Shipping Your Car From Michigan to Florida for Snowbird Season
Every fall, Michigan snowbirds begin the familiar migration south to Florida — and their vehicles make the trip with them.
For Autos On The Go, this route is particularly close to home.
We started our auto transport business in Michigan in 2008 and still maintain an office in Farmington Hills today. Now, with operations in Florida as well, we coordinate vehicle transportation between two places we know exceptionally well.
For customers traveling from Metro Detroit, Ann Arbor, Northern Michigan and other parts of the state, I-75 forms the backbone of Michigan-to-Florida car shipping.
Request a Michigan-to-Florida auto transport quote
Michigan to Florida Snowbird Car Shipping at a Glance
| Michigan → Florida | |
|---|---|
| Primary Transport Corridor | I-75 South |
| Common Michigan Origins | Farmington Hills, Novi, Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills, Rochester Hills, Ann Arbor |
| Popular Florida Destinations | Naples, Fort Myers, Sarasota, Tampa, The Villages, Palm Beach, Boca Raton |
| Peak Southbound Season | Fall through early winter |
| Return Season | Spring |
| Service | Door-to-door auto transport |
Why I-75 Matters When Shipping a Car From Michigan to Florida
From Metro Detroit, I-75 runs south through major transportation markets including Dayton, Cincinnati, Lexington, Knoxville, Chattanooga and Atlanta before entering Florida.
For an auto carrier, that matters.
Carrier traffic, interstate access, other vehicles on the trailer and where the truck needs to go next all influence how easily a shipment fits into a route. A vehicle near Metro Detroit’s interstate network can be easier to incorporate into a southbound load than one requiring a significant detour.
Once the carrier reaches Florida, the route changes depending on the final destination.
Southwest Florida
For snowbirds heading to Tampa, Sarasota, Venice, Fort Myers or Naples, I-75 continues directly down Florida’s Gulf Coast.
Autos On The Go regularly coordinates seasonal transportation into Southwest Florida, including dedicated Naples snowbird car transport.
Central Florida
Destinations such as The Villages and Orlando require carriers to branch away from I-75.
The Villages is an especially popular seasonal destination, and we regularly arrange car transportation to The Villages for snowbirds arriving from Michigan and other northern states.
South Florida
Vehicles headed to Palm Beach, Boca Raton, Fort Lauderdale or Miami eventually need to cross toward Florida’s Atlantic coast.
That’s why “Michigan to Florida” isn’t really one route. Farmington Hills to Naples and Farmington Hills to Palm Beach may begin the same way, but they don’t finish the same way.
Where We Pick Up Cars in Michigan
Our Michigan roots are in Farmington Hills, in the heart of Metro Detroit.
We regularly arrange vehicle transportation from:
- Farmington Hills
- Novi
- Northville
- Birmingham
- Bloomfield Hills
- West Bloomfield
- Troy
- Rochester Hills
- Royal Oak
- Livonia
- Grosse Pointe
- Ann Arbor
Access to I-75, I-696, I-275 and M-14 helps connect Metro Detroit vehicles to the larger southbound transportation network.
That doesn’t mean you need to bring your car to the interstate. We arrange door-to-door transportation whenever the pickup location can safely and legally accommodate an auto carrier. When it can’t, we’ll coordinate a nearby location that works for you and the driver.
How Much Does Michigan to Florida Car Shipping Cost?
There isn’t one fixed Michigan-to-Florida snowbird rate.
The Michigan origin, Florida destination, vehicle, season and carrier availability all matter.
A Farmington Hills-to-Naples shipment, for example, fits the I-75 corridor very differently than Traverse City-to-Key West. During peak snowbird season, the former may price around $1 per mile, while a more difficult route can approach $1.50 per mile.
These are peak snowbird routes. In the fall, large numbers of seasonal vehicles compete for southbound carrier space at roughly the same time.
This is also when an unusually low quote deserves a closer look. Some large call-center brokers advertise low initial prices to secure an order, only to seek additional money when a carrier won’t accept the shipment at that rate.
Autos On The Go takes a different approach. We price each shipment realistically from the beginning based on the route, season and current carrier market. Once you book with us, under no circumstance will you have to worry about a price change.
For a snowbird coordinating flights and closing up a Michigan home, that price certainty matters.
When Should Michigan Snowbirds Book Their Car?
Southbound snowbird traffic begins building in September, becomes much busier through October and November, and continues into December and January for customers leaving after the holidays.
You don’t need to reserve transportation months in advance, but waiting until the day before your flight can limit your options.
If you know approximately when you’re heading south, contact us early enough to discuss your preferred pickup window and current carrier availability.
Flying to Florida Before Your Car Leaves Michigan?
You don’t necessarily need to remain in Michigan until the transporter arrives.
A family member, neighbor, friend or property manager can usually release the vehicle to the carrier on your behalf. The same principle applies at delivery if someone you authorize can accept the vehicle in Florida.
Tell us your travel schedule when you book and we’ll coordinate the shipment around who will actually be available at pickup and delivery.
From Michigan to Florida — and Back Again
For many snowbirds, this isn’t a one-time shipment. It’s a twice-a-year routine:
Michigan → Florida in the fall.
Florida → Michigan in the spring.
For repeat customers, we already know the vehicle, seasonal routine and general route between their two homes.
And because Autos On The Go has operations on both ends of this migration, Michigan-to-Florida transportation isn’t simply another state-to-state lane on our map.
Michigan is where our company started. Florida is now home too.
Tell us where the car is in Michigan, where you’re spending the winter in Florida and approximately when you’re heading south. We’ll take it from there.
Michigan to Florida Snowbird Car Shipping FAQs
Often, yes. Carriers generally prefer routes near major interstate corridors and population centers. Metro Detroit pickups can fit naturally into southbound traffic, while Northern or Western Michigan pickups may require additional routing that can affect timing, availability and price.
Considerably. Northern Michigan requires a carrier to travel farther from the major Metro Detroit transportation network.
Depending on the route and timing, the most practical solution may be a two-part move: Northern Michigan to Metro Detroit, followed by long-haul transport to Florida.
The routes are different. I-75 continues directly toward Fort Myers and Naples, while Palm Beach and other Southeast Florida destinations require the carrier to transition toward Florida’s Atlantic coast.
Actual availability still depends on the carrier’s complete load and route.
Yes. You can designate another responsible person to release the vehicle.
We also have access to a trusted third-party vehicle drop-off location near Detroit Metropolitan Airport, which can be especially convenient if you want to leave your vehicle behind and fly to Florida.
No. I-75 handles much of the southbound trip, but the carrier eventually leaves the interstate to reach The Villages. We coordinate the final delivery based on your actual address and carrier access.
Seasonal migration changes the balance between vehicles needing transportation and available carrier space in each direction. The same two addresses can therefore price differently depending on the season and direction of travel.
Heading South From Michigan?
Whether your winter home is in Naples, Sarasota, The Villages, Palm Beach, Boca Raton or elsewhere in Florida, Autos On The Go can coordinate the trip from your Michigan driveway to your Florida destination.
We’ve been arranging auto transport since 2008 — starting right here in Michigan.
Request a Michigan-to-Florida car shipping quote or call Autos On The Go at 866-924-7447.
Licensed. Bonded. Insured.
MC #660651
