Michigan to West Virginia Car Shipping (2024 Cost Guide)
Fact Checked by: Quick answer: The average cost to ship a car 657 miles from Michigan to West Virginia ranges from $886 to $1,235 and takes 1–6 days depending on factors like the transport type and season. For a more detailed quote, use our car shipping cost calculator.
Shipping a car the reverse route? We’ve got you covered with our West Virginia to Michigan car shipping guide.
Michigan to West Virginia auto transport costs and transit times
The table below details the costs and estimated transit times for shipping a car between popular cities in Michigan and West Virginia. The average travel distance is about 657 miles, with shipping times typically ranging from 1 to 6 days.
Cost to ship a car from Detroit, MI to West Virginia
| From Michigan to West Virginia | Distance | Cost | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit, MI to Charleston, WV | 360 miles | $659–$928 | 1–4 days |
| Grand Rapids, MI to Huntington, WV | 335 miles | $617–$923 | 1–4 days |
| Ann Arbor, MI to St. Albans, WV | 352 miles | $659–$901 | 1–4 days |
| Lansing, MI to Vienna, WV | 328 miles | $617–$861 | 1–4 days |
| Flint, MI to Cheat Lake, WV | 364 miles | $672–$975 | 1–4 days |
Cost to ship a car from Grand Rapids, MI to West Virginia
| From Michigan to West Virginia | Distance | Cost | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit, MI to Charleston, WV | 480 miles | $780–$1,083 | 1–4 days |
| Grand Rapids, MI to Huntington, WV | 454 miles | $743–$1,104 | 1–4 days |
| Ann Arbor, MI to St. Albans, WV | 470 miles | $789–$1,072 | 1–4 days |
| Lansing, MI to Vienna, WV | 437 miles | $749–$996 | 1–4 days |
| Flint, MI to Cheat Lake, WV | 495 miles | $757–$1,093 | 1–4 days |
Cost to ship a car from Ann Arbor, MI to West Virginia
| From Michigan to West Virginia | Distance | Cost | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit, MI to Charleston, WV | 347 miles | $630–$914 | 1–4 days |
| Grand Rapids, MI to Huntington, WV | 322 miles | $599–$826 | 1–4 days |
| Ann Arbor, MI to St. Albans, WV | 338 miles | $650–$923 | 1–4 days |
| Lansing, MI to Vienna, WV | 304 miles | $599–$810 | 1–4 days |
| Flint, MI to Cheat Lake, WV | 362 miles | $652–$919 | 1–4 days |
Cost to ship a car from Lansing, MI to West Virginia
| From Michigan to West Virginia | Distance | Cost | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit, MI to Charleston, WV | 418 miles | $728–$1,008 | 1–4 days |
| Grand Rapids, MI to Huntington, WV | 393 miles | $684–$1,013 | 1–4 days |
| Ann Arbor, MI to St. Albans, WV | 409 miles | $758–$1,008 | 1–4 days |
| Lansing, MI to Vienna, WV | 375 miles | $705–$984 | 1–4 days |
| Flint, MI to Cheat Lake, WV | 433 miles | $734–$1,026 | 1–4 days |
Cost to ship a car from Flint, MI to West Virginia
| From Michigan to West Virginia | Distance | Cost | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit, MI to Charleston, WV | 403 miles | $743–$948 | 1–4 days |
| Grand Rapids, MI to Huntington, WV | 377 miles | $684–$1,013 | 1–4 days |
| Ann Arbor, MI to St. Albans, WV | 393 miles | $684–$984 | 1–4 days |
| Lansing, MI to Vienna, WV | 360 miles | $652–$882 | 1–4 days |
| Flint, MI to Cheat Lake, WV | 418 miles | $743–$998 | 1–4 days |
Shipping an SUV or truck from Michigan to West Virginia
Since vehicles like SUV, trucks, and vans are larger and heavier, it’s a bit more expensive to ship them than a sedan. How much more?
If you’re shipping a larger vehicle from Michigan to West Virginia you should expect to pay between $1,108 and $1,544.
Factors that affect the price of shipping a car from Michigan to West Virginia
When transporting your vehicle from the Wolverine State to the Mountain State, these factors will influence your final price:
- Type of transport: Options like open, enclosed, or top-loaded transport cater to different needs. Open carriers are cost-effective, while enclosed transport provides added protection for luxury or classic cars. If you’re not sure, check out our guide comparing open vs. enclosed car shipping.
- Vehicle size and type: The dimensions and weight of your vehicle directly affect shipping costs. The larger and heavier your vehicle, the more it will cost to ship your car to West Virginia.
- Distance and route: The journey from Michigan to West Virginia spans approximately 657 miles, influencing fuel and labor costs. The longer the distance, the bigger the price tag.
- Time of the year: Seasonal demand impacts the price of getting your car out of Michigan, with summer and winter holidays often seeing a spike due to increased moving and travel activity.
- Fuel prices: Fluctuating fuel prices can significantly affect transport costs. This is an important consideration given the distance between Michigan and West Virginia and the varying gas prices across the country.
- Delivery expectations: Because it’ll make their job easier, your auto shipper may give you a pricing discount if you’re flexible on delivery dates. That being said, getting your car from Michigan to West Virginia should take between 1 and 6 days. Expedited services are available but come at a higher cost.
