Effortlessly shipping cars, motorcycles, trucks or any vehicle to/from any location in Illinois
Illinois Vehicle Shipping & Heavy Haul Transport Experts
Ship a Car, Inc. provides freight transport services in and out of the state of Illinois. Our professional team knows how to ship your vehicle no matter the type or circumstance. We pride ourselves in providing expert vehicle transport to people relocating their ATVs, boats, cars, golf carts, motorcycles and SUVs, etc.; companies moving their fleet of autos, general freight or transporting heavy haul equipment; as well as, volume relocation services for auto dealerships and businesses.
As an experienced transport broker, the SAC team has direct access to the largest network of carriers in the United States. One simple call does it all. When you choose Ship A Car, we deliver not only your vehicle or freight, but peace of mind as well.
Contact a Ship A Car transport advisor now at (866) 821-4555 for straight forward vehicle transport service to and from any residential or business location in the state of Illinois.
Select a route below for more information about shipping along that route:
We provide direct service to and from any location in Illinois - above is a list of the most popular car shipping locations that we service.
Everything You Need to Know About the State of Illinois (IL)
Chicago, located on Lake Michigan, and connected to the eastern ports via the Erie Canal became a booming metropolis, and even the fire of 1871 could not stunt its growth. In the second half of the 19th century, the great need for workers in the mills, rail yards, and slaughterhouses made Chicago a popular destination for immigrants and freed blacks. During Prohibition Chicago became synonymous with bootleg liquor and gangsters like Al Capone.
After the American Revolution against the British, Illinois became a territory of the United States and achieved statehood in 1818.
Illinois has been noted as a microcosm of the entire United States. With Chicago in northeastern Illinois, small industrial cities and immense agricultural productivity in the north and center of the state, and natural resources such as coal, timber, and petroleum in the south, Illinois has a diverse economic base and is a major transportation hub. Chicagoland, Chicago’s metropolitan area, encompasses over 65% of the state’s population.
Illinois shares its eastern border with Indiana, Lake Michigan to the north, to the Wabash River in the south above Post Vincennes. Most of the western border with Missouri and Iowa is the Mississippi River; Kaskaskia is an exclave of Illinois, lying west of the Mississippi and reachable only from Missouri. The state has a northern border with Wisconsin. The northeastern border of Illinois lies in Lake Michigan, within which Illinois shares a water boundary with the state of Michigan, as well as Wisconsin and Indiana. The state capital is Springfield.
Illinois took the nickname Prairie State; Land of Lincoln. The state tree is the White Oak and the state flower is the violet. And the state motto is State Sovereignty, National Union.
In 1858, incumbent Democratic Senator Stephen A. Douglas and Abraham Lincoln—for the most part, unfamiliar at the time—engaged in a series of debates throughout Illinois for the state’s Senate seat. Although Lincoln lost the race, his warning against a nation divided between free and slave-holding states drew the attention of the nation, and he was elected president only two years later.
What began as an ordinary fire in Patrick and Catherine O’Leary’s barn on October 8, 1871, quickly turned into what became known as the Great Chicago Fire, which devastated roughly 18,000 buildings, left close to 100,000 inhabitants homeless, and killed between 200 and 300 people.
When an angry mob formed outside of the city jail in Springfield on August 14, 1908, seeking revenge against two black men accused of separate crimes against whites, policemen escorted the prisoners out the back door to safety. In the violent riot that ensued, buildings were destroyed and looted and two unrelated black members of the community were lynched. The appalling event led to the formation of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) a few months later.
Illinois has the largest recoverable bituminous coal reserve of any state in the United States–close to 1.2 billion tons.
Factors that Influence Cost of Shipping
Distance
Shipping vehicles across states can be stressful and time-consuming. Transporting your car across long distances attracts higher shipping quotes. Long-distance vehicle shipping requires more fuel and extra labor hours.
Location
The location of delivery is a very important factor that influences the cost of shipping. Shipping your car to busy cities is cheaper than shipping to remote areas. Transporting a car to remote rural areas means a diversion from major roads, and more time spent on the road, major routes tend to have more business and so other cars can be delivered along the way, which would reduce your cost.
Type of Shipping
When it comes to the location of pick-up and delivery there are two types of shipping which are terminal-to-terminal and door-to-door shipping. Choose the option that suits you best based on your budget and schedule. The terminal-to-terminal option is cheaper; you’ll drop off your car and pick it up at the terminal after delivery to Illinois.
With the door-to-door option, the truck driver will pick up your vehicle at your address and deliver it to your doorstep in Illinois.
Type of Auto Transport Carrier Used
There are two major types of carriers used to transport vehicles and there are; open auto carriers and enclosed auto carriers. Most auto shipping companies have open carriers readily available, it is an economical type of shipping because several cars at once.
If you want to ship a more expensive car or a classic, you might want to go for the enclosed option for extra protection. The enclosed auto carrier completely covers your car and shields your car from road debris and weather elements. It is relatively more expensive than open carriers because it requires special trucks and a driver with the expertise to handle high-end cars.
