California to Florida Car Shipping Overview
Shipping a car from California to Florida is a true coast-to-coast move, and it is one of the longest standard hauls in domestic auto transport. Because carriers price almost entirely by miles, the figures below are steady across cities: the main variable is which California pickup point and which Florida drop-off you choose.
We price 30 city-to-city lanes on this corridor, from six California pickup cities (Fresno, Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco and San Jose) to five Florida cities (Fort Lauderdale, Jacksonville, Miami, Orlando and Tampa). Open-transport estimates for a standard sedan run from $1,015 to $1,850, and the shortest lane covers 2,482 miles while the longest covers 3,083.
Price Comparison Across Every Lane
The cheapest lane in our California to Florida data is San Diego, CA to Orlando, FL at $1,015–$1,525; the most expensive is San Francisco, CA to Miami, FL at $1,235–$1,850, a spread of $272 on open transport. By pickup city, Los Angeles is the lowest-priced origin on average (about $1,328) and San Francisco the highest ($1,473); by destination, Orlando averages $1,374 against $1,457 for Fort Lauderdale. Enclosed transport adds about 45% on average.
Price a Lane
Price Matrix
Open-transport price for a standard sedan between every California pickup city (rows) and Florida destination (columns). Each price links to that lane's full page.
| From \ To | Fort Lauderdale | Jacksonville | Miami | Orlando | Tampa |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fresno | $1,155–$1,735 | $1,060–$1,590 | $1,155–$1,730 | $1,090–$1,635 | $1,070–$1,605 |
| Los Angeles | $1,110–$1,665 | $1,020–$1,530 | $1,110–$1,670 | $1,045–$1,570 | $1,025–$1,535 |
| Sacramento | $1,210–$1,810 | $1,105–$1,655 | $1,210–$1,810 | $1,140–$1,705 | $1,120–$1,680 |
| San Diego | $1,075–$1,615 | $1,240–$1,740 | $1,070–$1,610 | $1,015–$1,525 | $1,240–$1,735 |
| San Francisco | $1,230–$1,845 | $1,130–$1,690 | $1,235–$1,850 | $1,160–$1,740 | $1,140–$1,710 |
| San Jose | $1,215–$1,820 | $1,115–$1,670 | $1,210–$1,815 | $1,145–$1,720 | $1,125–$1,690 |
Roads, Route and Conditions
Most trucks take the southern route on I-10, the interstate that runs from Santa Monica, California to Jacksonville, Florida, and then branch onto I-75, I-95 or Florida's Turnpike for Tampa, Orlando and South Florida. Because it stays south of the high mountain passes, winter closures are uncommon; the usual friction is heat and wind across Arizona and New Mexico and tropical weather on the Gulf side.
California end. Expect mild coastal weather but snow on the Sierra passes in winter; I-5 and Highway 99 run the length of the Central Valley, and I-15 and I-10 cross the desert.
Florida end. Expect afternoon thunderstorms and hurricane season from June to November; I-95, I-75 and the tolled Florida's Turnpike carry most traffic.
Timing and Seasonality
Incoming traffic to Florida is heaviest from late fall through spring when winter residents arrive, and carriers price those lanes accordingly. Hurricane season, June through November, can delay deliveries at the Florida end by several days. Late spring and early fall are usually the calmest windows to ship.
Every California Pickup City
From Fresno, CA
Central Valley city on Highway 99, a farm-belt freight stop between Los Angeles and the Bay Area. All routes from Fresno →
| To | Distance | Open | Enclosed | Transit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jacksonville, FL | ~2,648 mi | $1,060–$1,590 | $1,535–$2,305 | 4–7 days |
| Tampa, FL | ~2,674 mi | $1,070–$1,605 | $1,550–$2,325 | 4–7 days |
| Orlando, FL | ~2,724 mi | $1,090–$1,635 | $1,580–$2,370 | 5–8 days |
| Miami, FL | ~2,883 mi | $1,155–$1,730 | $1,675–$2,510 | 5–8 days |
| Fort Lauderdale, FL | ~2,893 mi | $1,155–$1,735 | $1,675–$2,515 | 5–8 days |
From Los Angeles, CA
The West Coast's largest auto-import and relocation market, with I-5, I-10 and I-405 and very deep carrier supply. All routes from Los Angeles →
| To | Distance | Open | Enclosed | Transit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jacksonville, FL | ~2,550 mi | $1,020–$1,530 | $1,480–$2,220 | 4–7 days |
| Tampa, FL | ~2,558 mi | $1,025–$1,535 | $1,485–$2,225 | 4–7 days |
| Orlando, FL | ~2,616 mi | $1,045–$1,570 | $1,515–$2,275 | 4–7 days |
| Fort Lauderdale, FL | ~2,772 mi | $1,110–$1,665 | $1,610–$2,415 | 5–8 days |
| Miami, FL | ~2,780 mi | $1,110–$1,670 | $1,610–$2,420 | 5–8 days |
From Sacramento, CA
