Route guide · IL → AZ
Shipping a car from Illinois to Arizona
Shipping a running sedan from Chicago to Phoenix costs about $1,075–$1,525 on an open carrier and $1,600–$2,300 in an enclosed trailer, with 4–7 days in transit. It ranks #69 among the 250 busiest car-shipping lanes, based on Census moving data.
- Open carrier, sedan
- $1,300
- Road miles
- 1,700
- Days in transit
- 4–7
- People moving a year
- 9.2K
- Companies at both ends
- 147
City to city
What it costs between Illinois and Arizona cities
Open-carrier prices for a running sedan between Chicago, Rockford, Springfield and Peoria and Phoenix, Tucson, Yuma and Flagstaff — 1,470 to 1,890 road miles apart.
| From | Phoenix | Tucson | Yuma | Flagstaff |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $1,075–$1,5251,700 mi · 4–7 days | $1,075–$1,5251,700 mi · 4–7 days | $1,125–$1,6001,890 mi · 4–7 days | $1,050–$1,5001,610 mi · 4–6 days |
| Rockford | $1,050–$1,5001,630 mi · 4–6 days | $1,050–$1,5001,630 mi · 4–6 days | $1,100–$1,5751,820 mi · 4–7 days | $1,025–$1,4751,540 mi · 4–6 days |
| Springfield | $1,025–$1,4751,550 mi · 4–6 days | $1,025–$1,4501,530 mi · 4–6 days | $1,075–$1,5501,730 mi · 4–7 days | $1,000–$1,4501,470 mi · 3–6 days |
| Peoria | $1,025–$1,4751,570 mi · 4–6 days | $1,025–$1,4751,550 mi · 4–6 days | $1,075–$1,5501,750 mi · 4–7 days | $1,000–$1,4501,480 mi · 3–6 days |
A pickup or delivery far from these metros usually adds $75–$150. Quotes move with fuel prices and truck space, so treat these as a yardstick. Price your own addresses →
By vehicle
Price by vehicle type
Chicago to Phoenix, 1,700 miles. Bigger and heavier vehicles take more room and weight on the trailer, so they cost more.
| Vehicle | Open carrier | Enclosed |
|---|---|---|
| Sedan or small car | $1,075–$1,525 | $1,600–$2,300 |
| Midsize SUV or crossover | $1,200–$1,725 | $1,800–$2,575 |
| Large SUV (Tahoe, Expedition) | $1,350–$1,925 | $2,000–$2,875 |
| Pickup truck | $1,400–$2,000 | $2,075–$2,975 |
| Motorcycle | $650–$925 | $975–$1,375 |
By month
Best time to ship
Prices on this lane peak in June–August (the summer moving peak), running about 8% above the quietest months. The cheapest time to ship from Illinois to Arizona is January–May and September–November.
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Cheapest: about $1,300 Peak: about $1,400
About this route
Why so many cars go from Illinois to Arizona
About 9,238 people moved from Illinois to Arizona in each of the last two years, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (9,030 in 2023, 9,445 in 2024). That is 3.2% of everyone who left Illinois for another state.
Only about 5,274 people a year go back from Arizona to Illinois, so demand here is mostly one-way. With trucks toward Arizona in steady demand, expect quick pickups and little room to haggle.
How the price compares
At a typical $1,300, shipping from Illinois to Arizona costs more than sending a car to Florida ($1,200) and Colorado ($1,075) but less than to California ($1,425) and Washington ($1,425). That works out to about 76¢ a mile — long hauls cost less per mile because loading and paperwork are spread over more distance.
Distance and transit time
Your car spends 4–7 days on the road for the roughly 1,700 miles from Chicago to Phoenix, after a pickup window of a few days while the carrier assembles a full load. The car heads west-southwest and crosses one time zone — from Central to Mountain time — so confirm whether the delivery window you are given is in local time.
On the road
- The route crosses mountain passes in the West; from November to March, snow and chain laws can hold trucks for a day or two.
- Winter storms in Illinois can slow pickups and deliveries in December through February — leave slack in your schedule.
Companies
Car carriers at both ends of the route
The largest carriers headquartered in Illinois and Arizona, by trucks on file with the FMCSA. A company based at either end usually runs this lane often.
Pickup end Illinois
106 companies based in Illinois: 90 carriers, 14 brokers, 1,639 trucks in total, 8 years in business on average.
- Cassens Transport Company Edwardsville · 911 trucks · since 1974 · USDOT 124358
- Orgil Auto Transport Rosemont · 75 trucks · since 2010 · USDOT 2005112
- Americars Transportation Inc Aurora · 65 trucks · since 2016 · USDOT 2913704
- Windy City Auto Transportation LLC Hazel Crest · 61 trucks · since 2025 · USDOT 4367050
- American Auto Transport Inc Lombard · 57 trucks · since 2004 · USDOT 1291429
Delivery end Arizona
41 companies based in Arizona: 30 carriers, 5 brokers, 154 trucks in total, 13 years in business on average.
- Motor Car Auto Carriers Inc Glendal · 45 trucks · since 2000 · USDOT 915692
- Auto-Matic Auto Carriers LLC Tucson · 23 trucks · since 2009 · USDOT 1965940
- J&S Transportation Tucson · 14 trucks · since 2000 · USDOT 911585
- Zemo Auto Transport LLC Peoria · 6 trucks · since 2015 · USDOT 2781497
- J & J Auto Transport LLC Litchfield Park · 5 trucks · since 2019 · USDOT 3244816
96 more companies in our directory ship to all 48 contiguous states. Browse all companies →
Related routes
Nearby alternatives
Moving close to Arizona but not into it — or coming from somewhere near Illinois? These guides cover the neighbouring lanes.
From Illinois to states near Arizona
To Arizona from states near Illinois
FAQ
Illinois to Arizona car shipping: questions
Numbers on this page come from our price model, Census moving data and Arizona's DMV.
How much does it cost to ship a car from Illinois to Arizona?
For a running sedan on an open carrier, expect about $1,075–$1,525 from Chicago to Phoenix (1,700 road miles). Between other big cities in the two states prices range from $1,000–$1,600. An SUV costs about $1,200–$1,725, a pickup $1,400–$2,000, and an enclosed trailer $1,600–$2,300 for a sedan.
How long does it take to ship a car from Illinois to Arizona?
Transit is usually 4–7 days after pickup for the 1,700-mile trip from Chicago to Phoenix. The wait for pickup is separate: typically 1–5 days, or 1–2 days if you pay about 30% more for expedited service.
When is the cheapest time to ship a car from Illinois to Arizona?
January–May and September–November is the cheapest window on this lane. Prices are highest in June–August, up to about 8% more. If you must ship in peak months, book three to four weeks ahead.
How soon do I have to register my car in Arizona after moving?
Arizona requires new residents to register right away — there is no grace period. Arizona expects registration as soon as you become a resident. Cars kept in the Phoenix or Tucson areas may need an emissions test first.
Is it cheaper to drive or ship my car from Illinois to Arizona?
Driving 1,700 miles takes about 4 days: roughly $220 in gas and 3 nights of hotels and meals (about $420). Shipping a sedan costs about $1,075–$1,525. Add wear on the car and 4 days off work, and the two come out close.
Which car shipping companies go from Illinois to Arizona?
Our directory lists 106 companies based in Illinois and 41 based in Arizona, each checked against FMCSA records, plus 96 that ship nationwide.