Florida to Illinois Car Shipping

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

Before pickup:

• Remove all personal items from inside your car
• Take off toll passes like SunPass or I-PASS
• Remove loose accessories like bike racks, spoilers, or antennas
• Clean your car and take photos for your records
• Keep gas tank between 1/4 and 1/2 full
• Make sure you have a working key to give the driver

Check these items:

• Tire pressure and battery charge
• Any existing damage (note it on the inspection report)
• Remove or secure any loose parts

For complete preparation details, see our Vehicle Shipping Tips page. Following these steps helps ensure your car arrives safely in Illinois and prevents any delays during pickup.

Yes, your vehicle is fully insured when shipping from Florida to Illinois with Sherpa Auto Transport.

Every carrier in our network must carry:

• $1,000,000 in liability insurance – covers damage to other vehicles or property
• $100,000 in cargo insurance – protects your vehicle during transport

Before your Florida to Illinois shipment begins, we verify that your carrier’s insurance is active and valid. We also require all carriers to list Sherpa as a Certificate Holder on their policy for added protection.

Important: While rare, if damage occurs during transport, you’ll file a claim directly with the carrier’s insurance company. We help guide you through this process to ensure a smooth resolution.

We recommend booking your car shipment from Florida to Illinois 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 matters:

• Better pricing: Carriers can plan routes more efficiently when they have advance notice
• More carrier options: Popular routes like Florida to Illinois fill up quickly
• Flexible scheduling: You’ll have more pickup window options to choose from

If you need faster service, we can often arrange pickups within 3-7 days, but expect higher costs for expedited shipping. Peak seasons (summer months and winter snowbird season) require even more advance planning.

The key is giving carriers time to group your vehicle with others heading to Illinois, which keeps costs down and ensures reliable service.

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. Your vehicle will be secure but not protected from rain, dust, or small rocks.

Enclosed auto transport ships your car inside a covered trailer, protecting it from weather and road debris. This costs more but is worth it for luxury cars, classics, or vehicles with custom paint jobs.

For most Florida to Illinois moves, open transport works great. The route has good highways and reliable weather. Choose enclosed transport if your car is worth over $50,000 or has special value to you. See our open vs enclosed auto transport guide for more details.

Yes, Sherpa Auto Transport offers convenient door-to-door auto transport service from Florida to Illinois.

When you book your car shipment, simply provide your pickup address in Florida and your delivery address in Illinois. Our carrier will come directly to your home, office, or preferred location to collect your vehicle. Then, they’ll deliver it right to your door at your destination.

This service saves you time and hassle – no need to drive to terminals or meet at distant locations. However, please note that large trucks sometimes cannot access narrow streets, apartment complexes, or areas with low-hanging branches. If your address isn’t accessible, don’t worry. Our driver will work with you to find a safe, nearby meeting spot like a shopping center or gas station.

Door-to-door service is included in most of our Florida to Illinois auto transport quotes at no extra charge. It’s just one more way we make car shipping simple and stress-free for our customers.

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!