Illinois to New Jersey Car Shipping
Written by Richard Avery, President of Smart Auto Move · USDOT 2887232 · MC 969368
Illinois to New Jersey car shipping runs roughly 760 to 940 miles depending on your city pair — from the city that gave the world the skyscraper to the state where Edison lit his first practical light bulb at Menlo Park, now the township of Edison itself. Smart Auto Move is a car shipping company, and this lane follows I-80 and I-76 east across Indiana, Ohio and Pennsylvania into the New Jersey Turnpike corridor.
Shipping a mid-size vehicle from Illinois to New Jersey on an open carrier costs $775 to $1,250, with transit of 3 to 5 days after pickup. Chicago to Newark is about 795 miles and the highest-volume pairing on the lane.
- Door-to-door where accessible
- Open & enclosed options
- Expedited pickup available
- Statewide Illinois pickup
- BBB A+ accredited
Why does Illinois to New Jersey pricing vary more by destination than by distance?
As of August 2026, Illinois to New Jersey open transport runs $775 to $1,250 for a mid-size vehicle, and the spread is driven by destination rather than distance. Every Illinois origin sits within about 180 miles of every other one on this lane, so mileage barely moves the number. Where in New Jersey the car is going moves it a great deal.
Delivery point
Biggest factorWhere in New Jersey the car is going moves the number more than the mileage does. Dense urban delivery points price above suburban ones.
Vehicle size
SecondSUVs and pickups take more deck space and weight than a mid-size car, and price accordingly.
Season
ThirdWinter storms across the I-80 Pennsylvania corridor tighten capacity. January through March runs higher.
Pickup flexibility
FourthA three-day window prices better than a single fixed date, on a lane this busy especially.
Illinois to New Jersey car shipping rates by city pair, updated August 2026
Open transport, mid-size vehicle, operable. Distances marked verified are confirmed against dispatched loads on this corridor rather than estimated.
| Route | Distance | Transit | Open transport | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago, IL → Newark, NJ | 795 mi | 3–4 days | $800–$1,000 | Highest volume on the lane |
| Chicago, IL → Jersey City, NJ | 800 mi | 3–4 days | $1,050–$1,250 | Hudson County |
| Chicago, IL → Edison / Iselin, NJ | 785 mi | 3–4 days | $800–$1,000 | Middlesex County |
| Chicago, IL → New Brunswick, NJ | 788 mi | 3–4 days | $800–$1,000 | Verified distance · Rutgers |
| Chicago, IL → Elizabeth, NJ | 800 mi | 3–4 days | $800–$1,000 | Port Elizabeth access |
| Chicago, IL → Paterson, NJ | 790 mi | 3–4 days | $800–$1,000 | Passaic County |
| Chicago, IL → Princeton, NJ | 780 mi | 3–4 days | $800–$1,000 | University moves |
| Chicago, IL → Trenton, NJ | 775 mi | 3–4 days | $800–$1,000 | Mercer County |
| Chicago, IL → Cherry Hill, NJ | 760 mi | 3–4 days | $775–$975 | Shortest run on the lane |
| Chicago, IL → Atlantic City, NJ | 825 mi | 4–5 days | $825–$1,025 | Shore destination |
| Aurora / Naperville, IL → Newark, NJ | 820 mi | 3–4 days | $825–$1,025 | West suburbs |
| Elgin, IL → Newark, NJ | 830 mi | 3–4 days | $825–$1,025 | Northwest suburbs |
| Rockford, IL → Newark, NJ | 867 mi | 4 days | $825–$1,050 | Verified distance |
| Champaign, IL → Newark, NJ | 830 mi | 4 days | $825–$1,050 | University of Illinois |
| Springfield, IL → Newark, NJ | 900 mi | 4–5 days | $875–$1,100 | Central Illinois |
| Peoria, IL → Newark, NJ | 920 mi | 4–5 days | $825–$1,075 | Verified distance |
| East St. Louis, IL → Newark, NJ | 940 mi | 4–5 days | $875–$1,100 | Verified distance · longest run |
Prices are for open transport and a mid-size, operable vehicle. Enclosed transport, inoperable and non-running vehicles, oversized pickups and modified vehicles are priced individually. Run them through the quote calculator.
What should you expect when your vehicle reaches New Jersey?
North Jersey street access
Newark's Ironbound, Hoboken's brownstone blocks and Jersey City's Heights and Journal Square are among the hardest residential deliveries in the country for a full-size carrier. Expect to meet the driver at a nearby shopping center or industrial lot. This is normal, it is not a downgrade of service, and it prevents the damage and ticketing that come from forcing a truck down a street it does not fit on.
Port Newark and Port Elizabeth
The Port Newark Auto Terminal and the neighboring Elizabeth marine terminals make this corner of New Jersey one of the East Coast's principal vehicle gateways. The upside for you: the region has deep auto-logistics infrastructure and constant carrier presence, which is part of why Illinois to New Jersey stays a well-served lane year-round.
