Route guide · IL → CO
Shipping a car from Illinois to Colorado
Shipping a running sedan from Chicago to Denver costs about $875–$1,275 on an open carrier and $1,325–$1,925 in an enclosed trailer, with 3–5 days in transit. It ranks #150 among the 250 busiest car-shipping lanes, based on Census moving data.
- Open carrier, sedan
- $1,075
- Road miles
- 1,070
- Days in transit
- 3–5
- People moving a year
- 6.7K
- Companies at both ends
- 122
City to city
What it costs between Illinois and Colorado cities
Open-carrier prices for a running sedan between Chicago, Rockford, Springfield and Peoria and Denver, Colorado Springs, Fort Collins and Pueblo — 950 to 1,090 road miles apart.
| From | Denver | Colorado Springs | Fort Collins | Pueblo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $875–$1,2751,070 mi · 3–5 days | $875–$1,2751,090 mi · 3–5 days | $875–$1,2751,070 mi · 3–5 days | $875–$1,2751,090 mi · 3–5 days |
| Rockford | $850–$1,250990 mi · 2–4 days | $850–$1,2501,010 mi · 3–5 days | $850–$1,250990 mi · 2–4 days | $850–$1,2501,020 mi · 3–5 days |
| Springfield | $825–$1,225950 mi · 2–4 days | $825–$1,225960 mi · 2–4 days | $825–$1,225960 mi · 2–4 days | $825–$1,225950 mi · 2–4 days |
| Peoria | $825–$1,225950 mi · 2–4 days | $825–$1,225960 mi · 2–4 days | $825–$1,225950 mi · 2–4 days | $825–$1,225960 mi · 2–4 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 Denver, 1,070 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 | $875–$1,275 | $1,325–$1,925 |
| Midsize SUV or crossover | $975–$1,425 | $1,475–$2,150 |
| Large SUV (Tahoe, Expedition) | $1,100–$1,600 | $1,650–$2,400 |
| Pickup truck | $1,150–$1,650 | $1,700–$2,500 |
| Motorcycle | $525–$775 | $800–$1,150 |
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 Colorado is January–May and September–November.
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Cheapest: about $1,075 Peak: about $1,175
About this route
Why so many cars go from Illinois to Colorado
About 6,747 people moved from Illinois to Colorado in each of the last two years, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (8,941 in 2023, 4,552 in 2024). That is 2.3% of everyone who left Illinois for another state.
Traffic runs both ways — about 4,872 people a year move from Colorado back to Illinois — so carriers run this lane year-round and quotes tend to be steady.
How the price compares
At a typical $1,075, shipping from Illinois to Colorado costs more than sending a car to Texas ($1,025) and New York ($1,000) but less than to Florida ($1,200) and Arizona ($1,300). That works out to about $1.00 a mile.
Distance and transit time
Chicago to Denver is about 1,070 road miles, or 3–5 days on a car carrier. Most of the wait is before pickup, while the driver fills the trailer. The car heads west 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 Colorado, 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 Colorado
16 companies based in Colorado: 16 carriers, 1 brokers, 269 trucks in total, 10 years in business on average.
- Supreme Auto Transport Inc Longmont · 207 trucks · since 2000 · USDOT 912923
- TK Auto Trans Inc Aurora · 22 trucks · since 2013 · USDOT 2388239
- Sterling Auto Carriers Inc Montrose · 6 trucks · since 2015 · USDOT 2777033
- Your Auto Express Aurora · 5 trucks · since 2021 · USDOT 3705965
- Amiron Auto Trans LLC Commerce City · 4 trucks · since 2017 · USDOT 2961725
96 more companies in our directory ship to all 48 contiguous states. Browse all companies →
Related routes
Nearby alternatives
Moving close to Colorado but not into it — or coming from somewhere near Illinois? These guides cover the neighbouring lanes.
From Illinois to states near Colorado
To Colorado from states near Illinois
FAQ
Illinois to Colorado car shipping: questions
Numbers on this page come from our price model, Census moving data and Colorado's DMV.
How much does it cost to ship a car from Illinois to Colorado?
For a running sedan on an open carrier, expect about $875–$1,275 from Chicago to Denver (1,070 road miles). Between other big cities in the two states prices range from $825–$1,275. An SUV costs about $975–$1,425, a pickup $1,150–$1,650, and an enclosed trailer $1,325–$1,925 for a sedan.
How long does it take to ship a car from Illinois to Colorado?
Transit is usually 3–5 days after pickup for the 1,070-mile trip from Chicago to Denver. Before that, allow 1–5 days for a carrier to be assigned — or pay roughly 30% extra to have it collected within 48 hours.
When is the cheapest time to ship a car from Illinois to Colorado?
January–May and September–November is the cheapest window on this lane. Prices are highest in June–August, up to about 8% more. In any month, giving the carrier a wide pickup window lowers the quote.
How soon do I have to register my car in Colorado after moving?
Colorado requires new residents to register within 90 days of becoming a resident. You need Colorado insurance before you register; late fees are $25 a month, up to $100.
Is it cheaper to drive or ship my car from Illinois to Colorado?
Driving 1,070 miles takes about 3 days: roughly $140 in gas and 2 nights of hotels and meals (about $280). Shipping a sedan costs about $875–$1,275. Add wear on the car and 3 days off work, and the two come out close.
Which car shipping companies go from Illinois to Colorado?
Our directory lists 106 companies based in Illinois and 16 based in Colorado, each checked against FMCSA records, plus 96 that ship nationwide.