Everything You Need To Know About Shipping A Car To Or From Florida

Florida happens to be one of the best places to live. You get to live amidst vibrant culture, the weather is perfect across the year, there is no biting cold or snow, and it gives you a chance to interact with nature. And if you’re a beach-loving person, you couldn’t ask for more!

These are some reasons that prompt so many Americans to move to Florida or set up holiday homes in the state. If you happen to be one of such people, you might be wondering, how do I get my car down to the state, or how do I transport my car from Florida? 

Car transport in Florida can be a simple process if you have full knowledge about the services and the factors that affect end result. This blog will explore the best way to ship a car to Florida and what are the things you need to keep in mind before doing so. 

5 Different Ways to Ship a Car To or From Florida

Car transport in Florida can be facilitated in 5 different ways, depending on where you are shipping your car from, whether you have an urgent requirement or not, and your budget. You can choose either option which best suits your needs and doesn’t pinch your finances. 

Drive It Yourself

If you are driving down to Florida from one of the neighboring states, the option that makes the most sense to transport your car to Florida is to drive it yourself. There is no extra cost that you need to pay apart from fuel, food and beverages, tolls, and mechanic expenses. You can make a road trip out of this and treat it as a mini-vacation. At the end of it, you will have transported your car to Florida successfully and get rejuvenated at the same time.

However, if you are driving from a distant state like New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Delaware, Montana, Washington, California, and Wyoming, the road trip can toll your body and mind. You may get tired, which may lead to accidents on the road. Not to mention, driving long distances in a few days can make you irritated and easily annoyed.

Hire Someone Else To Drive It for You

If you are concerned about not being able to drive for long hours while transporting a car from Florida, there is another option where you can hire someone to drive your car for you. These are professional drivers, either retired or looking for an extra gig to earn more money. They have the professional expertise and insight into how to transport my car from Florida. You can also save money by hitching a ride with them and sending in some personal items in the car.

The only catch here is to find a reliable and trustworthy professional driver who will not cheat you. Such a person can be hard to find, especially if you are in a hurry and on budget. Naturally, you will have to pay these experts a hefty amount of money which can burn a hole in your pocket.

Use a Train Service

If you do not want to take the roadways, you can always take the rail route. The only caveat here is that the city from where you are transporting a car from Florida must be on the rail cargo route. This will help you save money and also ensure that your car reaches its destination on time since cargo trains are known to be prompt. 

However, you must ensure that you drop the car off at the train station and get it loaded onto the train coach. Similarly, you also need to ensure that you are present when the train arrives in Florida to get the car unloaded from the coach and take it home.

Since not all train routes allow transporting cars, you will have to check whether you can do it from where your car is currently stationed. 

Use an Airplane Service

Another way for car transport in Florida is via using an airplane. You can use an air cargo service to get your car delivered to Florida in the fastest and most efficient way possible. Although the cost to transport the car to Florida using an airplane is extremely high, you can use the service if you need your car delivered to you within a few hours or a day.

However, this is an extremely expensive way to get your car shipped to Florida. You may use the service if you are shipping a rare or a luxury, one-of-a-kind car. And otherwise, this can be a highly expensive exercise.

Use an Auto Transport Company

If you want a cost-effective and efficient mode of transporting your car from anywhere in the country to Florida, using an auto transport company can be your best option. An auto transport company uses large trailers and containers to ship your car from anywhere in the country to another part. This is one of the best ways to transport my car to Florida in the safest manner. 

These companies benefit from using advanced technology, experienced drivers, and protection for your car. You need to get in touch with an auto transport company, explain your requirements to them, and set the ball rolling. 

Different Types of Car Shipping

There are primarily two different types of car shipping, differentiated by how your car is shipped. These are: 

Enclosed Shipping

This is a type of auto shipping wherein your car is loaded onto an enclosed shipping container, then mounted on a trailer. Enclosed shipping is generally preferred for transporting high-value, valuable and collectible sports, and luxury cars since the container protects the car from environmental agents. 

Open Shipping

This type of shipping wherein your car is directly loaded onto the trailer and secured with safety harnesses. There is no container, and your car will come in contact with air, rain, and dust. However, this is a cheaper shipping type when compared to enclosed shipping.

Different Types of Car Shipping Services

Based on urgency, there are three types of car shipping services: 

• Express Shipping Service: Your car will be picked up within 1-2 business days of you making a booking in this service. 
• Guaranteed Shipping Service: In this service, your car will be picked up within 24 hours of you making a booking.
• Military Shipping Service: Exclusively for army personnel and veterans, this service lends priority treatment to military personnel.

How Much Does It Cost To Ship A Car To Florida (And Vice Versa)?

