($636) Cost to ship a car from Jacksonville, FL to Birmingham, AL
Quick answer: The average cost to ship a car 492 miles from Jacksonville, Florida, to Birmingham, Alabama, ranges from $636 to $936. Costs vary depending on factors like the type of vehicle, transport method, and time of year. For a more detailed quote, use our car shipping cost calculator.
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Shipping a car the reverse route? We've got you covered with our Birmingham to Jacksonville car shipping guide.
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Each year, 400,000+ people trust our car shipping recommendations. Here are a few reasons why:
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The best Jacksonville to Birmingham car shipping companies
We’ve done the research, and these are the best car shipping companies to help transport your vehicle from Jacksonville to Birmingham:
- Best for accurate pricing: Sherpa Auto Transport
- Best cross-country shipper: Montway Auto Transport
- Best for quick pickup: Easy Auto Ship
- Best for discounts: AmeriFreight Car Transport
- Best for overall value: SGT Auto Transport
- Best marketplace: uShip
- Price Lock Promise
- Pay by credit card
- Free car wash at delivery
- No upfront deposit
- Door-to-door service
- No upfront payment
- GPS tracking
- Multiple insurance options
- Competitive pricing
- Door-to-door shipping
- No upfront deposit
- Expedited shipping
- No hidden fees
- Ships motorcycles & RVs
- Discount for cash payments
- Competitive pricing
- Last-minute car shipments
- Guaranteed & expedited shipments
- Gap insurance coverage
- Multiple discounts
- No hidden fees
- Free online quotes
- Door-to-door service in 48 states
- Exact pickup dates
- Ships to & from HI
- Instant pricing from multiple providers
- $500 damage or loss coverage
- Mobile app
- Shipper service history & verified reviews
- All vehicle types
Top local car shippers in Jacksonville
If you prefer to go with a local company, here are the top car shippers in Jacksonville, FL:
How we chose the best car shipping companies
We analyzed 2,400 car shipping companies nationally and evaluated and rated them based on key factors using our unique system of methodology.
Here’s what we considered:
- Standard services: We looked at the types and variety of services each company provides. This includes whether they offer open transport, enclosed transport, or both. We also rated companies based on whether they have door-to-door shipping or just terminal pickup and delivery and the kinds of vehicles they ship. Companies that move RVs, motorcycles, and other specialty vehicles scored higher than those that just ship cars.
- Add-on services: We gave additional points to companies that provide special optional services like expedited shipping, guaranteed pickup times, car washes, and rental car reimbursement.
- Customer satisfaction: We analyzed consumer reviews on multiple major platforms, such as Yelp, Google, and Trustpilot to see whether a car shipping company delivers services promptly with good communication and within the estimated cost. We also evaluated each company’s standing within the car shipping industry as a whole by confirming U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) licensure and checked their membership in — and reputation with — trade associations.
- Availability: We awarded points to each company based on their service areas. Companies that are available in Alaska and Hawaii, in addition to the continental U.S., scored higher than those that just service the Lower 48 or fewer states.
- Scheduling and payment: We reviewed the ease with which customers can schedule services and estimate their costs through accurate quotes, price matching, flat-rate pricing, and other perks. Car shippers that give binding quotes or a price-lock promise got more positive rankings than those that are not as transparent with pricing.
Car shipping alternatives from FL to AL
- Coordinate with your movers. If you are relocating from Jacksonville to Birmingham, many of the top long-distance moving companies partner with reputable car shippers nationwide, and can oversee auto transport for you as part of an overall relocation package. You won’t have to handle the logistics yourself, but you’ll be locked into your mover’s pick for car shipper and their pricing.
- Drive your car. There are lots of pros and cons of driving your car versus shipping it. You may be able to incorporate the 492-mile drive from Jacksonville to Birmingham into a fun road trip, and you’ll likely save money. But all that mileage will put some wear and tear on your vehicle, and you could face inclement weather or other dangerous driving conditions.
- Use a driving service. Hiring someone else to drive your car directly from Florida to Alabama is an option, albeit an expensive one. And you’ll need to find a driver you trust to safely get your car from Jacksonville to Birmingham. Plus, you’ll still be putting extra miles on your car regardless of who drives it there.
- Ship your car via train. Shipping a car by train is a cost-effective and safe way to transport your vehicle to Birmingham, particularly if you’re already planning to move your household belongings by rail. In fact, it is the cheapest way to ship your car! Keep in mind that this method offers no real flexibility in terms of pickup and drop-off locations and will take longer than using a car shipper or driving.
Factors affecting Jacksonville to Birmingham car shipping costs
When transporting your vehicle from Jacksonville to Birmingham, these factors will influence the cost:
Transport method
There are different options for shipping your car from Jacksonville to Birmingham, including open, enclosed, and top-loaded transport. The method you choose will depend on your specific needs.
When leaving Jacksonville, open carriers are the most cost-effective option, while enclosed transport provides added protection for luxury or classic cars. If you’re uncertain which option to use to get your vehicle to Birmingham, refer to our guide on comparing open vs. enclosed car shipping.
Vehicle size and type
Your shipping costs out of Jacksonville will be determined in large part by what kind of car you have. As you might guess, the bigger the vehicle, the more it will cost. This is simply because it takes up more space and adds more weight to the carrier. So, a full-size SUV will be more expensive to ship to Birmingham than a compact car.