Time Frame of Delivery
The time taken for delivery to take place is another major factor that affects the cost of shipping. When hiring an auto shipping company, you’re most likely concerned about how long the delivery would take. Emergency shipping always attracts extra costs to expedite the process. However, having a flexible time frame for your delivery makes shipping cheaper because the shipping company can plan their itinerary more effectively and deliver other vehicles within proximity to your delivery location.
Type of Vehicle
The size and weight of a vehicle affect the cost of shipping. Larger vehicles are more expensive to transport because they are heavier and take up more space on the trailer. Small, compact cars are cheaper to transport as they are lighter and several small cars can be transported at once.
The condition of the vehicle also influences the cost of shipping. You would have to pay an extra fee if you are transporting an inoperable vehicle since a forklift would be required to mount the vehicle on the trailer.
You need to inform the auto company about the exact model and condition of the vehicle you want to ship.
How to Select a Good Auto Shipping Company
There are a few things to consider when you are searching for a company to ship your vehicle.
Reviews from Customers
There are several sites to get customer reviews of the previous customers of a company. Getting recommendations from customers who are satisfied with the services of a company is a great way to identify reliable companies. While checking reviews don’t focus only on positive comments, try to keep an eye out for negative comments and see how the companies react to them. Make sure there are no outstanding unresolved issues. A great place to see company reviews is BBB, Consumer Affairs and Google.
Customer Relations
The company should provide you with all the information you need to know about shipping your vehicle to Illinois. They should provide prompt responses to all your queries regarding the shipping process and be readily available throughout the entire auto transport process.
Safety
The auto shipping company should handle your car properly, and adhere strictly to safety regulations. They should have all the necessary expertise and facilities to safely deliver your car to the agreed location in Illinois.
Insurance
Auto shipping companies usually have basic insurance to cover damages caused by the negligence of workers. It is a good idea to hire a company with an inclusive insurance policy to give you a sense of security. You can also pay more for additional insurance to put your mind at ease.
Experience of the Company
Use the services of an auto shipping company with a history of delivering vehicles successfully to Illinois. The company should be familiar with major routes in the state and the regulations that guide auto shipping in the area.
Things to Avoid When Shipping your Vehicle
When you are planning to ship your vehicle especially when you have never done it before, there are a few things you should avoid.
Not Being Available During Pick-up
The truck driver would need to examine your car and document any pre-existing damage, you or somebody else should be around to hand over your car and sign any required document.
Incomplete Paperwork
You should have all the proper documents required before the arrival of the truck driver. The company has to check all your paperwork. Missing documentation could cause an obstacle during shipping.
Lack of Research
To avoid falling into the hands of scammers, you should research properly to find reliable companies. Several incompetent companies would offer you shipping services at unbelievable rate prices that’ll then charge you a lot more down the line. You should carry out adequate research before trusting a company with your car.
Not Emptying Your Items from the Car
Leaving your things in the car just increases the chances of something happening to them during transport. Unfortunately, the basic insurance provided by shipping companies does not cover damaged or lost personal items. It is recommended you take out all your stuff from your vehicle to avoid problems.
We at SAC are happy to help you with shipping your car to and from any location. We have all the expertise and years of business to handle any kind of auto-shipping that you and your business may need. Submit a request above to get a free quote or call us at (866) 821-4555 for more enquires.
CALCULATE YOUR SHIPPING RATE IN 3 EASY STEPS!
Ready to transport with SAC?
Our transport representatives are available by calling (866) 821-4555 to answer all your questions.
Illinois has an extensive passenger and freight rail transportation network. Chicago is a national Amtrak hub and in-state passengers are served by Amtrak’s Illinois Service, featuring the Chicago to Carbondale Illini and Saluki, the Chicago to Quincy Carl Sandburg and Illinois Zephyr, and the Chicago to St. Louis Lincoln Service. Currently, there is trackwork on the Chicago–St. Louis line to bring the maximum speed up to 110 mph (180 km/h), which would reduce the trip time by an hour and a half. Nearly every North American railway meets in Chicago, making it the largest and most active rail hub in the country. Extensive commuter rail is provided in the city proper and some immediate suburbs by the Chicago Transit Authority’s ‘L’ system. One of the largest suburban commuter rail systems in the United States, operated by Metra, uses existing rail lines to provide direct commuter rail access for hundreds of suburbs to the city and beyond.
In addition to the state’s rail lines, the Mississippi River and Illinois River provide major transportation routes for the state’s agricultural interests. Lake Michigan gives Illinois access to the Atlantic Ocean by way of the Saint Lawrence Seaway.
