Shipping A Car From Miami To San Francisco

Ship a Car from Florida to California

Relocating across country can be both an exciting and overwhelming endeavor. It’s exciting because of all the new experiences that you will get to have as you explore your new home on the other side of the country. Whereas, the stress can come in during the preparation and the actual move. You need to find a way to get you, your belongings, and your personal vehicle from one end of the country to the other.

While this may sound like a challenge, you can check one of those items off your list when you hire an auto shipping company. If you’re not sure how to get your vehicle to your final destination in California quickly, safely, and securely; that’s where we come in. At Ship Vehicles, we specialize in domestic cross-country auto shipping services and perform hundreds of trips a year between Florida and California. Whatever your reason is for needing auto transport, we have a solution to get it done. Whether you’re shipping a car from Miami to San Francisco, Tampa to Los Angeles, Orlando to San Diego, or any other combination, we can provide you with the services you need.

Why Ship a Car from Florida to California?

Aside from having your car shipped by a dedicated auto transport company, you have other options for getting your vehicle to California. You can hire someone that will physically drive the car for you, or you can drive it yourself. While cross-country road trips are common for domestic relocations, it isn’t always the best way to transport a car. In fact, hiring an auto shipping company may be the best thing you could do for you and your car when you need to move from Miami to San Francisco.

Road trips not only place unnecessary wear and tear on your car, they also significantly add to the vehicle’s mileage. This fact can be very undesirable for those who lease their car or own a vehicle of a significant value. Adding extra mileage on any car could potentially lower its overall resell value. Not to mention, the average distance from Florida to California is nearly 3,000 miles. That’s 3,000 unforgiving miles that will be tacked onto your odometer.

Such a long-distance road trip will require a lot of time, energy, and money. You’ll need to make several pitstops to rest and the cost of food and lodging along the way will add up. Look at it this way: if you drive an average of 500 miles a day, you can expect it to take about 10 days to travel from Florida to California. For most, it can be difficult to set aside such a substantial amount of time for driving across the country.

On the other hand, placing your vehicle in the hands of a trusted, reputable car shipping company allows you to focus on more important tasks. While we’re managing the transport of your car, you can dedicate your time to packing up your belongings, saying your goodbyes, and planning out all the fun activities for when you arrive in California. Do yourself, your car, and your valuable time a favor by hiring an auto transport company to ship your car from Florida to California.

How to Ship a Car from Florida to California

When you break it down, the process of shipping a car from Florida to California is rather simple. Follow these basic steps for effectively shipping your vehicle from Florida to its final destination in California:

Step 1: Obtain an auto shipping quote and schedule the shipment.

The first step in the shipment of any car, whether it’s domestic or international, is to gather a quote from an auto shipping company. We always recommend to collect quotes from at least three companies to ensure that you receive the best price, without compromising quality of service.

Once you select the company that you want to hire for your Florida to California auto shipment, you need to complete the booking. In order to do this, you must provide all the relevant details about the vehicle you are shipping, your desired method of transport, and the pickup and drop off locations. This will not only help your shipping company deliver the most accurate quote, it will also allow them to schedule your shipment appropriately.

Step 2: Preparing your vehicle for transport.

After the shipment dates are solidified, you’ll want to perform all the necessary steps for preparing your vehicle for its journey. These include:

• Washing your car both inside and out. This will aid in the inspection process and make it easier to note any pre-existing damage.
• Remove any personal belongings from the interior of the vehicle. These are not permitted for transport and will not be covered by insurance.
• Top off fluids and check for leaks. The only fluid that should not be topped off is the gas. You should have no more than a quarter of a tank full of fuel.
• Disable your alarm and any other anti-theft devices.

Although this is the standard process, depending on your shipping company, you may be required to complete more preparation steps. Check with your transport company in regards to proper preparation of your vehicle.

Step 3: Vehicle is picked up, or dropped off for transport in Florida.

Whether the vehicle is picked up from your home by the carrier, or you are required to drop it off at a shipping terminal, will depend on the transport services you selected. Standard shipping involves you meeting the driver at an established location, whereas, door-to-door shipping is a premium service that allows you to select the pickup and drop-off locations.

Regardless of how the vehicle is retrieved for transport, it will go through an inspection before it is loaded onto the carrier. At this point, you and the driver will fill out a Bill of Lading, noting any existing damage to the car. Make sure that this form is completely filled out before you sign it and that you receive a copy before the driver leaves with your vehicle.

Step 4: Delivery in California

After your car is shipped from Florida to California, all that is left is to pick it up. Again, the location where you will retrieve your vehicle will depend on the company you’re working with and the method of transport you purchased. You may pick it up from a particular location or have it delivered right to your doorstep. Once you fill out some additional paperwork and hand over the final payment, the car is yours to enjoy in California!

Frequently Asked Questions for Shipping a Car from Florida to California

How long does it take to ship a car from Florida to California?

This will largely depend on the specific location in Florida that you are shipping from and the city in California you are shipping to. Regardless, with an approximate distance of 2,800 miles and your carrier travelling 500 miles a day, it will take between five and seven days for your car to arrive in California.

How will my vehicle be shipped from Florida to California?

When it comes to the shipping methods, you can choose from open-air or enclosed transport. The latter is a premium service, offering the most protection for your vehicle at a higher price. Whereas, open-air transport is the most popular and affordable method for shipping a car from Florida to California. You can also opt for door-to-door service, instead of standard, which allows you to choose the specific drop-off and pickup locations and ensures delivery by a particular date.

How much does it cost to ship a vehicle from Florida to California?

The cost to ship a vehicle from Florida to California varies based on the type of car, the route, total distance, time of year, carrier availability, and any additional costs like insurance or premium services. However, the average to ship a car from Florida to California is between $1,000 and $1,500.

For the most accurate shipping estimate, fill out our online request form or contact us directly by calling the number at the top of this page. We’ll provide you with a fully customized auto shipping quote at completely no-cost and no-obligation.