Florida to Iowa Car Shipping (2024 Cost Guide)
Fact Checked by: Quick answer: The average cost to ship a car 1,388 miles from Florida to Iowa ranges from $1,046 to $1,564 and takes three–eight days depending on factors like the transport type and season. 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 Iowa to Florida car shipping guide.
The best Florida to Iowa car shipping companies
We’ve done the research and these are the best car shipping companies to help transport your vehicle from Florida to Iowa:
- Best for accurate pricing: Sherpa Auto Transport
- Best cross-country shipper: Montway Auto Transport
- Best for discounts: AmeriFreight Car Transport
- Best for overall value: SGT Auto Transport
- Best for quick pickup: Easy Auto Ship
- 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
- 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
- No upfront deposit
- Expedited shipping
- No hidden fees
- Ships motorcycles & RVs
- Discount for cash payments
Alternative ways to ship your car from Florida to Iowa
- Drive it yourself. This is straightforward but not always an option, and it will put about 1,388 miles on your car going from Florida to Iowa. If you’re not sure, here are the pros and cons of driving your car vs shipping it.
- Ship it with your movers. If you need to ship your car from Florida for a move to Iowa, you may want to hire a moving company that can handle car shipping, as well. Many long-distance moving companies work with reputable car shippers to coordinate auto transport.
- Hire a driver. Hire someone to drive the car from Florida to Iowa for you. It’s an option, but will probably be a very costly one and involve trusting a driver to safely get your car to its destination.
- Ship by train. If this is an option for you, it’s an affordable and secure way of shipping your vehicle. Shipping a car by train is actually the cheapest way to ship your car!
FL to IA auto transport costs and transit times
The tables below detail the costs and estimated transit times for shipping a car between popular cities in Florida and Iowa. The average travel distance is about 1,388 miles, with shipping times typically ranging from three to eight days .
Cost to ship a car from Jacksonville, FL to Iowa
| From Florida to Iowa | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jacksonville, FL to Des Moines, IA | $985 – $1,537 | 1,240 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Jacksonville, FL to Cedar Rapids, IA | $859 – $1,345 | 1,184 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Jacksonville, FL to Davenport, IA | $859 – $1,373 | 1,133 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Jacksonville, FL to Sioux City, IA | $1,103 – $1,626 | 1,423 miles | 3 – 8 days |
| Jacksonville, FL to Iowa City, IA | $912 – $1,456 | 1,159 miles | 2 – 8 days |
Cost to ship a car from Miami, FL to Iowa
| From Florida to Iowa | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miami, FL to Des Moines, IA | $1,116 – $1,627 | 1,558 miles | 3 – 9 days |
| Miami, FL to Cedar Rapids, IA | $1,196 – $1,578 | 1,501 miles | 3 – 9 days |
| Miami, FL to Davenport, IA | $1,049 – $1,658 | 1,452 miles | 3 – 8 days |
| Miami, FL to Sioux City, IA | $1,202 – $1,797 | 1,741 miles | 3 – 9 days |
| Miami, FL to Iowa City, IA | $1,039 – $1,674 | 1,478 miles | 3 – 8 days |
Cost to ship a car from Tampa, FL to Iowa
| From Florida to Iowa | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tampa, FL to Des Moines, IA | $1,005 – $1,503 | 1,350 miles | 3 – 8 days |
| Tampa, FL to Cedar Rapids, IA | $937 – $1,435 | 1,294 miles | 3 – 8 days |
| Tampa, FL to Davenport, IA | $995 – $1,391 | 1,243 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Tampa, FL to Sioux City, IA | $1,105 – $1,659 | 1,534 miles | 3 – 9 days |
| Tampa, FL to Iowa City, IA | $928 – $1,537 | 1,269 miles | 3 – 8 days |
Cost to ship a car from Orlando, FL to Iowa
| From Florida to Iowa | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Orlando, FL to Des Moines, IA | $1,005 – $1,564 | 1,332 miles | 3 – 8 days |
| Orlando, FL to Cedar Rapids, IA | $985 – $1,537 | 1,276 miles | 3 – 8 days |
| Orlando, FL to Davenport, IA | $995 – $1,523 | 1,225 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Orlando, FL to Sioux City, IA | $1,105 – $1,708 | 1,516 miles | 3 – 9 days |
| Orlando, FL to Iowa City, IA | $937 – $1,464 | 1,251 miles | 3 – 8 days |
Cost to ship a car from St. Petersburg, FL to Iowa
| From Florida to Iowa | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. Petersburg, FL to Des Moines, IA | $964 – $1,518 | 1,373 miles | 3 – 8 days |
| St. Petersburg, FL to Cedar Rapids, IA | $1,056 – $1,503 | 1,317 miles | 3 – 8 days |
| St. Petersburg, FL to Davenport, IA | $937 – $1,523 | 1,266 miles | 3 – 8 days |
| St. Petersburg, FL to Sioux City, IA | $1,139 – $1,545 | 1,556 miles | 3 – 9 days |
| St. Petersburg, FL to Iowa City, IA | $928 – $1,537 | 1,292 miles | 3 – 8 days |
Shipping an SUV or truck from Florida to Iowa
Since vehicles like SUVs, trucks, and vans are larger and heavier, it’s a bit more expensive to ship them than a sedan. How much more?
