West Virginia to Louisiana Car Shipping (2026 Cost Guide)
Quick answer: The average cost to move a car 1,035 miles from West Virginia to Louisiana falls between $762 and $1,334. Delivery typically takes two–eight 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.
|
|
|
|
Shipping a car the reverse route? We’ve got you covered with our Louisiana to West 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 West Virginia to Louisiana car shipping companies
Through more than 400 hours of analysis of car shippers, we found that these are the top car shipping companies for transporting your vehicle from West Virginia to Louisiana:
- Best for real-time tracking: Nexus Auto Transport
- Best for accurate pricing: Sherpa Auto Transport
- Best for budget-conscious: Navi Auto Transport
- Best for exact pickup dates: SGT Auto Transport
- Best insurance coverage: Ship A Car Direct
- 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
- No hidden fees
- Free online quotes
- Door-to-door service in 48 states
- Exact pickup dates
- Ships to & from HI
- Damage-free guarantee
- $500 damage or loss coverage
- No deposit
- Rental car assistance
- Inoperable car shipping
Top local car shippers in West Virginia
If you prefer to go with a local company, here are the top car shippers in West Virginia that can relocate your vehicle to Louisiana:
- Applewood Motorcar Transport: 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 West Virginia to Louisiana
Ship it with your movers
When moving from West Virginia to Louisiana, it can be helpful to hire a moving company that includes car shipping services. A number of long-distance moving companies work directly with reliable car shippers to arrange transport.
|
|
Licensed
Insured
Price
|
|
Drive it yourself
This option is straightforward but may not suit every situation, and it’ll put around 1,035 miles on your car to travel between West Virginia and Louisiana. To compare your options, see the pros and cons of driving vs. shipping.
Hire a driver
Another option is to pay someone to drive your car from West Virginia to Louisiana. This can be costly and hinges on trusting another person to handle your vehicle responsibly.
Ship by train
Shipping by train can be a cost-effective and reliable method of moving your vehicle. Shipping a car by train is actually the least expensive way to move a vehicle.
West Virginia to Louisiana auto transport costs and transit times
Here are tables summarizing the expected costs and transit times for car shipping between well-traveled routes in West Virginia and Louisiana. The average journey covers about 1,035 miles and takes roughly two to eight days.
Cost to ship a car from Charleston, WV to Louisiana
| From West Virginia to Louisiana | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston, WV to New Orleans, LA | $816 – $1,253 | 906 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Charleston, WV to Baton Rouge, LA | $791 – $1,252 | 963 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Charleston, WV to Shreveport, LA | $776 – $1,179 | 945 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Charleston, WV to Metairie, LA | $816 – $1,167 | 910 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Charleston, WV to Lafayette, LA | $833 – $1,295 | 1,017 miles | 2 – 8 days |
Cost to ship a car from Huntington, WV to Louisiana
| From West Virginia to Louisiana | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Huntington, WV to New Orleans, LA | $772 – $1,165 | 870 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Huntington, WV to Baton Rouge, LA | $768 – $1,241 | 927 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Huntington, WV to Shreveport, LA | $815 – $1,228 | 897 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Huntington, WV to Metairie, LA | $756 – $1,201 | 874 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Huntington, WV to Lafayette, LA | $789 – $1,224 | 982 miles | 2 – 7 days |
Cost to ship a car from Morgantown, WV to Louisiana
| From West Virginia to Louisiana | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Morgantown, WV to New Orleans, LA | $818 – $1,207 | 1,019 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Morgantown, WV to Baton Rouge, LA | $794 – $1,245 | 1,076 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Morgantown, WV to Shreveport, LA | $908 – $1,299 | 1,100 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Morgantown, WV to Metairie, LA | $786 – $1,321 | 1,023 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Morgantown, WV to Lafayette, LA | $864 – $1,367 | 1,130 miles | 2 – 8 days |
Cost to ship a car from Parkersburg, WV to Louisiana
| From West Virginia to Louisiana | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parkersburg, WV to New Orleans, LA | $791 – $1,252 | 970 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Parkersburg, WV to Baton Rouge, LA | $770 – $1,207 | 1,039 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Parkersburg, WV to Shreveport, LA | $773 – $1,325 | 996 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Parkersburg, WV to Metairie, LA | $783 – $1,239 | 974 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Parkersburg, WV to Lafayette, LA | $802 – $1,245 | 1,093 miles | 2 – 8 days |
Cost to ship a car from Wheeling, WV to Louisiana
| From West Virginia to Louisiana | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wheeling, WV to New Orleans, LA | $770 – $1,219 | 1,035 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Wheeling, WV to Baton Rouge, LA | $762 – $1,232 | 1,092 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Wheeling, WV to Shreveport, LA | $770 – $1,308 | 1,061 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Wheeling, WV to Metairie, LA | $778 – $1,232 | 1,039 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Wheeling, WV to Lafayette, LA | $882 – $1,421 | 1,146 miles | 2 – 8 days |
Shipping an SUV or truck from West Virginia to Louisiana
SUVs, trucks, and vans typically cost more to ship than smaller cars because of their size and weight.
