When winter arrives, many seasonal residents leave colder northern states for the sunshine and milder temperatures of Florida or Arizona. The change of scenery is appealing. The long drive to get there, often covering well over a thousand miles, may be less so.
Snowbird car shipping allows you to send your vehicle ahead while you fly or make separate travel plans. Once it arrives, you still have your own car for shopping, appointments, and exploring your winter destination.
This guide covers popular routes for car shipping to Florida and Arizona, the factors affecting cost, when to book, and your car shipping options. It also explains how to prepare your vehicle for a seasonal shipment.
Snowbird car shipping is a seasonal auto transport service for people who spend the colder months in a warmer part of the country. Vehicles commonly travel south during the fall or early winter, then return north when their owners head home in the spring.
The service is popular with retirees, second-home owners, and travelers planning to remain in Florida or Arizona for several months. Instead of driving hundreds or even thousands of miles, they can fly to their winter residence and have their own car delivered nearby.
If you choose to use a seasonal car transport service, you don’t have to spend days behind the wheel or add unnecessary miles to the vehicle. It also allows you to make more flexible travel plans and avoid the inconvenience of a multi-day drive.
At certain times of the year, demand for auto transport services rises because of the large number of snowbirds traveling in the same direction. Southbound routes can get busy before winter, while northbound routes get busy in spring. Booking early will give you more options.
The busiest snowbird routes connect colder northern states with communities in Florida and Arizona. Although vehicles can be collected and delivered throughout the country, availability often depends on how regularly carriers travel through each location.
Car shipping to Florida is especially popular from the Northeast. Vehicles frequently travel south from New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and Connecticut as temperatures begin to fall. These routes become busier as winter approaches, so customers with fixed travel plans should arrange transport early.
There is also considerable seasonal demand from the Midwest. Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin, and Minnesota are common starting points for shipments to the Sunshine State. Snow, ice, and severe weather near northern pick-up locations can occasionally affect collection times during late fall and early winter.
Many snowbirds head for Miami, Naples, Fort Myers, Tampa, Orlando, Jacksonville, and other communities across South Florida. Larger cities and places close to major highways are often served more regularly by auto transport carriers. Smaller towns or remote deliveries are also possible, although additional scheduling flexibility may be helpful.
Car shipping to Arizona serves snowbirds traveling from the Midwest, Northeast, and other East Coast states. Chicago and the surrounding area generate regular seasonal traffic, along with parts of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.
Phoenix and its surrounding communities are among the state’s main winter destinations. Scottsdale and Mesa also attract many seasonal residents, while Tucson is popular with travelers heading farther south.
East Coast-to-Arizona shipments cover a substantial distance and generally need more planning time than many Midwest routes. The transport schedule will depend on the exact starting point, carrier availability, weather, and the route taken.
Phoenix and other larger cities are usually well connected to established transport corridors. Snowbirds shipping a vehicle from a rural northern location or to a smaller Arizona community may benefit from flexible dates or an accessible meeting point near a major road.
Snowbird routes become noticeably busier when large numbers of people travel in the same direction. Arranging seasonal car transport several weeks ahead gives you more time to discuss available dates and coordinate the shipment with your other travel plans.
Demand for southbound transport begins to rise during the fall and continues into early winter. Many customers are trying to reach Florida or Arizona within the same relatively short period, which can reduce availability on popular routes.
It’s sensible to arrange the shipment before booking travel plans that leave no room for adjustment. Pick-up and delivery dates are normally provided as estimated windows, so avoid timing a flight or property arrival around an exact vehicle collection.
Conditions at the northern end of the route also matter. Early snow, ice, or severe storms can slow traffic and disrupt a driver’s schedule.
A second busy period begins when seasonal residents leave Florida and Arizona in the spring. If you know approximately when you’ll be returning home, discuss the northbound shipment before the end of your stay approaches.
Some flexibility with pick-up can make scheduling easier. You may also want to arrange vehicle collection a little before your own departure, particularly if you need to vacate a seasonal property by a fixed date.
