Michigan to Florida Car Shipping

Michigan to Florida quotes generally land between an estimated $810 and $1,290. The number for your car depends on the vehicle, pickup date and carrier type, and on how far down Florida it needs to go: the Tampa and Orlando area sits well short of the Miami and Fort Lauderdale area.

Examples from our route pages:

• Ann Arbor to Tampa (1,164 miles): $790–$1,129
• Grand Rapids to Orlando (1,229 miles): $834–$1,192
• Detroit to Fort Lauderdale (1,362 miles): $896–$1,280
• Warren to Miami Gardens (1,390 miles): $915–$1,307

Cars heading to Central Florida cost less than those continuing to the southeast coast. Larger vehicles are priced higher than sedans, and non-running cars have an added fee.

Allow 2–4 days in transit for the drive south, with a few Warren to Miami runs listed at 3–5. Pickup is scheduled separately, normally 1–3 business days after you book.

• Start in Michigan. Detroit, Warren and Sterling Heights are close together, so a truck can often pick up several cars there before leaving. Grand Rapids and Lansing involve a short leg across the state.
• Finish in Florida. Orlando and Tampa are first, then Fort Lauderdale and Miami come last on a south-bound truck.
• Winter and storms. A January pickup in Michigan can mean snow-covered roads at the start, and hurricane season from June through November can affect the Florida end of the trip.

From Michigan the way south is simple: I-75 runs from the Detroit area through Toledo and Ohio, then crosses Kentucky, Tennessee and Georgia before entering Florida. Carriers going to the Gulf coast and Tampa stay on I-75, while those headed for Miami and Fort Lauderdale continue down toward the southeast, often using Florida’s Turnpike or I-95 for the last leg.

Because almost every shipment follows I-75, trucks leaving Michigan are rarely empty, and a driver loading in Warren may be heading to Miami Gardens at the same time as another car going to St. Petersburg.

The busiest period for southbound shipments is autumn into early winter, when people leave Michigan for the season. Spring and summer are typically easier to schedule, but if you ship in hurricane season, keep an eye on the forecast for your destination.

For most Michigan to Florida moves an open carrier is the practical, standard choice. If the car is a collectible or you want it shielded from road salt left over from a Michigan winter, enclosed transport is available. Book early, because enclosed capacity on this lane is limited.