Everything You Need To Know About Shipping A Car To Or From Minnesota 

Jason Hilderbrand

16 May 2022 2 years ago


Minnesota is a state located on the Northern side. The state shares borders with Canada and is known for its cold climate. Nevertheless, Minnesota continues to make its way into the list of most habitable states. This has further pushed the number of people migrating to Minnesota. 

If you are also migrating to Minnesota, you might wonder how to transport your car to the state from where you are currently located. This blog will explore the five different ways of transporting a car from car transport in Minessota. You can choose the best option as per your budget and needs. 

Five Different Ways To Ship A Car To Or From Minnesota

There are five primary ways of getting your car shipped to and from Minnesota. These mediums cost different, take different times, and are used based on different urgencies. You can consider your budget, your requirement, and how fast you need your car to be picked up and delivered to you in Minnesota to choose one of these five options. 

Drive it down yourself

The foremost option that may come to mind about car transport in Minnesota is driving it down yourself. Driving your car on your own to Minnesota may be the best option since you might think there are lesser compliance issues with driving it on your own.  

On the bright side, you can take this as an opportunity and take a short weekend trip with your friends and family under the garb of transporting your car to Minnesota via driving it on your own. You can relax, rejuvenate, and have a mini-vacation while getting the job done.  

Although this sounds like a great plan, time may be of immense significance here. For example, you are driving to Minnesota from a state like California, Florida, North Carolina, Texas, or even Nevada, for which you need to drive for at least 2,000 miles and up to 4,000 miles. Considering you would drive 300-350 miles in a day, it can take 4-8 days to complete the journey, and this can put a toll on your body and make the journey tiring. 

However, if you think it will be easy to transport my car to Minnesota via self-driving it, you should consider the high-value expenses you would be making for up to 8 days on the road. This would include food & beverages, rent at motels, entertainment, fuel, taxes, and expenses for emergencies. The entire exercise would have cost you big money that can burn a hole in your pocket. 

Get Someone Else To Drive It for You

If you think that I want to transport my car from Minnesota via the roadways but don’t want to drive it yourself for days on a stretch, you can hire someone else to drive it for you. These are generally professional drivers who are either retired drivers or students who transport vehicles across the country for some extra money.  

However, the most significant task will be to find someone reliable and trustworthy who can drive your car to Minnesota. The said driver should have experience in transporting cars; you can also check for references. This can make hiring a professional driver an expensive option. This can also be a speed breaker if you want to get your car delivered to Minnesota fast.

The expense may be worth it on the bright side since it will ensure that your body does not get exhausted if you drive it yourself. What’s more, you can also hitch a ride in your car with the driver. This way, you get professional driving services and save money on flight tickets to Minnesota from wherever you are coming. 

Driver

Use a Train Service

You can also opt for the railways for car transport in Minnesota which is relatively faster than a person driving the car down to the state. Rail cargo services ply on some routes in the country using which you can ship your car to Minnesota. This mode costs almost the same as driving the car down yourself but is cheaper than hiring someone to drive it.

The biggest downside of this medium is that the rail cargo plies only on a select few routes in some states. All cities in the country are not well-connected by rail cargo service to transport my car to Minnesota. Thus, you need to see if your current location has a train cargo station and provides a route to ship the car to Minnesota. 

Moreover, train cargo services are very prompt and stop at stations for a short time. Therefore, you need to ensure that you drive your car to the train station on time and get it loaded onto a coach. Similarly, you need to be present at the station at the time of delivery to get the car unloaded from the coach and drive it home. 

Use An Airplane Service

Apart from roadways and railways, you can also use an airplane service to transport your car to or from Minnesota. Air cargo service is the fastest and one of the safest ways for car transport in Minnesota. An airplane cargo service can transport your car out in a few hours and deliver it to Minnesota in a day or two.  

This is one of the best mediums for car transport in Minnesota if you have an expensive car or a sports car. The airplane service will ensure that your car reaches its destination fastest, without any halts. 

However, if you think about how much to transport a car to Minnesota via an airplane, the cost can be up to $5,000. This is a hefty figure that can burn a hole in your pocket. You will also have to get a lot of paperwork done and arrange to drop your car off at the loading dock and pick up the car. 

Use An Auto Transport Company.

If you want one of the cheapest ways to transport a car to and from Minnesota and wonder how much to transport a car to Minnesota, using an auto transport company is your best solution. An auto transport company uses trailers to transport vehicles from one state to another. They will load your car onto a trailer, secured with harnesses, and then the trailer will then begin its journey to or from Minnesota.

An auto transport company offers the cheapest medium to ship your car from one city to Minnesota. It is also one of the most efficient ways to do so since you get the expertise of seasoned drivers who know the correct route to take, avoid bottlenecks and road closures, and ensure that your car reaches its destination on time.

When you find a reliable auto transport company, you can sit back and relax as a team of trained professionals take care of your car to make your life easier.

You decided on using an auto transport company for car transport in Minnesota. You Choose a type of car shipping based on your needs, budget, and urgency.

Looking for a reliable auto transport company? Contact us at (888) 725-0005

Different Types of Car Shipping

There are two primary types of car shipping: 

Enclosed Car Shipping

This is a type of car shipping where your car is loaded onto a container and then on a trailer. Since your car is enclosed from all sides, it is protected from all environmental agents like rain, dust, sun, snow, etc. 

