1-2
DAYS TO PICKUP, CHICAGOLAND
$700-$1,600
OPEN TRANSPORT, BY DESTINATION
I-90 · I-94 · I-55
PRIMARY CARRIER CORRIDORS
Key Takeaways
Typical cost: Illinois to Florida runs $850-$1,400 on an open carrier, Illinois to Texas $700-$950, Illinois to California $1,200-$1,600, and Illinois to the East Coast $700-$950. Enclosed transport typically adds 40-60 percent.
Transit time: Midwest destinations take 1-2 days, Florida 3-5 days, and either coast 5-8 days once the vehicle is picked up.
Seasonality: Snowbird outflow to Florida and Arizona from October through December lifts prices 15-25 percent, and January-February storms can add a day to pickup or transit.
Savings tip: Chicagoland’s corridor density means carriers flow through daily. Flexible dates and meeting the carrier at a suburban lot can cut $75-$150 off your price.
Process: You get a dedicated coordinator and a vetted, insured carrier. Nothing is due until a driver is assigned, and your vehicle is tracked by GPS throughout.
Popular Car Shipping Routes from Illinois
Chicago makes Illinois the carrier hub of the Midwest. Trucks run I-90, I-94, and I-55 every day, so pickup in Chicagoland usually happens within 1-2 days of booking, and downstate origins take 2-3 days. Open transport runs $700-$1,600 depending on destination. These are the routes we book most often from Illinois.
- Illinois to Florida - 1,050-1,400 miles, 3-6 days
- Illinois to Arizona - 1,700-1,800 miles, 4-6 days
- Illinois to Texas - 950-1,100 miles, 3-4 days
- Illinois to California - 1,950-2,150 miles, 5-8 days
- Illinois to New York - 790-900 miles, 2-3 days
The Chicago Hub Advantage
Chicago sits at the junction of I-90, I-94, and I-55, which makes it one of the busiest dispatch markets in the country. Carriers heading to either coast, Texas, or Florida route through the metro constantly, so capacity is rarely the problem it can be in smaller markets. That density works in your favor: suburban pickups are often scheduled the same week you book, and competitive carrier interest keeps Illinois pricing sharper than most neighboring states.
Pickup and Delivery Across Illinois
In the city itself, a 75-foot rig cannot stop on most downtown streets, so drivers stage from wide streets and lots in the Loop and on the North Side, and your coordinator confirms the exact meeting spot before pickup day. The suburbs are simpler: most Chicagoland addresses get direct door-to-door service. Downstate pickups in Springfield, Peoria, and southern Illinois run along I-55 and I-57 and add 1-2 days to the pickup window. In winter, storms can add a day to schedules, and some owners choose enclosed transport to keep road salt off the vehicle.
Illinois Car Shipping FAQs
Most standard sedans and SUVs run $850-$1,400 on an open carrier from Illinois to Florida. Enclosed transport typically adds 40-60 percent. During the October through December snowbird surge, southbound prices sit toward the top of that range, so booking 2-3 weeks ahead helps you lock a better rate.
Runs of about 2,000-2,200 miles typically price at $1,200-$1,600 for open transport. That works out to a lower cost per mile than shorter routes because the carrier keeps the vehicle for the full run. Enclosed service typically adds 40-60 percent to the open price.
Pickup in Chicagoland usually happens within 1-2 days of booking, and downstate origins take 2-3 days. Once the car is loaded, count on 1-2 days to Midwest destinations, 3-4 days to Texas, 3-5 days to Florida, and 5-8 days to either coast.
January through February and mid-spring are the softest markets. The most expensive window is October through December, when snowbird outflow to Florida and Arizona lifts southbound prices 15-25 percent. Flexible pickup dates can save you $75-$150 in any season.
Yes. Carriers run Illinois lanes all winter, and the I-90, I-94, and I-55 corridors stay active year-round. January and February storms can add a day to pickup or transit, so build a small buffer into tight plans. Road salt is the other winter factor: some owners choose enclosed transport to keep salt off the vehicle entirely.
Not on most streets. A 75-foot rig cannot legally or physically stop on narrow downtown blocks, so drivers stage from wide streets and parking lots in the Loop and on the North Side. Your coordinator confirms the exact meeting spot with you and the driver before pickup day. Suburban addresses usually get direct door-to-door service.
Open transport is the right choice for most vehicles and prices at $700-$1,600 from Illinois depending on destination. Enclosed typically adds 40-60 percent and makes sense for classics, exotics, and low-clearance cars, and some owners choose it in winter to keep road salt off the vehicle.
Most carriers allow up to 100 lbs of personal items in the trunk or below the window line. Anything more can trigger extra charges or a refused pickup, and personal items are not covered by the carrier’s cargo insurance, so keep valuables out of the vehicle.
Yes. Every carrier we assign holds active cargo insurance, with coverage up to $2M available for high-value vehicles, and we can send you the certificate of insurance on request before pickup. Nothing is due until a driver is assigned to your shipment.
