Route guide · IL → FL
Shipping a car from Illinois to Florida
Shipping a running sedan from Chicago to Miami costs about $1,000–$1,400 on an open carrier and $1,475–$2,125 in an enclosed trailer, with 3–6 days in transit. It ranks #11 among the 250 busiest car-shipping lanes, based on Census moving data.
- Open carrier, sedan
- $1,200
- Road miles
- 1,400
- Days in transit
- 3–6
- People moving a year
- 25.8K
- Companies at both ends
- 324
City to city
What it costs between Illinois and Florida cities
Open-carrier prices for a running sedan between Chicago, Rockford, Springfield and Peoria and Miami, Orlando, Jacksonville and Tampa — 940 to 1,470 road miles apart.
| From | Miami | Orlando | Jacksonville | Tampa |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $1,000–$1,4001,400 mi · 3–6 days | $925–$1,3251,170 mi · 3–5 days | $850–$1,2501,020 mi · 3–5 days | $925–$1,3251,180 mi · 3–5 days |
| Rockford | $1,000–$1,4501,470 mi · 3–6 days | $950–$1,3501,240 mi · 3–5 days | $875–$1,2751,090 mi · 3–5 days | $950–$1,3501,240 mi · 3–5 days |
| Springfield | $975–$1,3751,310 mi · 3–5 days | $875–$1,2751,090 mi · 3–5 days | $825–$1,225940 mi · 2–4 days | $875–$1,2751,080 mi · 3–5 days |
| Peoria | $975–$1,4001,380 mi · 3–6 days | $900–$1,3001,150 mi · 3–5 days | $850–$1,2501,000 mi · 2–5 days | $900–$1,3001,150 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
Chicago to Miami, 1,400 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 | $1,000–$1,400 | $1,475–$2,125 |
| Midsize SUV or crossover | $1,100–$1,575 | $1,675–$2,375 |
| Large SUV (Tahoe, Expedition) | $1,250–$1,775 | $1,850–$2,650 |
| Pickup truck | $1,275–$1,825 | $1,925–$2,750 |
| Motorcycle | $600–$850 | $900–$1,275 |
By month
Best time to ship
Prices on this lane peak in December (snowbird season, when retirees ship cars south for the winter and the holidays), running about 20% above the quietest months. The cheapest time to ship from Illinois to Florida is February–May and September.
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Cheapest: about $1,200 Peak: about $1,450
About this route
Why so many cars go from Illinois to Florida
About 25,760 people moved from Illinois to Florida in each of the last two years, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (27,109 in 2023, 24,410 in 2024). That is 8.9% of everyone who left Illinois for another state, making Florida its #2 destination.
Far fewer people make the reverse move — about 15,926 a year from Florida to Illinois. Carriers bound for Florida rarely run empty, which keeps pickups quick but prices firm.
How the price compares
At a typical $1,200, shipping from Illinois to Florida costs more than sending a car to Colorado ($1,075) and Texas ($1,025) but less than to Arizona ($1,300) and California ($1,425). That works out to about 86¢ a mile.
Distance and transit time
Chicago to Miami is about 1,400 road miles, or 3–6 days on a car carrier. Most of the wait is before pickup, while the driver fills the trailer. The car heads south-southeast and crosses one time zone — from Central to Eastern time — so confirm whether the delivery window you are given is in local time.
On the road
- Winter storms in Illinois 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 Illinois and Florida, by trucks on file with the FMCSA. A company based at either end usually runs this lane often.
Pickup end Illinois
106 companies based in Illinois: 90 carriers, 14 brokers, 1,639 trucks in total, 8 years in business on average.
- Cassens Transport Company Edwardsville · 911 trucks · since 1974 · USDOT 124358
- Orgil Auto Transport Rosemont · 75 trucks · since 2010 · USDOT 2005112
- Americars Transportation Inc Aurora · 65 trucks · since 2016 · USDOT 2913704
- Windy City Auto Transportation LLC Hazel Crest · 61 trucks · since 2025 · USDOT 4367050
- American Auto Transport Inc Lombard · 57 trucks · since 2004 · USDOT 1291429
Delivery 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
96 more companies in our directory ship to all 48 contiguous states. Browse all companies →
Related routes
Nearby alternatives
Moving close to Florida but not into it — or coming from somewhere near Illinois? These guides cover the neighbouring lanes.
From Illinois to states near Florida
To Florida from states near Illinois
FAQ
Illinois to Florida car shipping: questions
Numbers on this page come from our price model, Census moving data and Florida's DMV.
How much does it cost to ship a car from Illinois to Florida?
For a running sedan on an open carrier, expect about $1,000–$1,400 from Chicago to Miami (1,400 road miles). Between other big cities in the two states prices range from $825–$1,450. An SUV costs about $1,100–$1,575, a pickup $1,275–$1,825, and an enclosed trailer $1,475–$2,125 for a sedan.
How long does it take to ship a car from Illinois to Florida?
Transit is usually 3–6 days after pickup for the 1,400-mile trip from Chicago to Miami. Before that, allow 1–5 days for a carrier to be assigned — or pay roughly 30% extra to have it collected within 48 hours.
When is the cheapest time to ship a car from Illinois to Florida?
February–May and September is the cheapest window on this lane. Prices are highest in December, up to about 20% more. In any month, giving the carrier a wide pickup window lowers the quote.
How soon do I have to register my car in Florida after moving?
Florida requires new residents to register within 10 days of becoming a resident. Buy Florida insurance first — the 10 days count from the day you establish residency, such as starting a job or enrolling children in school.
Is it cheaper to drive or ship my car from Illinois to Florida?
Driving 1,400 miles takes about 3 days: roughly $180 in gas and 2 nights of hotels and meals (about $280). Shipping a sedan costs about $1,000–$1,400. Add wear on the car and 3 days off work, and the two come out close.
Which car shipping companies go from Illinois to Florida?
Our directory lists 106 companies based in Illinois and 218 based in Florida, each checked against FMCSA records, plus 96 that ship nationwide.