Shipping Your Car from Indiana to Florida for the Winter: A Snowbird Timeline

Every fall, a lot of Indiana heads to Florida. Naples, Fort Myers, Sarasota, Tampa, The Villages, Orlando. If you're one of them, your car needs to get there too, and it needs to come back in the spring.

Here's the timeline that keeps it easy, from the day you book to the day your car shows up at your winter place.

Six to eight weeks out: pick your dates

Start with two dates: the day you'd like the car picked up in Indiana, and roughly when you'll want it back in the spring.

Most of our Indiana snowbirds want the car in Florida a few days after they land, so they aren't stuck without a ride. Work backward from your arrival. Allow two to four days on the road, plus a pickup window of a few days.

Two to four weeks out: request your quote

This is the sweet spot for booking. Late October through mid December is the busiest time on Florida routes, because half the Midwest is heading the same way. Booking two to four weeks ahead gives you the widest choice of pickup dates.

When you request a quote, have these ready:

• Your pickup address in Indiana and your delivery address in Florida
• The year, make and model, and whether the car runs
• Your ideal pickup date and how flexible you are
• Any gate codes, guard-house rules or truck limits at your Florida community

Your quote arrives within minutes during business hours. Prices on Florida routes move with the season and with fuel, so we don't post a fixed price list. For today's prices on our regular routes out of Indianapolis, see the Indianapolis Car Shipping Cost Index. Your written quote is the number that counts.

Book the trip home now, too

This is the step most snowbirds skip, and the one they regret. March and April are just as busy heading north as November is heading south. Everyone wants their car back in Indiana at the same time.

Give us a rough spring date when you book the trip down. We'll confirm the exact pickup window as it gets closer. You won't be calling around in March with every other snowbird in Florida.

The week before pickup: get the car ready

Prep takes about ten minutes. Our pre-shipment checklist has the full list, but for a Florida trip the short version is:

• Empty the car. Personal items aren't covered by auto transport insurance, so pack your things in your luggage, not your back seat.
• Leave about a quarter tank of fuel.
• Take the toll transponder out. Florida tolls are everywhere, and you don't want to pay for the trailer's trip through every gantry.
• Wash it and take your own photos. A clean car makes the inspection at pickup more accurate.
• Turn off any aftermarket alarm.

Pickup day in Indiana

The driver calls ahead and meets you or someone you choose at the car. Together you walk around it, and the driver photographs every panel on the bill of lading. You sign, hand over one key, and you're done.

You don't have to wait for the truck before you leave for Florida. A neighbor, family member or friend can hand the car over for you. Just tell us who it will be.

Two to four days on the road

Once the car is loaded, most Indiana to Florida trips take two to four days. Jacksonville and Orlando come sooner. Naples and Fort Myers take a little longer. We keep you updated along the way, and the driver calls before delivery.

Delivery at your winter place

Door to door means the driver comes as close to your Florida address as a car carrier can safely get. Many 55-plus and gated communities welcome carriers. Some don't allow large trucks past the gate. If yours doesn't, the driver will meet you at a nearby wide street or lot. It's routine, and it takes five minutes.

At delivery, check the car against the pickup photos before you sign. If anything looks different, write it on the bill of lading right then.

Who hauls your car

Velocity is a licensed motor carrier based in Indianapolis, with its own trucks and drivers. We ship door to door anywhere in the lower 48. Depending on your dates, your car rides on one of our trucks or with a vetted carrier through our licensed broker partner. Velocity handles the quote, the booking and the updates, and you have one point of contact from pickup to delivery.

Heading to Arizona or the Carolinas instead? The same timeline works. Our snowbird car shipping guide covers the other popular winter routes, and our snowbird car shipping page has the service details.

The bottom line

Pick your dates, book two to four weeks ahead, reserve the spring trip home at the same time, and empty the car before pickup. Do that and your car is waiting in Florida when you get there. Request a quote and we'll take it from there.

Frequently asked questions

When should I book shipping from Indiana to Florida for the winter?

Two to four weeks before your ideal pickup date. Late October through mid December is when most Midwest snowbirds head south, so earlier requests get the best choice of pickup dates.

How long does it take to ship a car from Indiana to Florida?

Most Indiana to Florida moves take two to four days on the road once the car is picked up, depending on how far south you're going. Naples and Fort Myers take a little longer than Jacksonville or Orlando.

Can I book the trip back to Indiana at the same time?

Yes, and we recommend it. Give us a rough spring date when you book the trip down. We'll confirm the exact pickup window closer to the time, so you aren't scrambling in March with everyone else.

Can you deliver inside a gated or 55-plus community?

Usually. Send us the gate details and any rules about large trucks when you book. If a community doesn't allow car carriers inside, the driver arranges to meet you at a nearby wide street or parking lot.

Who actually hauls my car to Florida?

Velocity is a licensed motor carrier with its own trucks and drivers, and we ship door to door anywhere in the lower 48. Depending on your dates, your car rides on one of our trucks or with a vetted carrier through our licensed broker partner. Either way, you keep one point of contact at Velocity the whole way.