Seasonal lane
From $850 · 3–5 days · Door-to-door on I-95 and I-79 and I-77
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Price by vehicle
Ranges come from carrier quotes received on the Pennsylvania 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 | $850 – $1,250 | $1,225 – $1,800 |
| SUV / crossover | $950 – $1,400 | $1,375 – $2,025 |
| Pickup truck | $1,025 – $1,500 | $1,475 – $2,150 |
| Van / minivan | $1,075 – $1,575 | $1,525 – $2,250 |
| Motorcycle | $675 – $1,000 | $975 – $1,450 |
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.
Pennsylvania feeds Florida from both ends of the state. Philadelphia, Bucks and Montgomery counties, the Lehigh Valley and Harrisburg ship down the I-95 corridor with the rest of the Northeast; Pittsburgh and the western counties ship down I-79 and I-77 through the Carolinas, sharing trucks with Ohio. The two flows meet in Florida, where Pennsylvanians cluster on the Gulf Coast around Fort Myers, Naples and Sarasota, around Orlando, and on the Atlantic side in Fort Lauderdale and the Palm Beach communities.
That geography matters for price and timing. Philadelphia-area pickups are among the cheapest in the Northeast because a truck already loading in New Jersey can add a stop on the way south. Pittsburgh pickups cost a little more and take a day longer, but the lane runs steadily all year because Ohio and West Virginia share it. This page covers both, with the differences called out where they matter. The form above is set to the lane; add your vehicle for a range.
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.
Retirees drive this lane's season. Southbound bookings climb from the first week of October, peak in November and December and fall off after New Year. In those weeks a car booked with a week's notice pays the top of the range and a fixed single date costs more again. Two to three weeks of lead time with a three-day window is the difference.
From late February to April, the trucks that carried snowbirds south are collecting them for the trip north, and southbound space is cheap. A relocation or a purchase that can wait for that window saves several hundred dollars.
Summer is family moves and university traffic at steady prices. Winter weather matters more on the Pittsburgh side: snow on I-79 through West Virginia or on the Turnpike over the Alleghenies can hold a pickup for a day in January.
On the ground
Carriers pick up and deliver anywhere in these regions; addresses outside them are quoted on request.
From Philadelphia the truck joins I-95 at the Delaware line, runs through Baltimore and the Washington Beltway, then Richmond, the Carolinas and Georgia. Lehigh Valley and Harrisburg pickups reach I-95 via I-78 and I-83. Trucks make Jacksonville on the third day and the Gulf Coast or South Florida on the fourth.
From Pittsburgh, I-79 south to Charleston, then I-77 down through the Virginias and North Carolina to Columbia, and I-26 to I-95 at the South Carolina coast. It is a shorter, quieter road than the Beltway route and drivers like it. Erie, Johnstown and Altoona are collected on the way.
Both routes are door-to-door: the driver stops as close to your address as a 75-foot truck can safely park. Have a key, a quarter tank, the E-ZPass out of the windshield, and belongings under about 100 pounds. Photograph the car before pickup and keep 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 1,100 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
The Turnpike over the mountains and I-79 through West Virginia are salted from December to March, and a car making that run in midwinter with paint you care about is the case for enclosed transport. For everything else, open is what most Pennsylvanians choose and the saving is 40 to 60 percent.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia to Fort Lauderdale | 1,190 mi | $900 – $1,275 | $1,300 – $1,850 | 3–5 days |
| Philadelphia to Miami | 1,246 mi | $975 – $1,400 | $1,400 – $2,050 | 3–5 days |
| Philadelphia to Orlando | 1,054 mi | $825 – $1,200 | $1,175 – $1,750 | 3–5 days |
| Philadelphia to Tampa | 1,132 mi | $875 – $1,275 | $1,275 – $1,850 | 3–5 days |
| Philadelphia to Jacksonville | 925 mi | $850 – $1,225 | $1,225 – $1,800 | 2–4 days |
| Philadelphia to Naples | 1,254 mi | $975 – $1,425 | $1,425 – $2,050 | 3–5 days |
| Pittsburgh to Miami | 1,237 mi | $975 – $1,400 | $1,400 – $2,025 | 3–5 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%.
Philadelphia's suburbs, the Main Line, Bucks and Montgomery counties, Delaware County and the Northeast are all direct to your door where a truck can turn. Center City, South Philadelphia, Fishtown and the rowhouse neighborhoods are not, and the driver will propose a lot near an I-95 exit, the Blue Route or the Roosevelt Boulevard. Philadelphia International is an easy handover for anyone flying out; the hotel lots on Island Avenue work well.
Pittsburgh's hills and narrow streets make the driver's choice of meeting point more important. Cranberry, Monroeville, Robinson and the South Hills are simple; Squirrel Hill, the North Side and anything on a steep street usually means a lot on a main road. Harrisburg, Lancaster, York, Allentown, Bethlehem, Reading, Scranton and Wilkes-Barre are all served regularly, most often with a pickup near an I-81 or I-78 interchange. State College and the northern tier take a few days longer to assign.
At the Florida end, the Gulf Coast destinations Pennsylvanians favor, Fort Myers, Naples, Bonita Springs, Sarasota and Venice, are largely gated. The driver meets you outside the gate or at the community's commercial entrance and you drive the last half mile. Orlando and The Villages are the same in the larger developments. Fort Lauderdale, Boca and the Palm Beaches likewise. None of this changes the price.
Nothing more than a key and a photo ID is needed at pickup; no title, no lender letter for a financed car. If the car is coming from a dealer or an auction in Pennsylvania, tell your specialist and the pickup will be timed to the seller's hours.
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
Two very different markets: Philadelphia rides the I-95 lane, Pittsburgh feeds the I-79/I-77 corridor south.
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$850–$1,250 for a running sedan on an open carrier and $1,225–$1,800 enclosed. Philadelphia and the Lehigh Valley sit at the low end because they are on the I-95 corridor; Pittsburgh and central Pennsylvania a little higher because the truck routes down I-79 and I-77 instead.
Three to five days on the truck. Philadelphia-area cars usually reach Jacksonville on day three; Pittsburgh cars take a day longer on the western route through the Carolinas. Add one to five days for pickup.
I-79 south to Charleston, I-77 through the Virginias and the Carolinas to Columbia, then I-26 and I-95 into Florida. It is about 1,000 miles and avoids the Beltway entirely.
In the Northeast, the Main Line and the suburbs, usually yes. In Center City, South Philly and the rowhouse neighborhoods the streets are too narrow; the driver will meet you at a lot near I-95 or the Blue Route.
Fuel, two nights of hotels and meals for the 1,100-mile drive cost about half the shipping price, and you lose three days. Most customers on this lane ship the car and fly, especially if they would otherwise drive alone.
February through April, when southbound trucks run light. Mid-November through the holidays is the most expensive, and a fixed date in that window costs more again.
Yes, with a longer wait. A pickup in the Poconos, State College or the northern tier may take a few extra days to assign. A meeting point on I-80 or I-81 shortens it.
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 $850–$1,250 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
