Shipping a Car from the Midwest to Fort Lauderdale

Fort Lauderdale has deep Midwest roots. Every winter, retirees and part-time residents from Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Wisconsin and Minnesota trade snow for Broward sunshine. Plenty of families relocate for good, too. If you’re bringing a car down from the Midwest, here’s how the trip works, what it costs to start, and how to time it.

Starting estimates and transit times

Here are the miles, transit times and ballpark starting estimates from the live route pages for the two biggest Midwest lanes into Fort Lauderdale:

Lane	Miles	Transit	Open	Enclosed	Expedited	Route page
Chicago to Fort Lauderdale	1,380	4–5 days	$1,020	$1,530	$1,305	view lane
Detroit to Fort Lauderdale	1,340	3–5 days	$1,025	$1,540	$1,310	view lane

Prices are ballpark starting estimates that change with fuel, the season and events. Transit is counted from pickup.

Coming from Ohio, Indiana, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Missouri or western Pennsylvania? We quote those too. We just don’t publish a starting number for every city, so send us your ZIP code and we’ll come back with an estimate. The network’s Midwest snowbird region page and our routes page list more lanes.

The route south

Most Midwest carriers head south on the I-65 or I-75 corridors through Kentucky, Tennessee and Georgia, then into Florida. From there they take I-75 or Florida’s Turnpike down the peninsula, or cut over to I-95, and come into Broward on I-595 or the Sawgrass Expressway. Carriers coming down I-75 through Alligator Alley often come into western Broward near Weston and Sunrise first.

That’s why delivery in west Broward, such as Weston, Sunrise, Plantation or Coral Springs, is often easy to fit into a route. Coastal deliveries in Fort Lauderdale, Pompano Beach or Hollywood are just as common. They just mean a few more miles through local traffic.

Timing for Midwest snowbirds

• Fall is the busy season southbound. From October through December, trucks heading south from the Midwest fill quickly. Book a few weeks ahead if you can.
• Watch the weather up north. Early snow and ice in Chicago, Detroit or Minneapolis can delay pickups. A garage pickup or a meeting point on a plowed main road helps.
• Plan the trip home. In April and May, northbound trucks fill up with snowbirds heading back. Book your return early, and see our snowbird auto transport page and snowbird car shipping guide.
• Think about storm season. If your car stays in Florida year-round, or you ship in late summer, read our hurricane season guide.

Open, enclosed or expedited?

• Open transport is the standard and most affordable choice for daily drivers.
• Enclosed transport keeps road salt, snow and debris off the car. That’s a real plus coming out of a Midwest winter, especially for classics and luxury cars.
• Expedited pickup narrows the pickup window when you’re on a deadline. It costs more and doesn’t guarantee a delivery date.

Delivery in Broward

Many Midwest snowbirds winter in condos, 55+ communities and gated neighborhoods, and many of those don’t let a full-size carrier inside. Before delivery day:

• Ask your building or HOA about truck rules, hours and gate access.
• Put the driver on the gate list with a time window.
• If trucks aren’t allowed, agree on a nearby lot to meet the driver.

Our condo and HOA pickup guide walks through it step by step, and the Areas We Serve page has notes on each Broward city.

Prep for a Midwest pickup

• Wash off road salt before pickup, so the inspection report shows the real condition of the paint.
• Take dated photos of all sides, the wheels and the interior.
• Leave about a quarter tank.
• Remove personal items, toll transponders and garage remotes.
• Check the battery and tires. Cold weather is hard on both.
• Hand over a working key. Keep your spare.

What to expect at pickup

The driver calls ahead, usually the day before or the morning of pickup, to confirm a time. You walk around the car together, note any existing scratches or dings on the inspection report, and both sign it. Keep your copy, because you’ll compare it at delivery in Broward. Then the car is loaded and the driver heads south. If your street is narrow, has low trees or doesn’t allow trucks, a nearby store or plaza lot works as a meeting point.

Midwest shipping questions

How long does it take to ship a car from Chicago to Fort Lauderdale?

The Chicago route page lists about 1,380 miles and 4–5 days of transit, plus the pickup window.

How much does it cost from Ohio or Minnesota?

We don’t publish a starting estimate for every city. Send us your ZIP code and dates and we’ll come back with a ballpark starting estimate.

Can you pick up in a snowstorm?

If roads are unsafe, the carrier will wait. We’ll update your pickup window as soon as the roads clear.

Can you ship my car back north in the spring?

Yes. Many snowbirds book both directions. Spring northbound lanes are busy, so book early.

CTA: Send us your Midwest pickup ZIP, your Broward delivery address and your dates. We’ll come back with a ballpark starting estimate and a pickup window that works around the weather.