Des Moines, IA car shipping
Car Shipping in Des Moines, IA
- Estimates clearly labeled
- Independent company rankings
- Free to compare
$295 – $2,325
Typical price
Sedan, open transport
1–4 days
Transit time
Most major cities
Los Angeles, Milwaukee
Top destinations
$240 – $660
Trips within Iowa
Published range for an in-state trip
Free · No obligation · About a minute
Get a Des Moines car shipping quote
About car shipping in Des Moines
Des Moines is where I-35 and I-80 cross, which puts it on both the Mexico-to-Minnesota run and the coast-to-coast one. Very few cars are shipped here compared with the number of trucks passing through, and that asymmetry is good news: a carrier is usually already on your road. Winter is the one thing that reliably moves a date.
- I-35 and I-80 cross here, on two national corridors
- Far more trucks pass through than stop, which helps pricing
- Ice and blowing snow close the interstates some winters
- Flat grid streets and big lots make loading easy
- Main highways
- I-35, I-80, I-235
- Typical transit
- 1–4 days
- In-state trips
- $240 – $660
Car shipping rates from Des Moines
Estimated from published industry figures for a standard car. Your quote depends on season, vehicle and exact addresses.
| Destination | Distance | Open transport | Enclosed transport | Transit time | Route page |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles, CA | 1,720 mi | $690 – $3,250 | $895 – $5,200 | 4–7 days | Iowa to California |
| Milwaukee, WI | 370 mi | $295 – $815 | $360 – $1,300 | 1–2 days | Iowa to Wisconsin |
| Houston, TX | 990 mi | $725 – $1,870 | $925 – $2,995 | 2–4 days | Iowa to Texas |
| Jacksonville, FL | 1,230 mi | $860 – $2,325 | $1,120 – $3,720 | 3–5 days | Iowa to Florida |
| Kansas City, MO | 220 mi | $240 – $660 | $290 – $1,055 | 1–2 days | Iowa to Missouri |
| New York City, NY | 1,220 mi | $855 – $2,305 | $1,110 – $3,690 | 3–5 days | Iowa to New York |
Winter weather affects pickup, not just price
No source publishes monthly prices by city, so this is what the studies say about timing.
Storms and mountain passes can delay a truck that is already on the road, so a wider pickup window matters more here than a slightly lower quote.
Published price adjustments
- Pickup truckPickups cost about 38% more to ship than standard cars.Source: Move.org
- SUVAt 500 miles, an SUV averaged $743 against $696 for a car.Source: Move.org
- Non-running vehicleAdd $150 to $300 for a vehicle that does not run.Source: Direct Connect Auto Transport
Transit times from Des Moines
Typical days on the road after pickup.
- Kansas City, MO · 220 mi1–2 days
- Milwaukee, WI · 370 mi1–2 days
- Chicago, IL · 370 mi1–2 days
- Atlanta, GA · 890 mi2–4 days
- Charlotte, NC · 980 mi2–4 days
- Houston, TX · 990 mi2–4 days
- New York City, NY · 1,220 mi3–5 days
Popular routes from Des Moines
Car shipping companies serving Des Moines
Researched companies ordered by Trustpilot rating, adjusted for review count. Not ranked by city data.
Pickup areas around Des Moines
Where trucks reach easily, and where a meeting point helps.
- West Des Moines, Ankeny, UrbandaleWide streets near I-35 and I-80. Simple loading.
- Beaverdale, Sherman Hill, the East VillageOlder narrower streets; a lot nearby works better.
- Along the interstatesTruck stops and freight lots; the quickest handovers.
Good to know in Des Moines
- Both national corridors, in one placeI-80 runs coast to coast and I-35 runs border to border, and they cross just north of the city. Almost any lane out of Des Moines joins one of them within minutes, which is why quotes here compare well against cities several times the size.
- The interstates close before the city doesOpen farmland on every side means blowing snow shuts I-80 and I-35 in stretches most winters, sometimes for a day. Your street will be clear and your delivery will still be late. That is worth knowing before you book a February date around a flight.
- Among the easiest places to load a carThe metro is flat, the streets are wide, and nearly everything has parking attached. Full door-to-door works here more consistently than in most cities, which is not something a quote will tell you.
- Moving to Des MoinesIf you're moving from another state, you'll generally need to register your vehicle in Iowa. Check Iowa's motor vehicle agency for deadlines and inspection rules.
Other Iowa cities
Starting prices on popular routes.
Helpful guides for Des Moines
Why ship from Des Moines?
- Carriers already serving Iowa
- Door-to-door pickup where trucks can reach
- Open and enclosed transport options
- Published price ranges you can compare before booking
- Common for relocations, students, military moves and car purchases
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to ship a car from Des Moines?
Published figures put a standard car on an open carrier at about $295 – $2,325 from Des Moines to other major cities, depending on distance, season and vehicle. Shorter trips, such as to Kansas City, run about $240 – $660.
Car shipping cost calculatorHow long does it take to ship a car from Des Moines?
About 1–2 days to Kansas City and 4–7 days to Los Angeles, plus the pickup window before the car is loaded.
How long car shipping takesCan the truck pick up at my home in Des Moines?
Often, yes. On narrow, busy or restricted streets, the driver may ask to meet at a nearby open lot where a full-size carrier can load safely.
Door-to-door car shipping
Should I ship open or enclosed from Des Moines?
Open transport suits most everyday cars and costs less. Consider enclosed for luxury, classic or exotic cars, or anything with fresh paint.
Open vs. enclosed shippingIs my car insured when shipping from Des Moines?
Licensed carriers must carry liability insurance, and most carry cargo coverage for the cars they haul. Ask for the certificate of insurance before pickup.
Car shipping insuranceWhat's the cheapest way to ship a car from Des Moines?
Choose open transport, be flexible with dates, book one to three weeks ahead and meet the truck near a main highway if your street is hard to reach.
Cheapest way to ship a car
Where these figures come from
Published industry studies, not Haulwide shipments. Checked Sep 16, 2026.
- SGT Auto Transport(opens in a new tab)
Published Sep 9, 2026. 30 months of the company's own shipping data (January 2024 to June 2026) across all 50 states and 1,581 state-to-state lanes, limited to completed single-vehicle open transport deliveries and mix-adjusted for distance.
- Move.org(opens in a new tab)
Published Mar 4, 2026. Nearly 800 broker quotes analyzed, priced for a running 2025 Toyota Camry with a one-week lead time using October 2025 quotes.
- Kelley Blue Book(opens in a new tab)
Published Jan 12, 2026. Quotes requested from eight transport companies for a 2025 Honda Accord on three routes from Orlando, on standard open carriers.
- Direct Connect Auto Transport(opens in a new tab)
No publication date given. The company's own carrier data for an operable sedan on open transport; the page states no publication date.
- RoadRunner Auto Transport(opens in a new tab)
Published Sep 1, 2026. The company's completed shipment history, which it describes as over 1 million vehicles delivered across 30+ years, updated September 2026. Its nationwide average is $1,215 at a median distance of 987 miles and a median $1.23 per mile.
The sources disagree, so figures are shown as the span across them rather than a single price. Pricing methodology
Ready to ship your car from Des Moines?
Enter your route to compare estimated prices, pickup dates and transport companies.