Kentucky to Illinois car shipping
Shipping a car from Kentucky to Illinois costs roughly $610–$690 and takes 2–3 days over 294 road miles (Louisville to Chicago). Below is what moves that number, and how to get real quotes for this lane.
| Vehicle & trailer | Price | Transit |
|---|---|---|
| Sedan, open trailer | $610–$690 | 2–3 days |
| SUV or crossover, open | $650–$740 | 2–3 days |
| Any vehicle, enclosed | $740–$840 | 2–3 days |
Estimates from distance and vehicle type. Actual price depends on how busy the lane is the week you ship.
When to ship it
Prices on this lane move with the national calendar rather than with any one migration — summer moves and the new-year rush are the busy stretches.
| Month | Sedan, open trailer | vs year-round |
|---|---|---|
| January | $670–$760 | +10% |
| March | $610–$690 | level |
| May | $610–$690 | level |
| July | $680–$770 | +12% |
| October | $610–$690 | level |
Indicative only. Fuel is indexed to the U.S. weekly retail diesel average, last read 2026-09-07.
What drives the price on this lane
- Distance. 294 miles puts this lane at about $2.21 a mile. Short lanes cost the most per mile, because loading and paperwork are the same whether the truck drives 200 miles or 2,000. The upside is speed: carriers take these as fill loads and pickup is often next-day.
- Season. January and the summer months are the national peaks. Outside them this lane prices steadily, and booking a week ahead beats negotiating — a load posted with lead time gets picked up by a truck already heading that way. A regional lane, so local demand moves the price more than any season does.
- Direction. Illinois is a dense freight market, so a carrier delivering here can reload quickly and does not need the trip to pay for the run back. This direction usually prices a little under Illinois to Kentucky.
- Trailer. Enclosed protects from weather and road debris and costs about 22% more here ($740–$840). The premium grows with distance — an enclosed trailer carries fewer cars, so the longer the run the more deck revenue the carrier gives up. Worth it for low-clearance, classic or high-value cars; rarely worth it otherwise.
- Condition. A car that does not run needs a winch at both ends and adds about $200. Tell the broker up front — a driver who finds out at pickup can refuse the load.
Pickup and delivery on this lane
The companies that run Kentucky to Illinois are registered in these cities. A carrier based near either end is the one most likely to already be heading your way, which is what makes the difference between a quote and a quote you can actually book.
Picking up around Kentucky
- Lexington3
- Louisville3
- Bowling Green1
- Fairdale1
- Greenville1
- Kuttawa1
- Lawrenceburg1
- Monticello1
- New Haven1
- Russell Spgs1
Delivering around Illinois
- Chicago10
- Plainfield6
- Schaumburg5
- Naperville4
- Burbank3
- Downers Grove3
- Tinley Park3
- Addison2
- Beardstown2
- Buffalo Grove2
Counts are companies with active FMCSA authority registered in each city.
Licensed companies based in Kentucky
16 companies with active FMCSA authority are registered in Kentucky.
- CURRY AUTO TRANSPORT LLCNEW HAVEN, KY · broker · bonded
- MOTION AUTO LOGISTICS LLCLOUISVILLE, KY · broker · bonded
- SAFE WAY AUTO TRANSPORT BROKERSKUTTAWA, KY · broker · bonded
- SCOTT'S AUTO CARRIER, INC.STANFORD, KY · broker · bonded
- ABC AUTO TRANSPORT LLCLOUISVILLE, KY · carrier
- BRYANA'S CAR MOVERS LLCBOWLING GREEN, KY · carrier
All Kentucky auto transport companies →
Kentucky to Illinois: common questions
How much does it cost to ship a car from Kentucky to Illinois?+
Expect $610 to $690 for a running sedan on an open trailer. An SUV on the same lane runs about $650–$740, and an enclosed trailer about $740–$840.
How long does it take to ship a car from Kentucky to Illinois?+
About 2 to 3 days in transit over 294 miles, plus one to three days to schedule pickup after you book.
Can the carrier pick up and deliver to my door?+
Yes on almost every lane. The truck gets as close as it legally and physically can — on a narrow residential street the driver will ask you to meet at a nearby lot.
How do I ship my car from Kentucky to Illinois?+
Give the two ZIP codes and what you drive, and the request goes to a panel of licensed companies at once instead of you calling down a list. They quote, you compare side by side, and you deal directly with whoever you pick — we take no commission and nobody gets your number until you hand it over. You do not travel with the car: the driver collects it, you both sign an inspection report, and the same happens at the far end.
More lanes from Kentucky
More lanes to Illinois
Where is the car going?
Two ZIP codes. No account, no obligation.
Shipping somewhere else in Illinois? Illinois car transport →