When you consider transporting your car to or from Florida, one of the first questions is ‘how much to transport a car to Florida?’ If you find yourself asking the same question, you should know that there is no definite answer to the question. The cost to transport the car to Florida is highly dynamic and fluctuates based on a handful of factors. Some of these factors that can help you get an estimate of the cost include:

• The location: The city from where the car is being transported or where it is being transported to from Florida is one of the primary factors that helps understand the cost. For example, if you want to transport my car to Florida from a state like South Carolina, North Carolina, Kentucky, or even Virginia and Tennessee, the auto company would be traveling 450-850 miles. However, suppose your car is being shipped from a far-off state like New York, Arizona, California, Washington, Colorado, etc. In that case, the auto transport company will have to travel thousands of miles. Since the distance increases, fuel costs and driver wages increase too, bringing the total transport cost up. 
• The type of transport service: Guaranteed shipping service may cost you a little more than express shipping, while military shipping service may be cheaper since it gives army personnel a discount. Similarly, enclosed shipping is likely to have higher prices than open shipping.
• The weather: If you are getting your car shipped during heavy rainfall, snowfall, or amid a storm, you may have to pay more since the drivers will have to make halts to ensure the safety of your vehicle. 
• Car details: The car type, model, make, year of manufacturing, and condition of the car also make a difference to the shipping price. 
• Fuel prices: If the fuel prices go up, it might increase the cost to transport a car to Florida. 

How Long Does It Take To Ship A Car To Florida (And Vice Versa)?

The distance between Florida and the other city is one of the most significant determiners of how much time it takes to ship the car. Suppose the car transport in Florida is being done from a neighboring city like South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, or Alabama. In that case, it may take a few hours to 2 days to complete the shipping process. If the car is being shipped from a distant state like Arizona, California, Oregon, or Nevada, it can take 5-7 days to transport my car to Florida. Similarly, if the car is being shipped from a state on the East Coast like New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maine, Ohio, Maryland, or Connecticut, it may take 3-5 days. Shipping from North Dakota, Montana, Wyoming, or Idaho may take 9 days. 

Another factor determining the time to transport my car from Florida is the weather. If the weather changes drastically, the auto transport company drivers may have to stop temporarily and wait for the weather to clear up. 

In addition to this, the route taken, and the detours and traffic jams may increase the time it takes to ship a car to Florida. 

How Does Shipping A Car To And From Florida Work?

After you have made a deal with an auto transport company for car transport in Florida, you will have to tell them a date, time, and address for the pick-up. On the day of the pick-up, a team from the auto transport company will assess your car for any damages, mention it on the Bill of Lading, and get it signed by you. 

After this, the professionals will take the car for transportation. 

When the car reaches its final destination, you will be asked to see if there are any damages on the car that wasn’t there earlier. If you are satisfied, you can sign the Bill of Lading and complete the delivery process. 

Documents Required To Ship a Car To and From Florida

If you want to know the list of documents needed for transporting the car from Florida, then here’s a checklist:

• Bill of Lading: This is an important piece of paper that you need to keep with you. It is proof of the car being picked up and delivered, and you need to sign it at pick-up and delivery.
• Insurance: This is the auto transport company’s insurance to protect your car during its transit.

How to Find the Best Auto Transport Company to Ship a Car To and From Florida

When you are thinking about shipping your car to or from Florida, you would want to hire an auto transport company that is the best in the industry and has considerable experience operating in Florida. If you want to find the best auto transport company to ship your car to or from Florida, you must consider the following factors that will help you make the best decision: 

Experience: Research and understand the company’s experience in transporting cars in Florida. The company should have experienced drivers and a team that has been in the business for a significant amount of time.

Cost: You would ideally like to know how much to transport a car to Florida. Thus, you should compare the quotes of different auto transport companies and see which company offers extensive features and services in the most cost-effective deal. 

Services: See if the company offers services like door-to-door pick-up and drop, amongst other services that set them apart. 

Reviews: Go through the auto transport company’s reviews to see what past customers say about them. 

Miscellaneous: Read through the fine print and see what are the auto transport company’s inclusions in the package they provide. Look for the company’s licensing and insurance policies.

  FAQs Regarding Shipping A Car To And From Florida

What Are The Documents Needed To Ship A Car To And From Florida?

You need only minimal paperwork to ship a car to and from Florida. You will need all the paperwork signed and given to you by the auto transport company when they pick your car up, including the Bill of Lading.

How Long Is The Auto Transport Company’s Quote Valid? 

The duration of the quote’s validity differs for each auto transport company. However, as a standard practice, it is valid for at least 7 business days, after which the auto transport company can increase or decrease the prices. 

Do I Need To Be Present At Pick Up And Delivery

Although it is recommended that you get the car picked up and delivered from the pick-up address and the delivery address, respectively, it is not mandatory. You can appoint any person you trust over 18 years as your representative, and they can collect the car for you. 

How Can I Pay For The Auto Transport Service? 

Trustworthy auto transport companies accept payments for their services using various means like debit cards, credit cards, net banking, and even mobile wallets like PayPal.

Does Insurance Cover My Car During Transit? 

All auto transport companies in the country have a valid insurance policy. Thus, your car will be covered under insurance when it is in transit.

  Pros and Cons of Moving To Florida

Pros:

1. Great weather all year-round
2. Decent cost of living 
3. Vibrant culture and food scene
4. Less taxes
5. Affordable housing 

Cons:

1. High crime rate 
2. High bug population
3. Prone to natural disasters and wildfires 
4. Abysmal healthcare rating
5. Extreme humidity 

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