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Shipping a car to or from Kentucky
Kentucky sits where the Midwest meets the South, and six interstates cross it — I-24, I-64, I-65, I-69, I-71 and I-75. That puts Louisville, Lexington and Northern Kentucky on the daily path of carriers running between Chicago and Atlanta, Cincinnati and Florida, and St. Louis and the East Coast.
We book door-to-door transport to and from anywhere in the state: Louisville and Lexington, Covington and Florence across the river from Cincinnati, Bowling Green, Elizabethtown and Fort Knox, Owensboro, Paducah and the mountain towns of Eastern Kentucky.
Kentucky at a glance
- Interstates crossing the state
- 6
- Road miles, Louisville to Orlando
- ~860
- Typical open-carrier quote, sedan, Louisville to Orlando
- ~$850
- Business days to book a driver
- 1–3
- Army posts — Fort Knox and Fort Campbell
- 2
- Years shipping cars
- 17+
Who ships cars in Kentucky
Soldiers at Fort Knox and Fort Campbell
PCS orders move cars in and out of Fort Knox near Elizabethtown and Fort Campbell on the Tennessee line all year, with the biggest wave in summer. Give us the report date and we plan the pickup around it.
Auto plant relocations
Toyota in Georgetown, Ford’s Louisville Assembly and Kentucky Truck plants, and GM’s Corvette plant in Bowling Green move engineers and managers in and out of the state every year.
Snowbirds heading to Florida
Kentucky retirees run I-75 and I-65 south every fall and back every spring. Ship the car and fly from Louisville or Lexington instead of driving 860 miles twice a year.
Students at UK, U of L and WKU
Lexington, Louisville and Bowling Green fill up in mid-to-late August. Ship the car a week before move-in and it is waiting when you arrive.
Corvette buyers and collectors
Some buyers who take delivery at the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green ship the car home enclosed instead of driving it. Collector owners in the Bluegrass do the same for shows and auctions.
Buying or selling a car
Bought from a Kentucky dealer, an auction or a private seller — or sold a car to someone out of state? We pick up from the lot or the address and deliver anywhere in the country.
Car shipping in Louisville, Lexington and Kentucky’s other cities
Most Kentucky shipments start or end in a handful of cities on the interstates. Here is what to expect in each — and where to find its own page.
Louisville
Kentucky’s biggest city sits where I-64, I-65 and I-71 meet, so carriers come through daily in every direction. East End and suburban driveways are easy; tight streets in Old Louisville, the Highlands and Germantown usually mean meeting on Bardstown Road, Broadway or a nearby lot. Ford’s two plants and UPS Worldport keep relocation traffic steady. Louisville car shipping
Lexington
Lexington sits on I-75 and I-64, about 80 miles from both Louisville and Cincinnati. University of Kentucky moves peak in August and May. Horse farms along Paris Pike, Versailles Road and Old Frankfort Pike have long gated drives, so pickups there usually happen at the farm entrance. Lexington car shipping
Northern Kentucky — Covington and Florence
Covington, Newport and Florence are part of the Cincinnati metro, with I-71/75 running through the middle and the Brent Spence Bridge into Ohio. Carriers treat them like Cincinnati pickups: frequent and quick to schedule, though the bridge can back up for miles at rush hour. Covington car shipping · Florence car shipping
Bowling Green
On I-65 about an hour north of Nashville, Bowling Green is home to GM’s Corvette plant, the National Corvette Museum and Western Kentucky University. Nashville-bound carriers pass through constantly, so pickups here schedule quickly. Bowling Green car shipping
Elizabethtown and Fort Knox
Elizabethtown sits on I-65 just south of Fort Knox. Most PCS pickups happen at an off-post address in Elizabethtown, Radcliff or Vine Grove, or in a lot outside the gate. Elizabethtown car shipping
Owensboro
Owensboro sits on the Ohio River in western Kentucky, linked to I-65 at Bowling Green by I-165 and to Evansville, Indiana, across the river. Fewer carriers run here than in Louisville, so allow an extra day or two to book a driver. Owensboro car shipping
Frankfort
The state capital sits on I-64 between Louisville and Lexington, so it shares their carrier traffic. State government moves and Kentucky State University students make up much of the demand. Frankfort car shipping
The rest of Kentucky
Paducah and far western Kentucky are reached by I-24 and I-69, Hopkinsville and Fort Campbell by I-24, and Eastern Kentucky — Ashland, Pikeville, Hazard — by I-64, US-23, the Mountain Parkway and the Hal Rogers Parkway. Mountain towns see the fewest carriers, so allow extra time and expect to meet the driver at the nearest main highway.
