Best Car Shipping Companies in Illinois (September 2026)
Nexus Auto Transport is our top pick for car shipping in Illinois due to their balance of reliable service, steady pricing, and flexible transport options. Most people pay around $812–$1098 for auto transport in Illinois.
Nexus Auto Transport
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Sherpa Auto Transport
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Navi Auto Transport
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Why Trust FreightWaves Checkpoint?
At FreightWaves Checkpoint, we help you cut through the noise by offering straightforward, research-based reviews of car shippers across the U.S.
We independently assess over 2,400 companies using a custom rating system that accounts for price, service offerings, coverage, and actual customer satisfaction. We also analyze customer feedback to call out common complaints and top-rated experiences.
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The Best Car Shipping Companies in Illinois
National car shipping companies usually offer the best mix of pricing, services, and availability. Here’s our breakdown of the top-rated options in Illinois.
Nexus Auto Transport
http://www.nexusautotransport.com
Nexus Auto Transport, established in 2015, has rapidly become a trusted name in vehicle shipping across the US. With a network of more than 30,000 carriers, they offer services in all 50 states, including Alaska and Hawaii. They offer open and enclosed transport, expedited shipping, and door-to-door delivery, as well as discounts for multi-vehicle shipments, cash payments, students, military members, and seniors, among others. Their Moving Season Package includes special deals and services catered to residential and commercial relocations. Customers appreciate their transparent pricing, real-time tracking, and comprehensive insurance coverage. Nexus boasts high customer satisfaction ratings, with an average of 4.7 stars across various platforms. Their user-friendly online quote system provides instant estimates, and a refundable $25 deposit secures your booking.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Live shipment tracking
- Fast, no-hassle quotes
- Door-to-door pickup
- Competitive discounts
Cons
- No international shipping
- Pay more with debit/credit card
Services Offered
- Door-to-door deliveries
- Open and enclosed trailers
- Hawaii/Alaska shipping
- Insured shipping
- Online instant pricing
Sherpa Auto Transport
https://www.sherpaautotransport.com
Sherpa Auto Transport started after the founder had a negative experience shipping his own car. Unlike most of the auto transport industry, the company is deeply customer focused and prides itself on providing accurate pricing and excellent communication throughout the shipping process.
Sherpa’s Price Lock Promise, personalized support, and multiple discounts are just a few reasons the company is raising the customer service bar when it comes to auto shipping.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Price Lock Promise keeps pricing fixed
- Pay by credit card available
- No deposit upfront to schedule
- $100k in cargo insurance
- Will ship inoperable vehicles as long as they can brake, roll and steer
- Ship cars, SUVs, pickup trucks, and vans
Cons
- Online instant quote not available
- Cars only. Cannot ship boats, motorcycles, RVs, or trailers
- No international shipping
- No shipping to Alaska or Hawaii
Services Offered
- Door-to-door service
- Open and enclosed transport
- Insured shipping
Navi Auto Transport
https://naviautotransport.com
Navi Auto Transport is an experienced vehicle shipping company offering nationwide service across the US, including door-to-door delivery and both open and enclosed transport options. Known for its reliable scheduling and attentive customer support, Navi has earned strong customer satisfaction ratings, with many reviewers highlighting the company’s transparent pricing and consistent communication. They offer instant online quotes, and their expedited shipping option makes them a solid choice for time-sensitive moves.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Price match policy
- Quick turnaround
- Discounts
- White-glove transport
- 24/7 tracking
Cons
- Limited international shipping
- No guaranteed pickup date
Services Offered
- Door-to-door service
- Open and enclosed transport
- Hawaii and Alaska shipping
- Insured shipping
- Online instant pricing
SGT Auto Transport
http://sgtautotransport.com
SGT Auto Transport is a highly-rated car shipping broker that works with more than 25,000 carriers to transport vehicles. They offer long-distance car shipping to 49 states. With the exception of Hawaii, all services are door-to-door and you can choose from open or enclosed shipping options. Get free quotes online in minutes and book an exact pick-up date for a seamless vehicle move.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Open and enclosed auto transport options available
- Car shipping to Hawaii
- Motorcycle shipping available
- Free cancellation
- Full insurance coverage included in the price
- Nothing to pay up front
- 24/7 customer support
Cons
- Limited international shipping
- Doesn’t ship RVs
- No digital tracking
Services Offered
- Door-to-door service
- Open and enclosed transport
- Long-distance and international shipping
- Hawaii and Alaska shipping
- Insured shipping
- Online instant pricing
Ship A Car Direct
https://shipacardirect.com
Ship A Car Direct works with a widespread network of carriers to provide long-distance auto transport with quick turnaround times for a variety of vehicles, including standard cars, trucks, and SUVs, as well as RVs, motorcycles, and boats. This highly rated company offers free online quotes with an extra $500 in gap insurance to cover any potential dings or dents during transport. Ship A Car Direct is a great choice if you’re in a rush, since they can easily handle last-minute requests.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Home of the industry’s only ‘Damage Free Guarantee’
- No deposit upfront to schedule
- Expedited Shipping Available
- Pay by credit card available
- Ships all vehicle types
- Ship an additional 100lbs in the car for Free
- $500 complimentary damage or loss coverage
- Rental car assistance should transport take more than 14 days
Cons
- Quotes expire sometimes within 1 week
- Do not ship boats or heavy equipment
- No international shipping
- Website lacks information
Services Offered
- Door-to-door service
- Open and enclosed transport
- Hawaii and Alaska shipping
- Insured shipping
- Online instant pricing
Local Auto Transport Options in Illinois
We’ve done the homework on these Illinois-based transport companies — just note they may not offer the same level of coverage or flexibility as our top recommendations above.
