A sedan from Ohio to Florida on an open carrier has an estimated price of about $665. Larger vehicles cost more, and enclosed adds $450 per vehicle.
Depending on your corner of Ohio and where in Florida you’re headed, the trip is roughly 930 to 1,150 miles. Most trips of this length take about 2–4 days on the road once the car is picked up; your dispatcher gives you an honest pickup window.
Ohio to Florida shipping cost, by city
Ohio is one of the shorter Midwest runs to Florida, and the estimated prices reflect that. Sedan on an open carrier:
- Columbus to Orlando — about 930 miles, estimated $655
- Columbus to Tampa — about 970 miles, estimated $685
- Cleveland to Sarasota — about 1,150 miles, estimated $820
Northeast Ohio to Southwest Florida is the long end of the range; Cincinnati or Dayton to North Florida is the short end. Enclosed adds $450 per vehicle, and a car that doesn’t run adds $150.
Your price is built from what carriers are actually paid on your route. Enter both ZIP codes in the calculator to see yours.
Three ways south from Ohio
Unlike Michigan, Ohio has more than one natural corridor to Florida, and the one your car takes depends on where it starts.
- I-75 (west Ohio). Toledo, Lima, Dayton and Cincinnati sit on I-75, which runs straight south through Kentucky, Tennessee and Georgia into Florida’s Gulf side — Ocala, Tampa, Sarasota, Fort Myers, Naples.
- I-71 (central and northeast Ohio). From Cleveland and Columbus, I-71 runs southwest to Cincinnati, where it joins I-75 for the rest of the trip.
- I-77 (east Ohio). From Cleveland, Akron and Canton, I-77 heads south through Charleston, West Virginia, and Charlotte to Columbia, South Carolina. From there I-26 and I-95 lead toward Jacksonville and Florida’s Atlantic coast.
You don’t need to pick a route — the carrier plans it. But it explains why two Ohio cities the same distance from Florida can price a little differently.
Thinking of driving it yourself instead? We compare the costs in ship your car, drive it, or take the Auto Train.
Snowbird timing from Ohio
The heaviest southbound weeks run October through December, when Ohio snowbirds leave for Florida — and southbound prices are often higher in that season. To keep that trip simple:
- Get your price once the move date is firm. Quotes are held for 7 days. Signing locks it with Price Lock: if the carrier’s rate rises before pickup, we cover up to $200 per vehicle.
- Leaving around Thanksgiving or the holidays? The weeks around Thanksgiving and the holidays get busy, so book early — and add a Fixed pickup day ($200, at least 5 days out; pickup that day or your $200 comes back) if the date can’t move.
- Priority dispatch (+$350) gives your order a higher carrier offer and puts it at the top of our queue. It doesn’t guarantee a pickup date.
Read more about seasonal moves on our snowbirds page.
Lake-effect snow and winter pickups
Northeast Ohio’s snowbelt — east of Cleveland, along Lake Erie — gets lake-effect snow early and often. If you’re picking up in Lake, Geauga or Ashtabula County in late fall, leave some room in your plans for weather. Central and southern Ohio usually see less of it, but a winter storm can slow any pickup.
Cars on an open carrier ride outside and can collect road salt in a Midwest winter. A wash after delivery fixes that. For a car you’d rather keep shielded from weather and road debris, choose enclosed transport.
Open or enclosed from Ohio
Open transport is how most cars make this trip. Enclosed (+$450 per vehicle) makes sense for a classic, an exotic or a car with a new finish. On both, your car is covered by the assigned carrier’s cargo insurance of at least $100,000; if it’s worth more, tell us before booking.
Verified carrier, every load
ShiftHaul is a licensed broker — we arrange the carrier and check them before your car moves: SMS to their FMCSA phone, insurance straight from the agent, driver location at pickup, and a VIN-plate check against the carrier’s insured vehicles. See how our verification works. After pickup you get the driver’s name and phone.
Payment
There’s nothing to pay to get a quote or to book. When a carrier is assigned, we charge a $150 deposit — part of your total price. The balance is paid at pickup on the same card, or to the driver when the car arrives in Florida (cash, Zelle, Venmo or cashier’s check) with pay on delivery.
Before the truck arrives
- Up to 100 lbs of personal items, in the trunk or below the window line. More only if your dispatcher confirms it in writing with the carrier (it may cost extra). Personal items are at your own risk.
- Not home at pickup? Name an adult to hand over the car.
- Record the car’s condition on the Bill of Lading with the driver, and take photos.
Get your price for your Ohio pickup.