From 1962 until 1998, Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport (ORD) was the busiest in the world, measured both in terms of total flights and passengers. While it was surpassed by Atlanta’s Hartsfield in 1998 (as Chicago splits its air traffic between O’Hare and Midway airports, while Atlanta uses only one airport), with 59.3 million domestic passengers annually, along with 11.4 million international passengers in 2008, O’Hare consistently remains one of the two or three busiest airports globally, and in some years still ranks number one in total flights. It is a major hub for both United Airlines and American Airlines, and a major airport expansion project is currently underway. Midway Airport (MDW), which had been the busiest in the world at one point until it was supplanted by O’Hare as the busiest airport in 1962, is now the secondary airport in the Chicago metropolitan area and still ranks as one of the nation’s busiest airports. Midway is a major hub for Southwest Airlines and services many other carriers as well.
Illinois has 1,118 miles of navigable waterways passing through or bordering the state. From a commercial transportation perspective, these navigable rivers and Lake Michigan, which make up the Illinois Maritime Transportation System, are primarily used for the carriage of freight.
Passenger travel on these waters is most often for recreation. Illinois’ navigable waterways include Lake Michigan, the Illinois River, and canal system, and the Kaskaskia River which connects with both the Ohio and Mississippi rivers which border Illinois. The Inland waterway system consists of 336 miles of water and links the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico via the St. Lawrence Seaway and the Great Lakes. Illinois has nineteen port districts. Number 4 of these public port districts currently have access to multimodal connections such as rail, air, and interstate highways, including US DOT Maritime Highways.
The direction of waterborne freight within Illinois is predominantly North to South from the Great Lakes to the Mississippi along the Illinois Waterway.
The Interstate Highways in Illinois are all segments of the Interstate Highway System that are owned and maintained by the state.
Illinois has the distinction of having the most primary (two-digit) interstates pass through it among all the 50 states with 13. Illinois also ranks third among the fifty states with the most interstate mileage, coming in after California and Texas, which are much bigger states in the area.
Major U.S. Interstate highways crossing the state include Interstate 24 (I-24), I-39, I-41, I-55, I-57, I-64, I-70, I-72, I-74, I-80, I-88, I-90, and I-94.
As rated by our clients and
What do our clients say?
5
Rating
Company
5.0
Quinten worked for several days and got a great rate with a quick delivery date from the west coast. Thank Quinten. This was the first experience shipping a vehicle. Ship a Car will certainly be used for any future business. Before using Ship a Car I tried Uship. Being around the christmas holidays it didn't look good shipping a truck cross country. Within 24 hours I recieved a good bid and immediately was scammed by an alleged hauler that cleaned out my bank account.
Tom M. Seymour , IN
5.0
Since day 1 the communication, price, service has been perfect. This is the second time that I need this type of service and decide to use another company since my first experience was not easy. I give myself the opportunity to try SHIP A CAS, INC. and the pickup date and delivery date has been fulfill. Ask for Paul M. he will take care or your car and will keep you update on everything. I'm very pleased with the service and I'll recommended. A+
Communication - Date Committed - Sharp!
5.0
Representative Kristina was very professional and efficient. She was able to find awesome pricing and quickly secured transport of my car. I’ve used other transport services and have had terrible luck and service. I cannot recommend Ship-A-Car highly enough!!
Lisa
5.0
Bob was AMAZING! I was in such a bind and had just found out some bad news about my dad’s health. Bob was very understanding and turned my situation into a positive one. He was very quick at responding back to me and very knowledgeable. It put my mind at ease and all I had to do was sit back and wait for my car to come. It took little time to travel from WA to VA and the driver was very nice as well. Bob called to check up on how the delivery went and that in itself was really nice! Showed me he truly cares about his customers! I will definitely be using this service again and have already recommended Bob to a few friends. I can’t thank Bob enough for being a Knowledgeable and caring person!
Kalanit Yatrofsky
5.0
As an owner of a company, I task my employees with rendering world class service. I was trained by the Ritz Carlton and I know great service staff when I see it. Justin has been exemplary in both friendliness and follow up. We have referred both he and your company many times.
Jeff S. Apollo Beach, FL
5.0
From the initial pricing request to the driver dispatched and vehicle arrival, Justen and his team at Ship A Car, Inc. do everything you'd expect from a professional hauling company. We hired multiple drivers with Justen through Ship A Car, Inc. for the transportation of our fifth-wheel and they were nothing but accommodating, professional, knowledgeable, and available to you throughout the entire shipping process. I can honestly say that this was the fastest most efficient and fairly priced company I've ever worked with. The drivers arrive promptly and are able to quickly load your vehicle in the correct manner with respect to your personal property and the safety of your vehicle. Justen helped me feel safe and confident in relying on Ship A Car, Inc. to move our fifth-wheel, it gave me such peace of mind. I constantly receive superior service and have been a repeat customer and have recommended Justen at Ship A Car, Inc. to our co-workers and colleagues. Looking forward to continuing to use Ship A Car, Inc. for all of my transportation needs.
Libby S.
5.0
The response time is good and the entire team is friendly.
Hemanth Gollamudi
5.0
I received top notch service from Bob Moran arranging transport of a car from Austin, TX to Lubbock, TX. The logistics were arranged during the Covid 19 Crisis and Ship A Car did an outstanding job. I highly recommend using Ship A Car.
