Shipping Cars To or From Port Of Chicago

Chicago is a leading metropolitan area that has amassed international acclaim for hosting people from all walks of life in its 77 distinct neighborhoods. Multiculturalism aside, this city is said to be one of the key players in America’s commerce and justifiably so. Not only does it boast of 29 fortune 500 companies, it also hosts America’s largest inland general cargo port- The Port of Chicago. The port has employed close to 7000 people and transports 19 million tons of cargo every year.

Cost & Time To Ship Your Car Examples

Shipping To/From	Cost	Distance	Estimated Time In Transit
Port of Chicago to Indianapolis	$184	184 miles	1 – 2 days
Port of Chicago to Kansas City	$381	509 miles	2 – 4 days
Port of Chicago to Washington, D.C.	$525	700 miles	3 – 5 days
New Orleans to Port of Chicago	$693	925 miles	3 – 5 days
Miami Beach to Port of Chicago	$828	1381 miles	4 – 6 days
Port of Chicago to Salt Lake City	$837	1396 miles	4 – 6 days
Port of Chicago to Los Angeles	$1046	1744 miles	5 – 7 days

*Prices and times are estimated. They can vary depending on the season and what type of vehicle you are shipping.

Shipping Routes

The port of Chicago is situated at the mouth of Chicago River on Lake Michigan, and as a result, shipping cars to or from port of Chicago scales beyond the domestic borders.

Popular places that ship cars to port of Chicago

Buenos Aires
Yantian
Chiwan
Shekou

Popular places that ship cars from port of Chicago

Lisboa
Felixstowe
Southampton
Yantian
Xingang

Be sure to use a shipping company that has nationwide and international coverage like A-1 auto transport.

A-1 Auto Transport ships vehicles worldwide. Click Here or call 1-800-452-2880 to get a free, no obligation to buy price quote to ship your car.

Mode of Shipments

Shipping cars to or from Port of Chicago is done in one of two ways; Roll on Roll off (Ro Ro) or Container shipping. Ro-Ro is the standard carrier method where your car is loaded and unloaded off the shipping vessel by simply driving it. As a result, Ro-Ro is lowly priced and is what most clients opt for when shipping standard cars.

When shipping luxury cars that demand added protection, container is a more fitting option. This is an enclosed carrier method that involves securing and bracing your car inside a 20 ft. container before setting sail. While you may have to pay a bit more than you would for Ro-Ro, your car will be safe from harsh weather elements that could end up marginally devaluing your automobile.

Custom requirements

You will be required to have the following documents for the US customs to clear your vehicle for shipping at the port of Chicago

Bill of lading. This is a legal document between you and your auto shipper detailing the make and model of your car, the address of your chosen auto shipper, and the year your vehicle was manufactured.
A fully completed form HS-7 given by NHTSA.
A form of photo identification like your passport/visa.
Proof of vehicle ownership, e.g. bill of sale.

Port charges

After your vehicle safely arrives at the port of Chicago, it will be received by the port’s personnel and you will be charged for this service. You will also incur costs of clearing your vehicle with the border services and US customs. All the aforementioned costs are often included in the auto shipper’s quotation if you need a comprehensive breakdown.

Additional port requirements

Your undercarriage should be thoroughly cleaned pursuant to stipulation set by US Department of Agriculture. This is a safety measure meant to curb the transportation of dangerous pests in and out of the Windy City.

It’s only prudent that you rid your car of any personal belongings seeing as you run the risk of succumbing to theft or damage. What’s more, most shippers will not receive a car that holds personal belongings. Keep in mind that the entire contents of your vehicle ought to be declared to customs on entry so the fewer the vehicle contents, the faster the process.

Kindly reach out to us if you need any assistance shipping cars to or from port of Chicago.

Written By:Joe Webster

Joe Webster began his journey in the auto transport field by attending the University of Southern California (USC), where he graduated with a Bachelor of Business Marketing.

