AlabamaIllinois
Car Shipping from Alabama to Illinois
- Estimates clearly labeled
- Licensed carriers only
- Free, no obligation
$455 – $1,170
Estimated price (open)
2–3 days
Transit time
620 miles
Typical distance
$0.73–$1.89 per mile
Price per mile (open)
Free · No obligation · About a minute
Get a Alabama to Illinois quote
About the Alabama to Illinois route
Main highways: I-65, I-20, I-55
- About 620 estimated road miles from Alabama to Illinois
- Most carriers use I-65, I-20, I-55
- Pickup is scheduled within a window; flexible dates usually lower the price
- I-65 connects Birmingham and Mobile with Tennessee and the Gulf Coast.
Alabama to Illinois shipping rates
Estimated from published industry figures, by vehicle type.
| Vehicle | Open transport | Enclosed transport |
|---|---|---|
| Sedan | $455 – $1,170 | $580 – $1,875 |
| SUV | $485 – $1,250 | $620 – $2,005 |
| Pickup truck | $630 – $1,615 | $800 – $2,585 |
| Non-running vehicle | $605 – $1,470 | $730 – $2,175 |
Storm season can pause pickups
No source publishes monthly prices for this route, so this is what the studies say about timing.
Between June and November a named storm can close highways and hold carriers for days. Ship earlier in the window when a date matters.
When to ship
Transit times
Typical days in transit between major cities, after pickup.
- Birmingham → Chicago2–3 days
- Birmingham → Aurora2–3 days
- Huntsville → Chicago2–3 days
- Huntsville → Aurora2–3 days
- Montgomery → Chicago2–4 days
Popular pickup and delivery cities
From Alabama
- Birmingham$410 – $1,060
- Huntsville$375 – $1,035
- Montgomery$480 – $1,245
- Mobile$570 – $1,475
- Tuscaloosa$415 – $1,075
- Hoover$415 – $1,075
To Illinois
- Chicago$550 – $1,420
- Aurora$550 – $1,420
- Joliet$535 – $1,380
- Naperville$550 – $1,420
- Rockford$585 – $1,510
- Springfield$445 – $1,155
Companies to consider
Researched companies ordered by Trustpilot rating, adjusted for review count. Not ranked by route.
Services on this route
Moving to Illinois? What to do with your car
More carriers pass through here than anywhere else on the continent
The regional planning agency puts roughly 25% of all US freight trains and 50% of all intermodal trains through metropolitan Chicago, with some facilities handling over 30,000 trucks a day. For a car shipment the consequence is supply: a carrier heading almost anywhere in the country is already passing nearby, so pickup windows out of Chicago are among the shortest you will be quoted. It is one of the few places where asking for a specific week is realistic.
The same density is what makes a driver late
Trucks are about one in seven vehicles on Illinois urban interstates, and the interchanges where I-90, I-94, I-55 and I-80 meet are among the most congested freight bottlenecks in the country. A driver who misses his window through the city does not make that time back on the next leg. Morning collections are easier to hold to than afternoon ones, and a suburban meeting point off the expressway is often quicker than a door deep inside the city.
Ninety-two of the state's worst weather events were storms
NOAA counts 128 billion-dollar weather disasters in Illinois between 1980 and 2024, of which 92 were severe storms and only 12 winter storms. The five years to 2024 averaged 7.8 such events a year against a long-run average of 2.8. Winter gets the attention here, but the record says spring and summer storm lines are what actually interrupt a shipment most often.
Sources: Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning: North America's freight hub; NOAA NCEI: billion-dollar disasters, Illinois summary; FHWA: the freight economy in Chicago. Rules change; check before you register.
Book this route safely
Authority can be checked for free
Any broker or carrier's USDOT number, operating status and insurance on file can be looked up in the FMCSA database. Source: FMCSA company snapshot
Brokers must be bonded
Auto transport brokers need FMCSA broker authority and $75,000 in financial security, usually a BMC-84 surety bond or a BMC-85 trust fund. Source: 49 CFR 387.307
The Bill of Lading is signed twice
You and the driver inspect the car at pickup and again at delivery. Note any new damage on the Bill of Lading before you sign, and photograph it before the driver leaves. Source: FMCSA: Protect your move
Related routes
Reverse direction and nearby corridors.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to ship a car from Alabama to Illinois?
Published figures put a standard car on an open carrier at about $455 – $1,170 for the roughly 620 miles from Alabama to Illinois. Enclosed transport is about $580 – $1,875. Your price depends on exact addresses, vehicle, season and date flexibility.
Car shipping cost calculatorWhat is the cost per mile from Alabama to Illinois?
Published figures put open transport at about $0.73–$1.89 per mile for a trip of roughly 620 miles. The sources disagree, which is why the range is wide.
Car shipping cost per mileIs enclosed transport worth it from Alabama to Illinois?
For everyday cars, open transport is usually enough. Enclosed transport is worth considering for luxury, classic or low-clearance cars.
Open vs. enclosed shipping
How long does it take to ship a car from Alabama to Illinois?
Transit usually takes 2–3 days once the car is loaded, plus the pickup window, which depends on truck space on the route.
How long car shipping takesWhen is the best time to ship a car from Alabama to Illinois?
Late fall and winter are usually cheaper than summer moving season. Booking one to three weeks ahead gives you more carrier options.
Best time to ship a carIs door-to-door shipping available from Alabama to Illinois?
Yes, in most areas. If a large truck can't reach your street, the driver will arrange a nearby meeting point.
Door-to-door car shipping
How to ship a car from Alabama to Illinois
A step-by-step plan: compare quotes, pick a transport type, prepare the car and know what to check at delivery.
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 Alabama to Illinois?
Enter your route to compare estimated prices, pickup dates and transport companies.