Montana to Florida Car Shipping (2024 Cost Guide)
Fact Checked by: Quick answer: The average cost to ship a car 2,479 miles from Montana to Florida ranges from $1,330 to $2,261 and takes five–thirteen 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 Florida to Montana car shipping guide.
The best Montana to Florida car shipping companies
We’ve done the research and these are the best car shipping companies to help transport your vehicle from Montana to Florida:
- 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
- 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
Alternative ways to ship your car from Montana to Florida
- Drive it yourself. This is straightforward but not always an option, and it will put about 2,479 miles on your car going from Montana to Florida. 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 Montana for a move to Florida, 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 Montana to Florida 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!
MT to FL auto transport costs and transit times
The tables below detail the costs and estimated transit times for shipping a car between popular cities in Montana and Florida. The average travel distance is about 2,479 miles, with shipping times typically ranging from five to thirteen days .
Cost to ship a car from Billings, MT to Florida
| From Montana to Florida | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Billings, MT to Jacksonville, FL | $1,398 – $2,113 | 2,163 miles | 4 – 12 days |
| Billings, MT to Miami, FL | $1,330 – $2,197 | 2,482 miles | 5 – 13 days |
| Billings, MT to Tampa, FL | $1,340 – $2,204 | 2,273 miles | 5 – 13 days |
| Billings, MT to Orlando, FL | $1,273 – $2,098 | 2,256 miles | 5 – 13 days |
| Billings, MT to St. Petersburg, FL | $1,340 – $2,161 | 2,296 miles | 5 – 13 days |
Cost to ship a car from Missoula, MT to Florida
| From Montana to Florida | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Missoula, MT to Jacksonville, FL | $1,290 – $2,055 | 2,506 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Missoula, MT to Miami, FL | $1,416 – $2,421 | 2,825 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Missoula, MT to Tampa, FL | $1,441 – $2,249 | 2,616 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Missoula, MT to Orlando, FL | $1,345 – $2,033 | 2,599 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Missoula, MT to St. Petersburg, FL | $1,370 – $2,271 | 2,639 miles | 7 – 15 days |
Cost to ship a car from Great Falls, MT to Florida
| From Montana to Florida | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Great Falls, MT to Jacksonville, FL | $1,411 – $2,033 | 2,382 miles | 5 – 13 days |
| Great Falls, MT to Miami, FL | $1,401 – $2,154 | 2,700 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Great Falls, MT to Tampa, FL | $1,303 – $2,153 | 2,492 miles | 5 – 13 days |
| Great Falls, MT to Orlando, FL | $1,276 – $2,218 | 2,474 miles | 5 – 13 days |
| Great Falls, MT to St. Petersburg, FL | $1,426 – $2,183 | 2,515 miles | 7 – 15 days |
Cost to ship a car from Bozeman, MT to Florida
| From Montana to Florida | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bozeman, MT to Jacksonville, FL | $1,344 – $2,118 | 2,304 miles | 5 – 13 days |
| Bozeman, MT to Miami, FL | $1,469 – $2,315 | 2,623 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Bozeman, MT to Tampa, FL | $1,397 – $2,240 | 2,415 miles | 5 – 13 days |
| Bozeman, MT to Orlando, FL | $1,304 – $2,118 | 2,397 miles | 5 – 13 days |
| Bozeman, MT to St. Petersburg, FL | $1,397 – $2,218 | 2,438 miles | 5 – 13 days |
Cost to ship a car from Butte, MT to Florida
| From Montana to Florida | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Butte, MT to Jacksonville, FL | $1,304 – $2,054 | 2,389 miles | 5 – 13 days |
| Butte, MT to Miami, FL | $1,387 – $2,335 | 2,708 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Butte, MT to Tampa, FL | $1,303 – $2,110 | 2,499 miles | 5 – 13 days |
| Butte, MT to Orlando, FL | $1,330 – $2,046 | 2,482 miles | 5 – 13 days |
| Butte, MT to St. Petersburg, FL | $1,399 – $2,183 | 2,522 miles | 7 – 15 days |
Shipping an SUV or truck from Montana to Florida
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 Montana to Florida you should expect to pay between $1,663 and $2,826.
