Moving from the Pacific Coast to the Sunshine State is adventure enough without tacking 2,700 highway miles onto your odometer. This guide breaks down everything you need to know about California to Florida car shipping in plain, practical language. You will learn why hiring a licensed carrier beats driving, how rates are set, which routes truckers favor, and how to prep your ride so it rolls off the trailer in perfect shape. Along the way, you will see how KR Trucking—an auto-transport company that specializes in shipping cars, trucks, SUVs, motorcycles, and boats nationwide— keeps the process safe, simple, and on budget.
1. Why thousands of owners ship instead of drive
California to Florida car shipping covers more pavement than almost any domestic lane. A do-it-yourself trip means:
- Two and a half 12-hour driving days
- Four or five tanks of fuel in a family SUV
- Two hotel nights and restaurant meals
- 3,000 miles of tire wear and depreciation
When you hire a professional carrier the math changes. KR Trucking loads your vehicle, secures it with tire bonnets, and dispatches a rig that runs the lane each week. You stay home, finish packing, or even fly ahead and meet the truck on the other end. Insurance rides with the car the whole way, and you avoid every mile of fatigue and risk.
2. The three main routes carriers use
- Southern Corridor – I-8 / I-10 / I-75
San Diego loads roll east past Tucson, El Paso, San Antonio, Houston, Pensacola, and Tallahassee before turning south to Orlando, Tampa, or Miami. - Central Corridor – I-40 / I-30 / I-20 / I-10 / I-75
Los Angeles or Bakersfield freight heads to Flagstaff, Albuquerque, Dallas, and then merges onto I-10 near Mobile for a final sprint down I-75. - Northern Corridor – I-80 / I-70 / I-24 / I-75
Bay Area or Sacramento vehicles cruise through Reno, Salt Lake City, Denver, Nashville, and Atlanta before entering Florida on I-75.
Each path has pros and cons. The southern line avoids Rocky Mountain snow but bakes under desert heat; the northern cut is cooler but can see winter storms. KR Trucking plans the best lane based on weather, load mix, and customer deadlines.
3. How much does California to Florida car shipping cost?
Rates vary with five main factors:
- Distance – San Diego to Jacksonville is 2,300 miles; Sacramento to Miami tops 2,900.
- Vehicle size and weight – Wider, taller, or heavier units cut usable deck space, raising cost.
- Season – Snowbird traffic in October and March drives demand. June cargo surges as students relocate.
- Fuel index – Diesel spikes can push rates upward within a week.
- Pickup flexibility – A three-day window lets dispatchers weave your car into an existing load and saves money.
Usually open-carrier rates for a running sedan are the lowest. The shipping cost for a full-size pickup or large SUV would be about 20% to 25% more. Enclosed service adds 30 to 40 percent, protecting classics and exotics from stones, salt, and sun.
Please use our Vehicle Shipping Quote form to get exact shipping cost for your vehicle. KR Trucking locks your price for seven days with no deposit. Once you sign the rate confirmation, the number will not change unless your instructions do.
4. Timeline from first click to final delivery
Day 0 – Quote and booking
Provide origin and destination ZIP codes, vehicle year, make, model, running condition, and preferred pickup window. A dispatcher emails a firm price.
Day 1 – Paperwork
Sign the electronic rate sheet. KR Trucking assigns a truck from our carrier fleet or from one of our vetted partner drivers if capacity is tight.
Day 3–5 – Pickup
The driver calls 24 hours out and again 2 hours before arrival. Together you complete a digital Bill of Lading (BOL) with photos and mileage.
In transit – 5 to 8 days
Rigs average 450–500 highway miles daily, observing legal drive-time limits. You track progress through a GPS portal and receive auto texts at each state line.
Delivery day
The driver calls ahead, unloads on a safe, level street, and repeats the BOL walk-around. You sign, pay any balance, receive the keys, and hit the road.
5. Open versus enclosed trailers
| Feature | Open Carrier | Enclosed Carrier |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | $$ | $$$ |
| Protection | Exposed to weather, but safe | 360° shielded, climate-friendly |
| Capacity | 7–10 cars | 1–6 cars |
| When to pick | Daily drivers, leases, fleet units | Classics, exotics, show cars |
Ninety percent of California to Florida car shipping travels on open decks. KR Trucking straps each wheel with a soft-loop tire bonnet. The strap never touches paint or runs through fragile alloy spokes.
6. How to prepare your vehicle
Clean the car
Dirt hides dings. A quick wash makes inspection easier.
Photo document
Take pictures of each side, close-ups of wheels, and any pre-existing scratches.
Remove personal items
DOT regulations allow up to 100 pounds in the trunk. Heavy boxes or TV sets are off-limits.
Check fluids and battery
Top off coolant, oil, brake fluid, and washer fluid. A fresh battery avoids dead-car drama at delivery.
Disable alarms and toll tags
Valet mode or fuse pull prevents nuisance sirens. Toll tags can rack up phantom charges on the carrier’s route.
Leave a quarter tank of fuel
Enough to load and unload, not so much that extra weight costs more in diesel.
7. What makes KR Trucking different?
Carrier control
We own our trucks. Most brokers do not. When we need extra capacity, we hire partner carriers we have vetted on past runs.
Nationwide reach
From Seattle to Key West and all points between, our dispatch board runs every lower-48 lane weekly. No guessing when the next truck will leave.
Live GPS updates
You will always know where your is. You can watch your car move in real time.
Live Human support
Our Florida dispatch center answers phones 7 days a week. No call centers. No endless menus.
8. Seasonal planning tips
- January storms – If snow closes I-40, loads reroute south, adding a day to transit.
- March snowbird spike – Early retirees drive demand north-to-south. Book two weeks out.
- July heat – Desert highs reach 115 °F. Check coolant and tire pressures.
- September hurricane season – Gulf Coast storms can delay final Florida delivery by 24–48 hours.
- December holiday lull – Carrier capacity loosens. Prices often dip 10 percent.
9. Frequently asked questions
How early should I book?
Seven to ten days is ideal. Rush service under 48 hours is possible but costs more.
Will my car stay on the same truck?
Yes. KR Trucking is a single-truck carrier on this lane. No cross-dock transfers.
Can I ship a non-runner?
Yes, with added winch fee ($150–$250) and forklift at both ends if steering or brakes are out.
Is my personal insurance required?
No. Carrier cargo insurance covers transit. Your policy only applies once you recover the car.
What about motorcycles or boats?
We ship bikes in enclosed motorcycles trailers with wheel chocks, and boats on hydraulic boat haulers. Ask for a combo-load quote.
10. Final checklist
- Compare three quotes focused on California to Florida car shipping.
- Verify DOT, MC, and insurance certificates.
- Provide flexible pickup dates.
- Photograph your car after cleaning.
- Leave one-quarter tank of fuel.
- Keep your phone on for driver calls.
Once you Book with KR Trucking, our team handles the rest—paperwork, dispatch, GPS updates, and safe delivery from Pacific sunset to Atlantic sunrise.
Ready for a hassle-free move? Use the instant quote form on our site today.