Snowbird Car Shipping: Reliable Seasonal Vehicle Transport
If you’re a snowbird who splits time between northern and southern states, you understand the hassle of driving your vehicle thousands of miles twice a year. J&S Transportation provides dependable snowbird car transport, helping seasonal residents move their vehicles between winter and summer homes without the stress, time, and wear-and-tear of long-distance driving.
What Is Snowbird Car Transport?
Snowbird car shipping is vehicle transport designed specifically for seasonal residents who migrate between colder northern states and warmer southern destinations. Rather than making the long drive yourself, professional carriers transport your vehicle while you fly to your destination.
The most common snowbird routes include:
Heading South (Late Fall – November): – Northeast to Florida – Midwest to Arizona – Northern states to Texas – Mountain states to Southern California and Southwest states
Heading North (Late Spring – March): – Florida to Northeast – Arizona to Midwest – Southern states back to northern homes
Why Snowbirds Choose Auto Transport
Save Time and Energy
The drive from Massachusetts to Florida takes 22+ hours of driving time. From Minnesota to Arizona? Nearly 30 hours behind the wheel. That’s multiple days of your life spent on highways when you could be flying directly to your destination in a few hours.
By shipping your car, you skip the long drive entirely. Fly to your destination, and your vehicle arrives a few days later often before you even need it.
Avoid Vehicle Wear and Tear
A round-trip snowbird migration can add 4,000-6,000 miles to your vehicle each year. That’s an oil change, tire wear, and a year’s worth of depreciation just from seasonal travel.
When you ship your car instead, you preserve its value and reduce maintenance needs. No highway miles, no weather exposure during the journey, no wear on your tires and brakes.
Reduce Driving Risks
Long-distance highway driving brings risks: fatigue, adverse weather conditions, heavy traffic, and the potential for accidents. For older drivers or those with health concerns, eliminating these risks offers invaluable peace of mind.
Professional carriers transport vehicles every day. They’re insured, experienced, and equipped to handle whatever the journey brings.
Flexible Departure and Arrival
When you drive, you must coordinate your departure date with when your vehicle needs to arrive. With auto transport, you have flexibility. Ship your car a week early so it’s waiting when you arrive. Or fly ahead and have your vehicle delivered after you’ve settled in.
How Snowbird Car Transport Works
1. Book Your Transport
Snowbird seasons (October-November and March-April) are the busiest times for auto transport. Fortunately, we have over 20 years of experience with snowbird transports so we have a vast network of trusted partner carriers to get your vehicle shipped in a timely manner during these busy times. You’ll still want to book your transport 1-2 weeks in advance.
2. Prepare Your Vehicle
Ensure your vehicle is clean, remove all personal items (or keep them under 100 pounds in the trunk), and make sure you have about 1/4 tank of gas. Disable your alarm system and document your vehicle’s condition with photos. The driver will take photos as well but you may want to have your own for peace of mind.
3. Schedule Pickup
We coordinate a pickup window that works with your travel plans. Need your car picked up the day after you fly out? We can arrange that. Want it picked up before you leave? That works too.
4. Safe Transport
Your vehicle travels on either an open or enclosed carrier, depending on your preference and budget. Most snowbird vehicles travel via open transport, which is safe, reliable, and cost-effective.
5. Delivery at Your Destination
The carrier delivers your vehicle to your winter or summer home. You’ll inspect it together, comparing its condition against the pickup report, and sign off on delivery.
Snowbird Car Shipping Costs
Snowbird car transport costs vary based on several factors:
- Distance: Florida to Michigan costs more than Florida to Pennsylvania
- Season: Peak snowbird seasons (October-November southbound, March-April northbound) see higher prices due to demand
- Flexibility: Flexible pickup and delivery dates often result in better pricing
- Route popularity: Major snowbird routes have more carrier availability
- Transport type: Open transport costs about 50% less than enclosed
- Door-to-door accessibility: Hard-to-reach locations may incur additional fees
Most snowbird transports on popular routes cost $1200 – $1,800, depending on distance and season.
Use our car shipping calculator to get an instant estimate for your specific route.
Tips for Snowbird Car Shipping
Consider Flexibility (to save money)
The peak snowbird seasons are late October-early November and late March-early April and they come with the highest prices. If you can migrate north or south outside those seasons you can save a lot of money. Heading to Florida in early October and heading back to New York in early March can save you hundreds of dollars!
