How to Ship a Car to Miami: Complete Guide for 2026

Miami is the number one destination for vehicle shipments in the southeastern United States — and it's not close. Between the steady stream of people relocating from the Northeast, snowbirds shuttling cars between seasonal homes, out-of-state exotic car purchases, and the booming used luxury market, auto transport carriers run routes to South Florida more frequently than almost any other corridor in the country.

That demand means competitive pricing, but it also means a crowded market full of brokers, middlemen, and operators of wildly varying quality. Here's how to ship a car to Miami without overpaying, getting scammed, or having your vehicle arrive with new damage.

Open vs. Enclosed Transport

The first decision is how exposed you want your car to be during transit.

Transport Type	Cost (to Miami)	Best For	Risks
Open Carrier	00 – ,500	Standard vehicles, daily drivers, newer cars under 0K	Exposed to weather, road debris, dust. Cosmetic risk is real but minor damage is uncommon.
Enclosed Carrier	,400 – ,000+	Exotics, classics, high-value vehicles, anything over 5K	Minimal. Fully protected from elements. Fewer carriers available, so booking windows are longer.
Single-Car Enclosed	,500 – ,000+	Ultra-high-value cars, concours vehicles, one-of-a-kind builds	White-glove service. Expensive but the car gets individual attention.

For most people moving a normal car to Miami, open transport is perfectly fine. Your vehicle shares a carrier with 7–10 other cars, and while it's exposed to the elements, actual transit damage from open carriers is statistically rare — well under 1% of shipments.

If you're shipping anything exotic, classic, or worth more than 5,000, enclosed is worth the premium. Miami's luxury car market means enclosed carriers run the I-95 corridor constantly, so availability is better here than in most markets.

What It Costs to Ship a Car to Miami

Origin	Open Carrier	Enclosed Carrier	Transit Time
New York / New Jersey	00 – ,300	,500 – ,500	3–5 days
Boston / New England	,000 – ,400	,600 – ,800	4–6 days
Chicago / Midwest	,000 – ,500	,700 – ,800	4–7 days
Los Angeles / West Coast	,200 – ,800	,000 – ,500	7–10 days
Dallas / Houston	00 – ,200	,400 – ,200	3–5 days
Atlanta / Southeast	00 – 00	,000 – ,800	2–3 days

Prices fluctuate seasonally. October through December (snowbird migration south) and March through May (snowbird migration north) are peak season on the Miami corridor, and prices can jump 20–30%. If you have flexibility, shipping in the off-peak summer months saves real money.

How to Choose a Car Shipping Company

The auto transport industry has a reputation problem — and it's partly deserved. The market is dominated by brokers who take your booking, then farm it out to independent carriers. The broker model isn't inherently bad (brokers can access a wider network of carriers), but it means the company you pay isn't always the company that shows up with your car.

Here's how to navigate it:

Check FMCSA registration. Every legitimate auto transport company must be registered with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Search their MC number at safer.fmcsa.dot.gov to verify they're licensed and insured.

Read reviews — but read them right. Google Reviews and Transport Reviews are the most reliable. Be skeptical of companies with only 5-star reviews (likely filtered or incentivized). Look for patterns in complaints: repeated mentions of late delivery, damage, or surprise fees are red flags.

Get the insurance details in writing. Ask for a copy of the carrier's cargo insurance certificate before your car gets loaded. Standard coverage is 00,000–50,000 per carrier load, but know the deductible and claims process. Your own auto insurance or credit card may provide additional coverage.

Avoid massive upfront deposits. A reasonable deposit is 00–00 to book. Any company demanding full payment before pickup is a risk. Pay the balance to the driver on delivery (industry standard).

Get everything in writing. The Bill of Lading (BOL) is your contract. It documents the vehicle condition at pickup and delivery. Inspect your car thoroughly at both ends and note any damage on the BOL before signing.

Recommended Companies for Miami Shipments

These carriers and brokers have strong reputations on the South Florida corridor:

• Montway Auto Transport — One of the largest brokers in the US. Competitive pricing, good tracking, and consistent service on the I-95 corridor to Miami.
• Sherpa Auto Transport — Known for a price-lock guarantee (the quote is the price, period). Slightly higher than average but no surprise fees.
• Enclosed Auto Transport (EAT) — Specialist in enclosed shipments. If you're shipping a six-figure exotic to Miami, they run the East Coast corridor weekly.
• AmeriFreight — Budget-friendly broker with consistently good reviews. Good for standard vehicles where you want to minimize cost.
• Guardian Auto Transport — Strong Miami presence with terminal options in Doral for local pickup. Good for snowbirds who need seasonal round-trip service.

Preparing Your Car for Shipping

A few steps before pickup protect your vehicle and speed up the process:

• Wash the car. A clean vehicle makes it easier to document pre-existing damage during the pickup inspection.
• Remove personal items. Carriers aren't insured for personal belongings inside the vehicle. Remove electronics, loose items, and anything valuable. Most carriers allow up to 100 lbs of items in the trunk, but they won't cover loss or damage.
• Document everything. Take dated photos and video of all four sides, the roof, interior, odometer, and any existing damage before the carrier arrives.
• Leave about 1/4 tank of gas. Enough for the carrier to load/unload and for you to drive to a station on delivery. A full tank adds weight and cost.
• Disable toll transponders. Remove or deactivate your SunPass, E-ZPass, or toll tag so you don't get charged for the carrier's route.
• Provide keys and instructions. If the car has a valet mode, alarm kill switch, or any quirks, let the driver know.

After Your Car Arrives in Miami: Registration and Insurance

If you're relocating permanently, Florida requires you to register your vehicle and obtain a Florida driver's license within 30 days of establishing residency. Here's the quick version:

Step	Where	Cost	Notes
Get Florida auto insurance	Any insurer	Varies (Miami is expensive)	Must have PIP + property damage liability minimum
Get a VIN inspection	Any FL tax collector office	sh (included in registration)	Required for out-of-state vehicles
Register the vehicle	Miami-Dade Tax Collector	25 – 50+ (depends on weight)	Bring title, out-of-state registration, proof of insurance, FL driver's license
Get a Florida driver's license	FLHSMV office	8	Surrender your out-of-state license

Important: Florida has no state income tax, but it makes up for it with higher registration fees and insurance costs. Miami-Dade has some of the highest auto insurance premiums in the country — budget 00–00/month for a standard vehicle and significantly more for exotics. Shop aggressively and consider bundling home + auto if you're also buying property.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Booking the cheapest quote. The lowest price in auto transport often means the longest wait. Carriers pick loads that pay the best, and a below-market quote may sit unassigned for weeks. A fair-market quote gets your car moving faster.

Not inspecting at delivery. The Bill of Lading protects you — but only if you document damage at the time of delivery. Inspect the vehicle thoroughly in good lighting before signing the BOL as received. Once you sign, proving transit damage gets exponentially harder.

Ignoring the 30-day registration window. Florida police do enforce the 30-day registration requirement, especially in Miami-Dade. Driving on out-of-state plates months after moving is a ticketable offense, and your out-of-state insurance may not cover a Florida accident properly.

Forgetting about Florida's title requirements. If you have a lien on your vehicle, your lender needs to send the title to Florida. This can take weeks. Start the process before your car arrives.

The Bottom Line

Shipping a car to Miami is straightforward if you do your homework. The I-95 corridor is one of the most-traveled auto transport routes in the country, which means competitive pricing and frequent availability. Choose a reputable company, document everything, and budget a few hundred extra for Florida's registration and insurance requirements on the other end. Your car will be sitting in Miami sunshine before you know it.