Car Shipping Companies in Des Moines, IA
2 auto transporters are registered in Des Moines with the FMCSA, motor vehicles declared as cargo and a fleet on file, and 4 more listed carriers work within 30 miles. Each row carries the USDOT number that opens the carrier's own safety and insurance record.
Source: FMCSA Motor Carrier Census, snapshot September 24, 2026. Distances are from the center of Des Moines to each carrier's ZIP code. No paid placement.
- Based in Des Moines
- 2
- registered in the city itself
- Within 30 miles
- 4
- more listed carriers
- Interstate authority
- 3
- of 6 may haul across state lines
- Largest fleet nearby
- 11 trucks
- Rose Auto Transport LLC, Urbandale
In short
2 auto transporters are registered in Des Moines and 4 more work within 30 miles; 3 of the 6 can haul across state lines. 3 had a roadside inspection in the past 24 months. The largest fleet nearby is Rose Auto Transport LLC's 11 trucks. Most people leaving Polk County for another state go to Texas (Census).
Auto transporters based in Des Moines
Ordered by the power units reported on each carrier's MCS-150 filing.
- 1
DB Auto Transport LLC
699 Walnut St Ste 400, IA 50309
- USDOT
- 4233544
- MC number
- —
- Fleet
- 1 truck · 1 driver
- Registered since
- 2024
- 2
DJ Auto Transport LLC
309 Court Ave Ste 200, IA 50309
- USDOT
- 4549964
- MC number
- —
- Fleet
- 1 truck · 1 driver
- Registered since
- 2026
Auto transporters within 30 miles of Des Moines
Nearest first, from Des Moineis, Urbandale, Altoona, West Des Moines and nearby.
| Miles | Company | City | USDOT | Fleet | Authority | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 mi | D & J Auto Transport | Des Moineis, IA | 1270483 | 2 trucks | Within IA | Not rated |
| 7 mi | Rose Auto Transport LLC | Urbandale, IA | 3169118 | 11 trucks | Interstate | Not rated |
| 7 mi | N & R Auto Transport LLC | Altoona, IA | 4500082 | 1 truck | Interstate | Not rated |
| 10 mi | Budd Auto Transport LLC | West Des Moines, IA | 2854949 | 1 truck | Interstate | Not rated |
Shipping a car out of Des Moines: the main lanes
Distances from Des Moines to the largest metros; measured routes are driving miles, the rest are estimated and marked ≈.
| From Des Moines to | Distance | Truck drive time | Household move on this route |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York City, NY | ≈ 1,190 mi | 3 days | — |
| Los Angeles, CA | ≈ 1,673 mi | 4 days | — |
| Chicago, IL | ≈ 361 mi | 7 hr | Priced route → |
| Dallas, TX | ≈ 738 mi | 2 days | — |
| Houston, TX | ≈ 959 mi | 2 days | — |
| Washington, DC | ≈ 1,041 mi | 3 days | — |
| Miami, FL | ≈ 1,556 mi | 4 days | — |
| Philadelphia, PA | ≈ 1,132 mi | 3 days | — |
Drive time assumes a loaded car hauler averaging about 55 mph with legal rest; a shared truck also stops for the other cars on the deck, so door-to-door takes longer than the drive.
Roadside inspections: auto transporters near Des Moines
3 of the 6 auto transporters listed here had at least one roadside inspection in the 24 months to September 13, 2026, 16 inspections in all. Inspectors put the vehicle out of service in 3 of 7 vehicle inspections (42.9%), above the 32.4% for listed auto transporters nationally. Drivers were put out of service in 1 of 16 driver inspections (6.3%, against 10.3%). With fewer than 30 vehicle inspections, a single out-of-service order moves that rate by several points, so treat it as a small sample. None has an acute or critical violation from an FMCSA investigation in the past 12 months.
| Carrier | Inspections | Vehicle out of service | Driver out of service |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rose Auto Transport LLCUrbandale, IA · USDOT 3169118 | 8 | 1 of 3 | 0 of 8 |
| Budd Auto Transport LLCWest Des Moines, IA · USDOT 2854949 | 7 | 1 of 3 | 1 of 7 |
| N & R Auto Transport LLCAltoona, IA · USDOT 4500082 | 1 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 1 |
FMCSA Safety Measurement System carrier summary, 24-month window. How the comparison is calculated.
Who moves out of Polk County
Des Moines is in Polk County, IA. In the Census Bureau's 2016–2020 survey, the county-to-county estimates add up to roughly 8,623 people a year leaving Polk County for another state, most often for Texas (about 873), Minnesota (about 812) and Florida (about 809), while about 10,976 (±1,208) a year arrive from other states.
US Census Bureau, ACS 2016–2020 county-to-county migration flows; estimates are people a year with a 90% margin of error.
Pickup in Des Moines and checking the carrier
A loaded car hauler is about 75 feet long, so on narrow Des Moines streets the driver may ask to meet at a wide lot; the 2 carriers based here will know which ones work. If the quote comes from a broker, ask which carrier's truck will come and open that USDOT number before pickup. Preparing the car and how car shipping is priced cover the rest.
More in Iowa
13 listed auto transporters are based in Iowa; the state page ranks them all.
Car shipping in Des Moines: questions people ask
How many car shipping companies are there in Des Moines, IA?
2 FMCSA-registered auto transporters are based in Des Moines itself, and 4 more listed carriers work within 30 miles (Des Moineis, Urbandale, Altoona, West Des Moines and nearby). All 6 hold active registrations with motor vehicles declared as cargo and a fleet on file. Brokers are registered separately and are not counted.
Who is the largest auto transporter near Des Moines?
By reported fleet, Rose Auto Transport LLC in Urbandale, IA, with 11 trucks on its filing (USDOT 3169118). Fleet size is self-reported and describes capacity, not care; read the record behind the number before you book.
How much does it cost to ship a car from Des Moines?
We publish no car-shipping price model, so this page prints no figures. The quote is set by the lane (Des Moines to New York City, NY is about 1,190 miles), open or enclosed transport, the car's size and whether it runs, the season and direction, and how flexible your pickup window is. The pricing guide linked below explains each factor.
Will a car hauler pick up at my door in Des Moines?
Usually as close as a 75-foot rig can legally and physically get. On narrow residential streets, in HOAs that bar commercial trucks, or where overhead lines are low, the driver will ask to meet at a wide lot nearby. Agree the meeting point when you book, not when the truck is idling.
How have car haulers near Des Moines done at roadside inspections?
3 of the 6 listed here were inspected in the past 24 months, 16 inspections in all. Vehicles were put out of service in 3 of 7 vehicle inspections (42.9%), against 32.4% for listed auto transporters nationally.
Sources. FMCSA Motor Carrier Census (snapshot September 24, 2026) and Safety Measurement System; Census ACS migration flows. Nobody pays for placement.