Louisiana Auto Transport: Daily Car Shipping Routes in New Orleans, Baton Rouge & Lafayette

Louisiana Auto Transport Done Right

We offer premium Louisiana auto transport services with a focus on excellence.

Moving to Louisiana and Need Your Car Shipped?

An incredibly diverse and lively state, Louisiana is a lively mixture of cultures and industries that has a little for everyone, on top of being a destination for travelers from around the globe.

Laissez les bons temps rouler at Mardi Gras. The festivities that take over New Orleans for weeks at the end of February and beginning of March aren't unique to the city (they're celebrated up and down the coast), but N'awlins certainly offers the most famous ones.

Louisiana blends so many cultures into a gumbo of its own. Louisiana Creole descended from freed African slave women and French men, and Acadian culture from the settlers who came south from the Canadian Atlantic provinces. Isle culture from Canary Islands immigrants all meet with more modern cultures and blend for unique towns and cities.

Don't confuse Creole and Cajun. Cajun culture stems from the Acadians and leans more towards rural areas around Lafayette and the LaFourche Bayou country. Creole is considered an urban culture, focused mainly in New Orleans and towns along the Mississippi.

The tiny city of Breaux Bridge (a population of just over 8,000) calls itself the "Crawfish Capital." Every year the Breaux Bridge Crawfish Festival crowns a Crawfish Queen. Hard to say for sure if the city is the true crawfish capital, but you can't argue that the state is, as it supplies approximately 90% of all crawfish produced globally.

Breaux Bridge also has one of the most unique phone books anywhere: residents can list themselves by their nicknames!

Louisiana was recently ranked as the 5^th most small business-friendly state in the United States in a survey of over 12,000 small businesses nationwide.

As the lifeblood of commerce flows through the Port of South Louisiana, let Number 1 Auto Transport be your trusted partner in navigating the vibrant streets and waterways. Embrace the Louisiana way of life with our reliable auto transport services.

Ready to roll on the river? Let the good times roll with your vehicle safely in tow! Get your Free Car Shipping Quote today!

• Pickup and delivery at your address across all 64 Louisiana parishes, or a nearby meetpoint where the truck cannot fit
• Open and enclosed transport on every major route
• Licensed broker MC-796224, USDOT 2336907, matched to FMCSA-compliant carriers
• Transparent pricing with no hidden fees at pickup

Louisiana Auto Transport Routes, Transit Times, and Pricing

Depending on the car's location, most pickup windows are 24 to 72 hours from when the vehicle is ready to be picked up. This window could take up to 5 days in remote areas. Louisiana car shipping turnaround time for a destination under 1,000 miles is 2 to 3 days. From 1,000 to 1,750 miles, the transit time is estimated to be 4 to 6 days. From 1,750 to 2,500 miles, the transit time is estimated at 7 to 10 days.

Major Louisiana Cities Served

Every city below is covered on the same terms, and so is every town between them.

• New Orleans
• Baton Rouge
• Shreveport
• Lafayette
• Lake Charles
• St. George
• Kenner
• Bossier City
• Monroe
• Alexandria
• Houma
• Central
• Slidell
• New Iberia
• Hammond
• Ruston
• Zachary
• Sulphur
• Youngsville
• Gretna

Shipping a Car to Louisiana

The most popular lanes into Louisiana, with the transit windows this page has always published.

No page on our site publishes a price for these five lanes into Louisiana yet, so each one reads Get a quote. Your quote comes back with a real, locked number.

Shipping a Car from Louisiana

The most popular lanes out of Louisiana. Transit windows are this page's own.

No page on our site publishes a price for these five lanes out of Louisiana yet, so each one reads Get a quote. Your quote comes back with a real, locked number.

Per-Mile Pricing Guide for Louisiana Routes

The same per-mile guide appears on our Texas, New York, California, and Florida pages. A simple way to sanity check any Louisiana quote.

• Short distance (under 500 miles)

  $1.00 to $1.75 per mile

• Medium distance (500 to 1,000 miles)

  $0.75 to $1.00 per mile

• Long distance (1,000+ miles)

  $0.50 to $0.75 per mile

• Distance: The length of your journey is a crucial factor affecting costs, playing a significant role in determining your quote.
• Locations: Specific cities matter, with considerations such as local traffic conditions, proximity to major highways, and ease of pickup/drop-off contributing to pricing variations.
• Trailer Type: Opt for open-air transport for a more budget-friendly choice, or consider enclosed trailers for added protection, albeit at a higher cost.
• Vehicle Details: The dimensions and weight of your car are significant factors influencing the auto transport rate.
• Seasonality: Prices fluctuate throughout the year, influenced by the demand for car shipping. More active seasons might lead to slightly higher costs, depending on the chosen route.

