Car Shipping from Minneapolis, MN to Chicago, IL

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Distance
433 mi
Transit Time
1-2 days
Estimated Cost
$400–$700
Solid Market

Shipping from Minneapolis, MN

Minneapolis is a functional market but it takes a little more patience than you might expect from a metro of 3.6 million people. Manheim Minneapolis is in Maple Grove, northwest of the city. Manheim Northstar Minnesota is in Shakopee, to the southwest. ADESA Minneapolis adds more wholesale volume. IAA operates in the south metro area. The auction infrastructure is there. I-94 runs east to Milwaukee and Chicago and west toward Fargo. I-35 is the main north-south route, splitting into I-35W and I-35E through the Twin Cities and connecting the metro south to Des Moines, Kansas City, and eventually Texas. The market issue is that Minneapolis is not a destination that keeps carriers coming back. Carriers going north past Chicago or north past Des Moines eventually hit Minneapolis and then there is nothing above them. They have to deadhead back south to get their next load.

Pickups in Minneapolis average 3 to 5 days. During the summer relocation season that can tighten up nicely to 2 to 3 days, especially on southbound routes to Texas and the South. The real challenge is winter. From November through March, carriers add surcharges or avoid the market altogether when weather gets severe. Snowstorms along I-94 and I-35 are not hypothetical, they happen every winter and they affect scheduling. If you are shipping between November and March, build in extra time and understand that pricing will be higher. The snowbird season starting in October also means a lot of southbound demand from Minnesota to Arizona and Florida, which can temporarily spike prices on those specific routes. Get a quote to see what your specific route looks like.

Major Hub

Arriving in Chicago, IL

Chicago is the crossroads of American auto transport. Four major interstates converge here. I-90 and I-94 run east to west. I-55 drops south toward St. Louis. I-80 is one of the most heavily used carrier corridors in the country running straight across the middle of the US. Manheim Chicago is one of the largest and most active auto auctions in the Midwest. The dealer market across the metro and suburbs is deep. Carriers are always moving through Chicago because there is always another load waiting for them.

Chicago is a strong delivery market. Carriers on I-80 from the coasts, I-55 from Dallas and the south, and I-90 from the northeast are all natural fits for dropping cars off here. Deliver to the suburbs and it is simple. Deliver to downtown Chicago proper and it is manageable but expect the carrier to request a meetup point rather than pulling a full hauler through the Loop.

Pricing on This Route

Shipping a standard sedan from Minneapolis to Chicago on open carrier currently estimates between $400 and $700. That is based on the 433-mile distance and current market conditions.

Minneapolis runs slightly above the national average on most routes, especially anything north or east. Southbound routes to Texas, Arizona, and Florida can be competitive during snowbird season because carriers are actively filling loads heading that direction. Routes east to Chicago and the Northeast are solid. Where pricing noticeably goes up is in winter, when carriers add weather premiums, and on any route that requires a carrier to deadhead back to a major hub after delivery. Routes to the West Coast or Mountain West are efficient in summer but less predictable in winter. Get a quote to see your exact price.

Chicago runs right around the national average on most routes. Summer is busiest and prices edge up a little. Winter sees slightly more variability because of the weather factor. Routes to and from the South, Texas, and Florida are very active and competitively priced. Long haul routes to the West Coast are solid because carriers on I-80 fill up in both directions. Get a quote and see exactly where your lane sits.

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