Brantley Kendall 10 Oct 2024 3 months ago Dread the cold, the low light, and the seasonal depression associated with them? Many like you choose to spend the winter down south in the Sunshine State of Florida. Today, we’ll present you with some Florida car shipping tips for snowbirds so that you may go through the whole process without even the slightest hitch. Interested? Then read on! Before You Begin: Planning Your Florida Transport No self-respecting list of Florida car shipping tips for snowbirds can begin without emphasizing sufficiently enough how critical it is to plan everything ahead of time. As you might imagine, the window between October and December is the peak snowbird season. That’s when most car shipping companies are fully booked up with high prices and low availability. Getting your order in at the last minute is either going to be really expensive or practically impossible. However, you might encounter some leeway if you’re willing to ship mid-week rather than around the weekend. The rule of thumb is the earlier you schedule, the better. The same goes for the return shipping period. As availability dips between March and April, you’ll want to book a date quite early on to make sure your chosen company can fit you in, and to lower the auto shipping quote you’ll receive. Choosing the Right Method for Shipping Your Car Down to Florida Getting your vehicle down south can happen in a number of different ways. While the exact time you ship your car to Florida will also matter, the most important decision that you’ll have to make involves deciding between hiring a driver or a brokerage. Picking a driver to get your snowbird to Florida offers one-on-one attention without the addition of a middleman. We’ll get to whether that’s an advantage or a disadvantage in itself in a moment, but for now, let’s consider the following factors: Hands-off approach: Choosing this option frees you up to move down at your leisure, possibly even taking a flight down to enjoy the warmth much earlier than you otherwise could. Car wear and tear: Since the driver operates the vehicle manually, it will be subjected to damage due to the potentially harsh weather conditions on the road. Vehicle mileage: Again, since the car is on the road, you’ll add significant mileage to your vehicle—typically 1,200 to 1,500 miles, depending on your starting location. This can affect your car’s value and maintenance schedule. On the brokerage side, things look a little more advantageous with respect to you, the client: Professionalism: A car shipping broker like Sakaem Logistics only partners with the most experienced and reliable transportation professionals in the industry. Additionally, the company itself acts as your liaison, meaning there likely won’t be any need for you to intervene—the company handles all mishaps for you. Cost efficiency: Contrary to what you might think, car shipping companies usually come out on top in the money game. Oftentimes, they’re the definitive cheapest way to ship your car, even! Protection: Money isn’t everything, though. Since the car gets loaded up onto a trailer rather than driven, wear and tear is reduced and you incur no mileage on your car, making it also the safest way to ship a car. Getting the Car Ready To adequately prepare your car for shipping, you should refer to our full guide. Here, we’ll cover the rudimentary preparation steps that’ll help you get your car there without trouble. First, remove all personal belongings from your car, as well as any accessories, movable parts, antennas, and so on. This will ensure that nothing gets lost or damaged during transit. Insurance typically won’t cover personal items left in the vehicle, and they could become projectiles during transport. You’ll also want to perform some general cleanup and maintenance. Tidy up inside, top off your fluid levels, and get all documentation ready, in particular your insurance papers and current registration. Getting everything organized and documented not only makes the shipping process smoother but also protects you in case of any issues during transport. The Takeaway Hopefully, our list of Florida snowbird car shipping tips make your life easier as you prepare to venture south for the winter. If, however, you’d like to remove all stress from car shipping, partner up with Sakaem Logistics. With our comprehensive service and customer-first approach, we ensure all your vehicle transportation needs are met with professionalism and care. You may also read: The Ultimate Snowbird Car Shipping Checklist Brantley Kendall Share this: