- Door-to-door service
- Open & enclosed options
- Licensed & insured carriers
- BBB A+ accredited
- USDOT #2887232
- Physical hubs in Illinois & Washington
Illinois to Washington Car Shipping
Written by Richard Avery, President of Smart Auto Move
Shipping a vehicle from Illinois to Washington is a long-haul move across the northern half of the country. Smart Auto Move coordinates door-to-door transport from Chicago, Naperville, Aurora, Rockford, Springfield, Peoria, and the surrounding Illinois region to Seattle, Tacoma, Lakewood, Spokane, Bellevue, Everett, and communities across Washington State, with support from our Chicago and Lakewood hubs at either end of the route.
For planning purposes, many shipments on this lane fall around $1,000 to $1,450 on open transport and $1,650 to $2,200 enclosed, with transit commonly running 5 to 7 days after pickup across roughly 2,000 miles. Pickup scheduling is separate from transit and depends on carrier availability, your requested window, vehicle details, and access at both ends.
What you can expect to pay on this lane
For planning purposes, many Illinois to Washington shipments fall within the ranges below. These are planning figures, not quotes. Full-size trucks, lifted vehicles, and inoperable vehicles typically add to each range.
Open transport
$1,000 – $1,450Sedans, crossovers, and most SUVs. The widest carrier availability on this corridor and the option most customers choose.
Enclosed transport
$1,650 – $2,200Luxury, classic, exotic, and low-clearance vehicles. Fewer trailers run this lane, so lead time matters more.
Expedited pickup
+$300 – $500Added to open or enclosed pricing. Expedited pickup focuses on a narrower pickup window when priority scheduling is available. It does not shorten legal driving time.
Chicago to Seattle is the core of this route
Most Illinois to Washington shipments follow the northern transcontinental corridor. Carriers typically leave the Chicago area on I-90, run west through Wisconsin, Minnesota, South Dakota, and Montana, then cross into Washington through the Spokane area before continuing toward the Puget Sound region.
That routing matters for two practical reasons. It concentrates carrier availability along a single well-traveled interstate, which usually helps scheduling. And it puts a mountain crossing at the end of the trip rather than the beginning, which is why winter timing on this lane behaves differently from a southern route.
Winter is the route-specific factor
From roughly November through March, I-90 across Montana and eastern Washington can see snow, ice, and chain requirements. Snoqualmie Pass, the final approach into the Seattle area, closes periodically for avalanche control.
Carriers will not run a closed pass, so a winter shipment can sit a day waiting for a reopening. Building a little slack into your delivery expectations between December and February is more useful than pushing for the tightest possible window.
Illinois pickup and Washington delivery
Chicago and Cook County
Dense blocks, permit parking, alley access, and limited turning room mean a full-size carrier often loads from a nearby wider street or open lot rather than directly outside the building. Our Chicago hub helps coordinate that in advance.
Downstate and suburban Illinois
Naperville, Aurora, Rockford, Springfield, Peoria, and surrounding communities usually offer easier carrier access than the city core, though rural pickups may involve more route deviation.
Puget Sound delivery
Seattle, Tacoma, Bellevue, and Everett deliveries can involve steep grades, narrow residential streets, and restricted parking. Our Lakewood hub supports delivery coordination across the region.
Smart Auto Move is a licensed transport coordinator, USDOT #2887232. We arrange your shipment with licensed and insured motor carriers rather than operating the trucks ourselves. The carrier assigned to your vehicle holds the cargo insurance that applies during transit, and you can verify any carrier's authority and insurance status through FMCSA SAFER before pickup. We think customers should be told this plainly rather than discovering it after booking.
Open vs. enclosed transport on this lane
| Option | Best fit | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Open transport | Most everyday cars, SUVs, and pickup trucks | Widest availability on I-90 and usually the best overall value. |
| Enclosed transport | Luxury, classic, exotic, collector, or low-clearance vehicles | Protection from road salt, winter spray, and debris. Fewer trailers, so book earlier. |
| Expedited pickup | Moves with a firm pickup requirement | Focuses on a narrower pickup window when priority scheduling is available. |
Winter is the one time enclosed transport earns its premium on this route for reasons beyond vehicle value. Road salt across the upper Midwest is heavy, and an enclosed trailer keeps it off the vehicle entirely.
What affects your price
- Vehicle size and weight: larger SUVs and pickups use more trailer space than compact cars.
- Operability: non-running vehicles need winch-equipped loading and additional coordination.
- Trailer choice: enclosed capacity is lower, so it prices above open transport.
- Pickup flexibility: a wider window makes it easier to match available capacity.
- Season: winter weather and summer moving season both tighten capacity on this corridor.
- Access at both ends: difficult city streets or rural locations can require route deviation.
How to prepare for pickup
- Wash the vehicle so the condition report is easy to verify.
- Remove loose items, toll transponders, and exterior accessories.
- Leave about a quarter tank of fuel.
- Disable alarms and provide any special starting instructions.