For the most accurate Louisiana auto transport rate, provide the following details:

• Your car's specifications and type
• Origin and destination cities
• If possible, flexibility with shipping dates
• Preferred trailer type (open or enclosed)

By supplying this information, you'll receive a personalized car shipping rate tailored to meet your specific needs when transporting your vehicle to or from Louisiana.

Military and PCS Auto Transport in Louisiana

Louisiana is home to Fort Polk and the Joint Readiness Training Center, to Barksdale Air Force Base and its B-52 bombers, and to a joint reserve base in Belle Chasse. Number 1 Auto Transport coordinates PCS shipments to and from every major Louisiana installation.

We work around orders timing, lock quotes early, and discount military rates for active duty, reserve, National Guard, and veterans. Your assigned agent stays with the move from quote through delivery. One number, one person, one record. Full details on our military auto transport page.

Louisiana Military Installations We Serve

• Fort Polk

  West-central Louisiana, minutes from Leesville. Home of the Joint Readiness Training Center and the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division.

• Barksdale Air Force Base

  Next to Shreveport and Bossier City, just across the Red River. The 2nd Bomb Wing flies the B-52H Stratofortress, and Air Force Global Strike Command and 8th Air Force are based here too.

• NAS JRB New Orleans

  Belle Chasse, LA. One of two joint reserve bases in the country, with Navy and Marine reserve units, a Coast Guard air station, and an Army Reserve unit.

• 159th Fighter Wing

  NAS JRB New Orleans in Belle Chasse, LA. The Louisiana Air National Guard's fighter wing.

• Marine Corps Support Facility New Orleans

  New Orleans, LA. Home of Headquarters Battalion for Marine Forces Reserve and Marine Forces South.

• Jackson Barracks

  New Orleans, LA, in the Lower 9th Ward at the St. Bernard Parish line. A Louisiana National Guard base and command center for emergency operations.

• Camp Beauregard

  Pineville, LA. The Louisiana National Guard's main site for annual training and pre-mobilization, established in 1917.

Timing Your Shipment Around PCS Orders

PCS season runs May to August. Carrier supply tightens, prices rise, and pickup dates fill weeks ahead. Book 3 to 4 weeks out once orders are in hand. We can hold a quote for 7 days while you finalize report dates.

Know where the posts sit. Fort Polk is in the piney woods of west-central Louisiana, minutes from Leesville. Barksdale sits next to Shreveport and Bossier City, just across the Red River. NAS JRB New Orleans and the 159th Fighter Wing share a base in Belle Chasse. The Marine Corps Support Facility and Jackson Barracks are in New Orleans, and Camp Beauregard is in Pineville. Active-duty members and their spouses may keep a current out-of-state plate and registration while the car is insured.

Military Discount and Who Qualifies

Military rate available for: active duty, reserve, National Guard, retired service members, and veterans. Mention your status on the call or in the quote form. Government bills of lading and DPS reimbursement requests are supported.

Need a Lowboy or Step Deck Carrier to Louisiana?

From new manufacturing facilities in Alexandria to port updates in Plaquemines and Lake Charles, growth across the state keeps Louisiana construction crews busy. Even when machinery needs to be moved to the next site to keep working, it leads them to rely on Louisiana auto transport experts to get their telehandlers, dozers, graders, and more from one site to the next. To ensure they stay on schedule and everything gets to the next site safely in Louisiana, construction crews turn to the Louisiana heavy equipment shipping experts at Number 1 Auto Transport and the lowboy carriers in our network.

Transporting heavy construction equipment is a serious business. The veteran lowboy carrier drivers in our network are trained to handle oversized loads and high gross tonnage. These drivers are skilled in moving heavy equipment in and out of job sites and navigating busy highways with unique loads.

What Moves on Lowboy and Step Deck Trailers

• Telehandlers, dozers, and graders
• Excavators and wheel loaders
• Backhoes, skid steers, and track loaders
• Cranes, lifts, and aerial booms
• Combines, tractors, and farm implements
• Industrial generators and pumps

Why Lowboy and RGN Transport Works for Louisiana

• Height Compliance

  Lowboy decks sit 18 to 24 inches off the ground. Tall machinery clears bridges and overpasses on I-10, I-20, and I-49.

• Stability and Capacity

  Step deck and lowboy trailers carry the weight of full-size dozers, cranes, and combines without straining the suspension.

