Massachusetts to Florida car shipping

Massachusetts to Florida car shipping is one of the busiest lanes in the Northeast. Every autumn many New Englanders head south for the winter, and a carrier is often the easiest way to get the car there without two days behind the wheel.

Typical distance

1,080 to 1,500 mi

Main corridor

I-95

Typical time on the road

3 to 5 days

The lane: I-95 south

Carriers on this lane spend almost the whole trip on the Atlantic seaboard. Exactly which roads they use depends on their other pickups and drop-offs, but the shape of the trip is the same.

• Out of Massachusetts

  From Boston and the North and South Shores, carriers usually join I-95 south through Providence. From Worcester they take I-395 or I-84, and from Springfield and the Pioneer Valley, I-91 south to New Haven.

• Down the East Coast

  Through New York, New Jersey, Baltimore, Washington, Virginia, the Carolinas and Georgia. Some carriers run inland on I-81 to stay clear of the Northeast corridor traffic before rejoining further south.

• Into Florida

  I-95 carries on down the Atlantic coast to Jacksonville, Daytona, West Palm Beach and Miami. I-4 runs across to Orlando and Tampa, and I-75 serves the Gulf coast from Tampa to Fort Myers and Naples.

Distances and transit times by city pair

Jacksonville, Orlando, Tampa and Miami are all regular stops on this lane. Here is roughly how far each is from the main Massachusetts cities, and how long the trip typically takes once the car is on the truck.

How long Massachusetts to Florida car shipping takes

Across the industry, a trip of 1,000 to 1,500 miles typically spends about 3 to 5 days on the road once the car is loaded. Before that comes the pickup window, typically 1 to 5 business days from when you are ready, while the dispatcher matches you with a carrier heading your way. These are typical ranges, not promises.

Weather, I-95 traffic and the other cars on the truck all move the timing. If you need the car in Florida on a set day, expedited car shipping gives your pickup priority. More detail in how long car shipping takes.

Snowbird season

Across the industry, the southbound rush typically runs from about October to December and the northbound return from about March to May. In those weeks more people want space on the same trucks, so carriers fill faster. The pickup window can be wider then, and your dispatcher confirms the final price before anything is booked.

• Ask early. Request your quote as soon as you know your travel dates, especially for late October and early November.
• Be flexible by a few days. A wider pickup window gives your dispatcher more carriers to choose from.
• Plan the return now. If you know roughly when you will come home, mention it. The spring trip is the same lane in reverse.
• Think about salt. A car leaving Massachusetts in December may be carrying road salt. Wash it before pickup, both for the inspection and for the car.

What changes the price on this route

• How far south you go. Northern Florida is a shorter trip than Orlando, Tampa or Miami, and the price follows the distance from your actual addresses.
• Open or enclosed. Enclosed and expedited transport cost more than open on every trip.
• The vehicle. An SUV or a luxury car is priced above a standard sedan, and a car that doesn’t run needs a carrier with a winch.
• The season. Snowbird weeks fill trucks faster, so flexible dates help.
• Personal items. Keep them under 50 lb in total.

Pricing is easiest to explain on the phone: call (413) 231-6888 any time and a dispatcher will walk you through it.

How it works

1. 1

   Request your quote

   Enter your Massachusetts pickup address and your Florida delivery address. You see an estimate straight away, or for some long trips a dispatcher calls you with one. No obligation.

2. 2

   We match you with a carrier

   A dispatcher confirms your dates and books a vetted, insured, FMCSA-compliant and DOT-licensed carrier running the I-95 lane.

3. 3

   Pickup and transport

   The carrier collects the car at your door, or a nearby meeting point if your street is tight, after a thorough on-site inspection with you. We stay in touch on the way south.

4. 4

   Delivery and completion

   The car is delivered to your Florida address. You do another thorough on-site inspection with the driver and the shipment is complete.

Leaving from somewhere else in the state? See Massachusetts car shipping for pickup notes from Boston to the Berkshires, and how to prepare your car for shipping before the truck arrives.