Shipping a car from California to Florida costs $1,450–$1,950 on an open carrier and $2,050–$2,600 enclosed, and takes 5–8 days in transit after the carrier picks up your vehicle. The pickup window comes before that, usually 1–5 days from your first available date. It’s a coast-to-coast haul of roughly 2,350 to 3,100 miles, most of it on I-10.
Most of the California cars we quote for Florida start in Los Angeles, San Diego, San Jose, Sacramento, Irvine, or San Francisco. Here’s what the move costs, how long the truck takes, and where the days go.
How Much Does It Cost to Ship a Car from California to Florida?
The lane at a glance:
| Route snapshot | Details |
|---|---|
| Distance | ~2,350–3,100 miles (San Diego–Jacksonville: ~2,350; Los Angeles–Miami: ~2,750; San Francisco–Miami: ~3,100) |
| Open transport | $1,450–$1,950 |
| Enclosed transport | $2,050–$2,600 |
| Transit time | 5–8 days after pickup |
| Pickup window | Usually 1–5 days, before transit starts |
| Main corridor | I-10 east, then I-75 or I-95 south inside Florida |
| Busiest months for quotes | January, February, April, May |
What moves your price inside that range:
- Where you start. Los Angeles, Orange County, and the Inland Empire are close to I-10. San Jose or Sacramento adds roughly 350–400 miles south before the truck turns east.
- Where you end. Pensacola, Tallahassee, and Jacksonville sit on I-10. Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and Naples add a few hundred miles down the peninsula.
- What you ship. A midsize sedan sits toward the low end. A full-size pickup or lifted SUV pushes toward the top. Motorcycles ship on this lane too.
- When you ship. Quote requests peak in January and February, then again in April and May. Space on a week-long run fills first in those months.
You will see quotes below $1,450 for this move. On a 2,700-mile run, a low number often means your car sits on a dispatch board until some carrier accepts it, and your pickup date slides while it waits. We price to get a good carrier to say yes the first time.
How Long Does California to Florida Car Shipping Take?
Plan on 5–8 days after pickup. Federal hours-of-service rules cap a truck driver at 11 hours of driving a day, and a car hauler stops to load and drop other vehicles along the way. Southern California to North Florida lands at the short end of that range; the Bay Area to Miami or Naples lands at the long end.
The pickup window comes first, usually 1–5 days. Carriers on this lane often fill a trailer with several California cars before heading east, so a Sacramento pickup can take a day or two longer to schedule than one in Los Angeles. Have a hard date, like a job start or a closing? Tell your Transport Advisor when you book. More on how long car shipping takes.
The Route: I-10 Across the Southern States
Most carriers run this lane on I-10, the southernmost cross-country interstate. From Los Angeles it heads east through Phoenix and Tucson, crosses nearly 900 miles of Texas through El Paso, San Antonio, and Houston, then follows the Gulf Coast through Baton Rouge and Mobile into the Florida Panhandle. San Diego loads take I-8 east to join I-10 in Arizona. Bay Area and Sacramento pickups usually come down I-5 to meet it in Los Angeles.
Inside Florida, cars for Tampa, Sarasota, Fort Myers, and Naples turn south on I-75 at Lake City. Cars for Daytona, West Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale, and Miami continue to Jacksonville and take I-95 south. Orlando sits between the two on I-4.
California pickup areas:
- Los Angeles, Orange County, and the Inland Empire: closest to the corridor, most eastbound trucks
- San Diego: regular service by way of I-8
- San Francisco, San Jose, and Sacramento: steady service, extra miles south
- Fresno north and mountain towns: fewer trucks, so plan for added cost and time
Florida delivery areas: Pensacola, Tallahassee, and Jacksonville; Orlando; Tampa Bay and Sarasota; Fort Myers and Naples; West Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale, and Miami. Our California and Florida guides cover each end, and the Texas to Florida guide covers the back half of this drive.
Seasonal note: Summer puts open carriers through two days of Arizona and West Texas desert heat. A daily driver won’t care. A classic with original paint might. Florida’s hurricane season runs June through November, and a Gulf storm can hold up I-10 through Mobile and the Panhandle until the roads reopen.
Open vs. Enclosed on This Route
Open transport is how most cars leave California for Florida. Your car rides on a two-level hauler with several other vehicles, the same kind that delivers new cars to dealer lots. After 2,700 miles it will arrive dusty, so budget for a car wash.
Enclosed transport runs $2,050–$2,600 here, about $700 more than open for the same car. It makes sense for a classic or collector car, a low sports car, or fresh paint you’d hate to see chipped on a West Texas interstate. Fewer enclosed trucks make the full coast-to-coast run, so book enclosed early. Shipping from farther east? Enclosed adds less on New York to Florida and Illinois to Florida moves.
Why Ship This Route with Allied Auto Transport?
Our quote won’t be the smallest number you collect for this move. Here’s what the difference pays for across eight states:
- A person, not a portal. A U.S.-based Transport Advisor answers the phone and stays on your shipment from pickup to delivery. When your car is between Tucson and Tallahassee, that’s who you call.
- Carriers we know. Your car rides with a carrier from our network of vetted, licensed and insured carriers.
- A broker, not a trucking company. We arrange the transport, and a vetted, insured carrier moves your car.
- Car people. We’ve been in the car business since 1989, and we plan a cross-country move around what slows it down: Northern California pickups, summer heat, and Gulf storms.
What to Expect, Step by Step
- Step 1: Ask for a quote. Send your ZIPs, vehicle, and first available date by form or phone. You’ll hear from a Transport Advisor within minutes.
- Step 2: Book. Confirm open or enclosed, the price, and the pickup window. No deposit until your carrier is booked.
- Step 3: Carrier assigned. We send the carrier’s name and contact details. Its FMCSA record is public if you want to check it.
- Step 4: Pickup inspection. Walk the car with the driver, mark existing damage on the Bill of Lading, and take photos. See our checklist for preparing your car.
- Step 5: Transit, 5–8 days. Call your Transport Advisor for an update at any point.
- Step 6: Delivery inspection. Walk the car again, compare it with the pickup Bill of Lading, and write any new damage on the delivery copy before you sign.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I drive or ship my car from California to Florida?
Driving takes at least four long days, plus hotels, meals, fuel, and about 2,700 miles of wear on your car. Shipping lets you fly. Our drive-or-ship breakdown helps you run your own numbers.
Can you pick up in Northern California, or only near Los Angeles?
Anywhere in the state. San Francisco, San Jose, and Sacramento get regular service, with extra miles south and sometimes an extra day to schedule. Mountain and far-north addresses take longer, and your Advisor will say so at the start.
How far ahead should I book?
Two to three weeks. For January, February, April, or May, go earlier. See how far in advance to book.
Is my car insured during transport?
Carriers in our network carry cargo insurance, and your Transport Advisor can get you the carrier’s certificate before pickup. Check your own auto policy too. Our car shipping insurance guide explains who covers what.
Does summer heat or hurricane season affect my shipment?
Heat mostly matters for classics and fresh paint on an open trailer, which is why some owners switch to enclosed for July and August. A hurricane can pause Gulf Coast or South Florida deliveries between June and November. If one is forecast, your Advisor will adjust the plan with you.
Get Your Quote
Tell us where your car is in California and where it’s going in Florida. You’ll get a price you can book, open or enclosed, with no obligation.
Or call a Transport Advisor at (800) 997-4181.