• Permit and Escort Expertise

  Carriers in our network handle Louisiana oversize and overweight permits, route surveys, escort vehicles, and restricted travel windows.

Louisiana Port Logistics

Louisiana's public ports line the river from Baton Rouge down to New Orleans, and the Port of Lake Charles runs its own ship channel to the Gulf. Their terminals handle breakbulk, heavy-lift, and project cargo as well as containers. We pick up from and deliver to every one of them.

• Port of New Orleans

  New Orleans, LA. Louisiana's only deepwater container port, with 40 berths, six breakbulk terminals, and six Class I railroads. Its Nashville Avenue Terminal handles heavy-lift and project cargo with mobile harbor cranes of up to 150 tons, and it has ro-ro capacity.

• Port of South Louisiana

  Reserve, LA. The port district stretches 54 miles along the river. Its Globalplex Intermodal Terminal is a 335-acre park for bulk, breakbulk, and container cargo, moved between ship, barge, truck, and rail.

• Port of Greater Baton Rouge

  Port Allen, LA, at the head of deepwater navigation on the river, where it meets the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway. Its deepwater docks have 3,000 feet of wharf and 525,000 square feet of warehouse space with rail and truck access.

• Port of Lake Charles

  Lake Charles, LA. The port runs the Calcasieu Ship Channel, 36 miles inland and 32 more out into the Gulf, and handles breakbulk, heavy-lift, and project cargo.

Equipment that does not fit on a step deck moves on a Removable Gooseneck (RGN) trailer. The front detaches so tracked machinery rolls on without ramps. Best for excavators, dozers, and equipment without functional drive systems.

Should You Drive or Ship Your Car to or from Louisiana?

No route guide covers a Louisiana lane yet, so we do not publish a driving cost for one. Here is how the two options compare on everything except the price.

Driving vs. Shipping, Side by Side

The transit windows are the ones this page has always published. Your quote supplies the shipping price, so the table leaves dollar figures out.

Moving to Louisiana: What to Do After Your Car Arrives

Most people shipping into Louisiana are relocating or reporting to Fort Polk, Barksdale, or a base near New Orleans. Louisiana runs on a 30-day clock tied to your new driver's license, and the inspection rules change on January 1, 2027. Here is what actually applies.

Use Tax Capped at $90 on a Car You Already Own

Louisiana charges use tax on cars brought into the state, but new residents get a break. Since January 1, 2025, the use tax on a car you bring with you cannot be more than $90. The car must be mainly for personal use, already registered or leased in your name in another state, and registered here within 90 days of arriving.

Louisiana also gives credit for sales or use tax you paid on the car in a state that grants the same credit. If that credit brings the tax under $90, you pay the lower amount. Active-duty service members who paid sales tax when they bought the car in another state owe no Louisiana use tax, only title, plate, and handling fees.

Inspection Sticker Now, VIN Sticker in 2027

Through 2026, Louisiana law still calls for a safety inspection sticker. A new resident's car must carry a valid Louisiana sticker within 30 days of getting a Louisiana driver's license. Stations sell one-year or two-year stickers at $10 for each year.

Act 701 of 2026 ends the sticker for most passenger cars on January 1, 2027. After that, yearly inspections apply to commercial trucks, large farm vehicles, and student transport vehicles. The same law creates a Louisiana Vehicle Identification Program sticker that shows each car's VIN, at no more than $6 a year.

Emissions testing applies only in Ascension, East Baton Rouge, Iberville, Livingston, and West Baton Rouge parishes. There, gasoline cars rated at 10,000 pounds or less are tested during a yearly inspection that costs $18, and only one-year stickers are sold. Diesels and cars built before 1980 are exempt. In these five parishes, the 2027 change waits until the EPA approves the state's updated plan.

Insurance and License

Louisiana requires liability coverage of at least $15,000 per person and $30,000 per accident for injury, and $25,000 for property damage. Those minimums took effect on January 1, 2010, up from $10,000, $20,000, and $10,000. When you register for a plate, your insurer must be authorized to do business in Louisiana.

Transfer your driver's license within 30 days of moving here. Bring one primary ID document, your Social Security number, proof of Louisiana residency, and your license from your last state. With a valid out-of-state license, you take only the vision test, and the old license is surrendered.

Take the Vehicle Application (DPSMV 1799) with its out-of-state section filled in, the out-of-state title, a copy of your license, and proof of insurance to an Office of Motor Vehicles location or a public tag agent. Fees: $68.50 for the title and an $8 handling fee. Plates cost 0.1 percent of the car's value per year, sold two years at a time, with a $20 minimum. Check current fees with the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles before you go.

