About 1,300 miles, 3–4 days on the truck, and $850–$1,000 on an open carrier heading south. Why Detroit almost never runs short of trucks, what a Michigan winter does to pickup dates, and why the trip home costs more.
Shipping a car from Michigan to Florida costs $850–$1,000 on an open carrier and $1,650–$1,900 enclosed for a standard running vehicle. It is about 1,300 miles and 3–4 days once the car is on the truck. The southbound season is October to December, so if you are reading this in autumn, you are booking in the busy part of the year.
How much does it cost to ship a car from Michigan to Florida?
This lane is priced differently in each direction, and the difference is large enough to plan around. Here are both legs for a running sedan or SUV, door to door:
| Direction | Open carrier | Enclosed carrier |
|---|---|---|
| Michigan to Florida | $850–$1,000 | $1,650–$1,900 |
| Florida to Michigan | $1,100–$1,350 | $1,650–$1,900 |
| Both legs, open (a winter stay) | $1,950–$2,350 |
The band is priced on a Detroit 48226 to Tampa 33602 trip, about 1,300 miles. Ann Arbor, Grand Rapids or Lansing pickups, and deliveries further south than Tampa, change the mileage; give me both ZIP codes and I will price your trip rather than the reference.
Why is Detroit an easy place to find a truck?
Detroit is the centre of the American car industry, so car haulers pass through it all year for manufacturer and dealer loads. For you that means a pickup in the Detroit area rarely waits for a carrier to exist; in the peak weeks the question is the rate, not whether a driver is around.
How long does it take, and does winter slow it down?
3–4 days on the truck. The route is I-75 south almost the whole way: Toledo, Cincinnati, Lexington, Knoxville, Atlanta, then into Florida. Michigan weather is the one variable. After a heavy snowfall a pickup date can slip by a day, so if you have a flight to catch, leave a day of slack between the pickup window and your departure, and name someone who can hand over the keys.
Open or enclosed for a car going into winter storage?
A lot of the cars on this lane are domestic brands, and a real share are classics and collector cars heading to climate-controlled storage for the winter. For those, enclosed at $1,650–$1,900 keeps road salt and spray off the car on the way out of Michigan. An everyday car rides fine on an open carrier at $850–$1,000. The open versus enclosed guide walks through the choice.
What does shipping from Florida back to Michigan cost?
The return leg runs $1,100–$1,350 open and $1,650–$1,900 enclosed. Its rush is April and May, when winter residents head home. Book the trip home as its own shipment once your return date is firm; the snowbird car shipping guide covers planning both legs of a winter stay.
Going to Naples instead of Tampa?
Southwest Florida is a separate trip. The Detroit to Naples route page is priced on that city pair, about 1,400 miles, with Bonita Springs, Marco Island and Fort Myers deliveries. Use whichever page matches your two addresses.
For the steps from booking to delivery, see how it works; to get the car ready, the preparation checklist; and for the carrier’s coverage, do you need insurance to ship a car.
Quotes go through the Michigan to Florida route page, or call me on (567) 666-4241.
Prices, transit times and both directions for this corridor are on the Michigan 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.