California's capital at the I-5/I-80 junction, a gateway to the Sierra and Bay Area. All routes from Sacramento →
| To | Distance | Open | Enclosed | Transit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jacksonville, FL | ~2,762 mi | $1,105–$1,655 | $1,600–$2,400 | 5–8 days |
| Tampa, FL | ~2,799 mi | $1,120–$1,680 | $1,625–$2,435 | 5–8 days |
| Orlando, FL | ~2,845 mi | $1,140–$1,705 | $1,655–$2,470 | 5–8 days |
| Miami, FL | ~3,018 mi | $1,210–$1,810 | $1,755–$2,625 | 5–8 days |
| Fort Lauderdale, FL | ~3,020 mi | $1,210–$1,810 | $1,755–$2,625 | 5–8 days |
From San Diego, CA
Major Navy and Marine hub on I-5/I-8/I-15 and one of the most active military-relocation lanes. All routes from San Diego →
| To | Distance | Open | Enclosed | Transit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tampa, FL | ~2,482 mi | $1,240–$1,735 | $1,800–$2,515 | 4–7 days |
| Jacksonville, FL | ~2,485 mi | $1,240–$1,740 | $1,800–$2,525 | 4–7 days |
| Orlando, FL | ~2,543 mi | $1,015–$1,525 | $1,470–$2,210 | 4–7 days |
| Miami, FL | ~2,679 mi | $1,070–$1,610 | $1,550–$2,335 | 4–7 days |
| Fort Lauderdale, FL | ~2,693 mi | $1,075–$1,615 | $1,560–$2,340 | 4–7 days |
From San Francisco, CA
Peninsula city with steep, narrow streets where large trucks often meet customers at a nearby lot. All routes from San Francisco →
| To | Distance | Open | Enclosed | Transit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jacksonville, FL | ~2,820 mi | $1,130–$1,690 | $1,640–$2,450 | 5–8 days |
| Tampa, FL | ~2,852 mi | $1,140–$1,710 | $1,655–$2,480 | 5–8 days |
| Orlando, FL | ~2,900 mi | $1,160–$1,740 | $1,680–$2,525 | 5–8 days |
| Fort Lauderdale, FL | ~3,073 mi | $1,230–$1,845 | $1,785–$2,675 | 5–9 days |
| Miami, FL | ~3,083 mi | $1,235–$1,850 | $1,790–$2,680 | 5–9 days |
From San Jose, CA
Silicon Valley hub on I-280/I-880 with heavy tech-relocation demand. All routes from San Jose →
| To | Distance | Open | Enclosed | Transit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jacksonville, FL | ~2,786 mi | $1,115–$1,670 | $1,615–$2,420 | 5–8 days |
| Tampa, FL | ~2,814 mi | $1,125–$1,690 | $1,630–$2,450 | 5–8 days |
| Orlando, FL | ~2,864 mi | $1,145–$1,720 | $1,660–$2,495 | 5–8 days |
| Miami, FL | ~3,023 mi | $1,210–$1,815 | $1,755–$2,630 | 5–8 days |
| Fort Lauderdale, FL | ~3,034 mi | $1,215–$1,820 | $1,760–$2,640 | 5–8 days |
Florida Destination Cities
- Fort Lauderdale, FL. South Florida port and snowbird destination on I-95/I-595, busy every fall and spring.
- Jacksonville, FL. North Florida port and Navy hub on I-10/I-95 with a large auto-import terminal.
- Miami, FL. Snowbird and relocation magnet with a major port, a surge of northbound traffic in spring and southbound in fall.
- Orlando, FL. Central Florida tourism and relocation hub on I-4, very busy in snowbird season.
- Tampa, FL. Gulf Coast snowbird and port city on I-4/I-275 with hurricane-season exposure.
Registration and Paperwork
Florida requires a VIN verification when an out-of-state vehicle is titled and registered for the first time, and new residents are expected to register promptly after arriving, so have the car delivered to an address where you can complete the inspection. Confirm current requirements with the Florida DHSMV before you ship.
How Shipping Works on This Corridor
- Request quotes. Enter your California pickup and Florida drop-off and compare matched carriers; start about four weeks ahead for the best availability.
- Choose open or enclosed. Open is $1,015–$1,850; enclosed is $1,470–$2,680 and suits luxury, classic or low cars.
- Schedule pickup. Offer a three to five day window so dispatch can place your car on a truck heading to Florida.
- Inspect and load. Walk around the car with the driver, note existing marks on the bill of lading and take dated photos.
- In transit. Allow 4–9 days on the road once the car is loaded; the driver will call before arrival.
- Inspect and sign. Check the car against the bill of lading before paying the driver and signing.
How to Pay Less
- Starting from Los Angeles instead of San Francisco saves about $145 on average on this corridor.
- Delivering to Orlando rather than Fort Lauderdale saves about $83 on average.
- A flexible three to five day pickup window usually matters more than any single city choice on a lane of 2,482–3,083 miles.
- Quotes that seem far below the others often come from brokers who later raise the price; compare several and verify each carrier's MC number at safer.fmcsa.dot.gov.