Quick Answer
Shipping a car within Florida typically runs $500–$900 on an open carrier. Shipping to or from Florida typically runs $500–$1,500 depending on the lane — for example, Atlanta to Orlando is typically $500–$900, New York City to Orlando $900–$1,300, and Boston to Miami $1,100–$1,500. Most in-state moves take 1–2 days; Northeast and Midwest shipments typically take 3–6 days.
Shipping a car in Florida, without the runaround
Florida is the snowbird capital of the country, one of the fastest-growing states in America, and a year-round magnet for retirees, relocating families, students, and military households — which makes it one of the busiest car shipping states in the nation, in both directions, all year long.
That's the job we do at Freedom Transport Service. We're a nationwide auto transport broker with a 100% USA-based team — real people who answer the phone, no outsourced call centers — and a network of vetted, insured carriers running Florida lanes every day. We're open 6 days a week, and the way we price is simple: no bait-and-switch.
The headline pattern is the snowbird migration. Every fall, seasonal residents ship their cars south from New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, and New England to spend the winter in places like Fort Myers, Naples, Sarasota, West Palm Beach, and the Tampa Bay area. Every spring, the same cars ship back north. Layered on top of that are permanent relocations to a state that keeps adding residents, military moves to MacDill, Eglin, and Naval Air Station Jacksonville, students headed to Gainesville, Tallahassee, and Orlando, spring-training and boating-season traffic, and a constant stream of cars bought online and delivered to Florida buyers. Because carriers run these lanes full and often, Florida pricing and scheduling are better than in most states — especially if your dates line up with the direction everyone else is moving.
We ship daily drivers, family SUVs, and pickup trucks; classics and exotics (enclosed, always recommended); motorcycles and golf carts (enclosed only, for full protection); UTVs; and vans and heavy-duty trucks, which our team quotes individually. If it rolls, we can almost certainly move it.
Popular routes to Florida
These are the lanes Floridians book most often inbound, with the typical ranges we see for a standard sedan in running condition. Your exact price depends on the specific pickup and delivery cities and ZIPs, the vehicle, and your dates — the ranges below are honest planning numbers, not a quote. Season is a factor too: prices run higher when demand peaks — snowbird season in the fall and spring, the summer moving season, and the year-end holidays — and lower in quieter months. Fall is the peak inbound season, when snowbird shipments pour south; booking ahead of the rush helps on both price and schedule.
| Route | Open typically | Enclosed typically | Transit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta to Orlando car shipping | $500–$900 | $800–$1,400 | 1–2 days |
| Boston to Miami car shipping | $1,100–$1,500 | $1,600–$2,200 | 4–6 days |