Louisiana Auto Transport Frequently Asked Questions

Get answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about our Louisiana car shipping service. For everything else, see our auto transport FAQ.

• What is the cost of shipping a car to Louisiana?

  The cost of shipping a car to Louisiana depends on several factors, including distance, location, trailer type, vehicle details, and seasonality. Prices fluctuate throughout the year, and busy seasons may lead to slightly higher costs. In order to get the most accurate quote, you should provide the following information: your car's type and specifications, origin and destination cities, flexible shipping dates (if possible), and preferred trailer type (open or enclosed).

• How long does it take to ship a car to or from Louisiana?

  Most pickup windows are 24 to 72 hours from when the vehicle is ready to be picked up. In remote areas, it could take up to 5 days. Here are some estimated transit times based on distance: under 1,000 miles, 2 to 3 days. 1,000 to 1,750 miles, 4 to 6 days. 1,750 to 2,500 miles, 7 to 10 days.

• What types of vehicles can I transport to or from Louisiana?

  Number 1 Auto Transport handles all your vehicle relocation needs, from everyday cars and trucks like coupes, sedans, SUVs, and pickups to minivans and passenger vans. We've got you covered for specialty vehicles too, including electric cars, motorcycles, and all-terrain rides like ATVs and UTVs. Need your golf cart or a John Deere Tractor shipped? If it has wheels, we can ship it!

• Can I transport a car to or from Louisiana if it's not running?

  Yes, carriers in our network are equipped with a winch to help pull the vehicle onto the trailer. Please let your dedicated shipping agent know if the car breaks, rolls, and steers.

• Can I pack my car when transporting it to or from Louisiana?

  While some personal belongings can be transported inside your vehicle for your convenience, there are restrictions. The total weight must be under 100 pounds, and for security reasons, they should be stored in the trunk or back seat, remaining below the window line. It's important to note that any personal belongings shipped within the car are not covered by the standard transport insurance in case of damage or loss.

• Does my vehicle need to have plates when shipping it to or from Louisiana?

  No, but sometimes a carrier will have to meet in a parking lot due to the size of his truck and the destination street layout. If so, you will most likely have to drive the car a few blocks.

• How should I prep my car before shipping it?

  It's recommended to wash your car so the transport carrier can do a proper inspection at pickup. Remove any toll tags so you don't incur fees while in transit. It's also best to remove any loose parts to prevent any damage during transport.

• What is the cheapest way to transport a car to or from Louisiana?

  The cheapest way to ship a car to or from Louisiana is on an open car trailer.

• Should I drive or ship my car to Louisiana?

  If the trip is a short distance, you should consider driving it to save money. Shipping is ideal for long distances, valuable cars, or if you don't want the hassle of driving yourself.

• Is my vehicle insured when using a Louisiana car shipping service?

  Yes, all the carriers in our network are vetted and screened with the DOT and FMCSA to make sure they have up to date and adequate cargo coverage to fully protect your car during transport.

• How do I get a quote for shipping my car to Louisiana?

  Most car shipping carriers request a 3-day (weekday) window for pickup. Once you have your desired pickup window, provide us with the year, make, model, and we will be able to provide you with a Louisiana car shipping rate.

• How do I pay for my Louisiana auto transport service?

  Number 1 Auto Transport offers a variety of convenient payment methods to ensure a smooth transaction for our customers. We accept all major credit cards for your convenience. Additionally, we facilitate secure electronic transfers through established platforms (Zelle, Venmo, Cashapp, Paypal) as well as ACH and wire transfers. For alternative payment preferences, certified and bank checks are also accepted.

• What documents do I need to provide to ship my car?

  You do not need to provide any documents to ship your car. However, it is recommended to sign a Bill of Lading before the carrier leaves.

• What happens upon pick-up and delivery of my car?

  The transport carrier will conduct a thorough inspection with you at the predetermined pickup location, noting any existing dents or scratches. The same inspection will be done upon delivery.

• How far in advance do I need to schedule my Louisiana car shipping service?

  To ensure we can fulfill your preferred delivery timeframe, scheduling your car shipment with ample lead time is highly recommended. Ideally, booking your transport at least 2 to 3 weeks in advance allows for optimal planning and execution.

• Do I have to register my car in Louisiana after it arrives?

  Yes, if you are moving here. You have 30 days from the date you get your Louisiana driver's license to register the car, and the license is due within 30 days of the move. The use tax on a car already registered in your name in another state is capped at $90 if you register within 90 days. Through 2026 the car also needs a Louisiana inspection sticker, and cars in five Baton Rouge area parishes need an emissions test.