State-to-state route
Florida to California car shipping
In October 2026, a sedan on an open carrier from Florida to California typically costs $1,405–$1,745 across the 2,593 miles from Orlando to Los Angeles, with 6 to 9 days in transit after loading. San Diego deliveries run slightly cheaper, because trucks leave I-10 at Casa Grande, Arizona, and take the shorter I-8 through Yuma. 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
Orlando to Los Angeles
1–5 days
pickup window
6–9 days
in transit
How much does it cost to ship a car from Florida to California?
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tampa → San Diego | 2,461 | $1,365–$1,695 | $1,935–$2,410 |
| Jacksonville → San Diego | 2,463 | $1,365–$1,695 | $1,935–$2,410 |
| Orlando → San Diego | 2,521 | $1,375–$1,715 | $1,955–$2,430 |
| Jacksonville → Los Angeles | 2,529 | $1,380–$1,720 | $1,960–$2,435 |
| Tampa → Los Angeles | 2,536 | $1,380–$1,720 | $1,960–$2,440 |
| Orlando → Los Angeles | 2,593 | $1,405–$1,745 | $1,990–$2,475 |
| Miami → San Diego | 2,677 | $1,430–$1,780 | $2,035–$2,530 |
| Jacksonville → Sacramento | 2,738 | $1,455–$1,810 | $2,060–$2,565 |
| Miami → Los Angeles | 2,756 | $1,460–$1,815 | $2,070–$2,575 |
| Tampa → Sacramento | 2,775 | $1,465–$1,820 | $2,080–$2,585 |
| Jacksonville → San Francisco | 2,797 | $1,470–$1,830 | $2,090–$2,600 |
| Orlando → Sacramento | 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 Florida to California?
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
The starting city decides the first leg. Jacksonville cars join I-10 where it begins at I-95, while Orlando, Tampa and Fort Myers cars climb I-75 to the Lake City junction.
From there, trucks cross the Panhandle through Tallahassee and Pensacola, and many take I-12 from Slidell to Baton Rouge to avoid New Orleans traffic. The run continues through Houston, San Antonio, El Paso and Tucson. At Casa Grande, Arizona, San Diego cars turn onto I-8 through Yuma, while Los Angeles cars stay on I-10 past Phoenix into the Inland Empire.
Westbound trailers usually fill in Orlando and Tampa, sometimes adding a Houston car on the way. California-based trucks want paying cars for the drive home, and a Florida car fills that return space.
Timing and season
February is typically the cheapest month to ship a car from Florida to California, and July is typically the most expensive. The snowbird cycle still sets truck supply in Florida. From October through December, carriers unload snowbird cars and hunt for any load leaving the state, so a westbound car moves against the flow. From March through May, northbound snowbird cars keep Florida trucks busy, and a California car competes for space. Summer relocations push July quotes higher.
Atlantic hurricane season runs June through November, with its peak around September, and here the risk is at the pickup end. If a storm threatens Tampa Bay or the Atlantic coast, keep your first available date flexible and park the car on high ground. July brings the hottest desert miles across Arizona. Fall Santa Ana winds can fuel wildfires that shut Los Angeles freeways, and winter snow sometimes closes I-5 over the Grapevine for Bay Area deliveries.
Pickup and delivery in Florida and California
Near International Drive and the Kissimmee resort strip, tourist traffic on I-4 pushes drivers toward early meetings at big lots. Miami condo towers in Brickell and Miami Beach have no room for a trailer, so drivers meet owners near I-95 or the Palmetto Expressway. Expect the truck within 1 to 5 days of your first available date. Leave about a quarter tank, pull any removable SunPass or E-PASS transponder, and give the driver all keys and fobs.
In Orange County, HOAs in Irvine and Mission Viejo limit big trucks, and drivers avoid the SR-73 and SR-241 toll roads. Hillside streets in Silver Lake and the Hollywood Hills are too steep for a 75-foot hauler, while the flat, wide streets of the San Fernando Valley suit curbside delivery. Have someone at the drop-off to check the car against the pickup photos before signing the bill of lading.