Popular routes out of Kentucky
Florida, Texas and the Southeast are the busiest lanes out of Kentucky, followed by the short runs to Nashville, Chicago and the Carolinas. Each route below has its own page with more detail.
| Route | Distance | Transit | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Louisville → Orlando | ~860 mi | 2–4 days | $750–$950 |
| Lexington → Tampa | ~830 mi | 2–4 days | $750–$950 |
| Louisville → Nashville | ~175 mi | 1 day | $400–$550 |
| Louisville → Atlanta | ~420 mi | 1–2 days | $550–$750 |
| Louisville → Chicago | ~300 mi | 1–2 days | $450–$650 |
| Lexington → Charlotte | ~400 mi | 1–2 days | $550–$750 |
| Louisville → Dallas | ~840 mi | 2–4 days | $750–$950 |
| Louisville → New York City | ~750 mi | 2–3 days | $750–$950 |
| Louisville → Phoenix | ~1,750 mi | 4–6 days | $1,100–$1,400 |
| Louisville → Los Angeles | ~2,100 mi | 5–7 days | $1,300–$1,600 |
Routes into Kentucky
Typical state-to-state runs into Kentucky. These are measured between the two states rather than specific cities, so your own trip may be longer or shorter.
| From | Distance | Transit | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indiana to Kentucky | 148 mi | 1 day | $515 |
| Ohio to Kentucky | 181 mi | 1 day | $443 |
| Tennessee to Kentucky | 202 mi | 1 day | $528 |
| West Virginia to Kentucky | 202 mi | 1 day | $528 |
| Iowa to Kentucky | 597 mi | 2 days | $655 |
| Florida to Kentucky | 618 mi | 2 days | $691 |
| New Jersey to Kentucky | 643 mi | 2 days | $735 |
| Kansas to Kentucky | 674 mi | 2 days | $791 |
| Washington to Kentucky | 2,306 mi | 5–7 days | $1,597 |
| Oregon to Kentucky | 2,308 mi | 5–7 days | $1,598 |
| Alaska to Kentucky | 3,733 mi | 11–16 days | $3,885 |
| Hawaii to Kentucky | 4,719 mi | 13–20 days | $3,100 |
Kentucky’s interstates and parkways
| Highway | Runs through | Connects to |
|---|---|---|
| I-65 | Louisville, Elizabethtown, Bowling Green | Indianapolis and Chicago to the north, Nashville and the Gulf Coast to the south |
| I-75 | Northern Kentucky, Lexington, Corbin | Cincinnati and Detroit to the north, Knoxville, Atlanta and Florida to the south |
| I-64 | Louisville, Frankfort, Lexington, Ashland | St. Louis to the west, West Virginia and Virginia to the east |
| I-71 | Louisville to Northern Kentucky | Cincinnati, Columbus and Cleveland |
| I-24 | Paducah, Hopkinsville, Fort Campbell | Nashville and Chattanooga to the southeast, southern Illinois to the northwest |
| I-69 and I-165 | Henderson, Madisonville, Owensboro | Evansville, Indiana, and I-65 at Bowling Green |
| State parkways | Bluegrass, Western Kentucky, Mountain and Hal Rogers parkways | Links between the interstates for Bardstown, central and Eastern Kentucky |
How much does it cost to ship a car to or from Kentucky?
