Shipping a Car from Chicago, IL to Memphis, TN
Moving a car from Chicago to Memphis means about 575 miles southbound, through Illinois, Missouri and Tennessee. Transit after dispatch is about 1–2 days (12 hours of driving, plus stops). Demand is moderate, so pickup windows are usually easy to fill.
What Chicago to Memphis Costs
Over 575 miles, a standard sedan on open transport runs $430–$630 ($0.92 per mile). Enclosed shipping adds about 45% ($625–$915), while SUV and truck surcharges bring open pricing to $480–$705. For scale, Orlando, FL to Charlotte, NC is a similar 553-mile move at $410–$605. Ending in Little Rock instead (140 mi from Memphis) is estimated at $495–$725.
| Service | Vehicle | Typical Price | Why Choose It |
|---|---|---|---|
| Open | Sedan / Coupe | $430–$630 | Budget-friendly default |
| Open | SUV / Truck | $480–$705 | Larger vehicles, same trailers |
| Open | Minivan | $480–$705 | Larger vehicles, same trailers |
| Enclosed | Sedan / Coupe | $625–$915 | Luxury, classic and low-clearance cars |
Prices shown are for a typical sedan; actual quotes vary with exact addresses, condition and season.
Pickup and Delivery Details
Pickup in Chicago. Drivers often use the O'Hare International Airport area as a staging reference. The nation's busiest rail and trucking crossroads, with I-55, I-90 and I-94 feeding most long hauls. Chicago is a freight crossroads, so there is usually a truck passing through.
Delivery in Memphis. Drivers often use the Memphis International Airport area as a staging reference. Memphis sits on busy trucking corridors, which helps with availability. The main approaches to Memphis are I-240, I-40 and I-55.
Timing and Seasonality
There is no strong seasonal swing here, and carriers are most available from late spring through early fall. For a 575-mile trip, request quotes about two weeks before pickup. Across Illinois expect harsh winters and strong winds off the lake; across Tennessee, winter ice on the Cumberland Plateau.
The Route and Corridor
A carrier on this lane works through Illinois, Missouri and Tennessee. In Missouri, I-70, I-44 and I-55 run through St. Louis and Kansas City, with hilly Ozark sections. Illinois: I-80, I-90, I-94 and I-55 all pass through the Chicago area.
Practical Tips for This Lane
- Inspect at both ends. Walk around the car with the driver in Chicago and again in Memphis, and note anything on the bill of lading.
- Be flexible on the date. A four-day pickup window lets dispatchers slot your car into a load heading south.
- Compare nearby pickup points. Moving the handoff a short drive from Chicago can change the price on a 575-mile lane.