Route guide · FL → MI
Shipping a car from Florida to Michigan
Shipping a running sedan from Miami to Detroit costs about $975–$1,400 on an open carrier and $1,475–$2,100 in an enclosed trailer, with 3–6 days in transit. It ranks #24 among the 250 busiest car-shipping lanes, based on Census moving data.
- Open carrier, sedan
- $1,200
- Road miles
- 1,370
- Days in transit
- 3–6
- People moving a year
- 16.8K
- Companies at both ends
- 251
City to city
What it costs between Florida and Michigan cities
Open-carrier prices for a running sedan between Miami, Orlando, Jacksonville and Tampa and Detroit, Grand Rapids, Lansing and Flint — 990 to 1,450 road miles apart.
| From | Detroit | Grand Rapids | Lansing | Flint |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami | $975–$1,4001,370 mi · 3–6 days | $1,000–$1,4251,450 mi · 3–6 days | $1,000–$1,4251,410 mi · 3–6 days | $1,000–$1,4251,430 mi · 3–6 days |
| Orlando | $900–$1,3001,150 mi · 3–5 days | $950–$1,3501,220 mi · 3–5 days | $925–$1,3251,190 mi · 3–5 days | $925–$1,3251,200 mi · 3–5 days |
| Jacksonville | $850–$1,250990 mi · 2–4 days | $875–$1,2751,060 mi · 3–5 days | $850–$1,2501,030 mi · 3–5 days | $875–$1,2751,040 mi · 3–5 days |
| Tampa | $925–$1,3251,180 mi · 3–5 days | $950–$1,3501,240 mi · 3–5 days | $925–$1,3251,210 mi · 3–5 days | $950–$1,3501,230 mi · 3–5 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 Detroit, 1,370 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 | $975–$1,400 | $1,475–$2,100 |
| Midsize SUV or crossover | $1,100–$1,575 | $1,650–$2,350 |
| Large SUV (Tahoe, Expedition) | $1,225–$1,750 | $1,850–$2,625 |
| Pickup truck | $1,275–$1,825 | $1,925–$2,725 |
| Motorcycle | $600–$850 | $875–$1,250 |
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 Michigan is September–November.
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Cheapest: about $1,200 Peak: about $1,375
About this route
Why so many cars go from Florida to Michigan
About 16,759 people moved from Florida to Michigan in each of the last two years, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (14,236 in 2023, 19,282 in 2024). That is 3.3% of everyone who left Florida for another state.
Traffic runs both ways — about 22,535 people a year move from Michigan back to Florida — so carriers run this lane year-round and quotes tend to be steady.
How the price compares
At a typical $1,200, shipping from Florida to Michigan costs more than sending a car to Texas ($1,175) and New York ($1,175) but less than to Massachusetts ($1,225) and Wisconsin ($1,225). That works out to about 88¢ a mile.
Distance and transit time
Your car spends 3–6 days on the road for the roughly 1,370 miles from Miami to Detroit, after a pickup window of a few days while the carrier assembles a full load. The car heads north and stays on Eastern time the whole way.
On the road
- Winter storms in Michigan 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 Michigan, 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 Michigan
33 companies based in Michigan: 29 carriers, 3 brokers, 88 trucks in total, 8 years in business on average.
- A Line Transportation Westland · 9 trucks · since 2016 · USDOT 2919373
- Auto Moto Transport LLC Warren · 8 trucks · since 2020 · USDOT 3380547
- Stimson Transport LLC Davison · 8 trucks · since 2017 · USDOT 3035222
- Detroit Auto Carriers West Bloomfield · 4 trucks · since 2014 · USDOT 2528377
- JMS Transport LLC New Boston · 4 trucks · since 2015 · USDOT 2780708
96 more companies in our directory ship to all 48 contiguous states. Browse all companies →
Related routes
Nearby alternatives
Moving close to Michigan but not into it — or coming from somewhere near Florida? These guides cover the neighbouring lanes.
From Florida to states near Michigan
To Michigan from states near Florida
FAQ
Florida to Michigan car shipping: questions
Numbers on this page come from our price model, Census moving data and Michigan's DMV.
How much does it cost to ship a car from Florida to Michigan?
For a running sedan on an open carrier, expect about $975–$1,400 from Miami to Detroit (1,370 road miles). Between other big cities in the two states prices range from $850–$1,425. An SUV costs about $1,100–$1,575, a pickup $1,275–$1,825, and an enclosed trailer $1,475–$2,100 for a sedan.
How long does it take to ship a car from Florida to Michigan?
Transit is usually 3–6 days after pickup for the 1,370-mile trip from Miami to Detroit. 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 Michigan?
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 Michigan after moving?
Michigan requires new residents to register right away — there is no grace period. Michigan has no grace period: title and register right away with proof of Michigan no-fault insurance.
Is it cheaper to drive or ship my car from Florida to Michigan?
Driving 1,370 miles takes about 3 days: roughly $180 in gas and 2 nights of hotels and meals (about $280). Shipping a sedan costs about $975–$1,400. Add wear on the car and 3 days off work, and the two come out close.
Which car shipping companies go from Florida to Michigan?
Our directory lists 218 companies based in Florida and 33 based in Michigan, each checked against FMCSA records, plus 96 that ship nationwide.