California to Florida Car Shipping
California to Florida car shipping, door to door: about 2,700 miles and typically 6 to 9 days. Fully licensed, insured carriers and one transparent, all-in price, with nothing paid at booking.
The California to Florida lane
California to Florida is a true coast-to-coast haul, linking Los Angeles, San Diego and the Bay Area with Miami, Orlando, Tampa and Jacksonville. It is a long lane, but a steady one, so trucks run it regularly and the per-mile rate is among the lowest of any route because of the distance.
Shipping the other way? This page covers California to Florida. For the return leg, see Florida to California car shipping, which is priced and scheduled separately.
How much does it cost to ship a car from California to Florida?
Shipping a car from California to Florida typically costs $1,450 to $1,670 all-in for an open, operable sedan, or roughly $2,030 to $2,338 for enclosed transport. The route is about 2,700 miles and takes 6 to 9 days. SUVs, trucks, larger vehicles and peak season run higher.
| Route specifications | Details & pricing |
|---|---|
| Distance | ~2,700 miles |
| Typical transit | 6 to 9 days |
| Open transport (sedan) | $1,450 to $1,670 |
| Enclosed transport | $2,030 to $2,338 |
| Upfront deposit required | $0 |
Popular California to Florida city pairs
| Route | Distance | Open transport | Transit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles, CA → Miami, FL | ~2,750 mi | $1,450 to $1,670 | 6 to 9 days |
| San Diego, CA → Miami, FL | ~2,675 mi | $1,450 to $1,670 | 6 to 9 days |
| Los Angeles, CA → Orlando, FL | ~2,600 mi | $1,450 to $1,670 | 6 to 9 days |
| San Francisco, CA → Miami, FL | ~3,050 mi | $1,590 to $1,820 | 6 to 9 days |
| San Diego, CA → Orlando, FL | ~2,525 mi | $1,450 to $1,670 | 6 to 9 days |
| Sacramento, CA → Orlando, FL | ~2,825 mi | $1,470 to $1,690 | 6 to 9 days |
The cheapest way to ship a car from California to Florida
There is no secret cheap carrier. The price comes down to a few choices you control.
- Choose open transport. On our quotes it costs about 30% less than enclosed, and it is how most everyday cars travel.
- Give a pickup window of a few days. A carrier can fit your car into a load already heading east, and that is where the best prices come from.
- Avoid October to December if you can. That is snowbird season, when trucks heading into Florida fill up fastest.
- Meet near a main road if you live somewhere remote. Addresses close to the big metros along I-10 and I-5 load faster and cost less.
- Be wary of the lowest quote. A price below what carriers will accept just sits unassigned, and the car doesn't move.
Registering your car in Florida
Florida moves fast: you have 10 days, not 30.
- You have 10 days to title and register the car once you count as a Florida resident: when you start work, enroll a child in school, register to vote, file for homestead, or after six months in the state.
- You need Florida insurance first: at least $10,000 Personal Injury Protection and $10,000 Property Damage Liability, from an insurer licensed in Florida.
- Someone has to inspect the VIN (form HSMV 82042). A police officer, a licensed Florida dealer or the county tax collector's office can do it.
- Bring the original out-of-state title. If a lender holds it, ask them to send it to Florida.
- Get a Florida driver license within 30 days.
Source: Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, New Resident (checked October 2026). Your county tax collector can confirm what to bring.
What delivery looks like in Florida
Gated and HOA communities
A lot of Florida homes sit inside gated or HOA communities that don't let large trucks in. If yours is one of them, the driver will call ahead and meet you at the gate or a nearby lot. Let the gate know a car is arriving.
Hurricane season
The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30, with most storms between mid-August and mid-October. Carriers don't drive into a storm, so a named storm can push a Florida delivery back a day or two.
Ship it or drive across the country?
Los Angeles to Miami is about 2,750 miles by road. Shipping an open sedan runs $1,450 to $1,670 all-in.
| Los Angeles to Miami | Ship it | Drive it |
|---|---|---|
| Cash cost | $1,450 to $1,670 all-in (open, sedan) | Fuel about $430, plus 5 hotel nights, meals and tolls |
| Your time | Two handovers of about 20 minutes each | About 39 hours behind the wheel, over 6 days |
| Miles added to your car | Next to none (loading only) | About 2,750 |
| Getting yourself there | You fly or drive another car; the car follows | You arrive with the car |
On a coast-to-coast trip the gap closes fast once you add five nights on the road, meals, and the miles and wear on the car. Most people moving to Florida fly and let the car follow.
How long does California to Florida shipping take?
Plan on 6 to 9 days in transit once your vehicle is picked up. Pickup is normally scheduled within one to five days of booking, and you can follow each step, with updates at every milestone, door to door.
Expect about six to nine days in transit across the southern I-10 corridor. Long hauls like this price better per mile than short regional moves, so the all-in number is more reasonable than people expect. Open transport is standard; enclosed is popular for high-value cars making the full cross-country trip.
California to Florida shipping in 3 steps
1. Get your price
Enter your California pickup and Florida delivery ZIPs and your vehicle for a real, all-in price in about a minute.
2. We assign a carrier
We match your route to a vetted, licensed and insured carrier. Nothing is paid at booking.
3. Door-to-door delivery
The driver picks up and delivers as close to your door as is safe on both ends, with updates the whole way.
Explore more California and Florida shipping
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to ship a car from California to Florida?
For an open, operable sedan, the California to Florida lane typically runs $1,450 to $1,670 all-in. Larger vehicles, enclosed transport, and peak season cost more. Your exact, all-in price is on our instant quote, with no phone call required.
How long does California to Florida car shipping take?
About 6 to 9 days in transit once the carrier picks up, and pickup is usually scheduled within one to five days of booking. You can follow each step, with updates at every milestone.
Is it cheaper to ship or drive from California to Florida?
At roughly 2,700 miles, shipping usually wins once you count fuel, three or four nights of lodging, meals, the wear on the car and several days of your own time. Long lanes like this one also carry the lowest per-mile rate we quote, because the distance works in your favour.
Can you pick up a dealer or auction car on the California to Florida lane?
Yes. This corridor connects active dealer and auction markets, and we coordinate Copart, IAA and Manheim gate pickups with the right paperwork. Inoperable vehicles are fine too, as long as they roll and steer, with a winch-equipped carrier assigned.
How do I prepare my car for the California to Florida trip?
Wash it so existing marks are visible, photograph every panel and the odometer, and leave about a quarter tank of fuel. Remove toll tags, loose items and anything fragile, fold in racks and antennas, note any leaks or quirks for the driver, and have a spare key ready. The pickup inspection goes on the Bill of Lading and is your record if you ever need to claim.
What is the cheapest way to ship a car from California to Florida?
Open transport, a pickup window of a few days, and avoiding the October to December snowbird rush into Florida. On this lane an open, operable sedan typically runs $1,450 to $1,670 from Los Angeles to Miami. Be wary of quotes far below that; they tend to sit unassigned.
Do I have to register my car in Florida after moving from California?
Yes, within 10 days of becoming a Florida resident. You need Florida insurance with at least $10,000 PIP and $10,000 property damage liability, a VIN inspection, and your original title.
What paperwork do I need to ship a car from California to Florida?
For a domestic move you do not hand over the title. You or a trusted adult signs the Bill of Lading at pickup and again at delivery, and the driver checks photo ID and keys. If the car is coming from a dealer or auction we arrange the gate release, and if someone else is releasing or receiving it, tell us their name and number in advance.
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