California to Florida Car Shipping

Preparing your vehicle for shipping from California to Florida is simple but important. Here’s what you need to do:

Remove Personal Items: Take out all personal belongings, including toll passes, GPS devices, and any loose items that could shift during transport.

Clean Your Car: Wash your vehicle inside and out. This helps you spot any existing damage and makes the inspection process easier.

Document Condition: Take photos of your car from all angles before shipping. This protects you if any damage occurs during transit.

Check Fluids and Battery: Ensure your car has enough gas (about 1/4 tank), oil, and coolant. Make sure your battery is secure and working.

Remove Accessories: Take off any removable parts like bike racks, spoilers, or antennas that could be damaged or cause clearance issues.

Provide a Working Key: Give the carrier a spare key and make sure it starts your vehicle.

For complete details, check our Vehicle Shipping Tips page. Following these steps ensures your car arrives safely in Florida.

Yes, your vehicle is fully insured during transport from California to Florida. All Sherpa Auto Transport carriers must carry a minimum of $1,000,000 in liability insurance and $100,000 in cargo insurance.

Before your car ships, we verify that the carrier’s insurance is active and valid for your entire trip. We also require all carriers to add Sherpa as a Certificate Holder on their policy for extra protection.

This means your vehicle is covered from pickup in California all the way to delivery in Florida. Our insurance requirements exceed industry standards to give you peace of mind during your cross-country move.

For car shipping from California to Florida, we recommend booking your pickup service at least 2-3 weeks in advance. This gives you the best chance to secure competitive rates and preferred pickup dates.

Here’s why early booking matters:

• Better pricing: Carriers can plan routes more efficiently when they have advance notice
• More pickup options: You’ll have flexibility in choosing convenient pickup times
• Route optimization: Your vehicle can be bundled with other shipments heading to Florida

During peak moving seasons (summer months and winter holidays), consider booking 3-4 weeks ahead. If you need last-minute service, we can often accommodate rush orders, though prices may be higher.

Pro tip: The California to Florida route is one of the most popular shipping lanes, so carriers run this route frequently. Early booking ensures you get the best service at the best price.

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 auto transport uses open trailers where your car is exposed to weather and road debris. This is the most common and affordable option, costing about 50% less than enclosed transport.

Enclosed auto transport protects your vehicle inside a covered trailer, shielding it from weather, dust, and road debris during the long trip from California to Florida.

Choose open transport if: You have a standard daily driver and want to save money. Most cars ship safely this way.

Choose enclosed transport if: You own a luxury car, classic vehicle, or custom car that needs extra protection. The added cost is worth it for high-value vehicles.

For the California to Florida route (about 2,500 miles), enclosed transport typically costs $300-600 more than open transport. See our complete open vs enclosed auto transport guide for detailed pricing and tips.

Yes, we offer door-to-door auto transport service from California to Florida. This means we pick up your car from your home, office, or any address you choose in California and deliver it directly to your specified location in Florida.

Here’s how it works: When you book your shipment, simply provide us with your preferred pickup address in California and delivery address in Florida. Our assigned carrier will coordinate with you to schedule both pickup and delivery at these exact locations.

In some cases, large car carriers cannot access certain residential streets due to low-hanging branches, narrow roads, or HOA restrictions. If this happens, don’t worry – our driver will work with you to find a safe, nearby meeting spot like a shopping center or gas station. This ensures your vehicle is still picked up and delivered as close to your door as possible.

Door-to-door service is included in most of our California to Florida car shipping quotes at no extra charge, making your cross-country move as convenient as possible.

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!