For a larger vehicle going from West Virginia to Louisiana, the price usually falls between $953 and $1,668.
Factors that affect car shipping costs from West Virginia to Louisiana
Transporting your vehicle from the Mountain State to the Pelican State comes with a number of cost considerations, including:
- 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: Larger and heavier vehicles cost more to ship. Your car’s dimensions and weight will directly influence the price of transporting it from West Virginia to Louisiana.
- Distance and route: Traveling from West Virginia to Louisiana involves roughly 1,035 miles. Greater distances increase both fuel and labor expenses.
- Time of the year: Seasonal demand impacts the price of getting your car out of West Virginia, with summer and winter holidays often seeing a spike due to increased moving and travel activity.
- Fuel prices: Rising or falling gas prices directly influence car shipping costs between West Virginia and Louisiana.
- Delivery expectations: Shippers may offer lower pricing if your schedule allows for flexible delivery dates. Standard delivery takes two–eight days, while expedited service costs more.
Louisiana vehicle regulations you need to know
After relocating to Louisiana, 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: The insurance limit represents the maximum payout for a claim, and in Louisiana, the minimum liability limits are $15,000 for bodily injury per person, $30,000 for bodily injury per accident, and $25,000 for property damage; these limits can be raised beyond the state-mandated minimums.
- Vehicle inspection: In Louisiana, the annual safety and emissions inspection includes checks on the vehicle's safety equipment, anti-tampering of emissions systems, and a test on the integrity of the gas cap.
- Driver’s license: New residents in Louisiana must transfer their out-of-state driver's license within 30 days of establishing residency in the state.
- Additional taxes: In Louisiana, a 4% tax is levied on all car sales by the state, with additional taxes charged by individual counties and cities.
Learn more with our car shipping checklist.
Transporting your vehicle from West Virginia
More than 1.8 million people call West Virginia home. Nicknamed the Mountain State. West Virginia has warm to hot, humid summers and chilly winters. Be sure to check the weather during your move to avoid inclement weather.
Transporting your vehicle to Louisiana
About 4.6 million people are living in the Pelican State. Louisiana has long hot humid summers and short mild winters. Rain is frequent throughout the year, although from April to September is slightly wetter than the rest of the year. Louisiana is often affected by tropical cyclones and is very vulnerable to major hurricanes, particularly around the New Orleans area. Lousiana averages about 27 tornadoes annually; they are most common from January through March in the south and from February through March in the North.
FAQ
Does someone have to be present when you ship a car for pickup in West Virginia and delivery in Louisiana?
Most companies will require that an adult of at least 18 years of age be present when picking up your car in West Virginia and when dropping it off in Louisiana.
Do you need car insurance when shipping your car from West Virginia to Louisiana?
If you’re not driving the vehicle from West Virginia to Louisiana, you aren't required to have typical car insurance. Your car hauler should have adequate insurance if an accident happened on the drive to Louisiana, which you should verify before loading your car in West Virginia.
If you’re driving your car at all in either state, you should understand the requirements. West Virginia's required minimum insurance standards, encompassing liability coverage at $25,000/$50,000 for bodily injury and $25,000 for property damage.
The insurance limit represents the maximum payout for a claim, and in Louisiana, the minimum liability limits are $15,000 for bodily injury per person, $30,000 for bodily injury per accident, and $25,000 for property damage; these limits can be raised beyond the state-mandated minimums.
How long does it take to ship a car from West Virginia to Louisiana?
Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from West Virginia to Louisiana is about 1,035 miles, and that’s as fast as about 3 days. However, most car transport companies will take two to eight days to travel from West Virginia to Louisiana.
Will I be required to have a vehicle inspection in either state?
New residents are given 10 days from the date they title a vehicle to have a West Virginia safety inspection at any official inspection station licensed by the West Virginia State Police.
In Louisiana, the annual safety and emissions inspection includes checks on the vehicle's safety equipment, anti-tampering of emissions systems, and a test on the integrity of the gas cap.
If I have a driver’s license in West Virginia, will I need one in Louisiana?
New residents in Louisiana must transfer their out-of-state driver's license within 30 days of establishing residency in the state.
If I bought a car in West Virginia, will I be required to pay sales tax in Louisiana after shipping it there?
It’s important to understand any tax implications if you’re having a car shipped from West Virginia to Louisiana after purchasing it.
In Louisiana, a 4% tax is levied on all car sales by the state, with additional taxes charged by individual counties and cities.
We recommend that you always check for updated tax information in both West Virginia and Louisiana to avoid any hidden costs.
What is the cheapest way to ship a car from West Virginia to Louisiana?
The cheapest way to ship a car from West Virginia to Louisiana 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 West Virginia to Louisiana?
Shipping a car from West Virginia to Louisiana costs $762 to $1,334.
210 McGuire Ln, Gerrardstown, WV 25420 US