Florida to Texas

Certified by
Tim DeMille
Auto Transport Expert
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FLORIDA TO TEXAS
Shipping from Florida to Texas
Planning to move your vehicle from the Sunshine State to the Lone Star State? Florida to Texas car shipping is one of America’s most popular auto transport routes. Whether you’re relocating for work, buying a car online, or snowbirding between states, professional car shipping saves time and miles on your vehicle. This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know about Florida to Texas auto transport costs, timelines, and tips.
Average Distance, Time and Cost

FL
Florida

TX
Texas
Popular Routes from Florida to Texas

Key Takeaways From This Article
Auto Transport from Florida to Texas
Florida to Texas auto transport averages 1,152 miles with costs ranging from $775-$1,175 and delivery times of 1-4 days depending on your specific cities.
Our Florida & Texas Customers
Sherpa Auto Transport offers transparent pricing with our Price Lock Promise, 4.9-star ratings from 8,000+ reviews, and A+ BBB accreditation for reliable Florida to Texas shipping.
Factors that Impact Cost
Distance is the primary cost factor for Florida to Texas shipping, with longer routes like Miami to Austin (1,353 miles) costing more than shorter routes like Tampa to Houston (982 miles).
Tips and Tricks to Save
Book your Florida to Texas shipment during off-peak summer months and choose flexible pickup windows to save significantly on transport costs.
How Car Shipping Works
Vehicle preparation is the most critical step – remove personal items, clean your car, take photos, and ensure quarter-tank fuel before pickup day.
State Insights
Texas requires vehicle inspection before registration and higher insurance minimums than Florida, so plan for these requirements when relocating your vehicle.
What Sherpa’s Customers are Saying
The Sherpa Difference
TRANSPARENCY
Our Price Lock Promise ensures you know exactly what you’ll pay, with no hidden fees or last-minute surprises.
NATIONWIDE COVERAGE
Whether you’re shipping your vehicle across the state or across the country, our extensive network of carriers ships to all 50 states all year round.
CUSTOMER FIRST APPROACH
Sherpa has a 4.87 average customer rating with over 7,000 five-star reviews. We were recognized by Auto Business Outlook as the Top Automotive Shipping Provider in 2023 for our commitment to customer service.
CARRIER QUALITY
We carefully evaluate transportation records, accident history, and customer feedback to vet every one of our carriers. If a carrier does not meet our high standards, we do not use them.
EXPERT HANDLING
From classic cars, everyday vehicles, motorcycles and more, we have the expertise to manage all types of auto transport needs with care and precision.
Popular Routes from Florida to Texas
Factors that Affect Florida to Texas Shipping Prices
Distance
Florida to Texas spans 800-1,200 miles depending on your specific cities. Longer distances mean higher fuel costs and driver time, directly increasing your shipping price.
Route
Major interstate highways like I-10 connecting Florida and Texas offer cheaper shipping rates. Remote pickup or delivery locations require detours, increasing costs significantly.
Season
Winter months see higher demand as snowbirds flee cold weather, driving up prices. Summer offers better rates but extreme heat may delay some shipments.
Vehicle Type
Standard sedans cost less to ship than large SUVs or trucks. Oversized vehicles require special equipment, use more fuel, and limit trailer capacity.
Traffic Considerations
Holiday periods like Thanksgiving week create traffic nightmares, increasing transit times and costs. Schedule shipments during quieter periods for better rates and faster delivery.
Carrier Availability
Peak winter season may require 1-2 weeks to secure carriers due to high demand. Off-season bookings typically find available carriers within days.
Open vs Enclosed
Open trailers cost 20-40% less than enclosed options for Florida-Texas routes. Choose enclosed transport only for luxury, classic, or high-value vehicles needing weather protection.
Population Density
Dense urban areas like Miami or Houston increase delivery costs due to traffic and access challenges. Consider suburban pickup/delivery points to reduce expenses.
Tips & Tricks for Saving on Vehicle Shipping
Off Season Savings
Avoid peak snowbird season (October-April) when shipping from Florida to Texas. Even shifting your transport by a few weeks during busy periods can significantly reduce costs and improve carrier availability.
Flexible Pickup & Delivery
Choose flexible five-day pickup and delivery windows instead of exact dates. This flexibility allows carriers to optimize their routes, passing savings directly to you while maintaining reliable service.
Hub City Advantages
Select pickup and delivery locations near major highways in both states. Hub cities offer more carrier options and competitive rates compared to rural areas, potentially saving hundreds on transport costs.
Open Trailers
Open trailers cost significantly less than enclosed options for standard vehicles. Reserve enclosed transport only for luxury, classic, or high-value cars that need extra protection from weather and road debris.
Learn More About Open vs. Enclosed Trailers
How does Car Shipping from Florida to Texas Work?

