“How much will it cost?” is the first question almost everyone asks us, and it’s a fair one. The honest answer is that car shipping prices move. They change with the lane, the vehicle, the time of year, fuel prices and how many trucks happen to be heading your way that week. What we can give you is a solid starting point. This guide lays out the ballpark starting estimates on our most popular Fort Lauderdale lanes, explains what pushes a price up or down, and shows how to get the best number for your move.
A note on every number below: these are ballpark starting estimates for a standard, running sedan, taken from the live route pages on our network. They aren’t quotes. They change with fuel, season and events. You get a firm price once a licensed carrier commits to your dates.
Starting estimates on popular Fort Lauderdale lanes
In-state and the Keys
| Lane | Distance | Typical transit | Open | Enclosed | Expedited |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Lauderdale to Orlando | about 215 mi | 1–2 days | from $350 | from $525 | from $450 |
| Fort Lauderdale to Tampa | about 265 mi | 1–2 days | from $400 | from $600 | from $510 |
| Fort Lauderdale to Key West | down US-1 | runs daily | from $350 | from $450 | from $375 |
Up and down I-95
| Lane | Distance | Typical transit | Open | Enclosed | Expedited |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York to Fort Lauderdale | about 1,220 mi | 3–5 days | from $965 | from $1,450 | from $1,235 |
| Fort Lauderdale to New York | about 1,220 mi | 3–5 days | from $985 | from $1,480 | from $1,260 |
| Boston to Fort Lauderdale | about 1,490 mi | 4–6 days | from $1,055 | from $1,580 | from $1,350 |
| Philadelphia to Fort Lauderdale | about 1,170 mi | 3–5 days | from $965 | from $1,495 | from $1,205 |
| Washington DC to Fort Lauderdale | about 1,030 mi | 3–5 days | from $825 | from $1,240 | from $1,055 |
| Charlotte to Fort Lauderdale | about 730 mi | 2–3 days | from $650 | from $975 | from $830 |
The Midwest, South and cross-country
| Lane | Distance | Typical transit | Open | Enclosed | Expedited |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago to Fort Lauderdale | about 1,380 mi | 4–5 days | from $1,020 | from $1,530 | from $1,305 |
| Detroit to Fort Lauderdale | about 1,340 mi | 3–5 days | from $1,025 | from $1,540 | from $1,310 |
| Atlanta to Fort Lauderdale | about 665 mi | 2–3 days | from $615 | from $920 | from $785 |
| Nashville to Fort Lauderdale | about 900 mi | 2–4 days | from $735 | from $1,100 | from $940 |
| Dallas to Fort Lauderdale | about 1,310 mi | 3–5 days | from $985 | from $1,480 | from $1,260 |
| Los Angeles to Fort Lauderdale | about 2,710 mi | 6–8 days | from $1,405 | from $2,110 | from $1,800 |
Don’t see your city? Our routes page lists the Broward lanes, and the network has hundreds more route pages. Or just send us the two addresses.
Why the price moves
1. The season
Fort Lauderdale is a snowbird market. From October through December, everyone wants to come south at once, and lanes into South Florida get tight. From April through May the same thing happens northbound. When demand is high, carriers fill their trucks quickly and prices rise to match. Summer is usually calmer. See our snowbird auto transport page for the full calendar.
2. The direction
The same lane can price differently each way. Compare New York to Fort Lauderdale with Fort Lauderdale to New York in the table above. It comes down to where the trucks are and where they need to be next.
3. The vehicle
A standard sedan is the baseline. Larger SUVs, pickups and vans take more space and weight on the trailer, so they cost more. Lifted trucks, duallies and anything with roof racks or modifications can change which trailers can take the vehicle at all. Non-running cars need a winch-equipped carrier, which is a smaller pool.
4. Open, enclosed or expedited
Open transport is the standard and the most affordable option. Enclosed transport costs more because there are fewer trucks and fewer cars per load. Expedited costs more because you’re asking a carrier to fit your car in sooner. The tables above show the starting gap on each lane.
5. Fuel and events
Diesel prices feed straight into what carriers charge. Big events can tighten local capacity too, and South Florida has a busy winter calendar.
6. Your pickup and delivery spots
Price differences between Broward cities are usually small. A hard-to-reach pickup can still cost you time, though, and a pickup that slips can end up on a busier, pricier truck. That includes condos on A1A, gated communities that don’t allow trucks, and narrow streets on the Las Olas Isles. Our condo and HOA pickup guide shows how to make your pickup easy for the driver.
How to get the best price
- Be flexible. A pickup window of a few days gives carriers room to fit you into a route they’re already running.
- Book early in snowbird season. Two to four weeks ahead for October to December southbound and April to May northbound.
- Choose open unless you really need enclosed. Open is safe and routine for daily drivers.
- Offer an easy meeting point. A big plaza lot near a main road gets the driver in and out quickly.
- Be accurate about the vehicle. Tell us about modifications, a non-running condition or an oversized vehicle up front, so the quote doesn’t change later.
What’s included
A standard quote covers door-to-door transport (or a nearby meeting point) on a licensed carrier, with a condition inspection at pickup and delivery. Ask the carrier about its cargo insurance and check what your own auto policy covers while the car is in transit. You can also read our car shipping FAQ.
Common cost questions
Why can’t you give me an exact price right away?
Because the real price depends on which carrier commits to your dates. We give you a ballpark starting estimate as soon as we know the route, and a firm price once a carrier is confirmed.
Is it cheaper to ship to Fort Lauderdale in summer?
Southbound demand is usually lower in summer than in October through December, so lanes into Fort Lauderdale are often easier then.
Do I pay more for a condo pickup?
Usually not. The lane, vehicle, season and transport type matter much more. A meeting point that’s easy for the truck can help your pickup stay on schedule.
How much more is enclosed?
On most of the longer lanes above, the enclosed starting estimate is about one and a half times the open one. On short runs like the Keys the gap is smaller. Check the route page for your lane.
Ready to get a quote?
Tell us where the car is, where it’s going and roughly when. We’ll give you a ballpark starting estimate, match you with a licensed carrier that runs the lane, and handle the booking from there.
Call (754) 946-4922 (Mon–Fri 8am–7pm, Sat 9am–3pm) or email hello@autoshippingnearme.com. Our yard is at 1117 NW 55th St, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309.