Most Kentucky shipments land between $400 and $1,000: the short runs to Nashville, Cincinnati and Indianapolis at the low end, Florida and Texas at the high end. Coast-to-coast runs cost $1,100–$1,600. The figures below are typical 2026 quotes for a running vehicle; the quote form gives you the exact price in 30 seconds.
By distance — open carrier, standard sedan
| Distance | Examples | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| Within Kentucky, under 250 miles | Louisville → Lexington, Paducah → Louisville | $300–$550 |
| Regional, 250–500 miles | Louisville → Chicago, Lexington → Charlotte | $450–$750 |
| Southeast and Texas, 600–1,000 miles | Louisville → Orlando, Louisville → Dallas | $700–$1,000 |
| Coast to coast, 1,500+ miles | Louisville → Phoenix, Louisville → Los Angeles | $1,100–$1,600 |
By vehicle — Louisville to Orlando
| Vehicle | Open carrier | Enclosed carrier |
|---|---|---|
| Sedan or coupe | $750–$950 | $1,050–$1,400 |
| SUV or crossover | $850–$1,050 | $1,200–$1,550 |
| Pickup truck or van | $900–$1,150 | $1,250–$1,700 |
| Non-running vehicle | add $150–$250 | add $150–$250 |
What moves the price
- Enclosed transport runs about 30–50% more than open.
- Bigger vehicles take more room on the trailer: SUVs, pickups and vans cost more than a sedan.
- A car that doesn’t run needs a winch to load, which adds $150–$250.
- Snowbird season: Florida-bound runs cost more from October to December, and runs back north from Florida cost more in March and April.
- Eastern Kentucky and other addresses far from the interstates cost more than Louisville, Lexington or Northern Kentucky, because fewer carriers run there.
How long does car shipping take in Kentucky?
Booking a driver usually takes 1–3 business days from your first available date. After pickup, plan on about a day for every 300–400 miles: Nashville or Cincinnati the next day, Florida and Texas in 2–4 days, the West Coast in 5–7.
| Destination | Transit from Louisville |
|---|---|
| Nashville, Cincinnati, Indianapolis | 1 day |
| Chicago, St. Louis, Atlanta, Charlotte | 1–2 days |
| Florida, Texas, New York | 2–4 days |
| Arizona, Colorado | 4–6 days |
| California and the Pacific Northwest | 5–7 days |
What can add a day or two
- Winter ice storms, which can close interstates across the state for a day; the hills of Eastern Kentucky get snow first and clear last.
- Pickups or deliveries in Eastern Kentucky or the far west of the state, where fewer carriers run.
- Rush-hour backups on the Brent Spence Bridge between Northern Kentucky and Cincinnati.
- Derby week in Louisville and the Keeneland race meets in Lexington, when roads and hotels near the tracks fill up.
- A fixed pickup date instead of a first-available window.
Shipping a car in Kentucky by season
Kentucky’s calendar has a few things no other state has — Derby week and two Keeneland race meets — on top of snowbird traffic in both directions and winter ice.
Winter: December to March
- Ice is a bigger risk than snow. A bad ice storm can close interstates for a day, so build a cushion into any date you need.
- Eastern Kentucky’s mountain roads get snow first and clear last.
- January and February are otherwise the quietest — and often the cheapest — months to book.
Spring: March to May
- Snowbirds come home from Florida in March and April, which pushes up rates on runs back into Kentucky. Book a spring return 2–3 weeks ahead.
- Keeneland’s spring meet in April and Derby week at Churchill Downs, around the first Saturday in May, fill Lexington and Louisville. Pickups and deliveries near the tracks are easier the week before or after.
- Spring storms can bring flash flooding, especially in the hollows of Eastern Kentucky.
Summer: June to August
- PCS season at Fort Knox and Fort Campbell lands on top of peak moving season, so book 2–3 weeks ahead.
- Mid-to-late August brings move-in at the University of Kentucky, the University of Louisville, WKU and EKU. Ship a week before move-in so the car is waiting.