| Boston to Orlando car shipping | $1,000–$1,400 | $1,500–$2,100 | 3–5 days |
| Charlotte to Miami car shipping | $800–$1,200 | $1,200–$1,800 | 2–3 days |
| Chicago to Miami car shipping | $1,000–$1,400 | $1,600–$2,200 | 3–5 days |
| Chicago to Orlando car shipping | $900–$1,300 | $1,400–$2,000 | 3–5 days |
| Columbus to Orlando car shipping | $900–$1,300 | $1,400–$2,000 | 2–4 days |
| Detroit to Orlando car shipping | $900–$1,300 | $1,400–$2,000 | 3–5 days |
| Houston to Miami car shipping | $900–$1,300 | $1,400–$2,000 | 2–4 days |
| Nashville to Orlando car shipping | $700–$1,100 | $1,100–$1,700 | 2–3 days |
| New York City to Miami car shipping | $1,000–$1,400 | $1,500–$2,100 | 3–5 days |
| New York City to Orlando car shipping | $900–$1,300 | $1,400–$2,000 | 2–4 days |
| Philadelphia to Miami car shipping | $900–$1,300 | $1,400–$2,000 | 2–4 days |
| Philadelphia to Orlando car shipping | $900–$1,300 | $1,300–$1,900 | 2–4 days |
| St. Louis to Orlando car shipping | $900–$1,300 | $1,300–$1,900 | 2–4 days |
| Washington DC to Miami car shipping | $900–$1,300 | $1,400–$2,000 | 2–4 days |
| Washington DC to Orlando car shipping | $800–$1,200 | $1,200–$1,800 | 2–4 days |
| Atlanta to Jacksonville car shipping | $500–$900 | $800–$1,400 | 1–2 days |
| Atlanta to Miami car shipping | $700–$1,100 | $1,100–$1,700 | 1–2 days |
| Atlanta to Tampa car shipping | $500–$900 | $800–$1,400 | 1–2 days |
| Boston to Tampa car shipping | $1,100–$1,500 | $1,600–$2,200 | 3–5 days |
| Charlotte to Orlando car shipping | $700–$1,100 | $1,000–$1,600 | 1–2 days |
| Chicago to Tampa car shipping | $900–$1,300 | $1,400–$2,000 | 2–4 days |
| Dallas to Miami car shipping | $1,000–$1,400 | $1,500–$2,100 | 3–5 days |
| Dallas to Orlando car shipping | $900–$1,300 | $1,400–$2,000 | 2–4 days |
| Dallas to Tampa car shipping | $900–$1,300 | $1,400–$2,000 | 2–4 days |
| Denver to Miami car shipping | $1,200–$1,600 | $1,900–$2,400 | 4–6 days |
| Denver to Orlando car shipping | $1,200–$1,600 | $1,900–$2,400 | 4–6 days |
| Houston to Orlando car shipping | $900–$1,300 | $1,300–$1,900 | 2–3 days |
| Los Angeles to Miami car shipping | $1,500–$1,900 | $2,200–$2,800 | 5–7 days |
| Los Angeles to Orlando car shipping | $1,400–$1,800 | $2,200–$2,800 | 5–7 days |
| Phoenix to Miami car shipping | $1,400–$1,800 | $2,200–$2,800 | 5–7 days |
| Phoenix to Orlando car shipping | $1,400–$1,800 | $2,200–$2,800 | 5–7 days |
| San Francisco to Miami car shipping | $1,600–$2,000 | $2,400–$3,000 | 6–8 days |
| San Francisco to Orlando car shipping | $1,500–$1,900 | $2,200–$2,800 | 6–8 days |
Typical ranges for a standard sedan in running condition. Larger vehicles, non-running vehicles, and rural pickups or deliveries can price higher.
Popular routes from Florida
Leaving Florida — or sending a car out to family, a buyer, or a northern home — runs on the same busy corridors in reverse. Spring is the big outbound season, when snowbirds ship home, and the Miami and Orlando lanes below stay active all year with relocations, online purchases, and students.
