Texas to Florida Car Shipping
Texas to Florida car shipping, door to door: about 1,180 miles and typically 3 to 4 days. Fully licensed, insured carriers and one transparent, all-in price, with nothing paid at booking.
The Texas to Florida lane
Texas to Florida runs along the Gulf Coast between Houston, Dallas, Austin and San Antonio and Florida hubs like Miami, Orlando and Tampa. It combines steady relocation traffic with seasonal snowbird demand, keeping carriers plentiful on the route.
Shipping the other way? This page covers Texas to Florida. For the return leg, see Florida to Texas car shipping, which is priced and scheduled separately.
How much does it cost to ship a car from Texas to Florida?
Shipping a car from Texas to Florida typically costs $940 to $1,090 all-in for an open, operable sedan, or roughly $1,316 to $1,526 for enclosed transport. The route is about 1,180 miles and takes 3 to 4 days. SUVs, trucks, larger vehicles and peak season run higher.
| Route specifications | Details & pricing |
|---|---|
| Distance | ~1,180 miles |
| Typical transit | 3 to 4 days |
| Open transport (sedan) | $940 to $1,090 |
| Enclosed transport | $1,316 to $1,526 |
| Upfront deposit required | $0 |
Popular Texas to Florida city pairs
| Route | Distance | Open transport | Transit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Houston, TX → Miami, FL | ~1,150 mi | $920 to $1,060 | 3 to 5 days |
| Dallas, TX → Miami, FL | ~1,300 mi | $1,040 to $1,200 | 3 to 5 days |
| Houston, TX → Orlando, FL | ~1,000 mi | $920 to $1,060 | 3 to 5 days |
| Austin, TX → Miami, FL | ~1,325 mi | $1,060 to $1,220 | 3 to 5 days |
| Dallas, TX → Orlando, FL | ~1,125 mi | $920 to $1,060 | 3 to 5 days |
| San Antonio, TX → Orlando, FL | ~1,225 mi | $980 to $1,130 | 3 to 5 days |
Registering your car in Florida after the move
Texas gives new residents 30 days; Florida gives you 10. Sort the insurance before the car arrives.
- Insurance before anything else. Florida will not register the car without a Florida policy carrying at least $10,000 of Personal Injury Protection and $10,000 of Property Damage Liability. A Texas policy usually won't do; it has to come from an insurer licensed in Florida.
- A VIN check. A police officer, a licensed Florida dealer or the tax collector's office inspects the VIN and fills in form HSMV 82042.
- Ten days, not thirty. The clock starts when you take a job, enroll a child in school, register to vote or file for homestead in Florida.
- Your Texas title, or a letter from your lender if they hold it. Your Florida driver license is due within 30 days.
Source: Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, New Resident (checked October 2026). Your county tax collector's office handles registration and can confirm the details.
Shipping along the Gulf in hurricane season
This lane follows I-10 along the Gulf Coast, so storms matter more here than on most routes.
| Months | Storm risk | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| December to May | Outside the season | Book 1 to 2 weeks ahead |
| June to mid-August | Season open, usually quieter | Normal booking; keep an eye on forecasts |
| Mid-August to mid-October | Peak | Leave a day or two of slack in your plans |
| Late October to November | Tailing off; season ends Nov 30 | Normal booking |
Carriers don't drive into a named storm. If one is coming, the driver may hold for a day and tell you the new delivery time. Gated and HOA communities are common in Florida too; if trucks can't get in, you will meet the driver at the gate.
Season dates and peak: NOAA, Atlantic hurricane season (1 June to 30 November).
Ship it or drive I-10 yourself?
Houston to Miami is about 1,150 miles by road. Shipping an open sedan runs $920 to $1,060 all-in.
| Houston to Miami | Ship it | Drive it |
|---|---|---|
| Cash cost | $920 to $1,060 all-in (open, sedan) | Fuel about $180, plus 1 hotel night, meals and tolls |
| Your time | Two handovers of about 20 minutes each | About 17 hours behind the wheel, over 2 days |
| Miles added to your car | Next to none (loading only) | About 1,150 |
| Getting yourself there | You fly or drive another car; the car follows | You arrive with the car |
This is the closest call of the six busy lanes: a long day and a half of driving. Shipping wins if you are moving house and already have one car to drive, or if you would rather fly.
How long does Texas to Florida shipping take?
Plan on 3 to 4 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.
This lane mostly follows I-10 through the Gulf states and takes roughly three to four days. Houston is also a major auction market (Copart and IAA), so we handle a lot of dealer and auction pickups heading to Florida on this route, including inoperable vehicles with the right equipment.
Texas to Florida shipping in 3 steps
1. Get your price
Enter your Texas 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 Texas and Florida shipping
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to ship a car from Texas to Florida?
For an open, operable sedan, the Texas to Florida lane typically runs $940 to $1,090 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 Texas to Florida car shipping take?
About 3 to 4 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 worth shipping a car 1,180 miles from Texas to Florida?
For most people, yes. Two to three days of driving plus fuel, a hotel and the mileage you would add to the car usually lands close to the shipping cost, and you keep your own time. It is a straightforward comparison once you have the all-in number.
Can you pick up a dealer or auction car on the Texas 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 Texas 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.
How much does it cost to ship a car from Austin to Tallahassee?
About $850 to $980 all-in for an open, operable sedan. It is roughly 800 miles along I-10 and usually takes 2 to 4 days once the car is picked up.
How much does it cost to ship a car from Dallas to Orlando?
About $920 to $1,060 all-in for an open, operable sedan, for roughly 1,125 miles. Plan on 3 to 4 days in transit, and allow a little slack between mid-August and mid-October, when hurricane season peaks.
What paperwork do I need to ship a car from Texas 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.
Ready to ship? Get your price in 60 seconds.
Instant, honest pricing • No upfront payment • No spam, ever.