What moves the price on this lane
In October 2026, Orlando to Los Angeles typically quotes $1,405 to $1,745 for a sedan on an open trailer. SUVs typically come in at $1,685 to $2,095, full-size pickups at $1,710 to $2,130, and enclosed sedans at $1,990 to $2,475. San Diego is the cheaper end: Tampa to San Diego and Jacksonville to San Diego both typically run $1,365 to $1,695.
Miami, Naples and Keys pickups add several hundred miles before the truck reaches I-10, so they usually quote higher than Orlando. Only tractors that meet California’s diesel emission rules can make the delivery, which trims the carrier pool. A non-running car adds $150 in our model for the winch, and a rural pickup far from the interstate can add up to $175. HaulFare is a price guide, not a broker, and a Florida quote request goes to one licensed auto transport broker, who books the westbound carrier. Before paying a deposit, ask which carrier is assigned and request its cargo insurance certificate, since limits and exclusions vary.
Lane facts
- Westbound trucks join I-10 at Jacksonville or reach it at Lake City on I-75, often skip New Orleans on I-12 between Slidell and Baton Rouge, and split at Casa Grande, Arizona, where San Diego cars take I-8.
- Florida to California trailers usually load in Orlando, Tampa and Jacksonville, sometimes add a Houston car on the way west, and unload in the Inland Empire, greater Los Angeles and San Diego.
- Westbound demand out of Florida is typically lowest in February and highest in July, and in late fall, trucks that hauled snowbird cars south look for any load leaving the state.
- California border stations inspect incoming vehicles for pests, so Florida citrus, potted plants and soil should come out of the car before the carrier arrives.
Related routes
Sources
- National Hurricane Center: Tropical cyclone climatology (June 1 to November 30 season), nhc.noaa.gov
- California Department of Food and Agriculture: Border protection stations, cdfa.ca.gov
- FMCSA: Summary of hours-of-service regulations (11-hour driving limit), fmcsa.dot.gov
- HaulFare car shipping cost guide and model methodology, haulfare.com
Florida to California FAQ
How much does it cost to ship a car from Florida to California?
In October 2026 a sedan on an open trailer from Orlando to Los Angeles typically costs $1,405 to $1,745. SUVs typically run $1,685 to $2,095, pickups $1,710 to $2,130, and enclosed sedans $1,990 to $2,475. Jacksonville to San Diego covers 2,463 miles and typically costs $1,365 to $1,695.
How long does it take to ship a car from Florida to California?
After loading, the car typically spends 6 to 9 days covering the 2,593 miles from Orlando to Los Angeles, because federal hours-of-service rules limit how long each driver can be behind the wheel per day. Add the 1 to 5 day pickup window, and most owners should plan on one to two weeks from their first available date to delivery.
What is the best month to ship a car from Florida to California?
February is typically the cheapest month on this westbound lane, before the spring snowbird rush ties up Florida trucks. July is typically the most expensive, when summer relocations fill trailers. Late fall is often a sensible middle option, since carriers that brought seasonal residents' cars south want loads leaving Florida.
Can a carrier pick up my car at home in Tampa or St. Petersburg?
Often, but narrow streets under low oaks in Hyde Park and Davis Islands, and tight beach roads on St. Pete Beach and Clearwater Beach, can keep a 75-foot hauler away. In those cases the driver meets you at a large lot near I-275 or I-75. Mention gate codes, HOA truck rules and parking limits when you book.
Can I leave Florida citrus or plants in the car when it ships to California?
No. California checks incoming vehicles for pests at its border stations, and Florida citrus is restricted because of citrus greening disease, so remove fruit, potted plants and soil before pickup. Carriers also limit personal items in the car, and their cargo insurance does not cover belongings left inside.
