Florida to California car shipping is how a lot of cross-country moves begin. Graduates from Gainesville and Tallahassee take first jobs in Los Angeles and the Bay Area, sailors from Naval Station Mayport and NAS Jacksonville report to San Diego, and grandparents move west to be near family. With Miami to Los Angeles running about 2,700 miles, most people would rather spend that week getting settled than driving through Louisiana, Texas, New Mexico and Arizona.
This is a lane where starting in Florida helps. Sahara Auto Transport is based in Hollywood, so pickups across Broward, Miami-Dade and Palm Beach counties are in our backyard, and we coordinate pickups from Pensacola to Naples just as often. Florida's flat, wide streets make most pickups easy. The main exceptions are condo garages with low clearances and gated communities that need the driver's name on a list before the truck shows up.
California is the tougher end. Delivering into San Francisco, Santa Monica or the Hollywood Hills often means meeting the driver on a wider street, and some cities limit commercial trucks to certain routes and hours. California also has its own registration process for new residents, including a smog check for most gas cars. We help you plan the delivery spot, and our team is available 6am to 11pm Eastern, seven days a week, if your West Coast timing shifts.
Pricing
How much it costs to ship a car from Florida to California
Estimated ranges for a typical trip of about 2,575 miles on this route, updated November 2026.
Sedan or coupe
- Open carrier
- $1,400 to $1,775
- Enclosed
- $2,150 to $2,750
SUV, crossover or minivan
- Open carrier
- $1,600 to $2,050
- Enclosed
- $2,475 to $3,150
Pickup or large SUV
- Open carrier
- $1,800 to $2,300
- Enclosed
- $2,800 to $3,575
- These are estimates, not quotes. Your exact price depends on the addresses, vehicle, condition, season and carrier availability.
- Non-running vehicles that need a winch usually add $150 to $250. Peak season and expedited pickup can raise the price.
The westbound haul out of Florida
Most carriers leave the peninsula by heading north on I-75 or the Florida Turnpike to join I-10 near Lake City. From there it is a long westbound run past Tallahassee, Mobile, Baton Rouge, Houston and San Antonio, followed by the empty stretch of West Texas between Fort Stockton and El Paso. Trucks then cross southern New Mexico and Arizona into California, arriving through the San Gorgonio Pass on the way into the Los Angeles basin.
Cars headed to the Bay Area or Sacramento either switch to I-40 partway across or ride I-10 to Southern California and then run north on I-5 through the Central Valley, which adds roughly 380 miles to an LA delivery. San Diego deliveries leave I-10 in central Arizona and finish on I-8 through Yuma. Plan on 6 to 9 days for most pairs once the car is loaded.
City to city
Popular Florida to California trips
Miami, FL → Los Angeles, CA
2,730 miles · 7 to 9 days
Est. $1,425 to $1,825
Orlando, FL → San Diego, CA
2,420 miles · 6 to 8 days
Est. $1,350 to $1,725
Tampa, FL → San Francisco, CA
2,850 miles · 7 to 9 days
Est. $1,450 to $1,850
Jacksonville, FL → Los Angeles, CA
2,410 miles · 6 to 8 days
Est. $1,350 to $1,725
Pensacola, FL → San Diego, CA
2,000 miles · 5 to 7 days
Est. $1,225 to $1,575
Fort Lauderdale, FL → Sacramento, CA
3,000 miles · 7 to 10 days
Est. $1,500 to $1,900
Transit times start at pickup. Prices are November 2026 estimates for a running sedan on an open carrier, not quotes.
When to ship from Florida to California
Outbound demand from Florida tends to rise in late spring and summer, from April through August, as seasonal residents leave, school years end and military families move during peak PCS season. In fall and early winter, many carriers arrive in Florida full and leave with open space, which can make that a good time to find a westbound slot on shorter notice.
Hurricane season, June 1 to November 30, matters most at the pickup end. If a storm threatens your part of Florida, carriers may pause loading until it passes, and I-10 along the Gulf can fill with evacuation traffic. On the California side, late summer and fall wildfire season can bring smoke and occasional road closures inland, while winter rain in Southern California rarely affects a delivery.
Before you book
Tips for this route
- If your move falls between August and October, book early so there is room to shift the pickup date if a storm approaches.
- Confirm your car can be registered in California. Most used Florida cars just need a smog check, but the CA DMV has specific rules for newer cars that were not built to California emissions standards.
- Take your SunPass off the windshield. It will not help you in California, where Bay Area bridges and Orange County toll roads use FasTrak or pay-by-plate.
- Clear out plants, fresh fruit and beach gear. California's agricultural inspection stations at the border check incoming vehicles for plant material, so leave the backyard citrus in Florida.
- Pick a delivery contact in California who can meet the truck on short notice, since cross-country drivers usually call 12 to 24 hours ahead with a delivery time.