Distance and route
To put it simply — the longer the journey, the higher the price. Distance impacts pricing in terms of fuel and labor expenses, as well as adjacent costs like toll fees and carrier maintenance. Shipping your car 492 miles from Jax to B'ham will likely be more expensive than transporting it a shorter distance within Florida.
Where you’re shipping your car matters here, too. Rates are usually lower for routes that are along major highways and will be higher for areas that are more remote.
The time of the year
Seasonal demand and weather conditions in both Jacksonville and Birmingham can impact car shipping prices.
The season and weather in both Jacksonville and Birmingham can impact car shipping prices.
Jacksonville has hot humid summers, and warm to mild and drier winters. Seasonal rainfall is concentrated in the warmest months from May through September, when brief but intense downpours with thunder and lightning are common, while the driest months are from November through April. Be sure to check your weather app to avoid rain during your move.
Birmingham has hot summers, mild winters, and abundant rainfall. Birmingham is also located in tornado alley.
During peak moving times like summer and the winter holidays, demand for car shipping services increases, leading to higher prices. Shipping your car from Jacksonville to Birmingham during these peak seasons can result in higher costs due to increased demand.
Fuel prices
Fuel price fluctuations can greatly influence transport costs. This is a critical factor given the 492-mile distance between Jacksonville and Birmingham and the varying fuel prices across different regions. When fuel prices are high, shipping costs will rise accordingly.
Delivery expectations
Being flexible with your delivery dates can sometimes lead to discounts from your auto shipper. However, shipping a car from Jacksonville to Birmingham typically takes between one and four days. Flexibility in delivery times can save costs, whereas expedited services ensure quicker delivery but at a premium cost.
Comparing Jacksonville and Birmingham vehicle regulations
Parking permits
- Jacksonville: Jacksonville allows two applications of parking permits; a monthly permit for city garages and a temporary permit for users that need street space. These temporary could be freighters as well as movers. The cost of Jacksonville parking permit for movers depends on whether you are choosing hourly or monthly permit. This is the list of hourly parking rates. Up to ONE hour — $1.07 Up to TWO hours — $ 2.14 Up to THREE hours — $ 3.21 Up to FOUR hours — $ 4.28 Up to FIVE hours — $ 5.35 Up to SIX hours — $ 6.42 Over SIX hours — $ 6.96 Failure to settle your balances after 15 days will attract a penalty of $10. Additionally, monthly parking rates vary for Jacksonville city depending on the parking location. These rates range from $53.50 to $85.60. Under these categoriesScience Articles, there are further specialized rates for the general population and for reserved. All these can be found at the Jacksonville city website.
- Birmingham: Current parking rates, which range from $1 an hour (for 2-hour or less meters) to $0.50 an hour (for 10-hour meters), will not change as part of ordinance modification.
Car insurance requirements
- Jacksonville: All vehicles registered in Florida must have PIP and PDL insurance coverage at the time of registration with a minimum of $10,000 for PIP and $10,000 for PDL.
- Birmingham: Alabama state government requires motorists possess liability insurance, which must provide a minimum coverage of 25/50/25. This specification includes coverage for bodily injury per person, bodily injury per accident, and property damage per accident.
Vehicle inspections
- Jacksonville: Unlike many states, Florida does not mandate vehicle owners to undergo regular emission or safety inspections for their vehicles.
- Birmingham: In Alabama, a safety inspection must be completed prior to selling a vehicle and a VIN inspection is mandatory when registering an out-of-state vehicle. Emissions inspections are not required by the state, though cities and municipalities may have their own laws mandating them.
Driver’s license
- Jacksonville: If you possess a valid driver's license from another state, you are legally permitted to drive in Florida without obtaining a Florida driver's license. However, if you choose to obtain one, you only need to pass a vision and hearing test, no written or road test is necessary.
- Birmingham: When you move to Alabama with an out-of-state driver's license, you have 30 days to surrender it and obtain an Alabama license.
FAQ
How much does it cost to ship a car from Jacksonville to Birmingham?
The cost to ship a car from Jacksonville, FL to Birmingham, AL varies based on several factors, including the type of transport (open vs. enclosed car shipping), vehicle size and weight, and the current fuel prices. On average, transporting your vehicle from Jacksonville to Birmingham will range from $636 to $936.
How long will it take to ship my car from Jacksonville to Birmingham?
It will take approximately one to four days to ship your car the 492 miles from Jacksonville to Birmingham. If you need it quicker, ask your shipper about expedited delivery.
What’s the cheapest way to ship my car from Jacksonville to Birmingham?
An open-transport car carrier is the cheapest way to ship your car from Jacksonville to Birmingham. However, there are other methods. Read our post on the cheapest way to ship a car to learn more.
Is it cheaper to ship my car or drive it from Jacksonville to Birmingham?
It is generally cheaper to drive your car from Jacksonville to Birmingham than to ship it. However, when deciding whether to drive your car or ship it, you need to factor in related costs like maintenance fees that could result from the additional wear-and-tear on your vehicle during the 492-mile trip. Long-distance trips also involve food and possibly lodging, which can add up quickly.
We recommend that you reach out to at least a few of the top car shippers to ask about seasonal rates and auto transport discounts. You can also use our car shipping calculator to quickly generate and compare quotes from multiple companies.