Route guide · MN → AZ
Shipping a car from Minnesota to Arizona
Shipping a running sedan from Minneapolis to Phoenix costs about $1,025–$1,450 on an open carrier and $1,525–$2,175 in an enclosed trailer, with 3–6 days in transit. It ranks #128 among the 250 busiest car-shipping lanes, based on Census moving data.
- Open carrier, sedan
- $1,250
- Road miles
- 1,500
- Days in transit
- 3–6
- People moving a year
- 5.9K
- Companies at both ends
- 57
City to city
What it costs between Minnesota and Arizona cities
Open-carrier prices for a running sedan between Minneapolis, Rochester, Duluth and St. Cloud and Phoenix, Tucson, Yuma and Flagstaff — 1,370 to 1,810 road miles apart.
| From | Phoenix | Tucson | Yuma | Flagstaff |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis | $1,025–$1,4501,500 mi · 3–6 days | $1,025–$1,4501,530 mi · 4–6 days | $1,075–$1,5251,680 mi · 4–7 days | $975–$1,4001,390 mi · 3–6 days |
| Rochester | $1,025–$1,4501,500 mi · 3–6 days | $1,025–$1,4501,520 mi · 4–6 days | $1,075–$1,5251,690 mi · 4–7 days | $1,000–$1,4001,400 mi · 3–6 days |
| Duluth | $1,050–$1,5001,640 mi · 4–6 days | $1,050–$1,5251,670 mi · 4–7 days | $1,100–$1,5751,810 mi · 4–7 days | $1,025–$1,4501,520 mi · 4–6 days |
| St. Cloud | $1,000–$1,4501,480 mi · 3–6 days | $1,025–$1,4501,520 mi · 4–6 days | $1,050–$1,5251,660 mi · 4–7 days | $975–$1,4001,370 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
Minneapolis to Phoenix, 1,500 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 | $1,025–$1,450 | $1,525–$2,175 |
| Midsize SUV or crossover | $1,150–$1,625 | $1,700–$2,425 |
| Large SUV (Tahoe, Expedition) | $1,275–$1,825 | $1,900–$2,725 |
| Pickup truck | $1,325–$1,875 | $1,975–$2,825 |
| Motorcycle | $600–$875 | $925–$1,300 |
By month
Best time to ship
Prices on this lane peak in December (the holidays and winter weather up north), running about 10% above the quietest months. The cheapest time to ship from Minnesota to Arizona is March–May and September–November.
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Cheapest: about $1,225 Peak: about $1,350
About this route
Why so many cars go from Minnesota to Arizona
About 5,854 people moved from Minnesota to Arizona in each of the last two years, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (5,582 in 2023, 6,126 in 2024). That is 5.3% of everyone who left Minnesota for another state, making Arizona its #5 destination.
Traffic is lopsided: only about 3,689 people a year go the other way, Arizona to Minnesota. Trucks heading into Arizona fill up quickly, so pickups are usually fast — but carriers have less reason to discount in peak months.
How the price compares
At a typical $1,225, shipping from Minnesota to Arizona costs more than sending a car to Texas ($1,050) but less than to Florida ($1,325). That works out to about 82¢ a mile.
Distance and transit time
Expect about 1,500 road miles from Minneapolis to Phoenix — 3–6 days on the truck after pickup. Carriers usually load several cars before heading out, so the pickup window matters as much as transit time. 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 Minnesota 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 Minnesota and Arizona, by trucks on file with the FMCSA. A company based at either end usually runs this lane often.
Pickup end Minnesota
16 companies based in Minnesota: 16 carriers, 2 brokers, 325 trucks in total, 23 years in business on average.
- Advanced Auto Transport Inc Lake Elmo · 205 trucks · since 1998 · USDOT 752871
- Carstensen & Sons Trucking Inc Cannon Falls · 42 trucks · since 1987 · USDOT 285579
- Express Auto Transport Inc Farmington · 37 trucks · since 1996 · USDOT 653539
- Becker Auto Transport Inc Hayward · 6 trucks · since 1995 · USDOT 589012
- Dreckmans Auto Transport Inc Balaton · 4 trucks · since 2006 · USDOT 1552868
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 Minnesota? These guides cover the neighbouring lanes.
From Minnesota to states near Arizona
To Arizona from states near Minnesota
FAQ
Minnesota 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 Minnesota to Arizona?
For a running sedan on an open carrier, expect about $1,025–$1,450 from Minneapolis to Phoenix (1,500 road miles). Between other big cities in the two states prices range from $975–$1,575. An SUV costs about $1,150–$1,625, a pickup $1,325–$1,875, and an enclosed trailer $1,525–$2,175 for a sedan.
How long does it take to ship a car from Minnesota to Arizona?
Transit is usually 3–6 days after pickup for the 1,500-mile trip from Minneapolis to Phoenix. Getting the car picked up takes another 1–5 days on a standard booking; expedited pickup within 1–2 days costs about 30% more.
When is the cheapest time to ship a car from Minnesota to Arizona?
March–May and September–November is the cheapest window on this lane. Prices are highest in December, up to about 10% more. Whatever the month, a flexible pickup date booked 2–3 weeks out gets the best price.
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 Minnesota to Arizona?
Driving 1,500 miles takes about 3 days: roughly $190 in gas and 2 nights of hotels and meals (about $280). Shipping a sedan costs about $1,025–$1,450. Add wear on the car and 3 days off work, and the two come out close.
Which car shipping companies go from Minnesota to Arizona?
Our directory lists 16 companies based in Minnesota and 41 based in Arizona, each checked against FMCSA records, plus 96 that ship nationwide.