The New Jersey Turnpike corridor
Most deliveries route off the Turnpike or the Garden State Parkway. Exits 13 through 16 cover Elizabeth, Newark and the Hudson County approaches; 9 covers New Brunswick and Rutgers; 7A covers Trenton and the shore. Telling us your nearest exit at booking speeds up delivery coordination more than you would expect.
You cannot pump your own gas
New Jersey is the only state where self-service fueling is prohibited. It has no bearing on your shipment, but it surprises nearly every out-of-state driver picking up a vehicle here, so it is worth knowing before you get to the first station.
University deliveries
Rutgers in New Brunswick sits a few miles from our New Jersey service area, with Princeton, Stevens in Hoboken, Seton Hall in South Orange and Montclair State nearby. Late August and mid-May are the tightest weeks on this lane — Illinois students heading east should book two to three weeks ahead.
Statewide New Jersey coverage
We deliver across all twenty-one New Jersey counties: Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Middlesex, Monmouth, Mercer, Ocean, Passaic, Somerset, Union, Camden, Atlantic and the rest. Our New Jersey operations are coordinated from Iselin, serving the state as a whole rather than a single storefront.
Where in Illinois do you pick up?
Chicagoland
We pick up anywhere in Illinois, statewide. In the Chicago area that means Chicago, Aurora, Naperville, Joliet, Elgin, Schaumburg, Evanston, Cicero, Waukegan, Arlington Heights, Oak Park, Skokie, Des Plaines, Berwyn, Wheeling, Niles, Carol Stream, Dolton and the surrounding collar counties: Cook, DuPage, Lake, Will, Kane and McHenry.
City pickups in dense neighborhoods such as Lincoln Park, Logan Square, Pilsen and Wicker Park usually work best from a nearby wider street or retail lot rather than the curb outside your building.
Downstate Illinois
Rockford, Peoria, Springfield, Champaign-Urbana, Bloomington-Normal, Decatur, Quincy, Carbondale, Belleville, East St. Louis and the Quad Cities. Downstate origins add roughly 100 to 150 miles to the run and typically one more day in transit, but the price difference is smaller than the mileage suggests.
Rural and small-town pickups are routine on this lane. If your address is far off the interstate, a meet-point in the nearest town along I-55, I-57, I-70, I-74 or I-80 often gets the vehicle moving faster.
What route does your vehicle take from Illinois to New Jersey?
I-80 and I-90 east
Most carriers leave Chicagoland on I-80 or the I-90 Indiana Toll Road, run east through Indiana and Ohio, then pick up I-76 or the Pennsylvania Turnpike. The final approach is I-78 or I-95 into the New Jersey Turnpike.
Winter on the Pennsylvania stretch
The hardest weather on this lane is not Chicago. It is the I-80 climb through the Poconos and the Allegheny ridges. December through March, snow and wind there can add a day. Lake-effect bands near Gary and South Bend can slow the first few hours out of Chicago as well.
Why transit is 3 to 5 days, not 2
The drive is under 800 miles for most pairs, which a car does in twelve hours. A carrier cannot. Federal hours-of-service rules cap daily driving, and the truck is loading and unloading eight to ten other vehicles along the way. Anyone promising two days on this lane is describing a hotshot at a very different price.
Where is your Illinois location?
Smart Auto Move Inc, Chicago, Illinois
Address: 742 E 87th Pl, Chicago, IL 60619
Local: 312-300-7773
National: 888-709-9078
| Monday – Thursday | 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM |
| Friday | 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM |
| Saturday | 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM |
| Sunday | Closed |
New Jersey coverage
Smart Auto Move's New Jersey operations are coordinated from Iselin and cover the entire state. New Jersey is served as a delivery region rather than a walk-in office, so there is no counter to visit — but the national line reaches the team handling your delivery.
Our four staffed hubs
Chicago, IL · 742 E 87th Pl · 312-300-7773
Lakewood, WA · 5607 Boston Ave SW · 253-200-5645
Los Angeles, CA · 5111 Harold Way Ste 301 · 213-766-0064
Kissimmee, FL · 2095 E Irlo Bronson Memorial Hwy · 407-377-6073
Corporate headquarters: 4208 Six Forks Rd Ste 1000, Raleigh, NC 27609.
Open, enclosed and expedited Illinois to New Jersey transport
Open transport
The basis for every price on this page and the right choice for most cars, SUVs and pickups moving Illinois to New Jersey.
Enclosed transport
Full protection from road salt, debris and weather, worth considering on a winter run across the Pennsylvania corridor. Priced individually.
Expedited pickup
Narrows the pickup window when priority scheduling is available. It does not shorten federal driving-hour limits, so transit days stay the same.
