Car shipping from Los Angeles, CA to Tampa, FL

Our team has been in the car shipping industry for a long time. We worked for some of the largest brokers and knew there was a better way to do things.

So we set out to create a company that would be different. We want to walk you through how the process works and we guarantee to match any price you hear from a competitor.

We're a scrappy team that looks forward to earning your business.

Preparing your vehicle for the cross-country journey from Los Angeles to Tampa is straightforward but important. Here's what you need to do:

Clean and document: Wash your car inside and out before pickup. This makes it easier to note any existing damage during the inspection. Take photos of all sides, including close-ups of any scratches or dents.

Remove personal items: Clear out all personal belongings, toll passes, and aftermarket accessories like bike racks or roof boxes. Carriers aren't insured for items left inside, and extra weight can incur additional fees.

Check fluids and maintenance: Ensure your vehicle is in good running condition with adequate fluid levels and properly inflated tires. If your battery is weak, consider replacing it—vehicles need to start easily for loading and unloading.

Disable alarms: Turn off or deactivate your car alarm to prevent it from going off during transport, which can drain your battery.

Provide a key: Have a spare key ready for the driver. You'll get it back upon delivery in Tampa.

For a complete preparation checklist and additional tips, see our detailed how to ship a car guide. Following these steps ensures a smooth pickup and protects your vehicle during its 2,500-mile journey across the country.

Yes, your vehicle is fully insured during transport from Los Angeles to Tampa. At Sakaem Logistics, we require every carrier in our network to maintain a minimum of $1,000,000 in liability insurance and $100,000 in cargo insurance. Before your shipment begins, we verify that the carrier's insurance policy is active and in good standing.

This comprehensive coverage protects your vehicle throughout the entire cross-country journey. The cargo insurance covers damage to your vehicle, while the liability insurance protects against third-party claims. You'll receive a copy of the carrier's insurance certificate before pickup, which you should review and keep for your records.

While carrier insurance provides solid protection, you may want to check with your personal auto insurance provider about any additional coverage during transport. For more details about the shipping process and what to expect, visit our How To Ship A Car guide. We're committed to ensuring your vehicle arrives safely in Tampa with complete peace of mind.

We recommend scheduling your pickup service from Los Angeles at least 1-2 weeks in advance, though booking even earlier is ideal. The more notice you give, the better chance carriers have to bundle your vehicle with other shipments heading from the Los Angeles area toward Florida, which can help reduce costs and improve efficiency.

During peak seasons—particularly summer months and around major holidays—you'll want to allow 2-3 weeks or more for scheduling. These busy periods see higher demand for cross-country routes like Los Angeles to Tampa, so carriers book up faster.

If you have flexible dates, mention that when booking. Flexibility gives carriers more options to fit your vehicle into their route planning, which often results in faster pickup and better pricing. For more tips on planning your shipment, check out our guide on how to ship a car.

Need to ship on short notice? While we always try to accommodate last-minute requests, expect potentially higher costs and longer wait times when booking with less than a week's notice.

We accept all forms of payment. We can arrange credit cards or arrange for you to pay the carrier directly through cash/certified check. We even accept payment via Cash/Zelle/Venmo.

Your shipment with SAKAEM includes up to 100 lbs of personal items or household goods stored in the trunk area or secured below the window line. If your shipment includes ocean transit (Hawaii shipments), your vehicle must be emptied of all items. SAKAEM and your assigned carrier are not responsible for personal items left inside your vehicle. See our car shipping guide for more details.

A designated (adult) must be present at pickup and delivery. This designated person plays an important role in the shipping process including documenting the state of the vehicle and signing the Bill of Lading, which acts as a receipt of the vehicle's condition.

When shipping your vehicle from Los Angeles to Tampa, you'll choose between two main transport methods: open and enclosed carriers. Understanding the differences helps you make the right choice for your vehicle and budget.

Open Auto Transport is the most common and economical option. Your vehicle is loaded onto an open-air carrier (the same type you see hauling new cars on highways). While your car is exposed to weather and road elements during the 2,500+ mile journey, this method is safe, reliable, and used for transporting the vast majority of vehicles across the country. Open car shipping typically costs significantly less—often 40-60% cheaper than enclosed transport.

Enclosed Auto Transport provides maximum protection by shipping your vehicle inside a fully covered trailer. This shields your car from weather, road debris, and dust throughout the cross-country trip. Enclosed transport is ideal for luxury vehicles, classic cars, exotic sports cars, or any vehicle with custom paint or modifications where even minor road debris could cause costly damage. The added protection comes at a premium—expect to pay 50-70% more than open transport rates.

Which Should You Choose? For most everyday vehicles, open transport offers excellent value and reliability. However, if you're shipping a high-value vehicle, collector car, or anything that requires extra care, the additional cost of enclosed transport provides peace of mind worth the investment. Consider your vehicle's value, condition, and your budget when making this decision.

Yes, we offer door to door car shipping from Los Angeles, CA to Tampa, FL. This service is designed for maximum convenience—you won't need to drop off or pick up your vehicle at a terminal.

When you book your shipment, simply provide your preferred pickup address in Los Angeles and your delivery address in Tampa. Our assigned carrier will come directly to these locations to load and unload your vehicle. This means your car can be picked up from your home, office, or any accessible location, and delivered right to your doorstep in Florida.

In some cases, large car carriers may face restrictions due to narrow streets, low-hanging trees, tight turns, or residential parking regulations. If your location isn't accessible for an 80-foot carrier, don't worry—the driver will work with you to arrange a convenient nearby meeting point, such as a shopping center parking lot, gas station, or open area that's safe and easy to reach.

Our goal is to make your cross-country move as seamless as possible while keeping your vehicle safe throughout the journey from the West Coast to the Gulf Coast.

We transport sedans, SUVs, pickup trucks, electric vehicles, vans and motorcycles across all 48 continental states + Hawaii. Our services even provide shipment for golf carts, ATVs, or RVs. We can ship vehicles that don't run so long as the vehicle can roll, brake, and steer, and that you can provide the carrier with a key to the vehicle. The only exception is boats, which we do not transport.

See our car shipping guide to learn more about car shipping!