Snowbird Car Shipping: Getting Your Car to Florida for the Season
Every fall, tens of thousands of snowbirds head south — and a good share of them would rather not spend two or three days driving I-95. Shipping the car down lets you fly into the sun and have your vehicle waiting. Here’s how to do it right, when to book, and what it actually costs from the Northeast and Midwest.
Time it right — the season is the whole game
Snowbird shipping is the most seasonal lane in the country. Southbound demand builds through October, peaks in November and December, and reverses every spring when everyone heads north again. That rhythm drives both price and availability.
The single best thing you can do is book early. Two to four weeks of lead time gets you better rates, more pickup-date choices, and breathing room if weather shifts a carrier’s schedule. Wait until the week you want to leave in late November and you’ll pay a premium — if there’s space at all.
Quick rule of thumb
Going south? Book in October or early November. Coming back north in spring? Book in March, before the April rush. Early birds win on both ends.
What it costs from the North
Snowbird routes are long hauls, so pricing is driven by distance and by how busy the lane is that week. Here are honest open-transport starting points on some of the most common snowbird runs:
| Route | Open transport, from |
|---|---|
| New York → Fort Lauderdale | $965 |
| New York → Naples | $1,025 |
| New York → The Villages | $880 |
| Boston → Fort Myers | $1,060 |
| Chicago → Tampa | $900 |
| Detroit → Fort Myers | $980 |
These are starting estimates for open transport. Expect rates to firm up as the season peaks — another reason to lock in early. Enclosed transport costs more and makes sense for a collector or luxury car. Your final price is quoted by the carrier based on your exact pickup, destination, and vehicle.
How long it takes
- Northeast (NY, Boston) → Florida: 4–7 days
- Midwest (Chicago, Detroit) → Florida: 3–6 days
Door-to-door is the norm — the carrier picks up near your home and delivers near your Florida address, as close as the truck can safely get. In tight communities or gated 55+ developments, you may meet the driver at a nearby lot with room to unload.
Open vs. enclosed
For a daily driver, open transport is the standard and the better value — it’s how cars move across the country every day. Go enclosed if you’re bringing a classic, convertible, exotic, or high-value vehicle south and want it fully protected from weather and road debris on a long winter haul.
A few snowbird-specific tips
- Coordinate with your arrival. You don’t need to be there for pickup if someone can hand off keys, but line up delivery for when you’ll be in Florida to receive it.
- Empty the car. Carriers aren’t licensed to haul household goods, and loose items can shift. Keep it clean and empty.
- Photograph everything at pickup and delivery, with dates.
- Quarter tank of gas is plenty — enough to load and unload.
- Plan the return trip now. If you know you’re heading back in April, you can often book the round trip and save the spring scramble.
Popular snowbird routes
Each page has distance, transit time, live pricing, and a map of the lane:
Head south the easy way
Tell us where you’re leaving from and where you’re landing in Florida. We’ll connect you with the licensed carrier who runs the lane — book early and beat the winter rush.
Get a free quote →Auto Shipping Near Me is a carrier-finder platform, not a broker or a carrier. We connect shippers directly with licensed, vetted carriers who run the lane you need. Pricing shown is a starting estimate for open transport and rises with seasonal demand; your final rate is quoted by the carrier based on your exact move. Verify any carrier’s license and insurance before booking.