After college, he started his career in the auto transport industry from the bottom up and has done virtually every job there is to do at A-1 Auto Transport, including but not limited to: Truck Driver, Dispatch, Sales, PR, Bookkeeping, Transport Planner, Transport Manager, International Transport Manager, Brokering, Customer Service, and Marketing. Working with his mentor Tony Taylor, Joe Webster has learned the ins and outs of this industry which is largely misunderstood.

With over 30 years experience in the industry, we've been helping people ship their vehicles, motorcycles, RV's, heavy equipment, household goods and more across the country or overseas without a hitch. Ask us anything.

Table of Contents

Shipping Cars To or From Port Of Chicago
Cost & Time To Ship Your Car Examples
Shipping Routes
Mode of Shipments
Custom requirements
Port charges
Additional port requirements

Satisfied Customers

“I am meticulous when it comes to everything. At first, I was thinking of just driving all the way to Illinois from New Jersey. A friend recommended me to go to A1 Auto Transport and told me a lot of good things about them. I refused initially because I had filed a 4 day leave just to drive and visit my mother. But things did not go well. My boss asked me to cancel my leave because a very important client asked for an urgent meeting, and the manager could not attend to it. I was hopeless and took the risk of asking help from A1. The notice was short and I forgot I needed to inform them in advance. After a couple of hours, I received a call and they told me they found a way to book me with no extra fees. I am so thankful I got to attend to my work matters. I did not get to see my mother, but the vehicle and items inside it were in perfect condition as if it was me who took care of it. I owe you guys big time! I got one huge deal from our client.”

★★★★★

“A1 Auto Transport means stress-free. I shipped my Toyota Prius from Chicago to Mississippi, and they were very flexible in terms of pick-up and delivery time. I'll surely put them on my favourites list. The car arrived safely and in perfect condition. Other than a bit of dust caught on the road, there’s nothing to report. It was the best service and a very pleasant company!”

A1 Auto Transport means stress-free

★★★★★

“It’s been a few months now since I’ve moved to Florida from Illinois after my career took a nice turn. I had to relocate for a new job, and let me tell you, moving isn’t my favourite thing in the world. All the planning and packing and calling people up to help you move a mountain of personal stuff across states have me doubting my capacity as an adult to handle pressure and endure stress. I don’t think anyone like me with a busy enough life juggling university and a demanding career would ever say moving is an exciting activity. That’s why I’ll be forever thankful to A1 Auto Transport for making my life a hell of a lot easier during the move. I’d never had to worry about rearranging my schedule because of some hang-ups or delays, or getting screwed over for a costly service that damaged both my pocket and my car. It made me think of all those horror stories of people who ran into some bad luck with transporters damaging their most prized possessions after waiting for days on end with hundreds of dollars wasted. I felt really relieved that I didn’t become one of those people when I opted to go with A1 Auto Transport. Along with relocating to Florida for a cool job offer, working with A1 was probably one of the best decisions I’ve made.”

I had to relocate for a new job

★★★★★

“For one reason or another, shipping a car between states makes me a bit worried. Using another company prior to A1 Auto Transport which left a huge scratch on my car didn’t help ease my trust issues either. The quote Joe gave me wasn’t the lowest on my list (I did a ton of research this time), but I was less interested in getting a deal as I was in getting my car to Illinois safely. I paid a deposit after he picked up my car. By that point, it was in his hands. I was glad he called so much during transport. He must’ve felt I was stressed out by the whole experience. Fortunately, my worries were for nothing. This company pulled through and brought my car as I left it. Thank you Joe!”

Shipping a car between states makes me a bit worried

★★★★★

“It was great to work with Joe. He let me choose the communication method (phone, text, or email), and updated me regularly. He took my Honda from Chicago to Washington, and it all went smoothly. The driver took a thorough look at my car and made sure I received it in the same condition. To pick it up, I had to take it to a parking lot large enough for a truck to fit in. I was out of town when the car got to Washington, so Joe took care of it until I arrived with no extra charge. He was there when I got back to greet me as well. The move was stress free and straightforward.”

Stress free and straightforward

★★★★★