Van 3 Auto Transport & Car
Van 3 Auto Transport & Car (DOT: 2511788) offers interstate and international car shipping with open and enclosed transport options, plus service for classic cars, motorcycles, RVs, electric vehicles, boats, and inoperable cars. It is fully insured, provides detailed inspection reports, offers expedited delivery, and includes a damage-free guarantee, while military customers may qualify for a discount. The company has strong customer ratings, with a 4.5-star rating on Yelp, a 4.8-star rating on Google, and an A+ rating from the BBB. One potential downside is that it does not offer terminal-to-terminal delivery or shipment tracking, which may matter to some customers.
Services Offered
- Damage Free Guarantee
- Fully Insured
- Inoperable Car Transport
- Enclosed Transport
- Multi Car Transport
- Electric Vehicle Shipping
- Military Discount
- International Shipping
- Open Transport
- Deposit Required
- Expedited Delivery
- Pay by Credit Card
- Pay by Cash
- Interstate
- RV Shipping
- Boat Shipping
- Motorcycle Shipping
- Classic Car Shipping
- Detailed Inspection Reports
Karma Auto Transport
Karma Auto Transport (DOT: 2882553) provides interstate and international car shipping with open, enclosed, expedited, and multi-car transport options.
The company is fully insured and offers shipment tracking, detailed inspection reports, storage solutions, classic car shipping, and transport for cars that don’t run.
Karma Auto Transport has strong customer ratings, including a 4.6 rating on Yelp, a 4.8 rating on Google, and an A+ rating from the BBB.
One potential downside is that it does not offer motorcycle, boat, RV, trailer, or heavy equipment shipping, and it does not advertise common discounts such as military, student, or senior discounts.
Services Offered
- Damage Free Guarantee
- Fully Insured
- Inoperable Car Transport
- Enclosed Transport
- Multi Car Transport
- International Shipping
- Open Transport
- Storage Solutions
- Expedited Delivery
- Shipment Tracking
- Pay by Credit Card
- Interstate
- Classic Car Shipping
- Detailed Inspection Reports
Chicago Auto Shipping Group
Chicago Auto Shipping Group (DOT: 2239008) offers a wide range of transport services, including interstate and international shipping, open and enclosed transport, motorcycle, RV, ATV, boat, trailer, classic car, electric vehicle, and inoperable car transport.
The company is fully insured, provides shipment tracking and detailed inspection reports, and offers expedited delivery, storage solutions, terminal-to-terminal delivery, and a damage-free guarantee.
Chicago Auto Shipping Group has a 4.0 Google rating and an A+ rating from the BBB, though it has yet to establish a Yelp rating.
As a potential downside, it does not offer guaranteed delivery or heavy equipment shipping, but it does provide a military discount for eligible customers.
Services Offered
- ATV Shipping
- Damage Free Guarantee
- Fully Insured
- Inoperable Car Transport
- Enclosed Transport
- Multi Car Transport
- Electric Vehicle Shipping
- Military Discount
- International Shipping
- Open Transport
- Storage Solutions
- Deposit Required
- Expedited Delivery
- Shipment Tracking
- Pay by Credit Card
- Trailer Shipping
- Interstate
- RV Shipping
- Boat Shipping
- Motorcycle Shipping
- Terminal to Terminal Delivery
- Classic Car Shipping
- Detailed Inspection Reports
BKK TRANSPORT
BKK TRANSPORT (DOT: 2248306) offers interstate and international car shipping with open and enclosed transport options, plus terminal-to-terminal delivery and expedited service.
