Florida Car Shipping
While the best Florida car shipping company is Montway Auto Transport, we’d also recommend Sherpa Auto Transport, SGT Auto Transport, and AmeriFreight.
From our #1 rated provider, 
Whether you’re a snowbird escaping the cold for the winter or are planning a permanent move, car shipping to and from the Sunshine State should be simple. In this article, we’ll provide a look at the five best auto transport companies in Florida that offer peace of mind and competitive costs. We’ll also break down shipping quotes for both open and enclosed transport services and explain how to ship your car with ease.
The Gist:
- Our team found that Montway Auto Transport is the best Florida car shipping company, though it’s best to compare rates with those from Sherpa Auto Transport, SGT Auto Transport, American Auto Shipping, and AmeriFreight.
- The average cost to ship a car to or from Florida is $985 for open car shipping services and $1,379 for enclosed auto transport.
- Your car shipping cost in Florida depends on factors like a city’s size, nearby traffic patterns, and weather conditions.
5 Best Florida Car Shipping Companies
We’ve spent over 300 hours researching the auto transport space to provide an honest review of the industry’s best car shipping companies. If you’re moving a car to or from Miami, Boca Raton, Cape Coral, or beyond, check out our list of the best Florida car shipping companies.
1. Montway Auto Transport: Best Reputation
With over 17 years of industry experience, Montway Auto Transport earned 4.6 out of 5.0 stars, the highest score in our comprehensive review. It works with over 30,000 vetted and insured auto shippers across the U.S. and provides $250,000 in cargo insurance on top of your car hauler’s policy in case it can’t fully cover a claim.
You’ll find plenty of Florida car shipping options from Montway Auto Transport, including door-to-door deliveries and expedited shipping. You can also easily get an instant quote online on Montway Auto Transport’s website.
Read more: Montway Auto Transport review
2. Sherpa Auto Transport: Best For Locked-In Rates
Sherpa Auto Transport earned 4.6 out of 5.0 stars in our industrywide review. If you’re looking for a provider offering locked-in rates for shipping services to and from Florida, consider Sherpa. It promises that the initial quote you receive will be your final price and pays up to $300 to secure your auto transport if the original quote wasn’t high enough.
Sherpa offers car transport services all across the U.S. with the exception of Alaska. If your vehicle arrives at its destination dirty, take advantage of Sherpa’s Clean Car Guarantee to get a free car wash.
Read more: Sherpa Auto Transport review
3. SGT Auto Transport: Best Price-Match Guarantee
SGT Auto Transport also earned 4.6 out of 5.0 stars in our review. It offers open and enclosed vehicle shipping services in all states other than Alaska and provides Florida car shipping services for standard vehicles, classic cars, motorcycles, and recreational vehicles (RVs). SGT also allows customers to pack up to 100 pounds of personal items in their cars at no extra charge.
Getting a quote from SGT Auto Transport is easy via the company’s phone number or instant online quote tool. If you shop around and find a lower written quote from one of SGT’s direct competitors, the provider promises to match that price.
Read more: SGT Auto Transport review
4. American Auto Shipping: Best Service Availability
American Auto Shipping earned 4.6 out of 5.0 stars for its Florida car shipping services due to two decades of industry experience and excellent service availability. It provides both open and enclosed auto transport services all across the U.S. apart from Alaska.
We appreciate American Auto Shipping’s damage-free guarantee, where it pays up to $500 of your insurance deductible if the car gets damaged during transit to or from Florida. It also covers a rental car if your shipment is delayed over 14 days past the expected delivery date. You can get instant quotes online for Florida car transport through American Auto Shipping’s website.
Read more: American Auto Shipping review
5. AmeriFreight: Best For Discounts
We awarded AmeriFrieght with 4.5 out of 5.0 stars in our industrywide review. It offers various discounts and price-matching services that prevent shipping a car in Florida from breaking the bank. There are discounts available from AmeriFreight for multiple vehicle shipments, return customers, students, and first responders, among others.