Factors that affect car shipping costs from MT to FL
When transporting your vehicle from the Big Sky Country to the Sunshine 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 Florida.
- Distance and route: The journey from Montana to Florida spans approximately 2,479 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 Montana, 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 Montana and Florida 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 Montana to Florida should take between five and thirteen days. Expedited services are available but come at a higher cost.
Florida vehicle regulations you need to know
- Car insurance 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.
- Vehicle inspection: Unlike many states, Florida does not mandate vehicle owners to undergo regular emission or safety inspections for their vehicles.
- Driver’s license: 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.
- Additional taxes: If the taxes paid in another state are lower than the taxes owed in Florida, you only need to pay the difference. Furthermore, if you can provide evidence that the vehicle was used for at least 6 months outside of Florida prior to registering it in the state, you will be exempt from paying Florida use tax.
Learn more with our car shipping checklist.
Transporting your vehicle from Montana
More than 39 million people call Montana home. Nicknamed the Big Sky Country, Montana has a lot of variation in geography, topography, and elevation, and the climate is equally varied. The western half is mountainous, interrupted by numerous large valleys. Eastern Montana comprises plains and badlands, broken by hills and isolated mountain ranges, The Continental Divide has a considerable effect on the climate, as it restricts the flow of warmer air from the Pacific from moving east, and drier continental air from moving west. The area west of the divide has a modified northern Pacific Coast climate, with milder winters, cooler summers, less wind, and a longer growing season. Low clouds and fog often form in the valleys west of the divide in winter, but this is rarely seen in the east.
Transporting your vehicle to Florida
About 22 million people are living in 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.
FAQ
Does someone have to be present when you ship a car for pickup in Montana and delivery in Florida?
Most companies will require that an adult of at least 18 years of age be present when picking up your car in Montana and when dropping it off in Florida.
Do you need car insurance when shipping your car from Montana to Florida?
If you’re not driving the vehicle from Montana to Florida, you aren't required to have typical car insurance. Your car hauler should have adequate insurance if an accident happened on the drive to Florida, which you should verify before loading your car in Montana.
If you’re driving your car at all in either state, you should understand the requirements. In Montana, drivers must meet legal requirements for minimum car insurance liability coverage to ensure financial responsibility in accidents. Mandated by state regulations, this includes $25,000 per person for bodily injury and $50,000 per accident for bodily injury, covering collective medical expenses in case of multiple injuries, capped at $50,000 for the entire incident. Additionally, there's a required minimum of $20,000 per accident for property damage, crucial for addressing costs related to damage to another party's vehicle or property. Adhering to these insurance requirements is imperative for all motorists, ensuring compliance with state laws and contributing to a secure and responsible driving environment on Montana roadways.
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.
How long does it take to ship a car from Montana to Florida?
Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from Montana to Florida is about 2,479 miles, and that’s as fast as about 5 days. However, most car transport companies will take five to thirteen days to travel from Montana to Florida.
Will I be required to have a vehicle inspection in either state?
If you are moving to Montana, you are not required to have your vehicle inspected.
Unlike many states, Florida does not mandate vehicle owners to undergo regular emission or safety inspections for their vehicles.
If I have a driver’s license in Montana, will I need one in Florida?
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.
If I bought a car in Montana, will I be required to pay sales tax in Florida after shipping it there?
It’s important to understand any tax implications if you’re having a car shipped from Montana to Florida after purchasing it.
If the taxes paid in another state are lower than the taxes owed in Florida, you only need to pay the difference. Furthermore, if you can provide evidence that the vehicle was used for at least 6 months outside of Florida prior to registering it in the state, you will be exempt from paying Florida use tax.
We recommend that you always check for updated tax information in both Montana and Florida to avoid any hidden costs.
What is the cheapest way to ship a car from Montana to Florida?
The cheapest way to ship a car from Montana to Florida 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 Montana to Florida?
Shipping a car from Montana to Florida costs $1,330 to $2,261.
