How much does it cost to ship a car from Washington to Minnesota?

For a running sedan on an open carrier, expect about $1,050–$1,500 from Seattle to Minneapolis (1,640 road miles). Between other big cities in the two states prices range from $975–$1,550. An SUV costs about $1,175–$1,675, a pickup $1,375–$1,950, and an enclosed trailer $1,575–$2,250 for a sedan.

How long does it take to ship a car from Washington to Minnesota?

Transit is usually 4–6 days after pickup for the 1,640-mile trip from Seattle to Minneapolis. 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 Washington to Minnesota?

March–May and September–November is the cheapest window on this lane. Prices are highest in December, up to about 10% more. If you must ship in peak months, book three to four weeks ahead.

How soon do I have to register my car in Minnesota after moving?

Minnesota requires new residents to register within 60 days of becoming a resident. Register at a deputy registrar office or by mail.

Is it cheaper to drive or ship my car from Washington to Minnesota?

Driving 1,640 miles takes about 4 days: roughly $210 in gas and 3 nights of hotels and meals (about $420). Shipping a sedan costs about $1,050–$1,500. Add wear on the car and 4 days off work, and the two come out close.

Which car shipping companies go from Washington to Minnesota?

Our directory lists 34 companies based in Washington and 16 based in Minnesota, each checked against FMCSA records, plus 190 that ship nationwide.

Washington to Minnesota Car Shipping: Cost & Time (2026)

Car shipping from Washington to Minnesota

Car transport from Washington to Minnesota runs 1,640 road miles between the biggest metros. Shipping a running sedan from Seattle to Minneapolis costs about $1,050–$1,500 on an open carrier and $1,575–$2,250 in an enclosed trailer, with 4–6 days in transit. It ranks #249 among the 250 busiest car-shipping lanes, based on Census moving data.

Prices updated October 2026 · Estimates, not quotes · Calculate for your car →

Open carrier, sedan

$1,275

Road miles

1,640

Days in transit

4–6

People moving a year

4.1K

Companies at both ends

From	Minneapolis	Rochester	Duluth	St. Cloud
Seattle	$1,050–$1,5001,640 mi · 4–6 days	$1,075–$1,5251,710 mi · 4–7 days	$1,050–$1,5251,660 mi · 4–7 days	$1,050–$1,4751,580 mi · 4–6 days
Spokane	$975–$1,4001,370 mi · 3–6 days	$1,000–$1,4251,440 mi · 3–6 days	$1,000–$1,4001,400 mi · 3–6 days	$975–$1,3751,310 mi · 3–5 days
Vancouver	$1,050–$1,5251,670 mi · 4–7 days	$1,075–$1,5501,740 mi · 4–7 days	$1,075–$1,5251,710 mi · 4–7 days	$1,050–$1,5001,610 mi · 4–6 days
Yakima	$1,025–$1,4751,550 mi · 4–6 days	$1,050–$1,5001,610 mi · 4–6 days	$1,050–$1,4751,580 mi · 4–6 days	$1,025–$1,4501,490 mi · 3–6 days

Minneapolis

Rochester

Duluth

St. Cloud

Seattle

$1,050–$1,5001,640 mi · 4–6 days

$1,075–$1,5251,710 mi · 4–7 days

$1,050–$1,5251,660 mi · 4–7 days

$1,050–$1,4751,580 mi · 4–6 days

Spokane

$975–$1,4001,370 mi · 3–6 days

$1,000–$1,4251,440 mi · 3–6 days

$1,000–$1,4001,400 mi · 3–6 days

$975–$1,3751,310 mi · 3–5 days

Vancouver

$1,050–$1,5251,670 mi · 4–7 days

$1,075–$1,5501,740 mi · 4–7 days

$1,075–$1,5251,710 mi · 4–7 days

$1,050–$1,5001,610 mi · 4–6 days

Yakima

$1,025–$1,4751,550 mi · 4–6 days

$1,050–$1,5001,610 mi · 4–6 days

$1,050–$1,4751,580 mi · 4–6 days

$1,025–$1,4501,490 mi · 3–6 days

Price by vehicle type

Seattle to Minneapolis, 1,640 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	$1,050–$1,500	$1,575–$2,250
Midsize SUV or crossover	$1,175–$1,675	$1,775–$2,525
Large SUV (Tahoe, Expedition)	$1,325–$1,875	$1,975–$2,825
Pickup truck	$1,375–$1,950	$2,050–$2,925
Motorcycle	$625–$900	$950–$1,350

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 Washington to Minnesota is March–May and September–November.

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Cheapest: about $1,275 Peak: about $1,400

About this route

Why so many cars go from Washington to Minnesota

About 4,124 people moved from Washington to Minnesota in each of the last two years, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (3,400 in 2023, 4,847 in 2024). That is 2% of everyone who left Washington for another state.

Only about 2,908 people a year go back from Minnesota to Washington, so demand here is mostly one-way. With trucks toward Minnesota in steady demand, expect quick pickups and little room to haggle.

How the price compares

At a typical $1,275, shipping from Washington to Minnesota costs more than sending a car to Arizona ($1,175) and Colorado ($1,125) but less than to Texas ($1,400) and Georgia ($1,625). That works out to about 78¢ a mile — long hauls cost less per mile because loading and paperwork are spread over more distance.

Distance and transit time

Your car spends 4–6 days on the road for the roughly 1,640 miles from Seattle to Minneapolis, after a pickup window of a few days while the carrier assembles a full load. The car heads east and crosses 2 time zones — from Pacific to Central 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 Washington can slow pickups and deliveries in December through February — leave slack in your schedule.