| Route | Open typically | Enclosed typically | Transit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miami to Atlanta car shipping | $700–$1,100 | $1,100–$1,700 | 1–3 days |
| Miami to Chicago car shipping | $1,000–$1,400 | $1,600–$2,200 | 3–5 days |
| Miami to New York City car shipping | $1,000–$1,400 | $1,500–$2,100 | 3–5 days |
| Orlando to Chicago car shipping | $900–$1,300 | $1,400–$2,000 | 2–4 days |
| Orlando to New York City car shipping | $900–$1,300 | $1,400–$2,000 | 2–4 days |
| Miami to Boston car shipping | $1,100–$1,500 | $1,600–$2,200 | 3–5 days |
| Miami to Dallas car shipping | $1,000–$1,400 | $1,500–$2,100 | 3–5 days |
| Miami to Denver car shipping | $1,200–$1,600 | $1,900–$2,400 | 4–6 days |
| Miami to Houston car shipping | $900–$1,300 | $1,400–$2,000 | 2–4 days |
| Miami to Los Angeles car shipping | $1,500–$1,900 | $2,200–$2,800 | 5–7 days |
| Miami to Phoenix car shipping | $1,400–$1,800 | $2,200–$2,800 | 5–7 days |
| Miami to San Francisco car shipping | $1,600–$2,000 | $2,400–$3,000 | 6–8 days |
| Orlando to Atlanta car shipping | $500–$900 | $800–$1,400 | 1–2 days |
| Orlando to Boston car shipping | $1,000–$1,400 | $1,500–$2,100 | 3–5 days |
| Orlando to Dallas car shipping | $900–$1,300 | $1,400–$2,000 | 2–4 days |
| Orlando to Denver car shipping | $1,200–$1,600 | $1,900–$2,400 | 4–6 days |
| Orlando to Houston car shipping | $900–$1,300 | $1,300–$1,900 | 2–3 days |
| Orlando to Los Angeles car shipping | $1,400–$1,800 | $2,200–$2,800 | 5–7 days |
| Orlando to Phoenix car shipping | $1,400–$1,800 | $2,200–$2,800 | 5–7 days |
| Orlando to San Francisco car shipping | $1,500–$1,900 | $2,200–$2,800 | 6–8 days |
Typical ranges for a standard sedan in running condition. Get a free quote for your lane.
Shipping within Florida
Plenty of Florida shipping never leaves Florida. Miami to Orlando is about 235 miles, Orlando to Tampa about 85 — short hops by cross-country standards, but still most of a day of driving once traffic on I-95, I-4, and the Turnpike gets a vote, and still miles you'd rather keep off a car you care about. In-state moves are core business for us: second cars headed to a condo or a seasonal home, vehicles bought from a seller a few cities away, college cars moving between home and campus, and classics going to shows and shops around the state.
In-state moves are also the fastest thing we do. On the main corridors, carriers run daily, pickup is usually quick, and most intrastate shipments deliver in 1–2 days. Open transport typically runs $500–$900 on the lanes below; enclosed runs higher and is the right call for classics and exotics even on a short hop, thanks to Florida sun, salt air, and summer downpours.
| Route | Open typically | Enclosed typically | Transit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miami to Orlando car shipping | $500–$900 | $800–$1,400 | 1–2 days |
| Orlando, FL → Tampa, FL | $500–$900 | $800–$1,400 | 1–2 days |
| Tampa, FL → Miami, FL | $500–$900 | $800–$1,400 | 1–2 days |
| Jacksonville, FL → Orlando, FL | $500–$900 | $800–$1,400 | 1–2 days |
| Orlando to Miami car shipping | $500–$900 | $700–$1,300 | 1–2 days |
Typical ranges for a standard sedan in running condition on the main in-state corridors.
Florida cities we serve
We pick up and deliver door-to-door in every Florida metro and most smaller communities along the main corridors. Cities with a dedicated route guide link straight to it; everywhere else, your free quote gives you a price for your specific address.
The Florida car shipping guide
Shipping the car is the easy part. Owning it legally at the other end — and getting it through a Florida summer — takes a little local knowledge. Here's what we tell every customer moving a vehicle into, out of, or across the state.
Registering your car after a move to Florida
Florida's clock is shorter than most states'. Once you establish residency — by starting a job in Florida, enrolling a child in a Florida public school, or settling here as your home — you have 10 days to title and register your vehicle with the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV), handled in person through your county tax collector's office. Title and registration happen together in Florida. An out-of-state vehicle also needs a VIN verification — a quick check that the number on the car matches your paperwork — completed as part of the process. Your Florida driver license runs on its own, slightly longer clock, but the vehicle deadline is the one that sneaks up on people, so if your car ships a few days after you do, plan to handle the tax collector visit as soon as it arrives.
No emissions or safety inspection
Here's the good news: Florida does not require a periodic safety inspection or emissions test for private passenger vehicles — in any county. The state's old emissions program ended in 2000, and there is no annual inspection sticker to chase. The VIN verification for out-of-state vehicles described above is an ownership check, not a mechanical inspection. You're still responsible for keeping the car roadworthy, but registration itself is paperwork, proof of Florida insurance, and fees.
