Florida car shipping is what we know best. Sahara Auto Transport is based in Hollywood, Florida, between Fort Lauderdale and Miami, and we arrange shipments to and from every corner of the state, from the Keys to Jacksonville to the Panhandle. Florida is one of the busiest auto transport markets in the country, with constant relocations and a seasonal population that swells every winter. Whether you need to ship a car to Florida for the season or send one north for good, the lanes are busy and trucks are plentiful.
Snowbird season sets the rhythm. Starting in October, cars pour south on I-95 and I-75 from New York, New Jersey, New England, Ohio, Michigan and the rest of the Midwest, and the flow reverses from March into May, peaking around Easter. Prices tend to rise in the direction of the rush and soften in the opposite direction, so a northbound car in November or a southbound car in late spring often costs less. Jacksonville, the largest city by population, is the gateway where most of that traffic enters the state.
Getting around Florida takes local knowledge. South Florida condos and gated communities often bar large trucks, so we set up loading at a nearby plaza. Toll roads are everywhere, and SunPass readers on Florida's Turnpike and the Miami-Dade expressways can charge a transponder left on the windshield. From June through November, hurricane season can reshape a week's schedule. Our team in Hollywood answers the phone 7 days a week, 6am to 11pm ET, at 888-509-8666, so you can always reach someone who knows the state.
Pickup and delivery
Where we ship in Florida
Miami
High-rises in Brickell and Miami Beach usually mean loading at a garage entrance or a nearby lot, while suburbs like Kendall and Doral are easier for carriers.
Fort Lauderdale and Hollywood
Our home turf in Broward County, close to Port Everglades and I-95, with a steady stream of condo and gated-community moves every snowbird season.
Orlando
Central Florida's I-4 hub, with theme park traffic, constant relocations and frequent carriers passing between Tampa and the Atlantic coast.
Tampa and St. Petersburg
Bay area demand runs high year-round, with snowbird traffic in Pinellas County and carrier access via I-75, I-275 and I-4.
Jacksonville
Florida's largest city by population and the main truck entry point on I-95 and I-10, with Navy relocations tied to NAS Jacksonville and Naval Station Mayport.
Naples and Fort Myers
Southwest Florida's snowbird stronghold on I-75, full of gated communities that need gate passes arranged before the truck arrives.
Routes our carriers use
Main corridors in and out of Florida
I-95
Runs the Atlantic coast from Jacksonville to Miami, the main snowbird route and the busiest car carrier corridor in the state.
I-75
Carries Midwest traffic from Georgia through Ocala, Tampa and Fort Myers, then crosses the Everglades as Alligator Alley to Broward County.
I-4
Links Tampa, Lakeland, Orlando and Daytona Beach, often congested through downtown Orlando.
I-10
Crosses the Panhandle from Pensacola through Tallahassee to Jacksonville, the route for most shipments from Texas and the Gulf states.
Florida's Turnpike
A toll road from Wildwood near I-75 through Orlando down to Homestead, popular with carriers avoiding I-95 traffic in South Florida.
Ports and logistics hubs
- Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale and Hollywood
- PortMiami
- JAXPORT in Jacksonville, one of the largest vehicle-handling ports in the US
- Amtrak Auto Train terminal in Sanford, with service to Lorton, Virginia
Transit times
How long shipping from Florida takes
New York, NY
1,260 to 1,300 miles · 3 to 5 days
Est. $1,000 to $1,275
Dallas, TX
1,310 to 1,360 miles · 3 to 5 days
Est. $1,025 to $1,300
Chicago, IL
1,360 to 1,400 miles · 3 to 5 days
Est. $1,050 to $1,325
Boston, MA
1,480 to 1,520 miles · 4 to 6 days
Est. $1,075 to $1,375
Los Angeles, CA
2,700 to 2,760 miles · 7 to 10 days
Est. $1,425 to $1,825
Transit starts once your vehicle is loaded. Prices are November 2026 estimates for a running sedan on an open carrier, not quotes. Ocean shipments to Alaska and Hawaii are priced individually.
Snowbird season and hurricane season
Southbound snowbird demand builds from October through December, peaking around Thanksgiving and the holidays, and northbound demand runs from March into May. During those peaks, trucks fill quickly and rates climb in the busy direction. Booking three to four weeks ahead secures a spot, and flexibility of a few days can save money. In the off-season, especially summer, northbound and southbound pricing evens out.
Atlantic hurricane season runs June 1 to November 30, with the most activity from August through October. When a storm threatens, evacuation traffic jams I-95, I-75 and Florida's Turnpike, and carriers pause pickups and deliveries until it passes. The Sahara team keeps customers updated and reschedules as soon as roads reopen. Summer also brings near-daily afternoon thunderstorms, so drivers often load in the morning. If you are sending a car north for the summer, shipping before August keeps you ahead of the peak storm months.
Local know-how
Tips for shipping a car in Florida
- Florida asks new residents to register within 10 days of starting work, enrolling children in school or otherwise establishing residency; check the FLHSMV for details.
- Out-of-state vehicles need a VIN verification before they can be titled in Florida, which a law enforcement officer, notary public or licensed dealer can complete.
- Pull your SunPass, E-PASS or E-ZPass transponder before pickup, since Florida's toll roads bill automatically and can charge your account while the car rides on the truck.
- South Florida condos and HOAs often ban car carriers; tell us your building's rules and we will set up a nearby loading spot.
- If a storm is approaching, ask about moving pickup earlier, and keep the fuel at about a quarter tank with loose items removed.
- Snowbirds heading north in spring should book by February to get an Easter-week departure.