State-to-state route
California to Florida car shipping
In October 2026, an open-carrier sedan from California to Florida typically costs $1,405–$1,745 for the 2,593-mile Los Angeles to Orlando run, with 6 to 9 days in transit after pickup. Nearly the whole trip follows I-10, which starts in Santa Monica and ends in Jacksonville, crossing Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama on the way. Source: HaulFare price model, October 2026 edition.
Updated October 2026
$1,365–$1,840
Open carrier, sedan, across 12 metro pairs, October 2026
2,593 mi
Los Angeles to Orlando
1–5 days
pickup window
6–9 days
in transit
How much does it cost to ship a car from California to Florida?
2,593 miles hub to hub · October 2026 · estimates for door-to-door service, carrier pay and broker fee included.
| Vehicle | Open carrier | Enclosed |
|---|---|---|
| Sedan | $1,405–$1,745 | $1,990–$2,475 |
| Small SUV / crossover | $1,515–$1,885 | $2,150–$2,675 |
| Full-size SUV | $1,685–$2,095 | $2,390–$2,975 |
| Pickup truck | $1,710–$2,130 | $2,430–$3,025 |
HaulFare price model 2026.09-seed, October 2026. Ranges, not quotes; the licensed transport partner confirms the actual price.
City pairs on this route
| City pair | Miles | Open carrier | Enclosed |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego → Tampa | 2,461 | $1,365–$1,695 | $1,935–$2,410 |
| San Diego → Jacksonville | 2,463 | $1,365–$1,695 | $1,935–$2,410 |
| San Diego → Orlando | 2,521 | $1,375–$1,715 | $1,955–$2,430 |
| Los Angeles → Jacksonville | 2,529 | $1,380–$1,720 | $1,960–$2,435 |
| Los Angeles → Tampa | 2,536 | $1,380–$1,720 | $1,960–$2,440 |
| Los Angeles → Orlando | 2,593 | $1,405–$1,745 | $1,990–$2,475 |
| San Diego → Miami | 2,677 | $1,430–$1,780 | $2,035–$2,530 |
| Sacramento → Jacksonville | 2,738 | $1,455–$1,810 | $2,060–$2,565 |
| Los Angeles → Miami | 2,756 | $1,460–$1,815 | $2,070–$2,575 |
| Sacramento → Tampa | 2,775 | $1,465–$1,820 | $2,080–$2,585 |
| San Francisco → Jacksonville | 2,797 | $1,470–$1,830 | $2,090–$2,600 |
| Sacramento → Orlando | 2,821 | $1,480–$1,840 | $2,100–$2,615 |
Sedan, October 2026. Distances are road estimates between city centres.
When is it cheapest to ship a car from California to Florida?
Jan
$1,510
Feb
$1,495
Mar
$1,555
Apr
$1,605
May
$1,650
Jun
$1,718
Jul
$1,733
Aug
$1,683
Sep
$1,605
Oct (October 2026)
$1,575
Nov
$1,543
Dec
$1,555
- October 2026
- Yearly average
Show as a table
| Month | Price (midpoint) |
|---|---|
| Jan | $1,510 |
| Feb | $1,495 |
| Mar | $1,555 |
| Apr | $1,605 |
| May | $1,650 |
| Jun | $1,718 |
| Jul | $1,733 |
| Aug | $1,683 |
| Sep | $1,605 |
| Oct | $1,575 |
| Nov | $1,543 |
| Dec | $1,555 |
Sedan, open carrier, midpoint of the range; columns rise above or fall below the lane's yearly average. Includes the national seasonal index and snowbird direction adjustment for this lane.
Route notes
By HaulFare Research Team. Car shipping price research. Updated Oct 1, 2026
The corridor
Almost all of this lane is I-10. From Los Angeles, trucks cross the Colorado River at Blythe and run through Phoenix, El Paso and San Antonio to Houston. East of Houston the highway follows the Gulf through Baton Rouge, Mobile, Pensacola and Tallahassee. A Jacksonville car can stay on I-10 until it ends at I-95, while Orlando and Tampa cars usually turn south on I-75 at Lake City.
Florida-bound trailers come together in the Inland Empire around Ontario and Fontana, and yours may share the truck with cars bound for Houston or Baton Rouge.
A carrier ending in Florida in the fall expects thin outbound loads until seasonal residents head north, and prices that weak return into the delivery. From late winter on, it expects full northbound trailers out of Florida, so an eastbound California car is easy to place.
Timing and season
February is typically the cheapest month on this lane and July the most expensive. California sends few snowbirds to Florida, but carriers still position trucks to catch the spring rush of cars leaving Florida. Summer adds household moves and military transfers between San Diego and bases like Pensacola and Mayport.