Insurance: Florida is a no-fault state
Florida handles insurance differently from most of the country, and it catches newcomers off guard. To register a vehicle, Florida requires $10,000 in Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and $10,000 in Property Damage Liability (PDL) — and that's the state minimum. Under Florida's no-fault system, your own PIP pays your initial medical costs after a crash no matter who caused it. Notably, Florida does not require bodily injury liability coverage for most drivers, which is the coverage that pays for injuries you cause to others — many agents recommend adding it anyway, because the state minimums are genuinely minimal. Your policy must be written by a Florida-licensed insurer, so update it before your registration visit. (While your car is on one of our carriers, it's covered by the transport insurance included with every shipment — see below.)
Toll roads, the Turnpike, and SunPass
Florida runs more toll roads than any other state, anchored by Florida's Turnpike from Miami to Central Florida and a web of expressways around Miami, Orlando, and Tampa. Tolling is electronic through SunPass (and compatible transponders), with TOLL-BY-PLATE billing where there's no transponder. Before pickup, remove or pause your toll transponder — a tag left in the car can keep charging your account as the carrier passes toll points with your car on the trailer. It takes two minutes and saves a month of mystery charges.
The corridors carriers actually run
Four routes do most of the work in Florida. I-95 runs the entire Atlantic coast from Jacksonville through Daytona, West Palm Beach, and Fort Lauderdale to Miami, and continues north up the Eastern Seaboard — it's the snowbird superhighway. I-75 comes down from Georgia through Gainesville and Tampa, then crosses the Everglades on Alligator Alley to Fort Lauderdale and Miami; northbound, it's the main line to Atlanta and the Midwest. I-4 ties Tampa, Orlando, and Daytona together across the middle of the state. I-10 crosses the Panhandle through Tallahassee and Pensacola toward Mobile and points west, and Florida's Turnpike is the fast diagonal between Miami and Orlando. If your pickup or delivery sits on or near one of these corridors, scheduling is fast and pricing is at its best. The Keys, the rural Panhandle, and smaller Gulf towns simply need a little more lead time.
Heat, humidity, and salt air: open vs. enclosed
Florida weather is the one factor that matters most here. On an open carrier, your car rides through intense sun, humidity, and — on coastal lanes — salt air, plus the sudden downpours of the summer rainy season. That's fine for a daily driver, and it's what the vast majority of Florida shipments use. For a classic, an exotic, a fresh paint job, or anything with a soft top, enclosed transport keeps the car sealed away from all of it. Either way, don't leave anything heat-sensitive inside the vehicle, and never leave documents or electronics in a car that's about to cross Florida in August.
Hurricane season
Atlantic hurricane season runs June 1 through November 30, with activity peaking in late summer and early fall, and it affects pickups and deliveries on both coasts and through the middle of the state. When a storm is tracking toward Florida, carriers reroute or pause, ports and roads close, and pickup windows can move by a few days on either side of landfall. If you're shipping to or from Florida in season, a little schedule flexibility goes a long way — and we'll always tell you honestly if weather is about to affect your dates.
Snowbird season: the pattern that runs Florida shipping
If you ship one car to Florida, you're part of the largest seasonal vehicle migration in the country. From roughly October through December, snowbirds ship cars south from the Northeast, the Great Lakes, and Canada-adjacent states; from roughly March through May, they ship them back north. Shipping with the migration usually means fuller trucks, faster scheduling, and friendlier pricing. Shipping against it — south in April, north in November — can take a little longer to arrange. Either way, booking a few weeks ahead of the seasonal peaks is the single easiest way to make a Florida shipment go smoothly.
Military moves & college shipping
Two groups ship more cars in Florida than anyone else — and both move on somebody else's calendar, which makes planning ahead worth real money.
