Car Shipping in Iowa
Heading to Arizona for the winter, sending a student to Ames, or moving from the farm to a city across the country? We match you with a vetted, licensed carrier and arrange door-to-door transport anywhere in Iowa.
Des Moines to Dubuque, door to door. Get your price below.
- Open and enclosed carriers
- Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, the Quad Cities and beyond
- Talk to a real person at (424) 453-1800
Iowa Cities We Ship To
City-by-city shipping notes
Most Iowa pickups are near I-80, I-35 or I-380. Notes on the main cities:
Des Moines
The capital, where I-35 meets I-80. The Iowa State Fair fills the east side for 11 days every August.
Cedar Rapids
Iowa’s second-largest city, on I-380 and the Cedar River.
Davenport
The Quad Cities on the Mississippi, where I-74 and I-80 cross the river into Illinois.
Iowa City
The University of Iowa, just off I-80. Home football Saturdays at Kinnick fill the town.
Ames
Iowa State University, about 30 miles north of Des Moines on I-35.
Ankeny and West Des Moines
The fast-growing Des Moines suburbs. In newer neighborhoods the carrier may meet you at a school or store lot.
Sioux City
Where Iowa meets Nebraska and South Dakota, on I-29.
Waterloo and Cedar Falls
Northeast Iowa on US-20 and I-380, with the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls.
Council Bluffs
Across the Missouri River from Omaha, where I-29 and I-80 meet.
Dubuque
River bluffs and steep streets on the Mississippi, where Iowa meets Illinois and Wisconsin.
Where Iowa Cars Go
I-80 and I-35 cross in Des Moines, so carriers come through Iowa from every direction. These are the long runs Iowans book.
Iowa ↔ Arizona
About 1,450 (Des Moines–Phoenix) milesSouth and west through Kansas and New Mexico, for winters in Mesa, Apache Junction or Yuma.
Iowa ↔ Florida
About 1,350 (Des Moines–Orlando) milesSoutheast through St. Louis or Indianapolis, then down through Nashville and Atlanta.
Iowa ↔ Texas
About 750 (Des Moines–Dallas) milesStraight down I-35 through Kansas City, Wichita and Oklahoma City.
Iowa ↔ Tennessee
About 660 (Des Moines–Nashville) milesDown through Missouri by way of St. Louis, then I-24 into Nashville.
Prices and transit times depend on your exact route, vehicle and season.Get an exact quote
Shipping in the Hawkeye State
Iowa Questions
When should I book shipping from Iowa to Arizona for the winter?
As early as you can. Arizona’s winter season pulls cars out of the Midwest from October through December, and they head back from March to May. A few weeks of notice gives you more carriers to choose from.
Can a carrier reach a farm or a house on a gravel road?
Usually not all the way. Car carriers stay on paved roads, especially after rain, when gravel and dirt roads turn soft. We’ll meet you at a paved spot nearby, like a co-op, a church or a lot in town. At planting and harvest time, expect slower traffic on rural highways too.
Will a blizzard delay my shipment?
It can. When the Iowa DOT advises against travel on I-80 or I-35, carriers stop until the road is safe. A winter storm can push a pickup or delivery a day or two, so leave some room in your dates from December to March.
I just moved to Iowa. How long do I have to register my car?
Iowa gives new residents 30 days. You title and register at your county treasurer’s office, so check with yours for what to bring.
What does it cost to ship a car to or from Iowa?
Distance, the vehicle, open or enclosed, and the season. Snowbird months on the Arizona and Florida runs are the busiest. Get an exact quote or call (424) 453-1800.
Who Ships in Iowa
Read more about shipping in Iowa
Iowa to Arizona and Back
Mesa, Apache Junction and Yuma see plenty of Midwest license plates every winter. Most snowbirds ship one car and fly, or drive one and ship the other. Book the trip south a few weeks ahead for October through December, and book the trip home before March, when the spring rush starts. See snowbird car shipping for timing tips, and ask about our senior discount when you quote.
Rural Pickups
A full car carrier is a heavy truck, and gravel roads, field drives and soft shoulders aren’t made for one. For farms and small towns, we usually meet at a paved spot on the nearest highway: a grain co-op, a church or a store lot. In spring, some county roads post weight limits while the frost comes out, which can rule out a carrier for a few weeks. Tell us about your road when you book.
We Ship Nationwide
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Ready to Ship in Iowa?
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