Seasonal lane
From $950 · 3–5 days · Door-to-door on I-75
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Price by vehicle
Ranges come from carrier quotes received on the Michigan to Florida lane, last checked September 12, 2026. Your firm price depends on the exact addresses and dates.
No deposit until a carrier is assigned.
| Vehicle | Open carrier | Enclosed carrier |
|---|---|---|
| Sedan / coupe | $950 – $1,350 | $1,350 – $1,950 |
| SUV / crossover | $1,075 – $1,500 | $1,500 – $2,175 |
| Pickup truck | $1,150 – $1,625 | $1,625 – $2,350 |
| Van / minivan | $1,200 – $1,700 | $1,700 – $2,450 |
| Motorcycle | $750 – $1,075 | $1,075 – $1,550 |
What moves the price: the season (peak months run 5–10% higher), whether the vehicle runs (winch loading adds about $150), how flexible your pickup window is (a 3–5 day window beats a fixed date), and modifications such as lift kits or oversized tires.
No other snowbird lane is as simple. I-75 begins at the Canadian border in Sault Ste. Marie, runs through the Detroit suburbs and Toledo, and ends at Alligator Alley in South Florida, and a car hauler can run the whole trip without leaving it. That is why Michigan's winter residents are so concentrated on the Gulf Coast: Tampa, Sarasota, Fort Myers and Naples are all on or just off the highway.
The lane is busy from October to January and again in spring, and steady in between with relocations, students and the cars Michigan's auctions sell to Florida buyers every week. Pickup in metro Detroit is quick and priced in the middle of the national range; western and northern Michigan take a little longer. The quote form above is set to the lane; add your vehicle and a specialist calls with a firm carrier price within business hours.
Seasonality
Peak demand runs October–January. Booking ahead of the peak keeps your price at the lower end of the range.
Outlined bar is the current month. Amber months are when carrier space sells out first.
The season starts in early October and peaks from November through Christmas. Weather pushes it earlier than the Northeast: many Michiganders want the car gone before the first real snow, so late October is already busy. A shipment booked with a week's notice in that window is at the top of the range; two to three weeks of lead time with a three-day pickup window brings it down.
Late February through April is the cheapest southbound window, when the trucks are running to collect the spring return. Summer is steady. The winter variable is snow and cold: lake-effect bands off Lake Michigan on the west side and a deep cold snap anywhere can hold a pickup by a day or two, and a car that will not start in the cold becomes a winch job.
On the ground
Carriers pick up and deliver anywhere in these regions; addresses outside them are quoted on request.
A truck loads across the Detroit suburbs, Oakland and Macomb counties in a morning, Wayne and Ann Arbor in the afternoon, then runs I-75 through Toledo, Dayton, Cincinnati, Lexington, Knoxville, Chattanooga and Atlanta. Grand Rapids and Lansing cars join at I-96 and I-69. Drivers cover 450 to 550 miles a day and cross into Florida late on the second day or early on the third.
Because I-75 arrives on the Gulf side, Tampa and Sarasota are first, then Fort Myers, Bonita Springs and Naples. Orlando is a detour on I-4 and is usually delivered before the Gulf Coast if it is on the load. Miami and Fort Lauderdale come last across Alligator Alley.
A key, a quarter tank, personal items under about 100 pounds, and photographs of every panel and the odometer before the driver arrives. Clear the driveway if it has snowed. Start the car that morning. Keep your copy of the bill of lading to compare at delivery.
Timeline
Most shipments on this lane are complete 4–8 days after booking. Expedited pickup shortens the front end.
Day 0
Confirm your route, vehicle and first available pickup date.
1–3 days
A licensed carrier accepts the load; you get the name, DOT number and insurance certificate.
Agreed window
Driver inspects the car with you and both of you sign the bill of lading.
3–5 days
About 1,250 miles at 400–500 miles per driving day, with stops for other customers.
Driver calls ahead
Inspect against the pickup report, sign, and pay the carrier the balance.
Open vs enclosed
Michigan salts hard from December through March, and I-75 through Ohio and Kentucky is the same, so a car with paint you care about making a January run is the case for an enclosed trailer at 40 to 60 percent more. A daily driver that is going to be washed in Florida anyway ships open, which is what most customers on this lane do.
Most popularSedan on this route · Baseline price
PremiumSedan on this route · 40–60% more than open
City pairs
The same lane priced to and from the individual metros. Each row links to the city guide with pickup notes for that area.
| City pair | Road miles | Open carrier | Enclosed | On the truck |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit to Tampa | 1,180 mi | $925 – $1,300 | $1,325 – $1,900 | 3–5 days |
| Detroit to Miami | 1,410 mi | $1,075 – $1,525 | $1,550 – $2,225 | 4–6 days |
| Detroit to Orlando | 1,168 mi | $875 – $1,275 | $1,300 – $1,850 | 3–5 days |
| Detroit to Fort Lauderdale | 1,381 mi | $1,050 – $1,500 | $1,525 – $2,175 | 3–5 days |
| Detroit to Jacksonville | 1,016 mi | $800 – $1,150 | $1,150 – $1,675 | 3–5 days |
| Detroit to Naples | 1,368 mi | $1,050 – $1,500 | $1,500 – $2,150 | 3–5 days |
| Grand Rapids to Miami | 1,497 mi | $1,125 – $1,625 | $1,650 – $2,375 | 4–6 days |
Running sedan on a flexible pickup window. City rows are priced from road miles on the same curve as the lane range above; SUVs add about 12%, pickups 20%.