The company also ships motorcycles, boats, RVs, trailers, ATVs, heavy equipment, classic cars, and inoperable vehicles, with shipment tracking, detailed inspection reports, and full insurance available.
BKK TRANSPORT has a 1.8 rating on Yelp, a 4.1 rating on Google, and an A+ rating with the BBB.
A potential downside is that it does not offer guaranteed delivery, electric vehicle shipping, multi-car transport, or common discounts such as military, senior, student, or teacher discounts.
Services Offered
- ATV Shipping
- Damage Free Guarantee
- Fully Insured
- Inoperable Car Transport
- Enclosed Transport
- International Shipping
- Open Transport
- Storage Solutions
- Deposit Required
- Expedited Delivery
- Shipment Tracking
- Pay by Credit Card
- Pay by Money Order
- Trailer Shipping
- Pay by Cash
- Interstate
- RV Shipping
- Heavy Equipment Shipping
- Boat Shipping
- Motorcycle Shipping
- Terminal to Terminal Delivery
- Classic Car Shipping
- Detailed Inspection Reports
Dispatchray
Dispatchray (DOT: 2490936) is an active, fully insured car shipping company offering interstate transport with open and enclosed carrier options.
They handle a wide range of shipments, including classic cars, motorcycles, ATVs, RVs, trailers, boats, heavy equipment, electric vehicles, multi-car transport, and cars that don’t run.
Dispatchray has strong customer ratings, with a 5.0 rating on Yelp, a 5.0 rating on Google, and an A+ rating from the BBB.
A potential downside for some customers is that they do not offer terminal-to-terminal delivery, guaranteed delivery, expedited shipping, shipment tracking, or common discounts such as military, student, or senior discounts.
Services Offered
- ATV Shipping
- Fully Insured
- Inoperable Car Transport
- Enclosed Transport
- Multi Car Transport
- Electric Vehicle Shipping
- Open Transport
- Pay by Credit Card
- Trailer Shipping
- Interstate
- RV Shipping
- Heavy Equipment Shipping
- Boat Shipping
- Motorcycle Shipping
- Classic Car Shipping
Local Car Shippers In Illinois
Looking for a local company to work with? Check out these resources:
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Find the Best Car Shipping Option for You
Popular Car Shipping Routes from Illinois
- Illinois to Alabama
- Illinois to Arkansas
- Illinois to Arizona
- Illinois to California
- Illinois to Colorado
- Illinois to Connecticut
- Illinois to Delaware
- Illinois to Florida
- Illinois to Georgia
- Illinois to Iowa
- Illinois to Idaho
- Illinois to Indiana
- Illinois to Kansas
- Illinois to Kentucky
- Illinois to Louisiana
- Illinois to Massachusetts
- Illinois to Maryland
- Illinois to Maine
- Illinois to Michigan
- Illinois to Minnesota
- Illinois to Missouri
- Illinois to Mississippi
- Illinois to Montana
- Illinois to North Carolina
- Illinois to North Dakota
- Illinois to Nebraska
- Illinois to New Hampshire
- Illinois to New Jersey
- Illinois to New Mexico
- Illinois to Nevada
- Illinois to New York
- Illinois to Ohio
- Illinois to Oklahoma
- Illinois to Oregon
- Illinois to Pennsylvania
- Illinois to Rhode Island
- Illinois to South Carolina
- Illinois to South Dakota
- Illinois to Tennessee
- Illinois to Texas
- Illinois to Utah
- Illinois to Virginia
- Illinois to Vermont
- Illinois to Washington
- Illinois to Wisconsin
- Illinois to West Virginia
- Illinois to Wyoming
Understanding Car Shipping Costs in Illinois
Here are some sample prices when shipping a car in or out of Illinois:
| Shipping Route | Open Trailer | Enclosed Trailer |
|---|---|---|
| From Illinois to Arizona | 1559 | 2027 |
| From Illinois to California | 1855 | 2412 |
| From Illinois to Ohio | 821 | 1067 |
| From Illinois to North Carolina | 1123 | 1460 |
| From Illinois to Texas | 1184 | 1539 |
| From Georgia to Illinois | 1159 | 1507 |
| From Florida to Illinois | 1366 | 1776 |
| From Michigan to Illinois | 811 | 1054 |
| From Colorado to Illinois | 1182 | 1537 |
| From New York to Illinois | 1218 | 1583 |
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Nexus Auto Transport
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Sherpa Auto Transport
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Navi Auto Transport
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Factors Affecting Car Shipping Costs
These are factors have the biggest impact on the cost of shipping a car out of Illinois:
- Distance and location: Longer Illinois car shipments cost more because carriers spend more time, fuel, and labor. Remote pickup and delivery areas also raise prices; major hubs, especially Chicago, usually keep rates lower.
