Car Shipping to Florida: Costs by State
Florida is the destination for the country's biggest seasonal car-shipping rush. Thousands of winter residents head south each year, and what you pay depends on where you start and when you book. This guide pulls the main routes together, with typical costs from ten states and the details that apply to any car arriving in Florida.
Typical Costs by Starting State
These are typical open-transport ranges across the market, not quotes for your car. Each state links to its own guide with city-pair details.
Enclosed transport typically adds 40% to 60%, larger vehicles typically add $100 to $250, and a car that doesn't run typically adds $100 to $300. Get a quote For how these prices are built, see our guide to how much it costs to ship a car.
| Starting state | Typical range | Guide |
|---|---|---|
| Virginia | $450 to $1,150 (average about $721) | Virginia to Florida |
| New Jersey | $500 to $1,250 | New Jersey to Florida |
| Pennsylvania | $500 to $1,300 (average about $815) | Pennsylvania to Florida |
| Ohio | $500 to $1,350 (most around $800) | Ohio to Florida |
| New York | $550 to $1,400 (average about $884) | New York to Florida |
| Massachusetts | $550 to $1,500 (most $900 to $1,350) | Massachusetts to Florida |
| Michigan | $550 to $1,500 (average about $836 to $1,200) | Michigan to Florida |
| Illinois | $500 to $1,150 (about $750 to $1,350 overall) | Illinois to Florida |
| Texas | $450 to $1,400 (most $738 to $975) | Texas to Florida |
| California | $850 to $1,800 (average about $1,277) | California to Florida |
When Prices Rise
Season matters more than almost anything else on these routes. Southbound prices surge from October through December: by 30% or more from Pennsylvania, by $150 to $200 from Virginia, and by up to about 35% from New York. California shipments rise by roughly 20% from October through January. Late spring and summer are generally the cheapest times to ship into Florida.
Leaving Florida follows a different calendar. Moving a car out of Florida to Texas is most expensive from January through April, and northbound to New York the peak runs from March through May. Leaving Florida also costs more than arriving there on both corridors we can compare, with Florida to New York averaging about $1,152 against $884 southbound, and Florida to Texas about $1,054 against $738 to $975. See Florida to New York See Florida to Texas
The Auto Train Option
Amtrak's Auto Train is the only service that carries your car on a passenger train, and it runs only between Lorton, Virginia, and Sanford, Florida, near Orlando. You ride on the same train, a standard car costs $225 to $570 one-way, and you add your own ticket. It suits travelers who are heading to Florida anyway and live near northern Virginia, and it doesn't help from Texas, the Midwest, or farther away without a long drive first. See Virginia to Florida for the full breakdown
Registering Your Car in Florida
A car that stays in Florida for more than 90 days in a year, consecutive or not, generally has to be registered there. That requires Florida auto insurance meeting the state's minimums, $10,000 in personal injury protection and $10,000 in property damage liability. A first-time registration of an out-of-state vehicle generally can't be done online. It takes an in-person visit to a county tax collector's office with your out-of-state title, proof of Florida insurance, and a valid photo ID.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to ship a car to Florida?
It depends on your starting state. Typical ranges run from about $450 to $1,150 from Virginia to about $850 to $1,800 from California.
When is the most expensive time to ship a car to Florida?
October through December, when snowbird demand peaks. Late spring and summer are the cheapest.
Is it cheaper to ship a car into Florida or out of it?
Into it, on both corridors we've looked at. Florida to New York averages about $1,152 against $884 southbound.
Can I put my car on a train to Florida?
Only on the Amtrak Auto Train from Lorton, Virginia, and you have to ride along.
Do I have to register my car in Florida?
Generally yes if it's kept there more than 90 days in a year, with Florida insurance and an in-person visit to a county tax collector.
Ready to Ship to Florida?
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