State-to-state route
New York to Florida car shipping
In October 2026, an open-carrier sedan from New York to Florida typically costs $1,095–$1,360 for the 1,108-mile New York City to Orlando run, with 3 to 5 days in transit after pickup. Southbound demand jumps from October into December as snowbirds send cars south for winter, so a pickup outside that window usually keeps a quote lower. Source: HaulFare price model, October 2026 edition.
Updated October 2026
$1,020–$1,475
Open carrier, sedan, across 12 metro pairs, October 2026
1,108 mi
New York City to Orlando
1–5 days
pickup window
3–5 days
in transit
How much does it cost to ship a car from New York to Florida?
1,108 miles hub to hub · October 2026 · estimates for door-to-door service, carrier pay and broker fee included.
| Vehicle | Open carrier | Enclosed |
|---|---|---|
| Sedan | $1,095–$1,360 | $1,555–$1,930 |
| Small SUV / crossover | $1,185–$1,475 | $1,680–$2,090 |
| Full-size SUV | $1,315–$1,635 | $1,865–$2,320 |
| Pickup truck | $1,335–$1,665 | $1,895–$2,360 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York City → Jacksonville | 986 | $1,020–$1,270 | $1,455–$1,810 |
| Long Island → Jacksonville | 1,022 | $1,045–$1,300 | $1,480–$1,840 |
| Buffalo → Jacksonville | 1,040 | $1,055–$1,310 | $1,500–$1,865 |
| New York City → Orlando | 1,108 | $1,095–$1,360 | $1,555–$1,930 |
| Albany → Jacksonville | 1,129 | $1,105–$1,380 | $1,570–$1,955 |
| Long Island → Orlando | 1,140 | $1,110–$1,385 | $1,580–$1,965 |
| Buffalo → Orlando | 1,181 | $1,135–$1,410 | $1,610–$2,005 |
| New York City → Tampa | 1,184 | $1,135–$1,410 | $1,610–$2,005 |
| Long Island → Tampa | 1,219 | $1,150–$1,435 | $1,640–$2,040 |
| Buffalo → Tampa | 1,241 | $1,165–$1,450 | $1,650–$2,055 |
| Albany → Orlando | 1,255 | $1,170–$1,455 | $1,660–$2,065 |
| New York City → Miami | 1,289 | $1,185–$1,475 | $1,685–$2,095 |
Sedan, October 2026. Distances are road estimates between city centres.
When is it cheapest to ship a car from New York to Florida?
Jan
$1,025
Feb
$1,015
Mar
$985
Apr
$1,015
May
$1,040
Jun
$1,163
Jul
$1,178
Aug
$1,140
Sep
$1,090
Oct (October 2026)
$1,228
Nov
$1,203
Dec
$1,218
- October 2026
- Yearly average
Show as a table
| Month | Price (midpoint) |
|---|---|
| Jan | $1,025 |
| Feb | $1,015 |
| Mar | $985 |
| Apr | $1,015 |
| May | $1,040 |
| Jun | $1,163 |
| Jul | $1,178 |
| Aug | $1,140 |
| Sep | $1,090 |
| Oct | $1,228 |
| Nov | $1,203 |
| Dec | $1,218 |
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 every car on this lane rides I-95. Carriers rarely stage a full trailer inside the five boroughs, so loads come together in northern New Jersey around Newark, Elizabeth and the Meadowlands. The truck then takes the New Jersey Turnpike and I-95 through Baltimore, Richmond, the Carolinas and Savannah to Jacksonville. Orlando and Tampa cars leave I-95 at Daytona Beach for I-4, while South Florida cars stay on I-95 to Fort Lauderdale and Miami.
Buffalo loads often head down I-79 toward I-77 and Charlotte, and some Albany drivers use I-81 through the Shenandoah Valley to skip Washington traffic.
Direction drives the price. From October through December, snowbird cars pour south while few head north, so southbound slots fill fast and carriers expect to return with empty decks. In spring that flips, and a southbound car becomes the load that pays for the trip down.
Timing and season
October is typically the priciest month to ship south, when owners from the city, Long Island and Westchester send cars ahead of winter, and the pressure usually holds into December. March is typically the cheapest, because seasonal residents are heading home and trucks run south mainly to collect northbound cars. Shipping against that flow saves money.
Dates just outside that October to December stretch usually price lower. Atlantic hurricane season runs June through November, and a storm near Jacksonville or the Carolina coast can shut stretches of I-95 or delay a Florida delivery by several days. Winter nor’easters can stall city pickups, and lake-effect snow on I-90 can hold a Buffalo car for a day or two. Summer is steadier, driven by family moves rather than retirees.