Military & PCS moves
Florida hosts major installations on both coasts and across the Panhandle, and we ship to and from all of them:
- MacDill Air Force Base (Tampa) — home of U.S. Central Command
- Eglin Air Force Base and Hurlburt Field (Fort Walton Beach area)
- Naval Air Station Jacksonville and Naval Station Mayport
- Naval Air Station Pensacola, Tyndall Air Force Base (Panama City), and Patrick Space Force Base (Satellite Beach)
Carriers can't always enter the installation itself, so pickup or delivery usually happens at a visitor center or a convenient spot just outside the gate — we coordinate that with you in advance. Ask about our military pricing when you book.
Students & families
Shipping a car to campus beats a two-day drive and a flight home. We serve every major Florida school, including:
- University of Florida (Gainesville) and Florida State University (Tallahassee)
- University of Central Florida (Orlando) and University of South Florida (Tampa)
- Florida International University and the University of Miami — plus FAU, FAMU, and UNF
Book fall and spring moves early — the first and last weeks of the semester are the busiest of the year. Ask about student pricing when you book.
Special pricing — just ask
We offer special pricing for select groups, including military members, students, seasonal travelers, and healthcare professionals. Mention it when you request your quote and we'll apply whatever you're eligible for.
How Florida car shipping works
Three steps, start to finish. We handle the carrier, the scheduling, and the updates — you just hand over the keys.
Get your quote & book
Get your free quote and book with $0 due upfront.
We assign your carrier
We match your vehicle with a vetted, insured carrier already running your lane, and confirm your pickup window with you.
Pickup & delivery
The driver inspects and loads your vehicle at your door, and delivers it at the other end with updates along the way.
Open vs. enclosed transport in Florida
Open transport is the standard multi-car carrier you see on every interstate — and it's the right choice for most Florida shipments. It's the most affordable option, the easiest to schedule, and your shipment includes insurance coverage in transit either way. Daily drivers, family vehicles, trucks, and SUVs ship open every day of the year, including the full length of the snowbird run down I-95 and I-75.
Enclosed transport puts your vehicle inside a covered trailer, protected from weather, sun, salt air, and road debris. Florida makes the case for enclosed better than most states: summer runs cross hundreds of miles of heat and humidity, the rainy season brings daily downpours, and coastal lanes carry salt spray. For classics, exotics, collectibles, show cars, and anything with significant value or fresh paint, enclosed is the honest recommendation — and for motorcycles and golf carts, enclosed is the only way we ship them. That last point matters in Florida, where golf carts are everyday transportation in many communities. Expect enclosed to run roughly 40–60% more than open on the same lane, as the tables above show.
Not sure which fits your car? Tell us what you're shipping when you get your quote and we'll give you a straight answer — including when open is all you need.
What affects your Florida price
Four things drive the number on any Florida lane:
- Distance. The biggest factor, always. Boston to Miami is roughly 1,500 miles; Atlanta to Orlando is roughly 440. Longer hauls cost more in total but less per mile.
- Corridor vs. off-corridor pickup. Addresses on I-95, I-75, I-4, I-10, and the Turnpike sit on routes carriers already run, so they price at the best rates and schedule fastest. The Keys, rural Panhandle towns, and smaller Gulf communities may need a carrier to detour, which costs more and takes a little longer to arrange.
- Vehicle size and condition. A compact sedan is the baseline. Full-size trucks, large SUVs, and vans take more deck space and weight; non-running vehicles need a winch and extra handling. Heavier and larger prices higher.
- Season and direction. Fall fills trucks heading south with snowbird cars and spring fills them heading north; shipping with the migration usually prices better and schedules faster than shipping against it. Summer is peak relocation season statewide, and hurricane season can compress schedules on coastal lanes.
The ranges on this page are typical planning numbers — get your free quote for your specific addresses, vehicle, and dates. No bait-and-switch, ever.
Preparing your car for pickup
A few simple steps before the carrier arrives make pickup smooth — and protect you if anything comes up in transit.