We appreciate that AmeriFreight properly vets carriers by conducting background checks. This ensures that each car carrier is both licensed and insured. You can get a free quote directly from AmeriFreight through the company’s website.
Read more: AmeriFreight review
Florida Car Shipping Costs
The cost of Florida car shipping varies widely depending on a few factors. Some cost factors are entirely dependent on your needs, such as the chosen type of auto transport. You’ll likely use open or enclosed trailer transport when shipping your vehicle, so we’ve provided average costs for both shipping methods to and from Florida in the sections below.
Open Car Shipping Costs In Florida
Open car shipping involves the use of an open-air trailer with no walls or roof to transport several vehicles at once. This makes it a far more cost-effective–but riskier–shipping method compared to enclosed transport services.
The average cost to ship a car to and from Florida using open auto transport is $985, which is just over two percent cheaper than the national average of $1,010. We gathered cost estimates for open car transport along popular Florida car shipping routes, which you’ll find below:
| Auto Shipping Route | Total Average Cost |
|---|---|
| Miami to Los Angeles | $1,229 |
| Chicago to Miami | $819 |
| Fort Lauderdale to New York City | $1,079 |
| Los Angeles to Fort Lauderdale | $1,099 |
| Tampa to San Francisco | $1,349 |
| Chicago to Tampa | $409 |
| Orlando to New York City | $819 |
| Los Angeles to Orlando | $1,199 |
| Jacksonville to Chicago | $849 |
| San Francisco to Jacksonville | $1,359 |
Enclosed Car Shipping Costs In Florida
Enclosed auto shipping services utilize an enclosed carrier that provides the ultimate level of protection from road hazards during transport. While it makes Florida car shipping much pricier than open auto transport services, owners of classic or luxury cars should consider it.
The average cost to ship a car to and from Florida using enclosed auto transport is $1,379, which is 40 percent more than the average cost of open car shipping in the Sunshine State. The table below has average costs of popular Florida car shipping routes using enclosed transport.
| Auto Shipping Route | Total Average Cost |
|---|---|
| Miami to Los Angeles | $1,719 |
| Chicago to Miami | $1,149 |
| Fort Lauderdale to New York City | $1,509 |
| Los Angeles to Fort Lauderdale | $1,539 |
| Tampa to San Francisco | $1,889 |
| Chicago to Tampa | $569 |
| Orlando to New York City | $1,149 |
| Los Angeles to Orlando | $1,679 |
| Jacksonville to Chicago | $1,189 |
| San Francisco to Jacksonville | $1,899 |
What Affects Car Shipping Costs In Florida?
Your exact car shipping costs for Florida will likely depend on various factors. Expect variables such as transport type, delivery location, fuel prices, shipping distance, type of vehicle, and car condition to affect how much you pay when shipping a car.
How To Ship A Car To And From Florida
Looking to ship a car in Florida but have no idea how to start out? While having your vehicle moved might seem tricky at first, we’ve outlined the auto transport process below to keep things simple and hassle-free.
Choose Your Shipping Method
First, you’ll need to decide on your vehicle’s transport method. As previously mentioned, enclosed and open carrier car shipping are the most common types used across the industry. Both have their pros and cons, so comparing open vs. enclosed car shipping will help you determine which best fits your needs.
Compare Florida Car Shipping Quotes
Once you’ve settled on a transport method, it’s time to compare Florida auto transport quotes. It’s easy to get car shipping quotes online, and we recommend providing vehicle details to various car shipping companies to find the best price.
Keep in mind that while some companies guarantee your quoted price for Florida auto transport, others may increase your shipping rate due to changing market factors. If a locked-in price for your Florida car shipping service matters to you, choose a provider that offers this guarantee.
Select A Transport Provider
After comparing auto transport quotes from various providers, you’ll likely narrow down your choices for Florida car shipping services. This is the time to decide whether you’re more comfortable with a car shipping broker or an online shipping marketplace. Brokers will find a car carrier for you while shipping marketplaces leave it to you to deal with carriers directly.