The best Michigan to West Virginia car shipping companies
|
|
|
|
rating
We’ve done the research and these are the best car shipping companies to help transport your vehicle from Michigan to West Virginia:
- Best for Overall Value: SGT Auto Transport
- Best for Quick Pick Up: Easy Auto Ship
- Best Insurance Coverage: Ship A Car Direct
- Best for accurate pricing: Sherpa Auto Transport
- Best Cross Country: Montway Auto Transport
Alternative ways to ship your car from Michigan to West Virginia
- Drive it yourself: This is straightforward but not always an option, and it will put about 657 miles on your car going from Michigan to West Virginia. If you’re not sure, here are the pros and cons of driving your car vs shipping it.
- Ship it with your movers: If you hire a moving company, they also work with reputable car shippers. Otherwise, there may be the option of even shipping your car with your household belongings!
- Hire a driver: Hire someone to drive the car from Michigan to West Virginia for you. It’s an option, but will probably be a very costly one and involve trusting a driver to safely get your car to its destination.
- Ship by train: If this is an option for you, it’s an affordable and secure way of shipping your vehicle. Shipping a car by train is actually the cheapest way to ship your car!
What else should you know about shipping a car from Michigan to West Virginia?
- Car insurance requirements: West Virginia's required minimum insurance standards, encompassing liability coverage at $25,000/$50,000 for bodily injury and $25,000 for property damage.
- Vehicle inspection: New residents are given 10 days from the date they title a vehicle to have a West Virginia safety inspection at any official inspection station licensed by the West Virginia State Police.
- Driver’s license: If you are moving to West Virginia and you have a valid, non-expired out-of-state license, you are eligible to transfer the license. If your out-of-state license has expired, you are required to take all tests and obtain a certified driving record, dated no more than 30 days from the date of the application, from the state in which you were previously licensed.
- Additional taxes: New residents with a vehicle already titled in their name in another state do not need to pay sales taxes in West Virginia for it.
Learn more with our car shipping checklist
Transporting your vehicle from Michigan
Over 39 million people call Michigan home. Nicknamed the Wolverine State, Michigan has a continental climate, although there are two distinct regions. The southern and central parts of the Lower Peninsula (south of Saginaw Bay and from the Grand Rapids area southward) have a warmer climate with hot summers and cold winters. The northern part of the Lower Peninsula and the entire Upper Peninsula has a more severe climate (Köppen Dfb), with warm, but shorter summers and longer, cold to very cold winters. Some parts of the state average high temperatures below freezing from December through February, and into early March in the far northern parts. During the winter through the middle of February, the state is frequently subjected to heavy lake-effect snow. The state averages 30 days of thunderstorm activity per year. These can be severe, especially in the southern part of the state. The state averages 17 tornadoes per year, which are more common in the state's extreme southern section.
Transporting your vehicle to West Virginia
About 22 million people are living in the Mountain State of West Virginia. West Virginia has warm to hot, humid summers and chilly winters. Be sure to check the weather during your move to avoid inclement weather.
FAQ
Does someone have to be present when picking up my car in Michigan and when dropping off my car in West Virginia?
Most companies will require someone that is at least 18 years old to be present when picking up your car in Michigan and when dropping it off in West Virginia.
Do you need car insurance when shipping your car from Michigan to West Virginia?
If you’re not driving the vehicle from Michigan to West Virginia, you aren't required to have typical car insurance. Your car hauler should have adequate insurance if an accident happened on the drive to West Virginia, which you should verify before loading your car in Michigan.
If you’re driving your car at all in either state, you should understand the requirements. Michigan requires a minimum auto insurance coverage of $50,000/$100,000 for bodily injury and $10,000 for property damage in case of an accident.
If you’re driving your car at all in either state, you should understand the requirements. West Virginia's required minimum insurance standards, encompassing liability coverage at $25,000/$50,000 for bodily injury and $25,000 for property damage.
How long does it take to ship a car from Michigan to West Virginia?
Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from Michigan to West Virginia is about 657 miles, and that’s as fast as about 2 days. However, most car transport companies will take 1-6 days to travel from Michigan to West Virginia.
Will I be required to have a vehicle inspection in either state?
Michigan does not require vehicle inspections for registration purposes. There is no state mandate for car safety inspections or emissions testing.
New residents are given 10 days from the date they title a vehicle to have a West Virginia safety inspection at any official inspection station licensed by the West Virginia State Police.
If I have a driver’s license in Michigan, will I need one in West Virginia?
If you are moving to West Virginia and you have a valid, non-expired out-of-state license, you are eligible to transfer the license. If your out-of-state license has expired, you are required to take all tests and obtain a certified driving record, dated no more than 30 days from the date of the application, from the state in which you were previously licensed.
If I bought a car in Michigan, will I be required to pay sales tax in West Virginia after shipping it there?
It’s important to understand any tax implications if you’re having a car shipped from Michigan to West Virginia after purchasing it.
New residents with a vehicle already titled in their name in another state do not need to pay sales taxes in West Virginia for it.
We recommend that you always check for updated tax information in both Michigan and West Virginia to avoid any hidden costs.
