Route guide · MN → FL
Shipping a car from Minnesota to Florida
Shipping a running sedan from Minneapolis to Miami costs about $1,100–$1,550 on an open carrier and $1,625–$2,350 in an enclosed trailer, with 4–7 days in transit. It ranks #76 among the 250 busiest car-shipping lanes, based on Census moving data.
- Open carrier, sedan
- $1,325
- Road miles
- 1,780
- Days in transit
- 4–7
- People moving a year
- 8.4K
- Companies at both ends
- 234
City to city
What it costs between Minnesota and Florida cities
Open-carrier prices for a running sedan between Minneapolis, Rochester, Duluth and St. Cloud and Miami, Orlando, Jacksonville and Tampa — 1,320 to 1,880 road miles apart.
| From | Miami | Orlando | Jacksonville | Tampa |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis | $1,100–$1,5501,780 mi · 4–7 days | $1,025–$1,4751,560 mi · 4–6 days | $1,000–$1,4251,410 mi · 3–6 days | $1,025–$1,4751,550 mi · 4–6 days |
| Rochester | $1,075–$1,5251,690 mi · 4–7 days | $1,000–$1,4501,470 mi · 3–6 days | $975–$1,3751,320 mi · 3–5 days | $1,000–$1,4251,460 mi · 3–6 days |
| Duluth | $1,125–$1,6001,880 mi · 4–7 days | $1,050–$1,5001,650 mi · 4–6 days | $1,025–$1,4501,490 mi · 3–6 days | $1,050–$1,5001,650 mi · 4–6 days |
| St. Cloud | $1,100–$1,6001,850 mi · 4–7 days | $1,050–$1,5001,620 mi · 4–6 days | $1,000–$1,4501,470 mi · 3–6 days | $1,050–$1,5001,620 mi · 4–6 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
Minneapolis to Miami, 1,780 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 | $1,100–$1,550 | $1,625–$2,350 |
| Midsize SUV or crossover | $1,225–$1,750 | $1,825–$2,625 |
| Large SUV (Tahoe, Expedition) | $1,375–$1,950 | $2,050–$2,925 |
| Pickup truck | $1,425–$2,025 | $2,125–$3,050 |
| Motorcycle | $650–$925 | $975–$1,400 |
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 Minnesota to Florida is March–May and September.
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Cheapest: about $1,325 Peak: about $1,650
About this route
Why so many cars go from Minnesota to Florida
About 8,390 people moved from Minnesota to Florida in each of the last two years, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (8,274 in 2023, 8,506 in 2024). That is 7.5% of everyone who left Minnesota for another state, making Florida its #3 destination.
Far fewer people make the reverse move — about 5,918 a year from Florida to Minnesota. Carriers bound for Florida rarely run empty, which keeps pickups quick but prices firm.
How the price compares
At a typical $1,325, shipping from Minnesota to Florida is among the most expensive routes out of Minnesota; Arizona ($1,225) and Texas ($1,050) cost less. That works out to about 74¢ a mile — long hauls cost less per mile because loading and paperwork are spread over more distance.
Distance and transit time
Minneapolis to Miami is about 1,780 road miles, or 4–7 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 Minnesota 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 Minnesota and Florida, by trucks on file with the FMCSA. A company based at either end usually runs this lane often.
Pickup end Minnesota
16 companies based in Minnesota: 16 carriers, 2 brokers, 325 trucks in total, 23 years in business on average.
- Advanced Auto Transport Inc Lake Elmo · 205 trucks · since 1998 · USDOT 752871
- Carstensen & Sons Trucking Inc Cannon Falls · 42 trucks · since 1987 · USDOT 285579
- Express Auto Transport Inc Farmington · 37 trucks · since 1996 · USDOT 653539
- Becker Auto Transport Inc Hayward · 6 trucks · since 1995 · USDOT 589012
- Dreckmans Auto Transport Inc Balaton · 4 trucks · since 2006 · USDOT 1552868
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 Minnesota? These guides cover the neighbouring lanes.
From Minnesota to states near Florida
To Florida from states near Minnesota
FAQ
Minnesota 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 Minnesota to Florida?
For a running sedan on an open carrier, expect about $1,100–$1,550 from Minneapolis to Miami (1,780 road miles). Between other big cities in the two states prices range from $975–$1,600. An SUV costs about $1,225–$1,750, a pickup $1,425–$2,025, and an enclosed trailer $1,625–$2,350 for a sedan.
How long does it take to ship a car from Minnesota to Florida?
Transit is usually 4–7 days after pickup for the 1,780-mile trip from Minneapolis 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 Minnesota to Florida?
March–May and September is the cheapest window on this lane. Prices are highest in December, up to about 25% 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 Minnesota to Florida?
Driving 1,780 miles takes about 4 days: roughly $230 in gas and 3 nights of hotels and meals (about $420). Shipping a sedan costs about $1,100–$1,550. Add wear on the car and 4 days off work, and the two come out close.
Which car shipping companies go from Minnesota to Florida?
Our directory lists 16 companies based in Minnesota and 218 based in Florida, each checked against FMCSA records, plus 96 that ship nationwide.