- Check that the battery is charged and tires are properly inflated.
- Take clear photos from several angles before the carrier arrives.
How the shipment works
1. Request your quote
Provide the Illinois pickup ZIP, Washington delivery ZIP, vehicle details, operability, and preferred timing.
2. Confirm the shipment
Review the transport details and confirmed price, then coordinate your pickup window.
3. Pickup and inspection
The carrier documents vehicle condition and loads it for transport.
4. Transit on I-90
The vehicle moves west subject to the carrier's route, required driving hours, weather, and other scheduled stops.
5. Delivery coordination
The driver contacts you as the carrier approaches Washington and confirms an accessible delivery point.
6. Final inspection
Compare the vehicle against the pickup condition report before completing the handoff.
A true hub-to-hub route: locations at both ends
Smart Auto Move operates physical locations in both states on this route — Chicago, Illinois at the origin and Lakewood, Washington at the destination. That gives customers local support at both ends of the shipment, with Chicago pickup coordination and Lakewood delivery support for the Puget Sound region.
Smart Auto Move — Chicago, Illinois
742 E 87th Pl, Chicago, IL 60619
Local: 312-300-7773
Hours: Mon–Thu 8:00 AM–8:00 PM · Fri 8:00 AM–6:00 PM · Sat 10:00 AM–3:00 PM · Sun closed
Supports pickup coordination across Chicago, Cook County, Naperville, Aurora, Rockford, and the surrounding Illinois region.
Smart Auto Move — Lakewood, Washington
5607 Boston Ave SW, Lakewood, WA 98499
Local: 253-200-5645
Hours: confirm current hours by phone before visiting
Get directions Lakewood hub page
Supports delivery coordination across Lakewood, Tacoma, Seattle, Bellevue, Everett, and the wider Puget Sound area.
Having physical locations at both ends of this corridor gives customers a local point of support for origin and destination questions. Chicago handles Illinois-side coordination, while Lakewood supports Washington delivery planning and Puget Sound access.
Illinois to Washington car shipping FAQs
How much does it cost to ship a car from Illinois to Washington?
For planning purposes, many shipments on this lane fall around $1,000 to $1,450 on open transport and $1,650 to $2,200 enclosed. Expedited pickup typically adds $300 to $500. Full-size trucks, lifted vehicles, inoperable vehicles, and hard-to-reach locations add to those ranges, so the exact price comes from your pickup ZIP, delivery ZIP, and vehicle details.
How long does Illinois to Washington car shipping take?
Many shipments take about 5 to 7 days in transit after pickup across roughly 2,000 miles. Winter weather on I-90 through Montana and eastern Washington can extend that, particularly if Snoqualmie Pass closes for avalanche control. Federal hours-of-service rules limit how many hours a driver can be behind the wheel each day, which sets a practical floor on transit.
Does Smart Auto Move have locations in Illinois and Washington?
Yes. This route runs between two Smart Auto Move physical locations: Chicago, Illinois at 742 E 87th Pl and Lakewood, Washington at 5607 Boston Ave SW. Illinois pickup coordination is supported from the Chicago hub and Washington delivery coordination from the Lakewood hub, so both ends of the route have local support rather than a single distant office.
Do you ship from Chicago to Seattle?
Yes. Chicago to Seattle is the most requested version of this route, and Smart Auto Move supports it with hubs at both ends: Chicago, Illinois and Lakewood, Washington. We also coordinate transport from Naperville, Aurora, Rockford, Springfield, and Peoria to Tacoma, Bellevue, Everett, and Spokane.
Can you pick up from rural Illinois?
Yes. Rural and small-town pickups are common on this lane. If a road is too narrow or a bridge has weight restrictions, the driver can arrange a nearby meeting point on a larger road for safe loading.
Do I need to be present for pickup and delivery?
Someone must be present at both ends to release and receive the vehicle and to sign the condition report. That can be you or an adult you designate, such as a family member, neighbor, or coworker.
Is enclosed transport worth it on this route?
It depends on the vehicle and the season. Enclosed transport is commonly chosen for classic, exotic, luxury, collector, and low-clearance vehicles. In winter it also keeps heavy upper-Midwest road salt off the vehicle entirely, which some owners value regardless of vehicle type.
What items should I remove before shipping?
Remove personal belongings, electronics, garage remotes, toll transponders, and anything loose in the cabin or trunk. Also remove or secure exterior accessories such as bike racks, spoilers, and antennas.
Is my vehicle insured during transport?
Yes. The licensed motor carrier assigned to your shipment holds the cargo insurance that applies while your vehicle is in transit. Smart Auto Move is a transport coordinator rather than the carrier, so the coverage comes from the carrier. You can verify any carrier's authority and insurance status through the FMCSA SAFER system before pickup.
Related Smart Auto Move pages
Open vs enclosed transport
What each option protects against and when the premium is worth paying.
Read the guideReady to ship from Illinois to Washington?
Get a route-specific quote based on your actual vehicle, pickup location, delivery location, and timing.