Route guide · MO → AZ
Shipping a car from Missouri to Arizona
Shipping a running sedan from Kansas City to Phoenix costs about $950–$1,350 on an open carrier and $1,425–$2,025 in an enclosed trailer, with 3–5 days in transit. It ranks #187 among the 250 busiest car-shipping lanes, based on Census moving data.
- Open carrier, sedan
- $1,150
- Road miles
- 1,230
- Days in transit
- 3–5
- People moving a year
- 5.3K
- Companies at both ends
- 71
City to city
What it costs between Missouri and Arizona cities
Open-carrier prices for a running sedan between Kansas City, St. Louis, Springfield and Columbia and Phoenix, Tucson, Yuma and Flagstaff — 1,150 to 1,680 road miles apart.
| From | Phoenix | Tucson | Yuma | Flagstaff |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas City | $950–$1,3501,230 mi · 3–5 days | $950–$1,3501,220 mi · 3–5 days | $1,000–$1,4251,420 mi · 3–6 days | $900–$1,3001,150 mi · 3–5 days |
| St. Louis | $1,025–$1,4501,490 mi · 3–6 days | $1,000–$1,4501,470 mi · 3–6 days | $1,075–$1,5251,680 mi · 4–7 days | $1,000–$1,4251,420 mi · 3–6 days |
| Springfield | $950–$1,3501,280 mi · 3–5 days | $950–$1,3501,250 mi · 3–5 days | $1,000–$1,4501,470 mi · 3–6 days | $950–$1,3501,220 mi · 3–5 days |
| Columbia | $975–$1,4001,370 mi · 3–6 days | $975–$1,4001,350 mi · 3–6 days | $1,025–$1,4751,550 mi · 4–6 days | $950–$1,3751,290 mi · 3–5 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
Kansas City to Phoenix, 1,230 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 | $950–$1,350 | $1,425–$2,025 |
| Midsize SUV or crossover | $1,050–$1,500 | $1,575–$2,250 |
| Large SUV (Tahoe, Expedition) | $1,175–$1,675 | $1,775–$2,525 |
| Pickup truck | $1,225–$1,750 | $1,825–$2,625 |
| Motorcycle | $575–$800 | $850–$1,200 |
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 Missouri to Arizona is January–May and September–November.
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Cheapest: about $1,150 Peak: about $1,225
About this route
Why so many cars go from Missouri to Arizona
About 5,313 people moved from Missouri to Arizona in each of the last two years, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (7,390 in 2023, 3,235 in 2024). That is 4% of everyone who left Missouri for another state.
Traffic runs both ways — about 5,297 people a year move from Arizona back to Missouri — so carriers run this lane year-round and quotes tend to be steady.
How the price compares
At a typical $1,150, shipping from Missouri to Arizona costs more than sending a car to Texas ($825) but less than to Florida ($1,225) and California ($1,275). That works out to about 93¢ a mile.
Distance and transit time
Expect about 1,230 road miles from Kansas City to Phoenix — 3–5 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.
Companies
Car carriers at both ends of the route
The largest carriers headquartered in Missouri and Arizona, by trucks on file with the FMCSA. A company based at either end usually runs this lane often.
Pickup end Missouri
30 companies based in Missouri: 30 carriers, 0 brokers, 456 trucks in total, 14 years in business on average.
- Redbird Carriers and Fastrack Auto Transport Saint Louis · 265 trucks · since 1984 · USDOT 251582
- CNS Transportation LLC Warrensburg · 49 trucks · since 2025 · USDOT 4371608
- Smith Auto Transport Strafford · 34 trucks · since 2013 · USDOT 2368130
- Passport Transport Lebanon · 23 trucks · since 2010 · USDOT 2043860
- Reliable Transport LLC Springfield · 8 trucks · since 2011 · USDOT 2205331
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 Missouri? These guides cover the neighbouring lanes.
From Missouri to states near Arizona
To Arizona from states near Missouri
FAQ
Missouri 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 Missouri to Arizona?
For a running sedan on an open carrier, expect about $950–$1,350 from Kansas City to Phoenix (1,230 road miles). Between other big cities in the two states prices range from $900–$1,525. An SUV costs about $1,050–$1,500, a pickup $1,225–$1,750, and an enclosed trailer $1,425–$2,025 for a sedan.
How long does it take to ship a car from Missouri to Arizona?
Transit is usually 3–5 days after pickup for the 1,230-mile trip from Kansas City 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 Missouri 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. 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 Missouri to Arizona?
Driving 1,230 miles takes about 3 days: roughly $160 in gas and 2 nights of hotels and meals (about $280). Shipping a sedan costs about $950–$1,350. Add wear on the car and 3 days off work, and the two come out close.
Which car shipping companies go from Missouri to Arizona?
Our directory lists 30 companies based in Missouri and 41 based in Arizona, each checked against FMCSA records, plus 96 that ship nationwide.