Car shipping from Florida to Texas is a popular auto transport route that covers approximately 1,152 miles across the southeastern United States. This interstate corridor connects major cities like Miami, Tampa, and Jacksonville in Florida to Houston, Dallas, and Austin in Texas. The Florida to Texas car shipping process typically takes 1-4 days, depending on your specific pickup and delivery locations, with costs ranging from $775 to $1,175 based on vehicle size and transport options.
The car shipping process begins when you request a quote and book your transport service. Our team will assign a qualified carrier and provide you with pickup details, including a specific time window. Before pickup, you’ll need to prepare your vehicle by removing personal items, documenting existing damage with photos, and ensuring your car has less than a quarter tank of fuel. The driver will inspect your vehicle and provide a bill of lading for your records.
Florida to Texas auto transport involves crossing multiple state lines, including Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana, which means carriers must comply with various state regulations and weight restrictions. Weather conditions can also impact delivery times, particularly during hurricane season in the Gulf Coast region. Most shipments use open-air carriers that transport multiple vehicles simultaneously, though enclosed transport options are available for luxury or classic cars requiring extra protection.
Upon delivery in Texas, you’ll meet the carrier at the designated location to inspect your vehicle and sign the final paperwork. The driver will review any changes to your car’s condition and collect final payment if not already processed. This efficient auto transport system allows you to move your vehicle safely across state lines without adding wear and tear from a long-distance drive, making Florida to Texas car shipping an ideal solution for relocations, vehicle purchases, or seasonal moves.
Florida to Texas Car Transport: State Insights and Regulations

