What documents do I need when shipping a car?
Domestic transport is easy. When shipping a car from Wisconsin to Florida, you or someone on your behalf must release the vehicle to the carrier at pick-up.
The person at pick-up will also need to sign a Bill of Lading (BOL). The BOL is a receipt and an inspection report. When the carrier inspects the car you need to check that all existing damages are marked before you sign. Never sign a blank or incomplete document.
Moving to the Sunshine State
Get ready to experience new types of cuisines and meet new people from different cultures and backgrounds from all over the world.
Thanks to Florida’s boom in economy, job growth, and great weather, a lot of people are deciding to leave their hometowns and move to this great state.
In terms of population, Wisconsin is the 20th most populous, while Florida the fourth most populous one in the States as well as the 8th most densely populated.
Most parts of Wisconsin have a continental climate with warm and humid summers and cold, snowy winters that are perfect for practicing a variety of winter sports — not very appealing to everyone who hates cold winters and snow though.
Most parts of Florida, on the contrary, have a subtropical climate with mild winters and hot and humid summers.
If you hate the snow, you will be happy to move to a place where it rarely snows. Be aware of hurricanes and tropical storms though, as they occur quite often in the Sunshine State.
Housing and Living Costs
Depending on where in Florida you will move to, the living costs can be much higher or much lower than in Wisconsin. If we compare Orlando to Milwaukee — the largest city in Wisconsin, for example, the living costs in Orlando are 25% more expensive than in Milwaukee, while the median home cost in Orlando is over 100% more expensive than in Milwaukee.
If we compare both capitals, we can see a different story. The living costs in the capital of Florida, Tallahassee, are 8% cheaper than in Madison. One of the main reasons why there is a difference in the cost of living is because the housing costs in Tallahassee are much lower than in Madison. The median home cost is 30% less expensive in Tallahassee compared to Madison.
Florida vs. America’s Dairyland
As one of the leading dairy producers in the country, popular for its cheese, Wisconsin is often known as America’s Dairyland. Its economy is mainly fueled by information technology, manufacturing, and tourism.
Similarly, Florida’s economy is also fueled by manufacturing and tourism, but among the major contributors to the state’s economy are also trade, financial services, transportation services and, construction. In mid-July 2018, Florida managed to surpass the $1 trillion mark according to the Florida Chamber Foundation.
Activities in the Sunshine State
As soon as you become a resident in Florida, you will be able to enjoy all its perks. Nevertheless, if you’ve never been to the Sunshine State before, don’t feel sorry if you behave like a tourist during the first weeks you move there.
It’s understandable if you look forward to visiting the Kennedy Space Center, Universal Orlando, Duval Street, Mallory Square, Daytona 500 International Speedway, Giraffe Ranch, Epcot Theme Park, Florida Keys, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Busch Garden in Tampa,the South Beach, SeaWorld Orlando, Sanibel Island, Magic Kingdom, the Everglades National Park, or the Dry Tortugas National Park.
There are also a lot of events happening year-round and a lot of opportunities to practice your favorite activities, and visit popular historical sites and museums.
Moving to Florida with a car
Having a car to get around in the spread-out Land of Flowers is almost a necessity. As long as you register and title your vehicle with your local DHSMV within the first 30 days after you establish your move, you’ll be able to legally drive it. To read about what documents you have to prepare, check out the DMV for Florida website.