Car shipping from Illinois to Florida
Chicago’s position as a national freight hub means this lane has some of the best carrier availability of any snowbird route, even in the middle of the autumn rush.
Who ships IL to FL
Winter residents heading to both Florida coasts, students, and a large volume of auction and dealer vehicles moving south out of the Chicago wholesale market.
When to book, and what it costs you if you don't
Peaks October through December southbound. The upside of Chicago is that even in peak season there is usually a truck — the constraint is price, not availability. Winter snow can delay a pickup by a day.
The route your carrier actually drives
I-65 south through Indianapolis, Louisville and Nashville, then I-75 into Florida. A fast, high-density freight corridor the whole way.
Shipping Florida to Illinois
Florida to Illinois peaks April through May and behaves the same way in reverse, with one advantage worth naming: Chicago is the single easiest major metro in the country to find a returning truck into, because so much freight terminates there anyway. That is why northbound dispatch out of Florida is usually quick even in the middle of the spring rush, and why a Chicago delivery date holds better than a comparable one into Minneapolis or Denver.
What moves on this corridor
A broad mix, with a strong showing of auction purchases heading to Florida buyers.
Cities I pick up and deliver most often
Not on the list? It makes no difference to whether I can help — these are simply the points where carriers on this lane already stop. Anywhere else is still door to door.
Typical rate
Illinois to Florida
IL → FL
FL → IL
The two directions are not the same price. One way is the seasonal flow and the other is the lighter leg, and carriers price them accordingly — so shipping against the season is usually the cheaper booking.
A running standard vehicle, door to door, insurance included. Oversized vehicles, inoperable cars and peak-season dates sit above the band — I will tell you which before you book, not after.
IL → FL
Get a real rate for this route
Tell me the vehicle and your dates. I quote the lane by hand and call you back — no instant number that changes later.
Get My Free Quote (567) 666-4241$0 until a carrier is assigned
Shipping Illinois to Florida
- How much does it cost to ship a car from Illinois to Florida?
- Most standard running vehicles ship Illinois to Florida for $950 – $1,150 on an open carrier, or $1,200 – $1,650 enclosed. The return leg, Florida to Illinois, runs $1,000 – $1,200 open and $1,250 – $1,550 enclosed. That is the door-to-door price for the 1,200-mile run, fully insured, with nothing charged until a carrier is assigned. Oversized vehicles, non-running cars and peak-season dates sit above the band — I tell you which one applies before you book, not after.
- How long does it take to ship a car from Illinois to Florida?
- Plan on 3–5 days once your vehicle is loaded — it is roughly 1,200 miles, and carriers average about 500 miles a day with mandated rest stops. Add one to three business days for a carrier to be dispatched to your first available date.
- What determines the price on the Illinois to Florida route?
- Distance sets the floor, then vehicle size and weight, open versus enclosed, whether it runs, and how flexible your dates are. Peaks October through December southbound. The upside of Chicago is that even in peak season there is usually a truck — the constraint is price, not availability. Winter snow can delay a pickup by a day. I quote what the lane is actually paying carriers, so the number does not move after you book.
- Do you also ship cars from Florida to Illinois?
- Yes — I run this corridor in both directions and quote them the same way. Florida to Illinois peaks April through May and behaves the same way in reverse, with one advantage worth naming: Chicago is the single easiest major metro in the country to find a returning truck into, because so much freight terminates there anyway. That is why northbound dispatch out of Florida is usually quick even in the middle of the spring rush, and why a Chicago delivery date holds better than a comparable one into Minneapolis or Denver.
- Which cities do you cover on this route?
- Pickup anywhere in Illinois including Chicago and Naperville, and delivery anywhere in Florida including Tampa and Naples. Rural addresses are fine — if an 80-foot rig cannot legally reach the street, we agree on a nearby lot, usually a few minutes away, at no change to your price.
- Do I have to pay before my car is picked up?
- No. Nothing is charged when you book. A deposit is only taken once a licensed carrier is assigned to your Illinois pickup with a confirmed date, and the balance goes to the driver at delivery in Florida.
Tell me what you're shipping.
I'll come back with a real carrier rate — not a teaser number designed to get you on the phone.
- Answer within the hour7am–9pm EST, seven days a week
- Your info stays with meNever sold to five other brokers
- No payment to book$0 until a carrier is assigned
Prefer to talk?
(567) 666-4241
Ready to get your vehicle moving?
Sixty seconds for an honest estimate. No deposit, no obligation, and no handing your number to five other brokers.