Whatever you choose, be sure to do your research via online review platforms and discussion boards. Firsthand accounts with shipping providers from consumers are invaluable when choosing a provider for Florida car transport.
Prepare Your Car And Meet The Carrier
Once you’ve booked a vehicle transport service, it’s time to get your car ready for shipment. Take all personal items out of your vehicle, as many Florida transporters consider vehicle weight when calculating costs. It’s also wise to leave your gas tank no more than a quarter full.
It’s now time to meet your carrier at a predetermined time and location. Whether you opted for door-to-door or terminal-to-terminal shipping, you’ll inspect your vehicle for prior damages such as dents, scratches, and dings. Take photos of your car to ensure proper documentation before it gets loaded onto the trailer. All you need to do now is sign the bill of lading, which is a receipt that follows your vehicle as it travels to or from Florida.
Pick Your Car Up
If your chosen vehicle transport carrier offers GPS tracking, you’ll be able to see your car travel to or from Florida in real time. Regardless, you’ll receive a message from your carrier at some point regarding the vehicle’s pickup date.
Once you meet your carrier at the designated pickup location and time, inspect your vehicle for damages. This is especially important for those who pick open auto transport. If you find any damages, report them on the bill of lading and take photos for potential claims. However, if everything looks good, you’ll just sign the bill of lading one last time and drive the car away.
What To Expect With Florida Car Shipping
Shipping a car to or from Florida means that there are state-specific variables that could influence your car shipping experience. City size, population, traffic patterns, and inclement weather may affect how long your shipment ultimately takes in Florida. It’s wise to understand this beforehand so you won’t get caught off guard during the shipping process.
The state of Florida is the eighth most densely populated in the U.S. Major cities such as Miami and Tampa are more densely populated than others, making door-to-door delivery services somewhat more of a hassle.
In addition, other cities in Florida–such as St. Petersburg, West Palm Beach, and Tallahassee–have higher-than-average rainfall and greater chances of extreme weather. Storms, hurricanes, and flooding could increase chances of shipping delays with Florida auto transport, so plan ahead and be flexible with delivery time frames during the shipping process.
Florida Car Shipping: FAQ
Here are some frequently asked questions customers have about Florida car shipping:
Why would a person want to ship their car?
If you’re moving more than a few hundred miles away, a long-distance road trip might not be worth it. Cross-country car shipping can provide peace of mind while offering protection from risks associated with long drives, such as mechanical breakdowns and car accidents. Getting your car to Florida from spots like California, Washington, and Texas is much easier with auto transport.
What are the benefits of car shipping?
Car shipping is a safe way to get your car to and from Florida without wasting the time and expenses associated with a long road trip. Choosing to ship your car rather than drive it will also protect your car from the wear and tear that comes along with extended driving periods.
How do I ship a car to Florida?
You’ll start the shipping process by researching various car shipping companies and getting free quotes online. Next, you’ll choose a provider, book your shipment, and prepare the car for transport. Once your car has made it to or from Florida, you’ll meet the car carrier for pickup.
How We Rate Florida Auto Shippers
Our review process aims to deliver consistent and unbiased assessments of car shipping companies. While there are multiple qualities that make an auto transport provider successful, our review team focuses on those we believe are the most important for consumers:
- Cost: Cost can be difficult to compare between providers because so many factors impact auto shipping rates. To determine our cost score, we perform a secret shopper analysis for a variety of vehicles and routes.
- Services: Our team of experts looks at the types of services available, as well as insurance coverage and the ability to guarantee pickup and dropoff dates. Ratings also take into account whether the transport company is a broker or a carrier.
- Reputation: It’s important that a car shipping provider is able to deliver your vehicle in a safe and timely manner. Companies with a strong rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB) score well in this category. Established providers with a long history of reliable service also receive positive marks.
- Customer Experience: We comb through consumer reviews on sites like the BBB to learn about customer experiences. Car transport companies with a low volume of complaints score well in this area.
*Data accurate at time of publication.
*Read more about our methodology.
