South Carolina to Florida Car Shipping (2024 Cost Guide)
Fact Checked by: Quick answer: The average cost to ship a car 498 miles from South Carolina to Florida ranges from $641 to $925 and takes one–four 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 South Carolina car shipping guide.
The best South Carolina to Florida car shipping companies
We’ve done the research and these are the best car shipping companies to help transport your vehicle from South Carolina to Florida:
- 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 South Carolina to Florida
- Drive it yourself. This is straightforward but not always an option, and it will put about 498 miles on your car going from South Carolina 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 South Carolina 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 South Carolina 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!
SC 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 South Carolina and Florida. The average travel distance is about 498 miles, with shipping times typically ranging from one to four days .
Cost to ship a car from Charleston, SC to Florida
| From South Carolina to Florida | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston, SC to Jacksonville, FL | $430 – $593 | 239 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Charleston, SC to Miami, FL | $734 – $957 | 590 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Charleston, SC to Tampa, FL | $609 – $810 | 435 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Charleston, SC to Orlando, FL | $562 – $801 | 380 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Charleston, SC to St. Petersburg, FL | $661 – $907 | 458 miles | 1 – 4 days |
Cost to ship a car from Columbia, SC to Florida
| From South Carolina to Florida | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia, SC to Jacksonville, FL | $469 – $647 | 290 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Columbia, SC to Miami, FL | $722 – $1,084 | 641 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Columbia, SC to Tampa, FL | $667 – $863 | 486 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Columbia, SC to Orlando, FL | $591 – $810 | 431 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Columbia, SC to St. Petersburg, FL | $638 – $939 | 509 miles | 1 – 6 days |
Cost to ship a car from North Charleston, SC to Florida
| From South Carolina to Florida | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Charleston, SC to Jacksonville, FL | $451 – $617 | 240 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| North Charleston, SC to Miami, FL | $734 – $1,007 | 592 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| North Charleston, SC to Tampa, FL | $603 – $843 | 437 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| North Charleston, SC to Orlando, FL | $568 – $801 | 382 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| North Charleston, SC to St. Petersburg, FL | $642 – $898 | 459 miles | 1 – 4 days |
Cost to ship a car from Mount Pleasant, SC to Florida
| From South Carolina to Florida | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mount Pleasant, SC to Jacksonville, FL | $469 – $635 | 242 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Mount Pleasant, SC to Miami, FL | $678 – $938 | 594 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Mount Pleasant, SC to Tampa, FL | $621 – $852 | 439 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Mount Pleasant, SC to Orlando, FL | $562 – $753 | 384 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Mount Pleasant, SC to St. Petersburg, FL | $661 – $838 | 462 miles | 1 – 4 days |
Cost to ship a car from Rock Hill, SC to Florida
| From South Carolina to Florida | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rock Hill, SC to Jacksonville, FL | $569 – $801 | 359 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Rock Hill, SC to Miami, FL | $736 – $1,127 | 711 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Rock Hill, SC to Tampa, FL | $675 – $1,005 | 556 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Rock Hill, SC to Orlando, FL | $670 – $931 | 501 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Rock Hill, SC to St. Petersburg, FL | $685 – $957 | 578 miles | 1 – 6 days |
Shipping an SUV or truck from South Carolina 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 South Carolina to Florida you should expect to pay between $801 and $1,156.
Factors that affect car shipping costs from SC to FL
When transporting your vehicle from the Palmetto State 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 South Carolina to Florida spans approximately 498 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 South Carolina, 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 South Carolina 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 South Carolina to Florida should take between one and four 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 South Carolina
More than 39 million people call South Carolina home. Nicknamed the Palmetto State, South Carolina had hot and humid summers and cool to mild winters and coastal areas of the state have very mild winters. While precipitation is abundant the entire year in almost the entire state, the coast tends to have a slightly wetter summer, while inland, the spring and autumn transitions tend to be the wettest periods and winter the driest season, with November being the driest month.
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 South Carolina 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 South Carolina and when dropping it off in Florida.
Do you need car insurance when shipping your car from South Carolina to Florida?
If you’re not driving the vehicle from South Carolina 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 South Carolina.
If you’re driving your car at all in either state, you should understand the requirements. In South Carolina, it's a legal requirement for every driver to have liability insurance. Adhering to the state's minimum liability limits, commonly referred to as 25/50/25, entails securing coverage of at least $25,000 for bodily injury per person, $50,000 for total bodily injury per accident, and $25,000 for property damage per accident. Stay compliant with these essential insurance standards to drive confidently on South Carolina roads.
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 South Carolina to Florida?
Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from South Carolina to Florida is about 498 miles, and that’s as fast as about 1 day. However, most car transport companies will take one to four days to travel from South Carolina to Florida.
Will I be required to have a vehicle inspection in either state?
Drivers in South Carolina are not required to get a safety, VIN, or emissions inspection for their vehicle.
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 South Carolina, 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 South Carolina, 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 South Carolina 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 South Carolina and Florida to avoid any hidden costs.
What is the cheapest way to ship a car from South Carolina to Florida?
The cheapest way to ship a car from South Carolina 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 South Carolina to Florida?
Shipping a car from South Carolina to Florida costs $641 to $925.
