Shipping a Car from Washington, DC to Florida Guide
Washington, DC is a great place to live in, and to visit as a tourist. The United States capital offers numerous iconic monuments, museums, and historical landmarks. Whether you want to visit an art exhibition, a theater or a museum, you will find it all in DC. Alongside the beautiful museums, Washington’s monuments also pay tribute to the horrors of past years. From the inspiring Lincoln Memorial to the powerful Vietnam Veterans Memorial and Martin Luther King Jr Memorial they are all symbols of the American narrative.
A lot of history and a lot of power are concentrated in Washington, DC. The President, the Congress, and the Supreme Court are all here, as is the Pentagon, the World Bank and hundreds of embassies. Determination and power define this major political city. Every American should visit Washington, DC at least once in their life, just to get close to all this history and political action.
Yet, Washington is not only about politicians and ambassadors. Thousands of regular people live in the DC metro area, and many of them move to Florida when winter comes. Because the cold season in DC is similar to that of New York or Boston, cold and wet, and these are exactly the conditions many people want to escape.
One particular group to escape harsh weather conditions every winter are the snowbirds.These are usually retirees who avoid the cold weather by moving to the Sunbelt states. The most popular destination for snowbirds, especially from the East coast, is Florida. The Sunshine State offers affordable housing and some other great benefits for temporary, as well as for permanent residents. For more information on most perks, please check our snowbirds guide to the benefits of the southern states.
If you are moving to Florida for at least winter months, you may want to bring your car along. But how do you ship a car from Washington, DC to Florida? For a smooth auto transport experience, take some time to understand the basics of vehicle shipping.
Below, you’ll find answers to a few of the most frequently asked questions about car transport.
- Why hire a professional auto transporter to ship a car from Washington, DC to Florida?
- How to choose a professional auto transport company?
- What is the cost to ship a car from DC to Florida?
- What are the steps to ship my car?
Why hire a professional auto transporter to ship a car from Washington, DC to Florida?
Moving a vehicle from point A to point B can happen in a few different ways. The right auto transport method depends on your personal preferences and budget. You can ship a from Washington, DC to Florida with an auto transport company like Corsia Logistics, have someone drive your car, or hire a driveaway company. And if you are up for a trip, you can drive your vehicle there yourself.
Driving yourself is often the best option for many people, but we do not recommend that to snowbirds, especially when the distance is greater than 200 miles. A long-distance trip involves quite a bit of planning. Besides a driver needs to have enough stamina to endure the demands of an extended haul. Moreover, during this time of the year, the roads get wet and slippery, as well as quite busy with thousands of people making their way to Florida. No matter how much you might like driving, almost a thousand mile trip is tiring and time-consuming.
Hiring a professional auto transport company may be your best alternative, especially if you have to plan the rest of the move. Your car won’t accumulate any unnecessary wear and tear, and you won’t have to worry about being in the best shape to handle a long trip.
How do I choose a car shipping company?
Of course, you can start by asking around to get first-hand recommendations. If that doesn’t yield results, turn to Google for help. Searching for auto transport companies will return plenty of hits. Just keep in mind that in the auto transport business, some shippers are more reputable than others, so it’s extremely important you choose carefully.
In your search for an auto shipper you will come across the following entities: carriers, brokers, car shipping lead generator websites.
Broker / Management Companies
Broker companies don’t have their own fleet but have the resources to reach out to a vast network of owner-operator carriers. They do all the work in finding a carrier that runs the route you need to ship your car. A broker will make sure the carrier is properly licensed and insured and has high safety ratings.
Experienced brokers will negotiate a car shipping price with a carrier on your behalf and make sure it’s acceptable to both you and the car hauler.
Auto Transport Carrier Companies
Most carriers are small owner-operated businesses with one or two trucks. Carrier will physically transport your vehicle. Very few companies have more than ten trucks. Thus, no carrier company can cover the whole nation with its fleet.
Carriers would rather spend time on the road transporting cars, making money, than looking for leads. Hence they turn to brokers for help. Through the broker – carrier relationship the industry stays competitive and protected from monopolization of the market.
To better understand the difference between brokers and carriers please refer to our post on brokers and carriers.
Lead Provider Websites
In your online search for auto transporters, you will encounter one more entity – lead provider websites. These websites are quite misleading, making customers believe they are either a carrier or a broker.
A lead provider collects your information and then sells it to various broker and carrier companies. Thus, you end up with entirely unnecessary double brokerage that affects the final price of shipping. We recommend you don’t get involved with this type of companies.
Whether you choose to work with a broker or carrier, be sure to choose a reputable organization. You can always check online reviews, but take them with a pinch of salt. Don’t forget to consult the FMSCA hotline for companies’ licensing and background info and safety record.
And, of course, employ your intuition. Pick up the phone and call the companies, ask questions. The good company will be transparent about the entire process. They understand that auto transport is a business built on trust and will do their best to win yours over.
How much does it cost to ship a car from DC to Florida?
The auto transport cost depends on a few major factors: vehicle make and model, modifications, vehicle condition (running or not running), transport type (open or enclosed), distance, location, and seasonality. During snowbirds season the prices always go up, and if you want to ship your car in a timely manner, you simply have to pay a realistic rate. Car shipping costs depend on supply and demand situation as well.
What happens is that the customer competes against other customers for a spot on the trailer. When the demand is high, the price naturally increases due to supply falling short. On most routes, the demand can peak at any time, and daily tracking of such fluctuation is essential for accurate pricing and timely shipping.
Carriers prefer loads that pay a realistic market price. Anything lower than the current market rate means that you will have to wait longer for a carrier to agree to pick-up your vehicle. On the other hand, when the demand is low customers usually benefit from lower prices.
When shipping a vehicle to one of the Sun Belt states, including Florida, it’s important to keep in mind the snowbirds season. In the fall, thousands of people make their way to Florida to escape cold winters, and this creates high demand on many routes to the Sunshine State.
If you are in a real hurry, you have the option for expedited service or guaranteed dates which naturally increases the price. Expedited service will cost more by about $150, while guaranteed pick-up and delivery dates could cost almost double the standard rate.
What are the steps to ship my car?
Shipping a car is not a complicated process. Below is how auto transport from Washington, DC to Florida works.
- Request a quote online or by phone.
- Disclose details about your car such as make, model, and modifications. Let us know your first available date
- Then we contact our carriers and schedule your shipment.
- A carrier picks up your car one to few days from first available date.
- The driver completes an inspection report at loading.
- Car transport from Washington, DC to Florida takes about 3 to 5 days. Although, sometimes delays are possible due to the circumstances out of carrier’s control.
- At delivery, the trucker inspects the vehicle and unloads it at your door. Any remaining balance will also be due at delivery.
Car shipping with a professional auto transport company!
Corsia Logistics is one of the most trusted companies in the US. Just read what our customers have to say about us. We are a small, family-owned business and this is our main advantage. When you book your order, you work with only one of our agents throughout the entire shipping process. When you call one of our agents will explain the process and recommend the right auto transport service for your vehicle. When shipping a classic automobile, for example, we often recommend enclosed auto carrier. Our agents work with our customers to accommodate their budget and requirements.
Car transport from DC to Florida is easy with Corsia Logistics. We serve this route regularly. When you contact us, we will answer all of your auto transport questions and accompany you throughout the entire process: from pick-up to delivery. Call us now or request an auto transport quote online.