Shipping a Car from Fort Lauderdale to the Upper and Middle Keys

Not everyone heading to the Keys is going all the way to Key West. A lot of our Keys moves from Fort Lauderdale stop earlier. They go to a weekend place in Key Largo, a fishing home in Islamorada, or a winter rental in Marathon. This guide covers how shipping a car to the Upper and Middle Keys works, how pricing is set, and what to expect when the truck reaches your street.

If you’re going all the way to the end of the road, our Fort Lauderdale to Key West guide covers that run in detail.

Who handles the Keys

Keys moves in our network run with In-N-Out Keys, our Florida Keys partner based in Marathon. They run the Fort Lauderdale to Key West lane daily and serve Key Largo, Islamorada, Marathon and Big Pine Key along the same run to Key West. Because they’re based in the Middle Keys, they know the side streets, the canal neighborhoods and the places a carrier can and can’t turn around. You can book through us or reach out to them directly from their page, and our Fort Lauderdale team handles anything outside the Keys.

You’ll also find their profile on the network site: In-N-Out Keys on Auto Shipping Near Me, plus the wider Florida Keys region page.

The route: I-95 or the Turnpike, then US-1

From Broward, carriers head south on Florida’s Turnpike or I-95 toward Florida City, then pick up US-1, the Overseas Highway, at the bottom of the mainland. From there it’s one road all the way down, and addresses go by mile marker:

• Key Largo, the first island you reach, at the top of the chain around mile markers 106 to 91. Includes Tavernier at the south end.
• Islamorada, the “Village of Islands,” roughly mile markers 90 to 70, covering Plantation Key, Windley Key, Upper and Lower Matecumbe.
• Marathon, in the Middle Keys, roughly mile markers 60 to 47, just before the Seven Mile Bridge.

When you request a quote, give us your mile marker and whether you’re on the oceanside or bayside. It helps the driver plan the stop.

How Keys pricing works

Keys runs are priced as a South Florida move plus a Keys premium. The premium is tiered: the farther down the Keys you go, the higher it gets. Key Largo sits at the low end, Islamorada and Marathon in the middle, and Key West at the top.

The one Keys price we publish today is the full run. Fort Lauderdale to Key West starts at $350, as a ballpark starting estimate. Upper and Middle Keys stops are quoted on the same run, and we’ll give you a starting estimate for your exact mile marker when you reach out.

Like every price we give, Keys estimates change with fuel, the season and events. A few things specific to the Keys also move the number:

• Your dates. Rush pickups cost more, and the more flexible your dates, the better the price.
• The season. Winter and spring weekends are busy on US-1, and holiday weeks and big fishing tournaments fill the road.
• Your vehicle. Lifted trucks, trailers and oversized vehicles cost more, and some need different equipment.
• Open or enclosed. For a collector car or a low sports car, enclosed transport is available on the Keys run.

Pickup and delivery in the Keys

The Keys are beautiful and tight. A full-size car carrier is long and heavy, and a lot of Keys streets weren’t built for one.

• Canal neighborhoods. Many side streets in Key Largo, Islamorada and Marathon are narrow, end at the water and have no room to turn a carrier around. Delivery is often on US-1 frontage or in a nearby commercial lot.
• US-1 itself. In many stretches US-1 has little shoulder and fast traffic, so the driver won’t stop just anywhere. A pre-agreed spot keeps everyone safe.
• Gated communities and marinas. Some Upper Keys communities and marina resorts have gates and rules for trucks. Check ahead and give the gate a heads-up.
• Homes on stilts. Many Keys homes park underneath the house. That’s fine for the car, but the truck stays on the street.

Our condo and HOA pickup guide has more on building and gate rules, and most of it applies in the Keys too.

Timing tips

• Avoid peak traffic. Friday afternoons southbound and Sunday afternoons northbound are the slowest times on US-1 in season.
• Watch the weather. From June through November, a tropical storm can close or slow the Overseas Highway. Our hurricane season guide explains how we plan around storms.
• Coordinate with your arrival. If you’re driving or flying down separately, plan to be at the house, or have a neighbor or property manager there, when the car arrives.

Coming back up?

The run works in reverse too. Lots of winter residents ship from Marathon or Islamorada back to Broward, or straight north. Network route pages cover lanes such as Key West to Fort Lauderdale, and In-N-Out Keys can collect along the way. For trips home to the Northeast or Midwest, see our snowbird auto transport page.

Prep checklist for a Keys run

• Clean the car for the inspection and take dated photos.
• Leave about a quarter tank.
• Remove toll transponders if you don’t want toll reads on the way down.
• Take out beach gear, coolers, rods and anything loose.
• Tell us your mile marker, oceanside or bayside, and any gate or HOA rules.

Upper and Middle Keys questions

How much does it cost to ship a car from Fort Lauderdale to Key Largo, Islamorada or Marathon?

Keys pricing adds a premium that rises the farther down the chain you go. Fort Lauderdale to Key West starts at $350, and we’ll give you a starting estimate for your exact mile marker when you send your address. Prices are ballpark estimates that change with fuel, season and events.

Who actually moves the car?

Keys moves run with In-N-Out Keys, our partner based in Marathon, using licensed carriers.

Can the truck come to my house on a canal street?

Sometimes, but many canal streets are too narrow to turn around in. We’ll plan a nearby meeting point if needed.

How often do trucks run down to the Keys?

The Fort Lauderdale to Key West lane runs daily, and the Upper and Middle Keys are on the way.

CTA: Send us your Broward pickup address, your Keys mile marker and your dates. We’ll come back with a ballpark starting estimate and set the move up with In-N-Out Keys.