About 1,200 miles, 3–4 days on the truck, and $950–$1,150 for a running sedan or SUV on an open carrier. Why Chicago almost always has a truck, what the autumn rush changes, and how the spring trip home works.
Chicago is one of the biggest freight hubs in the country, and that makes Illinois to Florida one of the easier snowbird lanes to book. Even in the middle of the autumn rush there is usually a truck; what changes is the price, not whether a carrier exists. The numbers from my sheet: about 1,200 miles, 3–4 days on the truck, and $950–$1,150 for a standard running sedan or SUV on an open carrier.
How much does it cost to ship a car from Illinois to Florida?
The published band is $950–$1,150 open and $1,200–$1,650 enclosed, door to door, for a standard running vehicle. That is the whole price, the carrier’s cargo coverage and my fee included. Nothing is charged when you book; a deposit is collected once a carrier is assigned with a pickup date, and the balance is paid to the driver at delivery.
Inside the band, a larger vehicle, a car that does not run, a rural address, or a fixed pickup day in peak season push the price up. A few days of flexibility in October or November is the cheapest thing you can offer a carrier. For your own ZIP codes, get your exact quote.
How long does it take?
Three to five days on the truck. Before that comes dispatch, the time from booking to a carrier committing to a pickup date. Out of Chicago this is usually quick because so many trucks pass through. Heavy winter snow can push a pickup back by a day.
Which route does the truck take?
I-65 south through Indianapolis, Louisville and Nashville, then I-75 into Florida. It is a fast, busy freight corridor the whole way, which is why carriers on it fill up and leave quickly.
When is the best time to ship?
Southbound peaks from October through December, when winter residents head to both Florida coasts. If your dates are flexible, ship in the weeks just before the rush, or book several weeks ahead so the carrier is arranged early. The snowbird car shipping guide explains how to plan both legs of a winter stay.
Who ships cars on this lane?
Winter residents going to Tampa, Naples, Fort Myers and Miami, students, and a large number of auction and dealer cars moving south from the Chicago wholesale market to Florida buyers. If you bought a car at an auction or dealer, send me the lot’s contact and release paperwork when you book, so the carrier can collect it.
Where pickups and deliveries happen
In Illinois: Chicago, Naperville, Schaumburg and Rockford most often. In Florida: Tampa, Naples, Fort Myers and Miami. Pickup and delivery are door to door when a full-size car hauler can reach the street. In a dense Chicago neighborhood or a gated Florida community, the driver arranges a nearby meeting point instead.
Open or enclosed?
Open transport at $950–$1,150 is the normal choice for everyday cars. Enclosed at $1,200–$1,650 makes sense for a classic going to winter storage, a low-clearance car, or anything you do not want exposed to road salt on the way out of Illinois. The open versus enclosed guide walks through the decision.
Shipping a car from Florida to Illinois
The return leg runs $1,000–$1,200 open and $1,250–$1,550 enclosed, and it peaks April through May. Chicago is one of the easiest big cities to find a truck heading into, because so much freight ends there anyway, so northbound dispatch out of Florida is usually quick even in the spring rush. Quote it as a separate shipment once your return date is firm. Both directions are on the Illinois to Florida route page.
The process from quote to delivery
- You send the pickup ZIP, delivery ZIP, the vehicle and your first available date. I quote the lane and call you back.
- You book. No deposit until a carrier is assigned.
- A carrier accepts. I check their FMCSA authority and cargo insurance before you get the name, then give you the pickup window.
- The driver calls the day before pickup to confirm the time and the spot.
- You inspect the car together at pickup and sign the Bill of Lading, with photos.
- Three to five days later the driver calls ahead in Florida. You, or the person you name, inspects, signs and pays the driver the balance.
What goes wrong, and how to avoid it
The quote that is too low in October. It gets posted, no carrier heading south on a full truck takes it, and the car sits. If a quote is well under the band, ask what happens if nobody accepts it. The guide to spotting a bad broker lists the other warning signs, and do you need insurance to ship a car explains the coverage.
Getting the car ready
- Wash it so the inspection is honest; winter salt hides marks.
- Leave about a quarter tank of fuel.
- Take out personal belongings; they are not covered on the truck.
- Remove or switch off the toll transponder.
- Start it the day before pickup if it has been sitting in the cold.
The full checklist is in preparing your vehicle for transport. When you have the car and rough dates, the Illinois to Florida route page has the quote form, and I am on (567) 666-4241.
Prices, transit times and both directions for this corridor are on the Illinois 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.
