,552 – $2,425 | 2,054 miles | 4 – 12 days |
| Seattle, WA to Elgin, IL | $1,584 – $2,351 | 2,027 miles | 4 – 12 days |
| Seattle, WA to Champaign, IL | $1,520 – $2,524 | 2,092 miles | 4 – 12 days |
| Seattle, WA to Cicero, IL | $1,552 – $2,351 | 2,064 miles | 4 – 12 days |
Cost to ship a car from Spokane, WA to Illinois
| From Washington to Illinois | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spokane, WA to Chicago, IL | $1,522 – $2,143 | 1,786 miles | 3 – 11 days |
| Spokane, WA to Aurora, IL | $1,552 – $2,273 | 1,776 miles | 3 – 11 days |
| Spokane, WA to Elgin, IL | $1,447 – $2,057 | 1,749 miles | 3 – 9 days |
| Spokane, WA to Champaign, IL | $1,461 – $2,395 | 1,814 miles | 3 – 11 days |
| Spokane, WA to Cicero, IL | $1,492 – $2,143 | 1,786 miles | 3 – 11 days |
Cost to ship a car from Tacoma, WA to Illinois
| From Washington to Illinois | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tacoma, WA to Chicago, IL | $1,568 – $2,376 | 2,077 miles | 4 – 12 days |
| Tacoma, WA to Aurora, IL | $1,584 – $2,376 | 2,067 miles | 4 – 12 days |
| Tacoma, WA to Elgin, IL | $1,631 – $2,376 | 2,040 miles | 4 – 12 days |
| Tacoma, WA to Champaign, IL | $1,617 – $2,414 | 2,105 miles | 4 – 12 days |
| Tacoma, WA to Cicero, IL | $1,552 – $2,376 | 2,077 miles | 4 – 12 days |
Cost to ship a car from Vancouver, WA to Illinois
| From Washington to Illinois | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vancouver, WA to Chicago, IL | $1,633 – $2,616 | 2,124 miles | 4 – 12 days |
| Vancouver, WA to Aurora, IL | $1,568 – $2,549 | 2,088 miles | 4 – 12 days |
| Vancouver, WA to Elgin, IL | $1,520 – $2,591 | 2,103 miles | 4 – 12 days |
| Vancouver, WA to Champaign, IL | $1,601 – $2,515 | 2,123 miles | 4 – 12 days |
| Vancouver, WA to Cicero, IL | $1,681 – $2,540 | 2,119 miles | 4 – 12 days |
Cost to ship a car from Bellevue, WA to Illinois
| From Washington to Illinois | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bellevue, WA to Chicago, IL | $1,647 – $2,499 | 2,058 miles | 4 – 12 days |
| Bellevue, WA to Aurora, IL | $1,647 – $2,351 | 2,049 miles | 4 – 12 days |
| Bellevue, WA to Elgin, IL | $1,663 – $2,573 | 2,021 miles | 4 – 12 days |
| Bellevue, WA to Champaign, IL | $1,504 – $2,499 | 2,086 miles | 4 – 12 days |
| Bellevue, WA to Cicero, IL | $1,631 – $2,425 | 2,059 miles | 4 – 12 days |
Shipping an SUV or truck from Washington to Illinois
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 Washington to Illinois you should expect to pay between $1,951 and $3,110.
Factors that affect car shipping costs from WA to IL
When transporting your vehicle from the Evergreen State to the Land of Lincoln, 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 Illinois.
- Distance and route: The journey from Washington to Illinois spans approximately 1,947 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 Washington, 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 Washington and Illinois 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 Washington to Illinois should take between three and eleven days. Expedited services are available but come at a higher cost.
Illinois vehicle regulations you need to know
- Car insurance requirements: The liability insurance minimums for Illinois are $25,000 bodily injury liability per person, $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident, and $20,000 property damage liability per accident.
- Vehicle inspection: In Illinois, emissions inspections are mandatory on a yearly basis for eligible vehicles in the Chicago and East St. Louis metropolitan areas. The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency conducts tests on automobiles before residents can renew their vehicle registration with the Secretary of State's office.
- Driver’s license: Even if your out-of-state driver's license is valid, you must still pass a vision test and written exam if you are moving to Illinois. Within 90 days of becoming a resident in the state, you must convert your license to an Illinois non-commercial license.
- Additional taxes: According to Illinois law, the recipient or buyer of any vehicle transferred within the state must complete a Private Party Vehicle Tax Transaction form (form RUT-50) and pay the sales tax for the car within 30 days of the transfer of ownership.
Learn more with our car shipping checklist.
Transporting your vehicle from Washington
More than 39 million people call Washington home. Nicknamed the Evergreen State, Washington state rarely experiences extreme weather to worry about. Your move should be unaffected by the weather conditions. However, it's always a good idea to check the forecast ahead of time and maybe prepare for a little rain!
Transporting your vehicle to Illinois
About 22 million people are living in the Land of Lincoln. Illinois' climate is clearly different in the northern and southern halves of the state. The northern half experiences cold winters and mild summers whereas the southern half experiences mild winters and hot and humid summers. Illinois is a part of "tornado alley"
FAQ
Does someone have to be present when you ship a car for pickup in Washington and delivery in Illinois?
Most companies will require that an adult of at least 18 years of age be present when picking up your car in Washington and when dropping it off in Illinois.
Do you need car insurance when shipping your car from Washington to Illinois?
If you’re not driving the vehicle from Washington to Illinois, you aren't required to have typical car insurance. Your car hauler should have adequate insurance if an accident happened on the drive to Illinois, which you should verify before loading your car in Washington.
If you’re driving your car at all in either state, you should understand the requirements. Drivers in Washington are mandated to maintain a minimum of $25,000 for individual bodily injury, $50,000 for total bodily injury in an accident, and $10,000 for property damage to meet legal requirements and enhance on-road protection.
The liability insurance minimums for Illinois are $25,000 bodily injury liability per person, $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident, and $20,000 property damage liability per accident.
How long does it take to ship a car from Washington to Illinois?
Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from Washington to Illinois is about 1,947 miles, and that’s as fast as about 4 days. However, most car transport companies will take three to eleven days to travel from Washington to Illinois.
Will I be required to have a vehicle inspection in either state?
In the state of Washington, there are no annual safety inspections, however, vehicles must still comply with strict Clean Car standards.
In Illinois, emissions inspections are mandatory on a yearly basis for eligible vehicles in the Chicago and East St. Louis metropolitan areas. The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency conducts tests on automobiles before residents can renew their vehicle registration with the Secretary of State's office.
If I have a driver’s license in Washington, will I need one in Illinois?
Even if your out-of-state driver's license is valid, you must still pass a vision test and written exam if you are moving to Illinois. Within 90 days of becoming a resident in the state, you must convert your license to an Illinois non-commercial license.
If I bought a car in Washington, will I be required to pay sales tax in Illinois after shipping it there?
It’s important to understand any tax implications if you’re having a car shipped from Washington to Illinois after purchasing it.
According to Illinois law, the recipient or buyer of any vehicle transferred within the state must complete a Private Party Vehicle Tax Transaction form (form RUT-50) and pay the sales tax for the car within 30 days of the transfer of ownership.
We recommend that you always check for updated tax information in both Washington and Illinois to avoid any hidden costs.
What is the cheapest way to ship a car from Washington to Illinois?
The cheapest way to ship a car from Washington to Illinois 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 Washington to Illinois?
Shipping a car from Washington to Illinois costs $1,561 to $2,488.
