Route guide · FL → IA
Shipping a car from Florida to Iowa
Shipping a running sedan from Miami to Des Moines costs about $1,025–$1,475 on an open carrier and $1,550–$2,225 in an enclosed trailer, with 4–6 days in transit. It ranks #238 among the 250 busiest car-shipping lanes, based on Census moving data.
- Open carrier, sedan
- $1,250
- Road miles
- 1,570
- Days in transit
- 4–6
- People moving a year
- 3.2K
- Companies at both ends
- 225
City to city
What it costs between Florida and Iowa cities
Open-carrier prices for a running sedan between Miami, Orlando, Jacksonville and Tampa and Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Davenport and Sioux City — 1,090 to 1,740 road miles apart.
| From | Des Moines | Cedar Rapids | Davenport | Sioux City |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami | $1,025–$1,4751,570 mi · 4–6 days | $1,025–$1,4501,530 mi · 4–6 days | $1,000–$1,4251,460 mi · 3–6 days | $1,075–$1,5501,740 mi · 4–7 days |
| Orlando | $975–$1,4001,350 mi · 3–6 days | $975–$1,3751,300 mi · 3–5 days | $950–$1,3501,240 mi · 3–5 days | $1,025–$1,4501,520 mi · 4–6 days |
| Jacksonville | $925–$1,3251,210 mi · 3–5 days | $900–$1,3001,150 mi · 3–5 days | $875–$1,2751,090 mi · 3–5 days | $975–$1,4001,380 mi · 3–6 days |
| Tampa | $975–$1,3751,330 mi · 3–6 days | $950–$1,3751,290 mi · 3–5 days | $950–$1,3501,230 mi · 3–5 days | $1,025–$1,4501,500 mi · 3–6 days |
A pickup or delivery far from these metros usually adds $75–$150. Quotes move with fuel prices and truck space, so treat these as a yardstick. Price your own addresses →
By vehicle
Price by vehicle type
Miami to Des Moines, 1,570 miles. Bigger and heavier vehicles take more room and weight on the trailer, so they cost more.
| Vehicle | Open carrier | Enclosed |
|---|---|---|
| Sedan or small car | $1,025–$1,475 | $1,550–$2,225 |
| Midsize SUV or crossover | $1,150–$1,650 | $1,750–$2,475 |
| Large SUV (Tahoe, Expedition) | $1,300–$1,850 | $1,950–$2,775 |
| Pickup truck | $1,350–$1,925 | $2,025–$2,875 |
| Motorcycle | $625–$875 | $925–$1,325 |
By month
Best time to ship
Prices on this lane peak in March–May (snowbird season, when retirees ship cars back north for the summer), running about 15% above the quietest months. The cheapest time to ship from Florida to Iowa is January–February and September–November.
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Cheapest: about $1,250 Peak: about $1,450
About this route
Why so many cars go from Florida to Iowa
About 3,172 people moved from Florida to Iowa in each of the last two years, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (4,186 in 2023, 2,158 in 2024). That is 0.6% of everyone who left Florida for another state.
Traffic runs both ways — about 3,046 people a year move from Iowa back to Florida — so carriers run this lane year-round and quotes tend to be steady.
How the price compares
At a typical $1,250, shipping from Florida to Iowa costs more than sending a car to Massachusetts ($1,225) and Wisconsin ($1,225) but less than to Maine ($1,275) and Minnesota ($1,325). That works out to about 80¢ a mile — long hauls cost less per mile because loading and paperwork are spread over more distance.
Distance and transit time
Your car spends 4–6 days on the road for the roughly 1,570 miles from Miami to Des Moines, after a pickup window of a few days while the carrier assembles a full load. The car heads north-northwest and crosses one time zone — from Eastern to Central time — so confirm whether the delivery window you are given is in local time.
On the road
- Winter storms in Iowa can slow pickups and deliveries in December through February — leave slack in your schedule.
- Hurricane season (June–November) occasionally delays Gulf and Atlantic coast deliveries; carriers will reschedule rather than drive into a storm.
Companies
Car carriers at both ends of the route
The largest carriers headquartered in Florida and Iowa, by trucks on file with the FMCSA. A company based at either end usually runs this lane often.
Pickup end Florida
218 companies based in Florida: 187 carriers, 18 brokers, 1,227 trucks in total, 9 years in business on average.
- Centurion Auto Transport Jacksonville · 239 trucks · since 1992 · USDOT 471614
- Vision Auto Transport Inc Miami · 95 trucks · since 2011 · USDOT 2257988
- Masney Auto Transport Inc Winter Garden · 89 trucks · since 1988 · USDOT 326786
- Cfy Auto Transport Corp Miami · 50 trucks · since 2016 · USDOT 2841696
- Auto Carrier Express Inc Jacksonville · 48 trucks · since 1998 · USDOT 766895
Delivery end Iowa
7 companies based in Iowa: 7 carriers, 0 brokers, 20 trucks in total, 5 years in business on average.
- Magnum Auto & Transportation Inc Quasqueton · 6 trucks · since 2020 · USDOT 3514106
- Double A Auto Delivery Johnston · 4 trucks · since 2011 · USDOT 2133293
- B&E Transport LLC Davenport · 2 trucks · since 2019 · USDOT 3263857
- DDM Auto Transport LLC Montezuma · 2 trucks · since 2022 · USDOT 3856054
- L&G Transportation Whittemore · 2 trucks · since 2025 · USDOT 4385182
96 more companies in our directory ship to all 48 contiguous states. Browse all companies →
Related routes
Nearby alternatives
Moving close to Iowa but not into it — or coming from somewhere near Florida? These guides cover the neighbouring lanes.
FAQ
Florida to Iowa car shipping: questions
Numbers on this page come from our price model, Census moving data and Iowa's DMV.
How much does it cost to ship a car from Florida to Iowa?
For a running sedan on an open carrier, expect about $1,025–$1,475 from Miami to Des Moines (1,570 road miles). Between other big cities in the two states prices range from $875–$1,550. An SUV costs about $1,150–$1,650, a pickup $1,350–$1,925, and an enclosed trailer $1,550–$2,225 for a sedan.
How long does it take to ship a car from Florida to Iowa?
Transit is usually 4–6 days after pickup for the 1,570-mile trip from Miami to Des Moines. The wait for pickup is separate: typically 1–5 days, or 1–2 days if you pay about 30% more for expedited service.
When is the cheapest time to ship a car from Florida to Iowa?
January–February and September–November is the cheapest window on this lane. Prices are highest in March–May, up to about 15% more. If you must ship in peak months, book three to four weeks ahead.
How soon do I have to register my car in Iowa after moving?
Iowa requires new residents to register within 30 days of becoming a resident. Title and register at your county treasurer's office, even if your old plates are still valid.
Is it cheaper to drive or ship my car from Florida to Iowa?
Driving 1,570 miles takes about 4 days: roughly $200 in gas and 3 nights of hotels and meals (about $420). Shipping a sedan costs about $1,025–$1,475. Add wear on the car and 4 days off work, and the two come out close.
Which car shipping companies go from Florida to Iowa?
Our directory lists 218 companies based in Florida and 7 based in Iowa, each checked against FMCSA records, plus 96 that ship nationwide.