- Vehicle type and condition: Larger vehicles or those requiring special handling, such as classic cars, may cost more to ship out of Illinois. Additionally, non-operational vehicles might increase the price due to the extra equipment needed for loading and unloading.
- Transport type: Open car shipping costs less and moves your vehicle on an open trailer, leaving it exposed to Illinois weather and road conditions. Enclosed car shipping is about 30% more expensive, but it keeps your car protected in a covered trailer. This makes it a better option for luxury or classic cars. Because it’s cheaper, around 90% of customers choose open transport.
- Seasonality: Illinois winters bring snow, ice, carrier delays, and higher rates; spring tornado risk and busy summer demand can also push quotes upward.
- Additional services Door-to-door delivery raises Illinois car shipping prices because the driver must reach exact addresses, adding time and routing work. Expedited shipping costs more because carriers must give your car priority, rearrange schedules, and rush pickup or delivery.
Every factor above can impact the cost of shipping your car from Illinois. For the best deal, use the form below to request car shipping quotes from several Illinois transport providers and compare prices, services, and payment plans that fit your budget.
What To Know Before You Book
To ensure your experience is a relatively seamless one, there are some key things you should understand about car shipping companies in Illinois:
- Final costs may be higher than your initial quote. Some car shippers guarantee their rates, so the price you’re quoted is the price you pay at delivery. But not every company does this. Unexpected issues or last-minute route changes can lead to a higher final bill.
- Delivery dates aren't guaranteed. Many car shipping companies let you pay for a guaranteed delivery date, and they will do their best to deliver by that day. If you do not choose this option, the delivery window they provide is only an estimate. Keep in mind that bad weather, heavy traffic, and other unexpected issues can still cause delays, even with “guaranteed” delivery, because some factors are beyond the shipper’s control.
- It's important to review insurance coverage. Before shipping your car, find out exactly what the company’s insurance covers if damage happens during transit—and what it does not cover. Then compare it with your own auto insurance policy, which may already protect your vehicle while it is being transported.
- Don't just sign off on your car delivery. Be sure to review your bill of lading before you sign it at delivery. It may look like a simple receipt, but it is much more than that. This document lists the services you received and confirms the condition of your car when it arrived. Before signing, check that you received everything you paid for and that any damage is clearly noted. If damage is not listed, you may not be able to file a claim later.
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Nexus Auto Transport
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Sherpa Auto Transport
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Navi Auto Transport
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How We Chose the Best Illinois Auto Transport Companies
Our selection of the top car shipping providers in Illinois is based on an in-depth evaluation of five core metrics: regulatory compliance, client satisfaction, service coverage, cost, and digital credibility.
- Licensing means the company follows both Illinois and federal rules — so you can ship with confidence.
- We look at real customer reviews to see which companies consistently deliver great service.
- From everyday sedans to rare classics, the best companies offer a range of shipping solutions.
- Fair pricing matters — especially when you’re dealing with the unique challenges of shipping a vehicle through Illinois.
- Strong ratings on platforms like BBB and positive chatter online signal a company that treats customers right.
Car Shipping Company Reviews
Learn more about the car shipping companies we have reviewed below:
FAQ
How can I verify that a car shipper in Illinois is actually licensed?
Ask for the company’s USDOT or MC number, then run it through the FMCSA SAFER system. You’ll see federal registration, insurance levels, and whether they’ve had safety issues or complaints.
Is real-time tracking available for car shipments in Illinois?
Some carriers have GPS-enabled trucks while others offer manual check-ins. Either way, you should receive updates when your car is picked up, while it's in transit, and when it's about to arrive.
How does vehicle pickup usually work in Illinois?
Expect a quick inspection, documentation, and a walkthrough of the loading process. Make sure the vehicle rolls, steers, and has about a quarter tank of fuel.
When are car shipping rates lowest in Illinois?
Demand drops in the colder months, especially after the holidays. If you can ship outside peak summer or snowbird season, you’ll likely save money.
Is my vehicle insured during shipping in Illinois?
Yes—federally regulated carriers include insurance for vehicles in transit. It’s smart to confirm coverage levels and deductibles ahead of time.
Can you ship belongings inside your car when transporting it in Illinois?
A number of auto transport companies in Illinois allow customers to pack lightweight personal items inside the vehicle. The usual limit is up to 100 pounds. At least 1 carrier in the state permit this.
