Maryland to Florida Car Shipping

Preparing your car for transport from Maryland to Florida is simple. Follow these key steps to ensure a smooth shipment:

• Clean your vehicle – Wash the exterior so the carrier can clearly document any pre-existing scratches or dents during the inspection.
• Do a thorough walkaround – Take photos and videos of your car from all angles before pickup. This protects you if any damage claims arise.
• Remove personal belongings – Auto transport carriers are not licensed to ship household goods. Remove all personal items from the interior to avoid liability issues.
• Remove or secure loose accessories – Take off any exterior add-ons like spoilers, bike racks, or custom mirrors that could be damaged in transit.
• Remove your E-ZPass or SunPass – Toll transponders left in the car may rack up charges as the carrier drives through toll roads on the way to Florida.
• Leave only a quarter tank of gas – A full tank adds unnecessary weight. A quarter tank is enough for loading and unloading.
• Disable your car alarm – An alarm that goes off during transport can cause serious delays for the carrier.
• Provide a working key – Make sure the carrier has a key to move your vehicle on and off the truck.

For a full checklist, visit our Vehicle Shipping Tips page. A little prep goes a long way in making your Maryland to Florida car shipment stress-free!

Yes, your vehicle is insured when shipping from Maryland to Florida with Sherpa Auto Transport. Here is how we protect your car every step of the way:

• Carrier Liability Insurance: Every carrier we work with is required to carry a minimum of $1,000,000 in liability insurance.
• Cargo Insurance: All carriers must also hold a minimum of $100,000 in cargo insurance, which covers your vehicle directly in the event of damage during transport.
• Verified Coverage: Before your car is ever loaded onto a truck, we verify that the carrier’s insurance policy is valid and active for the full duration of your shipment.
• Sherpa as Certificate Holder: All contracted carriers are required to add Sherpa Auto Transport as a Certificate Holder on their insurance policy, giving you an extra layer of protection and accountability.

Our quotes are also all-inclusive, so there are no hidden fees or surprise charges related to insurance coverage.

For added peace of mind, we recommend doing a thorough vehicle inspection with your driver at both pickup in Maryland and delivery in Florida. This ensures any pre-existing damage is documented and any new damage is easy to identify. If you have questions about coverage, contact our team — we are happy to help.

The sooner you book, the better. We recommend scheduling your pickup at least two weeks in advance, but booking even earlier gives you the best chance of securing a carrier quickly and at a lower rate.

Here’s why early booking matters for the Maryland to Florida route:

• Carrier availability: Carriers plan their routes ahead of time. The more notice you give, the easier it is to match your shipment with a truck already heading south.
• Better pricing: Last-minute bookings often come with higher costs. Early scheduling gives carriers time to bundle your vehicle with others along the same route, which keeps costs down for everyone.
• Flexible pickup windows: Booking early means you can choose a pickup window that works best for your schedule, rather than taking whatever is available.

If you need to ship on short notice, don’t worry — it’s still possible. However, you may face limited carrier options and higher rates. Learn more about how our booking process works on our How It Works page, or get a free quote today to lock in your rate.

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.

When shipping your car from Maryland to Florida, you have two options: open transport and enclosed transport.

Open transport is the most popular and affordable choice. Your vehicle is loaded onto an open-air trailer alongside other cars — the same way most new cars are delivered to dealerships. It’s safe, reliable, and the best option for most standard vehicles.

Enclosed transport provides a fully covered trailer that shields your vehicle from weather, road debris, and dust. The trade-off is cost — enclosed shipping typically runs 40–60% more than open transport. It’s the right choice if you’re moving a:

• Classic or antique car
• Luxury or exotic vehicle
• Custom paint or low-clearance car
• High-value vehicle where extra protection is worth the premium

For most everyday vehicles making the Maryland to Florida run, open transport is the smart, cost-effective choice. If you’re unsure which is right for your car, check out our open vs. enclosed auto transport guide for a full breakdown.

Yes! Sherpa Auto Transport offers door-to-door auto transport service for all shipments, including routes from Maryland to Florida. This is the most convenient way to ship your car — no need to drop it off at a terminal or travel out of your way.

Here’s how it works: When you book your shipment, simply provide your preferred pickup address in Maryland and your delivery address in Florida. Your assigned carrier will come directly to you and deliver your vehicle as close to your door as possible.

Keep in mind that some neighborhoods have low-hanging trees, narrow streets, or tight turns that make it difficult for large car carriers to navigate safely. If that’s the case, your driver will contact you to arrange a nearby alternative — such as a local parking lot or gas station. It’s a quick, easy solution that still saves you significant time and effort.

Door-to-door service is included as a standard option with Sherpa, so there are no surprise fees or upgrades required. It’s just one of the ways we make shipping your car from Maryland to Florida as simple and stress-free 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!