Atlantic hurricane season runs June through November, and its busiest weeks fall in late summer and early fall. A storm anywhere from Lake Charles to Pensacola can close I-10 or fill it with evacuation traffic, and carriers may hold cars in Texas until it passes. In Louisiana, the elevated Atchafalaya Basin Bridge has no quick detour when a crash blocks it. Desert heat from Blythe to Tucson is hard on tires, and Arizona monsoon storms can raise dust walls into September. Winter snow closures are rare on I-10.
Pickup and delivery in California and Florida
Southern California pickups go fastest near I-10, I-15 or SR-60, where a 75-foot rig can pull into a large retail lot without leaving the truck route. Palm Springs sits right on the path east, but its gated golf communities bar big trucks. San Diego cars usually leave on I-8, and beach areas like Pacific Beach have little room for a hauler. Expect the driver within 1 to 5 days of your first available date. Wash the car so marks show at inspection, empty the trunk, and name a Florida contact who can meet the truck.
Many Orlando deliveries land in planned communities such as Lake Nona and Celebration, where HOA rules keep large trucks off residential streets. Drivers prefer lots near I-4 or US-192 over Central Florida toll expressway exits, where a multi-axle truck pays by the axle. Summer afternoon lightning can pause unloading.
What moves the price on this lane
In October 2026, an open-carrier sedan from Los Angeles to Orlando typically costs $1,405 to $1,745. An SUV typically runs $1,685 to $2,095, a pickup $1,710 to $2,130, and an enclosed sedan $1,990 to $2,475. Ending in Jacksonville or Tampa trims little: Los Angeles to Tampa typically costs $1,380 to $1,720. San Diego to Orlando is about 70 miles shorter and typically runs $1,375 to $1,715.
At this length fuel is a large share of every quote, and California diesel usually costs more than diesel in the Gulf states. Enclosed slots are scarce on a run this long, so book enclosed early. Winching a car that will not start adds $150 in our model, and a pickup far from the interstate can add up to $175. HaulFare researches these I-10 prices and forwards quote requests to a licensed auto transport broker, which confirms the price and books the cross-country carrier. A reputable broker takes no deposit before that carrier is assigned, so ask for its MC number and check it on FMCSA before your car leaves California.
Lane facts
- Carriers ride I-10 almost end to end, from the Los Angeles basin through Phoenix, El Paso, San Antonio, Houston, Baton Rouge and Mobile, with Orlando and Tampa cars turning south on I-75 at Lake City.
- Florida-bound loads fill in the Inland Empire and San Diego and break down in Jacksonville, Orlando, Tampa and South Florida, and a trailer often carries Texas or Louisiana cars that come off along the way.
- Demand for eastbound slots to Florida tends to bottom out in February, when carriers want to be in Florida for the spring snowbird exodus, and tops out in July with summer relocations.
- Federal hours-of-service rules cap a truck driver at 11 hours of driving per day, which is why even a direct truck needs 6 to 9 days to cover 2,593 miles.
Related routes
Sources
- FMCSA: Summary of hours-of-service regulations (11-hour driving limit), fmcsa.dot.gov
- Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles: Form HSMV 82042, VIN and odometer verification, flhsmv.gov
- National Hurricane Center: Tropical cyclone climatology (June 1 to November 30 season), nhc.noaa.gov
- HaulFare car shipping cost guide and model methodology, haulfare.com
California to Florida FAQ
How much does it cost to ship a car from California to Florida?
In October 2026 an open-carrier sedan typically costs $1,405 to $1,745 from Los Angeles to Orlando. An SUV typically runs $1,685 to $2,095, a pickup $1,710 to $2,130, and an enclosed sedan $1,990 to $2,475. From San Diego, Tampa is about 2,461 miles away and typically $1,365 to $1,695.
How long does it take to ship a car from California to Florida?
Most cars spend 6 to 9 days on the road after loading, since a driver can only log so many hours a day across 2,593 miles. The 1 to 5 day pickup window comes first, so the full span from your first available date to delivery is typically 7 to 14 days.
What is the cheapest month to ship a car from California to Florida?
February is typically the cheapest month on this lane, and July is typically the most expensive. In late winter carriers are happy to head to Florida, because they expect plenty of northbound snowbird cars to haul out in spring. In July, summer moves push quotes toward the top of each range.
Can a carrier pick up my car in the Bay Area instead of Los Angeles?
Yes, but it adds roughly 380 miles down I-5 before the truck reaches the I-10 corridor, so expect a longer pickup window. San Francisco hills and narrow streets in neighborhoods like Russian Hill and Noe Valley rarely fit a loaded 75-foot hauler, so drivers usually meet owners at a large lot near I-80 or I-880 in the East Bay.
What paperwork does Florida need after my car arrives from California?
Florida requires a VIN verification for a car titled in another state, done on form HSMV 82042 by a law enforcement officer, a Florida notary or a licensed dealer. You also need proof of Florida insurance before the county tax collector will register the car. The carrier only moves the vehicle, so the title and registration steps stay with you.