There’s no single snowbird rate that works for every journey. Sending a compact car from New York to Miami is a different job from moving an SUV between rural Minnesota and Tucson. The mileage matters, but it’s only part of the calculation.
Vehicle size and weight affect how much room the car takes up on the trailer. A large SUV or pickup will usually cost more to move than a smaller sedan. The transport company also needs to know whether the vehicle runs. If it can’t be driven onto the trailer, extra equipment may be required.
Open transport is generally the less expensive choice. Enclosed shipping costs more and is usually chosen for classic, luxury, collectible, or unusually valuable cars.
Then there are the locations themselves. A carrier traveling along a well-used interstate can usually reach a major city more easily than a remote town. Gated communities, low branches, narrow streets, and local truck restrictions may mean meeting the driver somewhere nearby.
Snowbird routes see plenty of carrier activity, but they also become extremely busy in the fall and spring. A route that’s regularly served can still have limited space when thousands of other vehicles are heading the same way.
Requested dates and the number of available carriers will influence the final price, too. For a useful figure, ask for a quote that includes the exact vehicle, locations, transport method, and dates, rather than relying on a broad national average.
The right transport method depends on the vehicle, your budget, and how much protection you want while it’s on the road.
Open carriers move several vehicles at once and are widely used on routes to Florida and Arizona. This is generally the more economical choice for an everyday car, SUV, or pickup. The vehicle remains exposed to rain, dust, road grime, and the outdoor conditions encountered during the journey.
Enclosed shipping places the vehicle inside a covered trailer, away from weather and flying road debris. It’s particularly suitable for classic, exotic, luxury, collectible, and custom vehicles. Snowbirds who keep a special car at their seasonal home may also prefer the added protection, even if the vehicle is regularly driven.
Some enclosed carriers use hydraulic liftgates and other equipment designed for low-clearance or modified cars. Availability can be more limited than open transport, so arranging shipment early is advisable.
Expedited shipping is available when the vehicle needs to be collected sooner than the standard pick-up window allows. It can be combined with open or enclosed transport, subject to route and carrier availability, but usually comes at an additional cost.
Shipping a car for the winter doesn’t involve a complicated handover. Still, a few details need sorting out before a truck arrives at your door.
Your car will need a quick clean and check before the driver arrives. Use this list to get it ready:
Some problems begin well before the car is loaded. These four are worth watching for.
Start with the basics. A company arranging interstate transport should be properly licensed and should explain the insurance coverage that applies while your vehicle is being moved. Experience matters too, particularly during the busy snowbird seasons when many cars are traveling along the same routes.
Read the quote carefully rather than looking only at the final price. It should be clear what the service includes, how payment works, and whether the pick-up and delivery dates are estimates. Ask how changes to your travel plans would be handled as well.
The company should also explain what happens when the car is collected. There needs to be a written inspection at pick-up, followed by another chance to check its condition at delivery. Communication should not disappear once the vehicle has left. Find out how updates are provided and who you can contact with a question.
Customer feedback can help, although it’s better to look for patterns across several recent reviews than rely on one unusually good or bad experience.
Passport Transport has extensive experience moving vehicles across the country, including enclosed shipments for snowbirds traveling to and from Florida and Arizona.
A little planning can make moving your car south for winter or back north in spring much easier. Arrange transport before seasonal demand peaks, choose a service suited to the vehicle, and complete basic preparation before the driver arrives.
Keep some flexibility in your travel plans as well. Standard pick-up and delivery dates are estimates, and conditions on a long journey can change.
Passport Transport provides enclosed auto transport for snowbirds traveling to and from Florida, Arizona, and destinations nationwide. Request a quote or speak with a transport specialist about your route, vehicle, and preferred dates.
With over 55 years of trusted service, Passport Transport is the leader in enclosed auto shipping. We’re committed to delivering your vehicle safely, securely, and on time – every time. Get your free quote today and ship with confidence.
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