Fall: September to November
- Snowbirds head south from October through December, so Florida-bound rates climb. Book fall runs to Florida early.
- Keeneland’s fall meet in October fills Lexington again.
- September is usually the easiest month of the year to book.
Pickup and delivery in Kentucky
Door to door means the carrier comes to you — as close as a full-size car carrier can legally and safely get. Here is what that looks like around the state.
- Louisville and Lexington neighborhoods. Suburban driveways are easy. Older, tighter streets — Old Louisville, the Highlands, downtown Lexington and the streets around campus — usually mean meeting on a main road or in a store lot nearby.
- Horse farms and long private drives. Gates and long gravel lanes keep a full carrier at the road, so plan to meet the driver at the farm entrance.
- Fort Knox and Fort Campbell. Carriers usually pick up and deliver at an off-post address or a lot outside the gate — Radcliff or Elizabethtown for Fort Knox, Oak Grove or Clarksville for Fort Campbell.
- Northern Kentucky. Hillside streets in Covington and Newport can be steep and narrow; the driver may meet you closer to I-71/75.
- Eastern Kentucky. Narrow mountain roads rule out a full carrier on many streets, so the driver will meet you at the nearest main highway.
Moving to Kentucky with your car
- Kentucky requires auto insurance, so set up a Kentucky policy before you register — and keep your old coverage until it is active.
- Out-of-state vehicles need an inspection by the county sheriff’s office before they can be titled. It is a quick VIN and paperwork check, not a safety test.
- Then title and register the car at your county clerk’s office within 15 days of moving.
- Kentucky charges an annual property tax on vehicles, paid when you renew the registration.
Open or enclosed transport in Kentucky?
Most cars shipped in and out of Kentucky ride open, the same way dealers move new inventory. Enclosed is the usual choice for new Corvettes leaving Bowling Green, collector cars headed to shows and auctions, and anything you want kept out of winter salt.
Open carrier
The standard choice and the best price. Your car rides on a multi-car trailer with the carrier’s cargo coverage. Right for daily drivers, SUVs and pickups — and for most PCS, college and snowbird moves.
Enclosed carrier
A fully covered trailer that keeps out salt, rain and road debris. About 30–50% more — worth it for Corvettes, classics, collector cars, low sports cars and fresh paint.
Compare open carrier shipping and enclosed car shipping, or see classic car shipping and luxury and exotic car shipping.
Why ship with Tiger in Kentucky
- Licensed and vetted. Tiger Auto Transport is an FMCSA-licensed broker, and we only work with licensed carriers with active, verified insurance.
- Price match. Show us a lower quote from a licensed carrier for the same route and we will match it.
- One coordinator. The same person handles your shipment from booking to delivery, and you get the driver’s direct contact once a carrier is assigned.
- 17+ years, 350,000+ vehicles. Seventeen years in business and more than 350,000 vehicles delivered nationwide.
Our customers love us!
Awesome from start to finish
Everything from setting it up to be picked up and delivered was awesome. The driver was very respectful very helpful and awesome when it came to packing and unpacking the cars
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Tiger auto transport is a great company if you're looking to have your vehicle transported long distance. They picked and delivered my vehicle as promised! And very courteous professional drivers! I was very pleased with my experience and would highly recommend Tiger auto transport!
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Tiger Transport was recommended to me while shopping for an Auto transport company. Their quote was competitive but their process and personal communication was professional. I chose Tiger, although they weren't the lowest price. Chris handled the details of my transport from Las Vegas to Sarasota FL, seamlessly. Chris kept in constant communication with me to keep me aware of the pick up, transport and delivery schedules. read more...
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Car was delivered ahead of schedule and in the same condition it was when it was picked up 1400 miles away. Customer service was fantastic, extremely timely responses, and flexible pickup and dropoff. read more...
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We have never needed to transport an automobile before. This company and their website are so straight forward and easy to navigate! They picked up our vehicle the same day and it was delivered to a neighboring state the next day! Leo was our contact person. He went above and beyond!
