While Florida and California are really far away from each other, sitting on opposite sides of the country, many people decide to move between these states. In fact, we’re talking about thousands of relocations a year. Needless to say, these moves are often complex, but with the right preparation and the proper assistance, they are successful in most cases. The reason why they are complex is mainly the distance, which isn’t ideal for relocating certain items. Cars are definitely among those goods that are a huge worry in a move like this. So, asking professionals to transport your vehicle is the obvious solution. If you’re worried about the potential expenses of this endeavor, Verified Movers are here to show you what the cost of shipping a car from Florida to California is so you can prepare much better.
The final cost of shipping a car from Florida to California depends on a few things
Relocation prices in general are rarely straightforward. This is because every move out there is unique in its own way. Of course, this especially goes for the relocations as a whole. Shipping your car is, in the end, just one aspect of your relocation. But, nevertheless, it still doesn’t mean that the cost is straightforward. So, before you understand how much you’ll have to spend to ship your car to the Golden State, you’ll need to know the main things that the final price depends on. You’ll find these factors in the list below:
- Size of the car
- Weight of the car
- Type of transport
- Location(s)
- Timing
A combination of these factors will determine your price. And, throughout the next few sections, you’ll see in what way they affect your price. Ultimately, that will help you understand how much are cross country moving companies in Florida going to charge you for their car shipping assistance.
Size of the car
Needless to say, the size of the car affects the price. The reason is simple – larger cars are more difficult to fit, and therefore, transport. Or, to be precise, they take up more space that could otherwise be used to organize smaller cars in the same place. Space is always limited when it comes to auto carriers, and if you take up more space than the others you end up paying a higher price than them. Naturally, this is definitely good news for people who are driving smaller and compact cars.
Did you know that the most popular car in Florida is a Toyota RAV4? This is a pretty large SUV, and it seems like Floridians are more prone to picking SUVs rather than smaller cars. That means that for most people, due to the size of their car, the cost of shipping to California will be above average.
Weight of the car
Following the same logic as with the size of the car, it’s clear why its weight affects the price as well. Auto carriers, besides limited space, also have weight limits. These limits are there for the safety of the truck, the safety of the roads, and most importantly, the people involved in the traffic. If your car is heavy, the carrier will have to load fewer vehicles onto the truck, so it’s only fair that you pay more. On the other hand, if your car isn’t too heavy, you’ll be delighted to hear that the price will be lower.
Type of transport
Now, let’s scratch under the surface a bit. The weight and size of the car were obvious factors in determining the cost of shipping from Florida to California. On the other hand, you might not be too familiar with the types of transport. But, with all the shipping and transportation innovations nowadays, it’s clear that transport should have multiple options. And, it does. In most cases, we divide them into two groups – open transport and enclosed transport.
Open transport is a much more affordable alternative, but bear in mind that your car won’t be protected from outside factors such as rain, wind, snow, hot temperatures, etc., depending on the weather in the places that the truck is passing through. This is usually fine when the move is shorter. However, when moving from Florida to California, it’s a completely different story. This is a huge trip, where the weather conditions will change countless times, and all of that could harm your car. So, this is definitely something to consider when preparing your car for shipping. Enclosed transport provides all the necessary protection, so if you don’t mind paying extra, this would definitely be our recommendation.
Location(s)
First of all, we’re talking about the distance. But, since you already know that you’re moving from Florida to California, there’s one more thing we need to mention. Shipping costs less if you’re moving between two major cities that are on frequent shipping routes. However, if your starting point or your destination (or both) are in a rural area, then it’s clear that it would make the delivery more difficult for interstate movers in California, both in terms of delivering your household goods, as well as your car.
Timing
If you’re not in a rush and don’t have to expedite your shipment, you will probably pay less than people who are in a hurry. Also, the cost could depend on the season, because carriers are busier during the summer months, which inflates the price. Winter shipping is the most affordable.
The average cost of shipping a car from Florida to California
Finally, it’s time to mention the concrete price. Since there are so many factors impacting the price, it’s clear why we can’t tell you anything for sure. What we can tell you though, is that the average cost of shipping a car from Florida to California is $1,100. If you have a smaller car, the price could go down by a few hundred bucks, and hence, if you have an SUV, expect the cost to be higher than this, especially if you opt for enclosed transport. In the end, the most important thing is for your car to arrive safely. So, pay attention when choosing an auto transport company. Make sure that they are experienced and legitimate, and everything should be fine. Good luck!