If you’re shipping a larger vehicle from Florida to Iowa you should expect to pay between $1,308 and $1,955.
Factors that affect car shipping costs from FL to IA
When transporting your vehicle from the Sunshine State to the Hawkeye State, these factors will influence your final price:
- Type of transport: Options like open, enclosed, or top-loaded transport cater to different needs. Open carriers are cost-effective, while enclosed transport provides added protection for luxury or classic cars. If you’re not sure, check out our guide comparing open vs. enclosed car shipping.
- Vehicle size and type: The dimensions and weight of your vehicle directly affect shipping costs. The larger and heavier your vehicle, the more it will cost to ship your car to Iowa.
- Distance and route: The journey from Florida to Iowa spans approximately 1,388 miles, influencing fuel and labor costs. The longer the distance, the bigger the price tag.
- Time of the year: Seasonal demand impacts the price of getting your car out of Florida, with summer and winter holidays often seeing a spike due to increased moving and travel activity.
- Fuel prices: Fluctuating fuel prices can significantly affect transport costs. This is an important consideration given the distance between Florida and Iowa and the varying gas prices across the country.
- Delivery expectations: Because it’ll make their job easier, your auto shipper may give you a pricing discount if you’re flexible on delivery dates. That being said, getting your car from Florida to Iowa should take between three and eight days. Expedited services are available but come at a higher cost.
Iowa vehicle regulations you need to know
- Car insurance requirements: Iowa requires minimum liability insurance, covering $20,000 for individual injury or death, $40,000 for multiple individuals, and $15,000 for property damage in an accident.
- Vehicle inspection: In Iowa, car owners are not obligated to undergo emissions, VIN, or safety inspections.
- Driver’s license: New residents with an out-of-state license must obtain an Iowa license within 30 days of establishing permanent residency. To do so, visit the DMV with your former state license, as it will need to be surrendered for the new license.
- Additional taxes: In Iowa, sales of vehicles requiring registration are exempt from sales tax but subject to a 5% fee for new registration.
Learn more with our car shipping checklist.
Transporting your vehicle from Florida
More than 39 million people call Florida home. Nicknamed the Sunshine State, Severe weather is a common occurrence in Florida, as Florida is the most hurricane-prone state in the US. June 1st and November 30 is the time when most hurricanes in Florida occur, the most severe dates lie between August - October. Be sure to check your local weather station before your move as Florida is known for its thunderstorms and high levels of precipitation. Perhaps plan for a Winter or Springtime move to ensure the safety of your belongings.
Transporting your vehicle to Iowa
About 22 million people are living in the Hawkeye State. Iowa has a humid continental climate throughout the state. Snowfall is common in Iowa. Spring brings in severe weather season. Iowa has about 50 thunderstorm days per year and has a tornado season. Iowa is known for hot and humid summers. Be sure to check the weather before your move, especially during the springtime.
FAQ
Does someone have to be present when you ship a car for pickup in Florida and delivery in Iowa?
Most companies will require that an adult of at least 18 years of age be present when picking up your car in Florida and when dropping it off in Iowa.
Do you need car insurance when shipping your car from Florida to Iowa?
If you’re not driving the vehicle from Florida to Iowa, you aren't required to have typical car insurance. Your car hauler should have adequate insurance if an accident happened on the drive to Iowa, which you should verify before loading your car in Florida.
If you’re driving your car at all in either state, you should understand the requirements. 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.
Iowa requires minimum liability insurance, covering $20,000 for individual injury or death, $40,000 for multiple individuals, and $15,000 for property damage in an accident.
How long does it take to ship a car from Florida to Iowa?
Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from Florida to Iowa is about 1,388 miles, and that’s as fast as about 3 days. However, most car transport companies will take three to eight days to travel from Florida to Iowa.
Will I be required to have a vehicle inspection in either state?
Unlike many states, Florida does not mandate vehicle owners to undergo regular emission or safety inspections for their vehicles.
In Iowa, car owners are not obligated to undergo emissions, VIN, or safety inspections.
If I have a driver’s license in Florida, will I need one in Iowa?
New residents with an out-of-state license must obtain an Iowa license within 30 days of establishing permanent residency. To do so, visit the DMV with your former state license, as it will need to be surrendered for the new license.
If I bought a car in Florida, will I be required to pay sales tax in Iowa after shipping it there?
It’s important to understand any tax implications if you’re having a car shipped from Florida to Iowa after purchasing it.
In Iowa, sales of vehicles requiring registration are exempt from sales tax but subject to a 5% fee for new registration.
We recommend that you always check for updated tax information in both Florida and Iowa to avoid any hidden costs.
What is the cheapest way to ship a car from Florida to Iowa?
The cheapest way to ship a car from Florida to Iowa is to ship it on a train or choose an open trailer transport method, avoid expedited shipping, and be flexible with your pickup dates.
How much does it cost to ship a car from Florida to Iowa?
Shipping a car from Florida to Iowa costs $1,046 to $1,564.
