State-to-state route
Illinois to Florida car shipping
In October 2026, shipping a sedan on an open carrier from Illinois to Florida typically costs $1,125–$1,400 for the 1,164-mile Chicago to Orlando haul, plus 3 to 5 days in transit once loaded. Central Illinois starts closer to the southbound interstates, so a Springfield to Orlando car typically runs $1,075–$1,340 over 1,073 miles. Source: HaulFare price model, October 2026 edition.
Updated October 2026
$1,000–$1,530
Open carrier, sedan, across 8 metro pairs, October 2026
1,164 mi
Chicago to Orlando
1–5 days
pickup window
3–5 days
in transit
How much does it cost to ship a car from Illinois to Florida?
1,164 miles hub to hub · October 2026 · estimates for door-to-door service, carrier pay and broker fee included.
| Vehicle | Open carrier | Enclosed |
|---|---|---|
| Sedan | $1,125–$1,400 | $1,600–$1,990 |
| Small SUV / crossover | $1,215–$1,510 | $1,725–$2,145 |
| Full-size SUV | $1,350–$1,680 | $1,915–$2,385 |
| Pickup truck | $1,375–$1,710 | $1,950–$2,425 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Springfield → Jacksonville | 937 | $1,000–$1,245 | $1,420–$1,765 |
| Chicago → Jacksonville | 1,020 | $1,040–$1,295 | $1,480–$1,840 |
| Springfield → Orlando | 1,073 | $1,075–$1,340 | $1,525–$1,900 |
| Springfield → Tampa | 1,081 | $1,080–$1,345 | $1,530–$1,905 |
| Chicago → Orlando | 1,164 | $1,125–$1,400 | $1,600–$1,990 |
| Chicago → Tampa | 1,187 | $1,140–$1,415 | $1,615–$2,010 |
| Springfield → Miami | 1,314 | $1,195–$1,490 | $1,695–$2,110 |
| Chicago → Miami | 1,406 | $1,230–$1,530 | $1,745–$2,175 |
Sedan, October 2026. Distances are road estimates between city centres.
When is it cheapest to ship a car from Illinois to Florida?
Jan
$1,055
Feb
$1,045
Mar
$1,010
Apr
$1,040
May
$1,070
Jun
$1,195
Jul
$1,208
Aug
$1,178
Sep
$1,123
Oct (October 2026)
$1,263
Nov
$1,238
Dec
$1,253
- October 2026
- Yearly average
Show as a table
| Month | Price (midpoint) |
|---|---|
| Jan | $1,055 |
| Feb | $1,045 |
| Mar | $1,010 |
| Apr | $1,040 |
| May | $1,070 |
| Jun | $1,195 |
| Jul | $1,208 |
| Aug | $1,178 |
| Sep | $1,123 |
| Oct | $1,263 |
| Nov | $1,238 |
| Dec | $1,253 |
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
Two interstates carry most Chicago cars out of Illinois. Some trucks cross Indiana on I-65 through Indianapolis and Louisville to Nashville. Others run I-57 past Kankakee, Champaign and Effingham, pick up I-24 near Marion, and cross western Kentucky to Nashville. Springfield cars usually reach I-57 via I-55 and I-64, Peoria cars via I-74.
From Nashville the path is shared. Trucks take I-24 over Monteagle Mountain to Chattanooga, then I-75 through Atlanta and Macon into Florida. Orlando cars usually leave I-75 at Wildwood for the Florida Turnpike, Tampa and Gulf Coast cars stay on I-75, and Jacksonville cars cut east on I-10 at Lake City.
Loads often build near Joliet and Bolingbrook, close to the I-55 and I-80 interchange. Direction sets the price. Each fall Illinois sends far more cars to Florida than Florida sends back, so a carrier running south in October prices in a thin return trip. In March the flow reverses, and a Chicago car helps pay for a truck going down to collect Midwest-bound snowbird cars.
Timing and season
October is typically the priciest month on this southbound lane, when retirees from the North Shore, the western suburbs and downstate towns ship cars ahead of winter. Demand usually stays high through December. March is typically the cheapest, since trucks heading south then have open decks.
Quotes usually start climbing as that fall run begins in October, so September dates tend to price lower. Weather risk sits at both ends. Hurricane season runs through November, and a Gulf or Atlantic storm can close delivery areas or clog I-75 with evacuation traffic. From December to February, lake-effect snow in northwest Indiana and ice on the Monteagle grade can hold a truck for a day. Summer brings steady job and family moves without the fall spike.