Enclosed shipping

Open Car Shipping

This is a type of open car shipping where your car is directly loaded onto a trailer and secured with harnesses. Your car will be exposed to environmental agents in this type of shipping but will cost you less than enclosed car shipping. 

Different Types of Car Shipping Services

There are three major types of car shipping services:

Guaranteed Service

In a guaranteed car shipping service, your car is picked up within 24 hours of you making a booking. This is the best option for people who want urgent car pick up since they have to move at the earliest. 

Express Service

In express car shipping service, your car is picked up within 1- 2 business days of you making a booking. The cost to transport the car to Minnesota using express service is slightly cheaper than guaranteed service.

Military service

This is an exclusive service for veterans and armed personnel wherein they get priority service at discounted rates. 

How Much Does It Cost To Ship A Car To Minnesota (And Vice Versa)?

The cost to transport the car to Minnesota depends on a range of different factors that influence the final price of the journey. Some of the factors that determine the cost to ship a car are:

  1. Distance: If your car has to be shipped to Minnesota from farther states like California, Florida, Arizona, Texas, Georgia, and other such states, it can cost you more. This will take more fuel, wages, and other ancillary charges. The end pickup and drop point also play a role in determining the cost of transporting a car to or from Minnesota.
  2. Type of car shipping: The cost to transport the car to Minnesota can also go up if you choose enclosed shipping against open shipping. Similarly, if you want urgent pickup and delivery of the car, the guaranteed service may cost you more.
  3. Fuel prices: The prices of fuel are dynamic and keep on changing. If the fuel cost goes up, you may have to shell out more money to transport my car from Minnesota
  4. Weather & time of the year: If you are opting for transporting a car from Minnesota during a period of extreme rainfall, dust storm, or a similar extraordinary weather condition, it can cost you more. The driver may have to take extra halts, increasing the number of days the journey takes.

Get the most competitive auto transport services at SAKAEM Logistics.

How Long Does It Take To Ship A Car To Minnesota (And Vice Versa)?

Although it is difficult to find out the exact number of days, it will take to ship your car to or from Minnesota. Several factors can help estimate precisely how long it will take.

  1. Distance: Shipping off your car to Minnesota from states like Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Washington, and other farther states can take 5-8 days. States close to Minnesota can take a few hours to 2-3 days.
  2. Traffic: Another critical factor is traffic. If there is unusual traffic on the route taken, the delivery time may get extended. Although it is difficult to predict traffic and road closures, experienced drivers at auto transport companies know how to beat the traffic and have the best routes up their sleeves.
  3. Weather: The weather may play spoilsport in transporting a car from Minnesota on time. In case of unexpected weather changes, the time to deliver your car in Minnesota can get extended.
  4. Route: A driver’s route also plays a vital role in determining how long it takes to deliver your car in Minnesota. 

Apart from this, other factors like unexpected breakdowns may influence the time it takes to ship a car to or from Minnesota.

Get your car shipped to Minnesota in the shortest time! Call us at (888) 725-0005

How Does The Process Of Shipping A Car To And From Minnesota Work?

Once you have made a deal with an auto transport company, a team from the company will arrive at the car’s current location on the day of the pickup. The team will then assess the car for any pre-existing damages and ask you to sign the Bill of Lading. The car will then be loaded onto a trailer and secured with harnesses to ensure safety. 

The Car Will Then Begin Its Journey to Minnesota

When the car is about to reach its delivery address, they will inform you. When the experts unload your car from the trailer, you can assess it for any damages again. If you are satisfied, you can sign the Bill of Lading and complete the delivery process.

Car shipping

Documents Required To Ship A Car To And From Minnesota

If you’re wondering about the documents needed to transport my car to Minnesota, here’s a brief checklist to help you: 

  1. Bill of Lading: This is an essential piece of paper that you need to keep with you. It is proof that the car is picked up and delivered, and you need to sign it at the time of pickup and delivery.
  2. Insurance: This is the auto transport company’s insurance to protect your car during its transit.

Call us at (888) 725-0005 for custom quotes on shipping your car to Minnesota.

FAQs regarding shipping a car to and from Minnesota

How long is the auto transport company’s quote to transport my car to Minnesota valid?

An auto transport company’s quote depends on factors like fuel prices. Thus, most quotes are valid for seven days, after which the prices may change.

Should I be present at the time of delivery of the car?

You don’t need to be physically present at care delivery. You can appoint a representative for you who is over 18 years of age to receive the delivery of the car.

How do I pay the auto transport company?

You can pay the auto transport company for their services via either cash or credit/debit card. Alternately, you can also make the payment via PayPal or any other mobile wallet that the auto transport company accepts.

Pros and cons of moving to Minnesota

Pros:

  • Ample job opportunities
  • Low housing cost
  • Home of the ‘Mall of America’
  • Excellent educational infrastructure
  • High quality of life

Cons:

  • Harsh winters
  • Mosquitos in summers
  • Poor hospitality
  • High taxes
  • Traffic is a problem

Get in touch with us at (888) 725-0005 for the best auto transport solutions at SAKAEM Logistics!


Jason Hilderbrand