Time Your Shipment Strategically
Ship your vehicle a few days before or after you travel. This ensures your car is ready when you need it without requiring you to wait at your destination for delivery.
Choose the Right Transport Type
Most snowbirds use open car transport, which is safe, reliable, and cost-effective. If you’re transporting a luxury vehicle or simply want maximum protection, enclosed car shipping is available for about 50% more.
Open vs. Enclosed for Snowbird Transport
Open Car Transport
Best for: Standard vehicles, daily drivers, cost-conscious snowbirds
Pros: – Costs about half as much as enclosed – More carrier availability – Faster scheduling – Proven safe for regular vehicles
Cons: – Vehicle exposed to weather during transit – May accumulate road dust (washes off easily)
Learn more: Open Car Shipping
Enclosed Car Shipping
Best for: Luxury vehicles, high-value cars, maximum protection
Pros: – Complete weather protection – Zero road debris exposure – Enhanced security – Peace of mind
Cons: – Costs approximately 50% more – Fewer carriers available – May require longer booking lead time
Learn more: Enclosed Car Shipping
Most snowbirds find open transport perfectly suitable for their vehicles, but enclosed is available if you prefer maximum protection.
Compare the two: Open vs Enclosed Car Shipping
Popular Snowbird Routes
J&S Transportation ships vehicles on all major snowbird corridors:
To Florida: – New York to Florida – Michigan to Florida – Ohio to Florida – Illinois to Florida – Pennsylvania to Florida
To Arizona: – Minnesota to Arizona – Wisconsin to Arizona – Montana to Arizona – Michigan to Arizona – Illinois to Arizona
To Texas: – Michigan to Texas – Ohio to Texas – Illinois to Texas – Minnesota to Texas
To Southern California: – Washington to California – Oregon to California – Idaho to California – Montana to California
Return Routes: All of these routes operate in reverse during spring migration season.
Why Choose J&S Transportation for Snowbird Shipping
20+ Years of Experience
We’ve been helping snowbirds transport vehicles for over two decades. We understand the unique timing and planning needs of seasonal migration.
Peak Season Expertise
We know snowbird season gets busy. Our dispatch team plans ahead to ensure carrier availability during October-November and March-April rush periods.
Flexible Scheduling
We work around your travel plans. Whether you need pickup to occur before or after you leave, we coordinate timing that works for you.
Nationwide Coverage
We ship to every state, covering every major snowbird route and many less-traveled corridors as well.
Outstanding Communication
Our team keeps you informed throughout the entire process. You’ll receive updates on pickup timing, transit progress, and delivery scheduling.
Proven Track Record
Read what customers say about us on MoveAdvisor.com, Google, and the BBB. Our track record speaks for itself. Thousands of satisfied customers trust us with their vehicles.
Snowbird Car Shipping FAQs
When should I book my snowbird transport? While transports are busy during peak seasons (October-November and March-April), we don’t require early scheduling. As we recommend for any transport, booking 1-2 weeks in advance is best.
How long does snowbird car shipping take? Most major snowbird routes take 5-7 days for cross-country transport (e.g., Michigan to Florida). Shorter routes may take 2-4 days. The exact timeline depends on distance and the exact pickup and delivery locations.
Can I leave items in my car? Carriers generally allow up to 100 pounds of items in the trunk, below window level. However, these items aren’t covered by carrier insurance and are generally discouraged. Read more: Shipping a Car with Personal Items.
What if my travel dates change? Contact us as soon as possible. We’ll work with carriers to adjust pickup and delivery windows when feasible.
Is my car insured during transport? Yes. All carriers maintain cargo insurance covering your vehicle during transit. J&S Transportation works exclusively with licensed, insured carriers.
Do I need to be present for pickup and delivery? Yes, or you can designate someone (like a neighbor or property manager) to be present on your behalf. Someone over the age of 18 must be there to hand over keys and sign inspection reports.
Book Your Snowbird Car Transport Today
Ready to ship your vehicle for snowbird season? Get an instant quote using our car shipping calculator or call us at (800) 656-7638 to speak with our team.
We’re here to make your seasonal migration smooth and worry-free. Fly to your destination, we’ll take care of getting your car there.
Related Services: – Open Car Shipping – Enclosed Car Shipping – Door to Door Car Shipping – Cross Country Car Shipping