Pickup and delivery in Illinois and Florida
Chicago side streets are tough for a 75-foot hauler. Parked cars line both curbs, many blocks use permit parking, and DuSable Lake Shore Drive bars commercial vehicles. City owners usually meet the driver at a store lot near the Stevenson, the Dan Ryan or the Kennedy. Suburbs like Naperville have wider streets, but some HOAs stop trucks at the entrance. Downstate pickups in Springfield, Peoria and Champaign are simpler.
Carriers typically arrive 1 to 5 days after your ready date. Wash off road salt first, since a gray film hides scratches during the bill of lading inspection. Leave about a quarter tank, empty the trunk and hand over every key.
In Florida, gated golf communities in The Villages, Sarasota, Fort Myers and Naples may turn the truck away, so plan to meet at the gatehouse or a nearby plaza.
What moves the price on this lane
In October 2026 a Chicago to Orlando sedan on an open trailer typically quotes $1,125 to $1,400. SUVs typically run $1,350 to $1,680, pickups $1,375 to $1,710, and enclosed sedans $1,600 to $1,990. Chicago to Tampa covers 1,187 miles at $1,140 to $1,415. Springfield to Jacksonville is the shortest pairing at 937 miles, typically $1,000 to $1,245.
The October surge pushes quotes toward the top of each range. Enclosed carriers are far fewer than open ones, so a fall enclosed booking for a classic car needs extra lead time. A farm address far from I-57 or I-55 can add up to $175, and a car that will not start adds $150 in our model for the winch. HaulFare is a free price guide, and a request sent here is referred to one licensed auto transport broker, who sets the southbound pickup window with you and confirms what the Florida delivery will cost. A reputable broker asks for no deposit until a carrier is assigned, so learn that carrier’s name and look it up on FMCSA before paying.
Lane facts
- Chicago trucks head south on I-65 through Indianapolis and Louisville or on I-57 past Champaign to I-24, meet at Nashville, climb Monteagle to Chattanooga, then ride I-75 through Atlanta into Florida.
- Southbound loads often stage near Joliet and Bolingbrook along I-55 and I-80, then break up in Orlando, Tampa and Jacksonville, with Sarasota, Fort Myers and Naples cars continuing down I-75.
- Southbound demand typically peaks in October when Chicago-area snowbirds ship cars ahead of winter, and March is typically the cheapest month because trucks head south mainly to collect Midwest-bound cars.
- DuSable Lake Shore Drive is closed to commercial vehicles, so lakefront pickups in the Gold Coast, Lincoln Park or Hyde Park happen on a truck-legal street or at a nearby lot.
Related routes
Sources
- Illinois Department of Transportation: Getting Around Illinois road conditions, gettingaroundillinois.com
- WBEZ Curious City: why freight vehicles are barred from Lake Shore Drive (Chicago Municipal Code 9-72-020, boulevards), wbez.org
- Florida Department of Transportation: Emergency shoulder use on hurricane evacuation routes, fdot.gov
- National Hurricane Center: Tropical cyclone climatology (June 1 to November 30 season), nhc.noaa.gov
- Car shipping cost by distance, vehicle and month (HaulFare price model), haulfare.com
Illinois to Florida FAQ
How much does it cost to ship a car from Illinois to Florida?
In October 2026 a sedan on an open carrier typically costs $1,125 to $1,400 from Chicago to Orlando. An SUV typically runs $1,350 to $1,680, a pickup $1,375 to $1,710, and an enclosed sedan $1,600 to $1,990. Chicago to Jacksonville covers 1,020 miles and typically costs $1,040 to $1,295.
How long does it take to ship a car from Chicago to Florida?
Once the car is on the trailer, the 1,164 miles to Orlando usually take 3 to 5 days. The carrier typically arrives within a 1 to 5 day pickup window first. In January or February, snow in northwest Indiana or ice on the I-24 grade at Monteagle, Tennessee can add a day.
What is the cheapest month to ship a car from Illinois to Florida?
March is typically the cheapest, because Illinois snowbirds are driving or shipping home and southbound trucks have open slots. October is typically the most expensive, when retirees from the suburbs and downstate send cars south before the first freeze. A pickup in September, or in January after the fall wave has passed, usually costs less than an October one.
Can a car hauler pick up my car on a Chicago city street?
Sometimes, but many bungalow and two-flat blocks are too narrow for a 75-foot hauler once cars line both curbs, and permit parking zones leave nowhere to stop. Drivers often meet city owners at a big retail lot near the Stevenson, the Dan Ryan or the Kennedy. Suburban pickups are easier unless an HOA keeps trucks at the entrance.
Does shipping to Naples or Fort Myers cost more than shipping to Tampa?
Usually a little. Fort Myers and Naples sit about two to three hours past Tampa on I-75, so quotes typically land above the Chicago to Tampa range of $1,140 to $1,415. Delivery often takes an extra day, since trucks unload Tampa and Sarasota cars first.
