Route guide · MI → FL
Shipping a car from Michigan to Florida
Shipping a running sedan from Detroit to Miami 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 #14 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
- 22.5K
- Companies at both ends
- 251
City to city
What it costs between Michigan and Florida cities
Open-carrier prices for a running sedan between Detroit, Grand Rapids, Lansing and Flint and Miami, Orlando, Jacksonville and Tampa — 990 to 1,450 road miles apart.
| From | Miami | Orlando | Jacksonville | Tampa |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit | $975–$1,4001,370 mi · 3–6 days | $900–$1,3001,150 mi · 3–5 days | $850–$1,250990 mi · 2–4 days | $925–$1,3251,180 mi · 3–5 days |
| Grand Rapids | $1,000–$1,4251,450 mi · 3–6 days | $950–$1,3501,220 mi · 3–5 days | $875–$1,2751,060 mi · 3–5 days | $950–$1,3501,240 mi · 3–5 days |
| Lansing | $1,000–$1,4251,410 mi · 3–6 days | $925–$1,3251,190 mi · 3–5 days | $850–$1,2501,030 mi · 3–5 days | $925–$1,3251,210 mi · 3–5 days |
| Flint | $1,000–$1,4251,430 mi · 3–6 days | $925–$1,3251,200 mi · 3–5 days | $875–$1,2751,040 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
Detroit to Miami, 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 December (snowbird season, when retirees ship cars south for the winter, the holidays and winter weather up north), running about 25% above the quietest months. The cheapest time to ship from Michigan to Florida is March–May and September.
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Cheapest: about $1,200 Peak: about $1,500
About this route
Why so many cars go from Michigan to Florida
About 22,535 people moved from Michigan to Florida in each of the last two years, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (26,512 in 2023, 18,558 in 2024). That is 15.5% of everyone who left Michigan for another state — no state draws more people from Michigan.
Traffic runs both ways — about 16,759 people a year move from Florida back to Michigan — so carriers run this lane year-round and quotes tend to be steady.
How the price compares
At a typical $1,200, shipping from Michigan to Florida costs more than sending a car to Texas ($1,125) but less than to Arizona ($1,400) and California ($1,525). That works out to about 88¢ a mile.
Distance and transit time
Expect about 1,370 road miles from Detroit to Miami — 3–6 days on the truck after pickup. Carriers usually load several cars before heading out, so the pickup window matters as much as transit time. The car heads south 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 Michigan and Florida, by trucks on file with the FMCSA. A company based at either end usually runs this lane often.
Pickup 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
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 Michigan? These guides cover the neighbouring lanes.
From Michigan to states near Florida
To Florida from states near Michigan
FAQ
Michigan 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 Michigan to Florida?
For a running sedan on an open carrier, expect about $975–$1,400 from Detroit to Miami (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 Michigan to Florida?
Transit is usually 3–6 days after pickup for the 1,370-mile trip from Detroit to Miami. Getting the car picked up takes another 1–5 days on a standard booking; expedited pickup within 1–2 days costs about 30% more.
When is the cheapest time to ship a car from Michigan to Florida?
March–May and September is the cheapest window on this lane. Prices are highest in December, up to about 25% more. Whatever the month, a flexible pickup date booked 2–3 weeks out gets the best price.
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 Michigan to Florida?
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 Michigan to Florida?
Our directory lists 33 companies based in Michigan and 218 based in Florida, each checked against FMCSA records, plus 96 that ship nationwide.