Route guide · NY → IL
Shipping a car from New York to Illinois
Shipping a running sedan from New York to Chicago costs about $800–$1,200 on an open carrier and $1,175–$1,775 in an enclosed trailer, with 2–4 days in transit. It ranks #115 among the 250 busiest car-shipping lanes, based on Census moving data.
- Open carrier, sedan
- $1,000
- Road miles
- 850
- Days in transit
- 2–4
- People moving a year
- 9.7K
- Companies at both ends
- 164
City to city
What it costs between New York and Illinois cities
Open-carrier prices for a running sedan between New York, Buffalo, Rochester and Syracuse and Chicago, Rockford, Springfield and Peoria — 540 to 980 road miles apart.
| From | Chicago | Rockford | Springfield | Peoria |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York | $800–$1,200850 mi · 2–4 days | $825–$1,225930 mi · 2–4 days | $850–$1,250980 mi · 2–4 days | $850–$1,250970 mi · 2–4 days |
| Buffalo | $650–$1,025540 mi · 2–3 days | $675–$1,075610 mi · 2–3 days | $725–$1,125710 mi · 2–4 days | $725–$1,100680 mi · 2–4 days |
| Rochester | $675–$1,075610 mi · 2–3 days | $725–$1,125690 mi · 2–4 days | $750–$1,150780 mi · 2–4 days | $750–$1,150750 mi · 2–4 days |
| Syracuse | $725–$1,125700 mi · 2–4 days | $750–$1,150780 mi · 2–4 days | $800–$1,200870 mi · 2–4 days | $775–$1,175840 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
New York to Chicago, 850 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 | $800–$1,200 | $1,175–$1,775 |
| Midsize SUV or crossover | $875–$1,325 | $1,325–$2,000 |
| Large SUV (Tahoe, Expedition) | $1,000–$1,500 | $1,475–$2,225 |
| Pickup truck | $1,025–$1,550 | $1,550–$2,325 |
| Motorcycle | $475–$725 | $700–$1,075 |
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 New York to Illinois is January–May and September–November.
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Cheapest: about $1,000 Peak: about $1,075
About this route
Why so many cars go from New York to Illinois
About 9,738 people moved from New York to Illinois in each of the last two years, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (8,394 in 2023, 11,082 in 2024). That is 2.2% of everyone who left New York for another state.
Traffic runs both ways — about 8,204 people a year move from Illinois back to New York — so carriers run this lane year-round and quotes tend to be steady.
How the price compares
At a typical $1,000, shipping from New York to Illinois costs more than sending a car to South Carolina ($950) and North Carolina ($875) but less than to Florida ($1,175) and Missouri ($1,175). That works out to about $1.18 a mile.
Distance and transit time
New York to Chicago is about 850 road miles — 2–4 days on the truck. On a run this short, many people weigh shipping against driving it themselves. The car heads west and crosses one time zone — from Eastern to Central time — so confirm whether the delivery window you are given is in local time.
On the road
- 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 New York and Illinois, by trucks on file with the FMCSA. A company based at either end usually runs this lane often.
Pickup end New York
58 companies based in New York: 44 carriers, 7 brokers, 458 trucks in total, 11 years in business on average.
- Acar Trucking LLC Brooklyn · 270 trucks · since 2023 · USDOT 4116994
- Bibi Carrier LLC Port Jervis · 42 trucks · since 2020 · USDOT 3438799
- GZZ Logistics Inc Staten Island · 9 trucks · since 2020 · USDOT 3476017
- Blue Cat Logistic Inc Brooklyn · 8 trucks · since 2023 · USDOT 4050399
- East Coast Auto Transport Inc Fort Ann · 7 trucks · since 1987 · USDOT 296156
Delivery 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
96 more companies in our directory ship to all 48 contiguous states. Browse all companies →
Related routes
Nearby alternatives
Moving close to Illinois but not into it — or coming from somewhere near New York? These guides cover the neighbouring lanes.
From New York to states near Illinois
To Illinois from states near New York
FAQ
New York to Illinois car shipping: questions
Numbers on this page come from our price model, Census moving data and Illinois's DMV.
How much does it cost to ship a car from New York to Illinois?
For a running sedan on an open carrier, expect about $800–$1,200 from New York to Chicago (850 road miles). Between other big cities in the two states prices range from $650–$1,250. An SUV costs about $875–$1,325, a pickup $1,025–$1,550, and an enclosed trailer $1,175–$1,775 for a sedan.
How long does it take to ship a car from New York to Illinois?
Transit is usually 2–4 days after pickup for the 850-mile trip from New York to Chicago. 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 New York to Illinois?
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 Illinois after moving?
Illinois requires new residents to register within 30 days of becoming a resident. Apply for an Illinois title and registration at a Secretary of State facility or by mail.
Is it cheaper to drive or ship my car from New York to Illinois?
Driving 850 miles takes about 2 days: roughly $110 in gas and 1 night of hotels and meals (about $140). Shipping a sedan costs about $800–$1,200. Over this distance driving usually costs less, if you can spare the day.
Which car shipping companies go from New York to Illinois?
Our directory lists 58 companies based in New York and 106 based in Illinois, each checked against FMCSA records, plus 96 that ship nationwide.