Car shipping by state
Iowa car shipping
Shipping a car within Iowa or to a neighboring state costs about $410–$510 for 250 miles in October 2026; a cross-country move from Des Moines to Los Angeles runs $1,165–$1,450 open and takes 4–6 days in transit. Carriers concentrate around Des Moines, so pickups there get the fastest windows. Source: HaulFare price model, October 2026 edition.
Updated October 2026
$410–$510
About 250 miles, sedan, open, October 2026
$1,165–$1,450
Des Moines to Los Angeles, open
4–6 days
in transit to Los Angeles
Cost to ship a car from Iowa
From Des Moines, sedan, hub to hub, October 2026. For your exact ZIPs, use the cost calculator or the transit time estimator; the cost guide explains the model.
| Destination | Miles | Open carrier | Enclosed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles, CA | 1,693 | $1,165–$1,450 | $1,650–$2,055 |
| Dallas, TX | 747 | $765–$950 | $1,090–$1,355 |
| Orlando, FL | 1,338 | $1,050–$1,305 | $1,490–$1,855 |
| New York City, NY | 1,203 | $995–$1,240 | $1,415–$1,760 |
| Philadelphia, PA | 1,145 | $970–$1,205 | $1,375–$1,715 |
| Chicago, IL | 387 | $550–$685 | $785–$975 |
| Columbus, OH | 669 | $730–$905 | $1,040–$1,295 |
| Atlanta, GA | 873 | $835–$1,040 | $1,190–$1,480 |
Estimates from the HaulFare price model 2026.09-seed, October 2026. Ranges, not quotes; our licensed transport partner confirms the actual price.
Carrier hubs in Iowa
The price model measures Iowa lanes from these metros. An address more than 50 miles from the nearest hub in any state adds up to $175 at that end.
- Des Moines
Seasonality in Iowa
From Des Moines to Orlando, the model's lowest month is February ($1,105 midpoint) and its highest is July ($1,280). October 2026 sits 2% below the yearly average.
Jan
$1,120
Feb
$1,105
Mar
$1,155
Apr
$1,190
May
$1,225
Jun
$1,270
Jul
$1,280
Aug
$1,245
Sep
$1,190
Oct (October 2026)
$1,165
Nov
$1,140
Dec
$1,155
- October 2026
- Yearly average
Show as a table
| Month | Price (midpoint) |
|---|---|
| Jan | $1,120 |
| Feb | $1,105 |
| Mar | $1,155 |
| Apr | $1,190 |
| May | $1,225 |
| Jun | $1,270 |
| Jul | $1,280 |
| Aug | $1,245 |
| Sep | $1,190 |
| Oct | $1,165 |
| Nov | $1,140 |
| Dec | $1,155 |
Midpoint, sedan, open carrier, Des Moines to Orlando by month; columns rise above or fall below the yearly average.
Iowa questions
How much does it cost to ship a car from Iowa?
In October 2026, a sedan on an open carrier from Des Moines runs $550–$1,450 to the eight destinations in the price table, depending on distance. Enclosed transport adds about 42% to the price model's estimate.
How long does it take to ship a car from Iowa?
Carriers cover 400–500 miles a day, so neighboring states take 1–3 days in transit and a cross-country run to Los Angeles 4–6 days, after a 1–5 day pickup window.