- Keep the tank about a quarter fullThat's plenty for loading and unloading, without the extra weight of a full tank.
- Remove personal itemsCarriers aren't insured for belongings left inside the vehicle, so clear out anything you can't replace.
- Wash the car before pickupA clean car makes the pre-shipment inspection photos accurate, so existing marks are documented clearly.
- Note existing damage with the driverWalk the car together at pickup and make sure it's recorded on the bill of lading before you sign.
- Disable alarms and remove toll tagsIt prevents surprise alarms in transit and toll charges piling up along the way.
- Have a spare key readyThe driver needs a working key for loading and unloading at both ends.
Florida car shipping FAQs
How much does it cost to ship a car from New York to Florida?
New York City to Miami typically runs $1,000–$1,400 open and $1,500–$2,100 enclosed, with a 3–5 day transit. New York City to Orlando is a little shorter at $900–$1,300 open. It's the busiest snowbird lane in the country, so scheduling is usually fast — especially in the fall, when trucks head south full.
How much does it cost to ship a car from Chicago to Florida?
Chicago to Orlando typically runs $900–$1,300 open and $1,400–$2,000 enclosed, taking 3–5 days. Chicago to Miami runs $1,000–$1,400 open. Your exact price depends on the specific cities, your vehicle, and your dates.
How much does it cost to ship a car from Atlanta to Florida?
Atlanta to Orlando typically runs $500–$900 open and $800–$1,400 enclosed, with delivery in 1–2 days. It's the shortest of Florida's major inbound lanes and one of the fastest to schedule, since carriers run I-75 between Georgia and Florida daily.
How much does it cost to ship a car within Florida?
Most in-state routes — Miami to Orlando, Orlando to Tampa, Tampa to Miami, and Jacksonville to Orlando — typically run $500–$900 open, with delivery in 1–2 days. Longer in-state hauls, like Miami to Pensacola across the Panhandle, price higher because the distance is genuinely cross-country scale.
How long does Florida car shipping take?
Most in-state moves take 1–2 days. Regional lanes like Atlanta to Orlando run 1–2 days, Midwest lanes like Chicago run 3–5 days, and Northeast shipments — Boston or New York to South Florida — typically take 3–6 days depending on the lane. Your carrier confirms a pickup window when you book and keeps you updated in transit.
Do I need to register my car after moving to Florida?
Yes — and Florida's deadline is short. Once you establish residency, you have 10 days to title and register your vehicle through your county tax collector's office, and an out-of-state vehicle needs a VIN verification as part of the process. Florida requires no emissions or safety inspection. You'll need Florida insurance first: at least $10,000 in Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and $10,000 in Property Damage Liability (PDL) under Florida's no-fault system.
Can I ship a car to a military base in Florida?
Yes — we ship to and from MacDill Air Force Base, Eglin Air Force Base, Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Naval Station Mayport, and other Florida installations regularly. Because carriers usually can't enter the installation, pickup or delivery typically happens at a visitor center or a spot just outside the gate, coordinated with you in advance. Ask about military pricing when you book.
How do I book, and do I pay anything upfront?
Get your free quote or call us at 800-507-2629 — we're open 6 days a week. There are $0 upfront booking fees: you pay nothing to schedule. One Florida tip: for snowbird shipments, fall is the peak southbound season and spring is the peak northbound season, so booking a few weeks ahead of those peaks helps on price and schedule either way.
Is my car insured while it's being shipped?
Yes. Every shipment includes insurance coverage while your vehicle is in transit, and we only work with vetted, insured carriers. At pickup, you and the driver document the car's condition together on the bill of lading, which is what protects you if anything comes up along the way.
Can the carrier pick up my car at my home?
Yes — our service is door-to-door wherever a carrier can safely and legally reach. If your street is too narrow for a full-size transport truck — common in some gated and island communities — the driver will meet you at a nearby parking lot or wide street, usually within a few minutes of your address.