When planning Florida to Texas car shipping, understanding the registration differences between states helps ensure a smooth transition. Florida requires vehicle registration within 30 days of establishing residency, while Texas gives new residents 30 days as well. However, Texas requires a vehicle inspection before registration, which Florida doesn’t mandate. This inspection covers safety items like brakes, lights, and steering components.
Vehicle regulations vary significantly between these states. Texas has stricter emission testing requirements in major metropolitan areas like Dallas and Houston, while Florida has no statewide emissions testing. Window tinting laws also differ – Florida allows 28% light transmission on front side windows, while Texas permits only 25%. Additionally, Texas has specific regulations on vehicle lift heights and bumper modifications that may not apply to Florida vehicles.
Auto transport from Florida to Texas requires minimal weather-related vehicle modifications since both states have warm climates year-round. However, Texas experiences more extreme weather variations, including occasional ice storms and severe thunderstorms. Consider upgrading to all-season tires if moving to northern Texas regions. The state’s vast distances also make regular maintenance more critical, so ensure your vehicle is service-ready before car shipping.
Insurance considerations play a crucial role in your Florida to Texas car shipping journey. Texas requires higher minimum liability coverage than Florida – $30,000 per person for bodily injury versus Florida’s $10,000 Personal Injury Protection requirement. Texas also mandates property damage coverage of $25,000 compared to Florida’s $10,000. Contact your insurance provider before auto transport to understand coverage changes and ensure compliance with Texas requirements immediately upon arrival. Some insurers offer better rates in Texas due to different risk factors and competition levels.
Florida to Texas Vehicle Transport FAQs
Preparing your vehicle for shipping from Florida to Texas is simple but important. Here’s what you need to do:
Remove personal items: Take out all belongings, including items in the glove box, trunk, and under seats. Carriers are not responsible for personal property.
Clean your car: Wash the exterior so you can easily spot any damage during inspection. Take photos of your vehicle from all angles.
Check fluids and battery: Ensure your car has enough gas (about 1/4 tank), oil, and coolant. Make sure the battery is charged and secure.
Remove or secure loose parts: Take off custom accessories, spoilers, or anything that could fall off. Remove toll tags like SunPass or TxTag.
Disable alarms: Turn off car alarms to prevent issues during transport.
Provide a working key: Give the driver a spare key that starts the vehicle.
For complete preparation details, check our Vehicle Shipping Tips page. Following these steps ensures your car arrives safely in Texas.
Yes, your vehicle is fully insured during transport from Florida to Texas. Every carrier in our network must carry a minimum of $1,000,000 in liability insurance and $100,000 in cargo insurance.
Before your car ships, we verify that your carrier’s insurance is active and valid. We also require all carriers to add Sherpa Auto Transport as a Certificate Holder on their policy. This gives you extra protection throughout your Florida to Texas shipment.
Your vehicle is covered from pickup to delivery. This insurance protects against damage that might occur during loading, transport, or unloading. All insurance coverage is included in your quote at no extra cost.
We recommend scheduling your car pickup from Florida at least 2-3 weeks in advance. This gives you the best chance to secure competitive rates and flexible pickup dates.
Here’s why early booking helps:
- Better pricing: Carriers can plan routes more efficiently
- More options: Higher availability of trusted carriers
- Flexible scheduling: Easier to work around your timeline
Florida is a busy shipping state with high demand, especially during winter months when many people relocate. If you’re moving during peak season (October through March), consider booking 3-4 weeks ahead.
Need to ship last minute? We can often accommodate rush orders, though rates may be higher and pickup windows more limited.
No payment is due at the time of booking. We do require a payment method on file so that it is available to charge once a carrier is secured. We accept all major debit and credit cards, including Mastercard, Visa, Discover and American Express. The most convenient option is to pay for your shipment in full by credit card at the time a carrier is secured.
We also allow you to pay for your Initial Payment via credit or debit card and then pay the outstanding balance on delivery day via cash or a certified check made out to the carrier.
Your Sherpa shipment includes up to 100 lbs of personal items or household goods stored in the trunk area or secured below the window line. If you are shipping to or from a port or your shipment includes ocean transit, your vehicle must be emptied of all items. Sherpa and your assigned carrier cannot be responsible for personal items left inside the vehicle. See our Vehicle Shipping Tips for more details.
Yes. It is important that you, or another adult that you trust, is there for pickup and delivery of your vehicle. This designated person plays an important role in the shipping process including documenting the state of the vehicle and signing the Bill of Lading, which acts as a receipt of the vehicle’s condition.
Open transport is the most common and budget-friendly option. Your car rides on an open trailer alongside other vehicles. It’s safe and reliable for most cars, but your vehicle is exposed to weather and road debris during the Florida to Texas journey.
Enclosed transport costs 40-60% more but provides complete protection. Your car travels inside a covered trailer, shielded from rain, sun, and road hazards. This is ideal for luxury cars, classics, or vehicles with custom paint jobs.
For most Florida to Texas moves, open transport works great and saves money. Choose enclosed transport if your car is worth over $50,000 or needs extra protection. See our open vs enclosed auto transport guide for detailed comparisons and pricing.
Yes, we offer door-to-door auto transport service from Florida to Texas. This means we pick up your car from your home, office, or any address you choose in Florida and deliver it directly to your desired location in Texas.
Here’s how it works: When you book your shipment, simply tell us your pickup address in Florida and delivery address in Texas. Our carrier will come to you at both ends – no need to drive to a terminal or depot.
In rare cases where your street has restrictions (like low bridges, narrow roads, or no truck parking), our driver will work with you to find a safe nearby spot. This might be a shopping center, gas station, or main road close to your address. We always aim to get as close to your door as possible.
Door-to-door service saves you time and hassle during your Florida to Texas move. You don’t need to arrange extra transportation or take time off work to drop off or pick up your vehicle at a distant location.
Many Auto Transport companies try to tease customers with lower rates, only to surprise you with “hidden costs” later. At Sherpa Auto Transport, we do things differently. We provide one locked-in price upfront and stick to it. If unexpected costs arise, we pay them out of our own pocket.
While we may not always be the cheapest option at first glance, our commitment to transparency and reliability offers exceptional value. As a premium service, we ensure an stress-free experience from start to finish.
We transport sedans, SUVs, pickup trucks, vans and motorcycles across the nation, including service to Alaska and Hawaii. At this time, we do not service boats, golf carts, ATVs, or RVs. We can ship both operable and inoperable vehicles so long as the vehicle can roll, brake, and steer, and that you can provide the carrier with a key to the vehicle. We can also ship electric vehicles.
Visit Sherpa’s FAQ page to learn more about car shipping!