Metro Detroit is easy. Drivers go to the door across Oakland, Macomb and western Wayne counties, Ann Arbor and the Downriver suburbs, anywhere a 75-foot truck can turn. Inside Detroit itself and in the denser parts of Royal Oak, Ferndale and Dearborn the driver usually names a lot on a main road. Detroit Metro Airport is a common handover for people flying out the same day, using the hotel lots along Merriman Road.
Grand Rapids, Holland, Kalamazoo and the west side are served weekly, usually with a meeting point off I-96 or US-131 for anything inside the city. Lansing and Flint are on I-69 and I-75 and collected regularly. Traverse City, Petoskey and the northern Lower Peninsula take longer to assign and cost a little more; a meeting point in Gaylord or Grayling on I-75 helps. The Upper Peninsula is served but slowly, and a drive to the bridge is often the practical answer.
At the Florida end, the Gulf Coast destinations Michiganders favor, Naples, Bonita Springs, Estero, Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Sarasota, Venice and Bradenton, are largely gated and most restrict commercial trucks. The driver meets you at the visitor gate or a plaza nearby and you drive the last stretch. It is routine and does not change the price.
A key and a photo ID are all the driver needs at pickup. No title, and no lender approval to ship a financed car domestically. If the car is coming from an auction lot near Detroit or Flint, book the day the sale closes and give your specialist the lot's release process.
After delivery
Shipping to Florida: the paperwork Florida asks of a new resident, so you can book the DMV visit for the week the car lands rather than discover it at the counter.
Register within 30 days of establishing residency, taking a job or enrolling children in school.
VIN and odometer verification is required for a vehicle titled out of state (form HSMV 82042), completed by a law-enforcement officer, a licensed Florida dealer or a notary; it can be done before the car ships or after it arrives.
No periodic safety or emissions inspection.
Proof of Florida insurance is required before the county tax collector will register the car. Bring the out-of-state title.
Source: Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) . Checked September 15, 2026. Deadlines and inspection rules change; confirm on the official page before you go.
Related
Pickup state
I-75 runs straight from Detroit to Florida, which is why Michigan is one of the smoothest snowbird origins.
State guideDelivery state
The busiest inbound car shipping state in the country, from October through January.
State guideQuestions
Not covered here? A specialist can answer route-specific questions in a couple of minutes.
888-706-8784$950–$1,350 for a running sedan on an open carrier and $1,350–$1,950 enclosed. Metro Detroit is the cheapest pickup in the state; Grand Rapids and Lansing are close behind, and the northern Lower Peninsula adds for the detour.
Three to five days on the truck for a straight I-75 run. Detroit cars are typically in Georgia on day two and on the Gulf Coast on day three or four. Add one to five days for a carrier to reach you.
Very nearly. I-75 runs from the Detroit suburbs through Toledo, Cincinnati, Knoxville and Atlanta straight to Tampa and Naples. It is the most direct snowbird lane in the country.
Yes, but expect a longer wait and a higher price; few trucks cross the bridge. A meeting point in Gaylord or Grayling on I-75 usually saves both time and money.
Late February through April, when the trucks are heading south to collect the spring return. November and December are the most expensive.
Carriers wait out heavy snow at no charge and reschedule a day or two later. Have the driveway cleared and start the car in the morning so it loads under its own power.
Yes; Michigan auctions ship to Florida constantly. Give your specialist the lot's release process and book the day you win, because storage fees start after a few days.
Guides
10 min read
Book southbound shipments 2–3 weeks before you fly, ideally before mid-October. Expect $900–$1,450 open from the Northeast or Midwest to Florida and 3–6 days in transit. Reverse the plan in late March.
Read the guide
7 min read
Most shipments deliver 1–3 days after pickup for under 500 miles, 3–5 days for 1,000–1,500 miles and 7–10 days coast to coast. Add 1–5 days for the carrier to be assigned and reach you.
Read the guide
7 min read
Wash the car, photograph every panel, leave a quarter tank of fuel, remove personal items and toll tags, fold in mirrors, note existing damage on the Bill of Lading, and hand over one set of keys.
Read the guideCarriers on this lane are quoting $950–$1,350 for a running sedan. Lock in a pickup window in about a minute.
Average response time under 5 minutes during business hours (Mon–Sun 7am–9pm ET).
Last updated September 12, 2026 · Written by the AutoShippingUS Editorial Team · Reviewed by Christofer Whiteman, Editor · Industry review by Sarah Williams, Independent auto transport consultant, 20 years in the industry