How Illinois to New Jersey car shipping works, step by step
1. Request your quote
Enter your Illinois pickup ZIP, New Jersey delivery ZIP, vehicle details, first available date and preferred service.
2. Confirm the shipment
Review route, transport type, timing, delivery access and your confirmed price before booking.
3. Carrier pickup
The assigned carrier documents vehicle condition on a Bill of Lading and loads at an accessible Illinois location.
4. Transit
The vehicle runs I-80 east through Indiana, Ohio and Pennsylvania, subject to federal driving hours, weather and scheduled stops.
5. Delivery coordination
The driver contacts you as the truck approaches New Jersey and confirms a safe, legal delivery point.
6. Final inspection
Compare the vehicle against the pickup condition report and note anything before signing the handoff.
Illinois and New Jersey customer feedback
Crystal Evans was very helpful.
Illinois to New Jersey car shipping FAQs
How much does it cost to ship a car from Illinois to New Jersey?
Shipping a mid-size vehicle from Illinois to New Jersey on an open carrier costs $775 to $1,250 as of August 2026. Chicago to Newark is the highest-volume pairing at about 795 miles. Downstate origins such as Peoria, Springfield and East St. Louis add 100 to 150 miles and price slightly higher.
How long does it take to ship a car from Illinois to New Jersey?
Car shipping from Illinois to New Jersey takes 3 to 5 days after pickup. Chicago-area origins to North Jersey typically run 3 to 4 days, while downstate Illinois origins such as Peoria or East St. Louis usually take 4 to 5 days. Winter weather across the I-80 Pennsylvania corridor can add a day between December and March.
Can you pick up anywhere in Illinois?
Yes. Smart Auto Move arranges Illinois pickups statewide, throughout Chicagoland and Cook, DuPage, Lake, Will, Kane and McHenry counties, and downstate in Rockford, Peoria, Springfield, Champaign-Urbana, Bloomington-Normal, Decatur, Quincy, Carbondale, Belleville, East St. Louis and the Quad Cities. Rural pickups are routine; if your address is far from an interstate, a meet-point in the nearest town often gets the vehicle moving sooner.
Does Smart Auto Move have a physical location in Illinois?
Yes. Smart Auto Move Inc operates a staffed office at 742 E 87th Pl, Chicago, Illinois 60619. The local line is 312-300-7773. Office hours are Monday through Thursday 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM, Friday 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM, and Saturday 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM Central. New Jersey is served as a delivery region coordinated from Iselin rather than a walk-in office.
What route does the carrier take from Illinois to New Jersey?
Most carriers leave Chicagoland on I-80 or the I-90 Indiana Toll Road, run east through Indiana and Ohio, then join I-76 or the Pennsylvania Turnpike before approaching New Jersey on I-78 or I-95 and the New Jersey Turnpike. Downstate Illinois origins usually feed onto I-70 or I-74 first. The toughest weather on the lane is the I-80 climb through the Poconos, not Chicago.
Why does it take 3 to 5 days when the drive is only 12 hours?
A car carrier is not a car. Federal hours-of-service rules cap how long a driver can operate each day, and the truck is loading and unloading eight to ten other vehicles at stops along the route between Illinois and New Jersey. Two-day delivery on this lane is only possible with a dedicated hotshot trailer, which is a different service at a substantially different price.
Can you ship an inoperable or non-running vehicle from Illinois to New Jersey?
Yes, when the assigned carrier has a winch or the equipment needed to load it. Inoperable vehicles are priced separately from the open transport rates on this page. Enter the vehicle's true condition when requesting a quote, because a vehicle listed as running that will not roll, steer or brake at pickup will be re-rated or refused at the curb.
How much more does enclosed transport cost on this lane?
Every price published for Illinois to New Jersey is for open transport. Enclosed transport costs more because the trailers carry fewer vehicles and are in shorter supply, and the premium varies by vehicle value, timing and season. It is worth considering for a winter move, when road salt across the Pennsylvania corridor is heaviest. Smart Auto Move prices enclosed transport individually through the quote calculator.
Do I need to be present at pickup and delivery?
Someone must be present to release and receive the vehicle and sign the Bill of Lading condition report, but it does not have to be you. You may designate any responsible adult over 18. A spouse, family member, neighbor, coworker or building superintendent can hand over and accept the vehicle on your behalf. Provide their name and number at booking.
More Illinois and New Jersey car shipping resources
Jersey City Car Shipping
Hudson County delivery, access constraints and pricing.
View Jersey City PageIllinois to Washington
Our hub-to-hub lane from Chicago to Puget Sound.
View Illinois → WashingtonReady to ship a car from Illinois to New Jersey?
Start with your Illinois pickup ZIP, your New Jersey delivery ZIP, vehicle details and preferred pickup date. Or call the Chicago office and talk to the people arranging your carrier.