Pickup and delivery in New York and Florida
Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens are the hardest places on this lane to load a car. Alternate-side parking leaves little open curb, a 75-foot hauler cannot turn on most brownstone blocks, and the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge and Hudson River crossings charge heavy tolls for a multi-axle truck. Most drivers meet owners at a big retail lot near an expressway or across the river in New Jersey. Long Island pickups cluster near the Long Island Expressway, since trucks are barred from the parkways.
The pickup window typically runs 1 to 5 days. Move the car out of any garage, hand over every key, leave about a quarter tank and note existing damage on the bill of lading. Pull the E-ZPass off the windshield, since toll gantries on the New Jersey Turnpike and in Delaware and Maryland can read it while the car rides the trailer. Miami and Fort Lauderdale condo towers often limit delivery hours, so check building rules before the driver calls.
What moves the price on this lane
In October 2026 an open-carrier sedan from New York City to Orlando typically costs $1,095 to $1,360. An SUV typically runs $1,315 to $1,635, a pickup $1,335 to $1,665, and an enclosed sedan $1,555 to $1,930. Stopping at Jacksonville trims the run to 986 miles and typically $1,020 to $1,270. Long Island to Orlando covers 1,140 miles at $1,105 to $1,385.
The October surge is the biggest swing, pushing quotes toward the top of each range. Enclosed slots also tighten in fall, when owners send collector and luxury cars to Palm Beach and Naples for the season. A non-running car needs a winch, $150 extra in our model, and an Adirondack or other rural upstate pickup can add up to $175. HaulFare publishes these I-95 estimates and sends each quote request to one licensed auto transport broker, who arranges the carrier and takes any payment. Before paying for a fall pickup in the New York area, ask which carrier is assigned and look up its operating authority on FMCSA.
Lane facts
- Most trucks leave the New York area on the New Jersey Turnpike and follow I-95 through Baltimore, Richmond, Savannah and Jacksonville to Daytona Beach, where Orlando cars split off onto I-4.
- Florida-bound loads consolidate in northern New Jersey around Newark and Elizabeth and break down in Jacksonville, Orlando, Tampa and the Palm Beach to Miami stretch.
- Southbound demand typically peaks in October when snowbirds ship cars ahead of winter, and March is typically the cheapest month because southbound trailers run with open slots.
- New York bars commercial vehicles from parkways such as the Southern State, Northern State and Belt, so Long Island pickups happen near the Long Island Expressway or another truck route.
Related routes
Sources
- NYC Department of Transportation: Parkway truck restrictions, nyc.gov
- Amtrak: Auto Train between Lorton, Virginia and Sanford, Florida, amtrak.com
- 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
New York to Florida FAQ
How much does it cost to ship a car from New York to Florida?
In October 2026 an open-carrier sedan typically runs $1,095 to $1,360 from New York City to Orlando. SUVs typically run $1,315 to $1,635, pickups $1,335 to $1,665, and an enclosed sedan $1,555 to $1,930. Jacksonville is closer at 986 miles and typically costs $1,020 to $1,270.
How long does car shipping from New York to Florida take?
Once loaded, most cars spend 3 to 5 days on I-95 covering the roughly 1,108 miles to Orlando. The 1 to 5 day pickup window comes first, and a Miami or Fort Lauderdale delivery can take an extra day because trucks usually unload Jacksonville and Orlando cars before continuing south.
What is the cheapest month to ship a car from New York to Florida?
March is typically the cheapest month, since snowbirds are heading north then and trucks going south have room. October is typically the most expensive, when seasonal residents send cars down ahead of winter. If your date is flexible, a pickup before the fall rush or after the holidays usually beats an October one.
Can a car carrier pick up my car in Manhattan, Brooklyn or Queens?
Curbside pickup in the boroughs is rare. A loaded 75-foot hauler cannot turn on most brownstone blocks and pays steep tolls on many river crossings, so drivers usually meet owners at a large lot near an expressway or across the Hudson in northern New Jersey. Plan to bring a garaged car out to that spot.
Is the Auto Train a better choice than a car carrier from New York?
Amtrak's Auto Train only runs between Lorton, Virginia and Sanford, Florida, so a New Yorker still has to drive the car to northern Virginia and ride the train with it. A carrier loads the car in the New York area and delivers near your Florida address while you fly or drive separately. Auto Train vs car shipping sets the fares against the shipping estimates.