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Tiger Transport really pulled through for me when I needed an automobile transport. Trust is what it is all about. Enclosed transport at an excellent price. Ben was my driver and I followed him on GPS excellent.
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FAQs
How much does it cost to ship a car to or from Kentucky?
Most Kentucky shipments run $400–$1,000 for a sedan on an open carrier: about $400–$550 to Nashville, $750–$950 from Louisville to Orlando, and $1,300–$1,600 to Los Angeles. Moves within the state usually run $300–$550, and enclosed transport adds 30–50%. Get your exact price in 30 seconds with the quote form or call 855-720-5244.
How long does car shipping take in Kentucky?
Booking a driver usually takes 1–3 business days. After pickup, Nashville, Cincinnati and Indianapolis are next-day runs, Florida and Texas take 2–4 days, and the West Coast 5–7.
Do you ship cars to and from Louisville, Lexington and Northern Kentucky?
Yes — they are the easiest places in the state to book, because I-64, I-65, I-71 and I-75 bring carriers through every day. We also cover Bowling Green, Owensboro, Elizabethtown, Frankfort, Paducah and Eastern Kentucky.
How much does it cost to ship a car from Kentucky to Florida?
A sedan on an open carrier from Louisville to Orlando usually runs $750–$950, and Lexington to Tampa about the same. Prices climb from October to December, when snowbirds head south, so book fall runs 2–3 weeks ahead.
Can you ship my car for a PCS move from Fort Knox or Fort Campbell?
Yes. Give us your report date and we will plan the pickup window around it. Carriers usually pick up at an off-post address or a lot outside the gate — in Radcliff or Elizabethtown for Fort Knox, Oak Grove or Clarksville for Fort Campbell.
Can you ship a new Corvette from the National Corvette Museum?
Yes. If you take museum delivery in Bowling Green, we can meet you there or at a nearby lot after the handover and ship the car home — usually enclosed. Tell us your delivery date when you book so a carrier is lined up.
Does weather affect car shipping in Kentucky?
Mostly in winter. Ice storms can close interstates for a day, and Eastern Kentucky’s mountain roads get snow first. In spring, flash floods can block roads in the hollows. Leave a little slack in your dates from December through April.
Will Derby week affect my shipment?
It can. Derby week at Churchill Downs, around the first Saturday in May, and the Keeneland meets in April and October fill roads and hotels in Louisville and Lexington. Shipping still runs, but pickups near the tracks are easier the week before or after.
Do you deliver to horse farms and rural properties?
Yes, as close as a full-size carrier can safely get. On long private drives or gated farms, the driver will usually meet you at the entrance or on the nearest paved road.
What do I need to do after moving my car to Kentucky?
Set up Kentucky auto insurance, have the county sheriff’s office inspect the car (a quick VIN check for out-of-state vehicles), then title and register it at your county clerk’s office within 15 days of moving.
Is my car insured during transport?
Yes. Every carrier we assign is licensed with the FMCSA and carries cargo insurance that covers your car from pickup to delivery. Note any existing damage on the Bill of Lading at pickup, and ask for the carrier’s certificate of insurance if you want to see it before loading.
Before you ship
Guides for shipping a car to or from Kentucky
- Seasonal How Gas Prices and Seasonality Affect Car Shipping Costs Why Florida runs cost more in the fall and less in the spring.
- Military Military Car Shipping: PCS Moves and Deployment Vehicle Transport Timing a car shipment around PCS orders from Fort Knox or Fort Campbell.
- Enclosed 5 Times Enclosed Car Shipping Is Worth the Extra Cost Corvettes, classics and collector cars — when to pay for a covered trailer.
- Checklist Moving to a New State: Car Shipping Checklist Registration, insurance and timing — what to sort out before and after the car ships.
- Pricing Car Shipping Cost Guide 2026 Average prices, what affects cost, and how to get the best deal on vehicle transport.