Rhode Island to Florida Car Shipping

Expect an estimated $870 to $1,330 for this lane. Because the Rhode Island end is small and almost every pickup starts near Providence, the price depends mostly on how far down the Florida peninsula the car goes. The final figure also reflects the vehicle, the pickup date and open or enclosed transport.

Examples from our route pages, all starting in Providence:

• Providence to Jacksonville (1,113 miles): $756–$1,080
• Providence to Orlando (1,254 miles): $851–$1,216
• Providence to Port St. Lucie (1,347 miles): $886–$1,266
• Providence to West Palm Beach (1,397 miles): $919–$1,313
• Providence to Fort Lauderdale (1,439 miles): $927–$1,324

The pattern in these examples is simple: the further south the delivery, the higher the estimate. Larger vehicles such as SUVs and pickups cost more than a sedan, and a car that does not run carries an extra fee.

Transit is 2 to 5 days after pickup. Jacksonville, Orlando and the Space Coast are usually 2–4 days, while the far southeast corner around Fort Lauderdale can stretch to 3–5. Pickup itself is scheduled 1–3 business days after you book, so a Providence departure on a Monday often means a Florida arrival by the end of that week.

Things that can move the schedule:

• The New York metro area. Trucks from New England have to cross Connecticut, New York and New Jersey, and heavy traffic around the city can cost a few hours.
• Delivery address. A single large neighborhood is easier for a car hauler than a gated community or a narrow street, and the driver may ask to meet at a nearby parking lot.
• Weather. A winter storm at departure or a tropical storm in Florida can hold a truck for a day.

This is one of the simplest lanes in the country to describe: I-95 runs from the Providence area through Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, the Carolinas and Georgia straight into Florida. Carriers often loop around the densest parts of the Northeast on the way down, but they rejoin I-95 for the long Southeast stretch. In Florida, Jacksonville is the first big city on the route, and from there trucks go south on I-95 to the Space Coast and the Treasure Coast, or on I-4 across to Orlando and Tampa.

Timing matters on this lane because so many Rhode Islanders winter in Florida. Southbound space tightens in October and November, and prices can climb. Hurricane season (June through November) can occasionally delay deliveries on the Florida coast, so leave a little slack if your date is fixed.

Most cars from Rhode Island to Florida go on an open carrier, which is the standard and lowest-cost choice. Choose enclosed transport if the vehicle is a classic, a collector piece or a new luxury car that you want shielded from road salt, rain and a long stretch of highway. Because the Northeast sends a lot of winter cars south, book enclosed space early in the fall.