About 1,900 miles, 4–5 days on the truck, and $950–$1,350 on an open carrier. Fewer carriers run this diagonal lane than the East Coast ones, so lead time matters more than distance.
Shipping a car from Colorado to Florida costs $950–$1,350 on an open carrier and $1,350–$1,500 enclosed, for a standard running vehicle. It is about 1,900 miles and 4–5 days on the truck. The lane crosses the middle of the country with fewer carriers on it than the East Coast routes, so booking early does more for you here than anything else.
How much is it each way?
Coming back from Florida costs more than going there on this lane, for both open and enclosed.
| Direction | Open carrier | Enclosed carrier |
|---|---|---|
| Colorado to Florida | $950–$1,350 | $1,350–$1,500 |
| Florida to Colorado | $1,250–$1,500 | $1,800–$2,000 |
| Both legs, open | $2,200–$2,850 |
The band is priced on a Denver 80202 to Tampa 33602 trip, about 1,900 miles. Colorado Springs, Boulder or Fort Collins pickups, and Orlando, Naples or Miami deliveries, are different trips; send me both ZIP codes and I will price yours.
How far ahead should I book?
Earlier than you would from the East Coast. Demand follows the snowbird pattern, south in autumn and north in spring, but this lane has less carrier capacity to absorb the peak, so an October or November pickup going south should be booked ahead of the date, not the week of it. Coming north from Florida, plan on two to three weeks: there is no single main route, so a carrier has to want your car rather than fit it into a run it already has.
Which route does the truck take, and what about snow?
Either I-25 south to Albuquerque and then I-40 and I-20 east, or I-70 east to St. Louis and then down. In winter, snow closing the passes east of Denver can delay a departure, and it is the one thing on this lane that reliably costs a day. Florida deliveries themselves are straightforward.
Can you ship a lifted 4x4 or a pickup to Florida?
Yes, and many cars on this lane are exactly that: four-wheel-drive SUVs and pickups built for Colorado terrain. Tell me the height and any lift or roof rack when you ask for a quote, because a tall or heavy vehicle needs the right deck spot and can price above the $950–$1,350 band for a standard car. Enclosed at $1,350–$1,500 is for a classic or a car you want kept out of the weather; the open versus enclosed guide explains the choice.
Shipping a car from Florida to Colorado
The trip north and west runs $1,250–$1,500 open and $1,800–$2,000 enclosed, busiest in spring. Delivery across the Front Range is easy once the truck arrives, because Denver is a big freight destination; winter closures east of the city are what cost time. Book it as its own shipment, two to three weeks out.
Starting from a state other than Colorado? Every Florida price I publish is on the cost to ship a car to Florida page.
Need a Front Range pickup? Send me your ZIP codes or call (567) 666-4241.
Prices, transit times and both directions for this corridor are on the Colorado to Florida route page.
Written by Brian Smith, Auto Transport Manager at Leader Auto Ship LLC — FMCSA licensed property broker, MC #1638331, DOT #4232283. Brian has more than four years of experience and has personally handled about 800 shipments. Verify the licence yourself.
