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Wrapping up our tracking of Snowbird auto transport shipments to Florida in January 2025, our study demonstrates that by the end of the month, the number of vehicles available to ship on any given day decreased by 75% to 90% in the three largest car shipping markets.
We documented single vehicles available to ship in running condition, listed as preferring OPEN Car Transport.
The number started out in early January at around 5,000 vehicles available to ship daily. It stayed relatively high through late January at 4,500 vehicles. We suspect partly due to severe winter storms, such as Blair, everywhere east of the Rockies. By the end of January, that number had plummeted nationwide to 1,300 vehicles.
Key Takeaways:
- Car shipping prices to Jacksonville, FL plummet in late January
- The states west of the Mississippi River hardly participate in the winter snowbird season migration to Jacksonville, Florida
- Snowbird vehicle shipping orders to Florida drop 75% to 90% from early January to late January in three key markets
- The over-whelming majority of Snowbird Orders to Jacksonville, FL originate from New England, the North East, and Midwest
- As always, the highest paying auto transport orders to Jacksonville, FL ship first
- Cheap car shipping quotes only begin working to Jacksonville, FL in late January
In This Blog Article:
Our Study: Most Snowbird vehicle shipments originate in three key regions
Any customer who booked his shipment to Florida at the cheapest auto shipping price possible, likely waited until the end of January for that quote to come true. Most people come to the realization long before the end of January, that snowbird car shipping season is one of those times where it is best to book at a higher expedited or rush rate. Adding money to the vehicle shipment order saves lots of aggravation, and maybe money too. Rental cars are expensive. The Uber rides add up as well.
Rule #1 – the highest paying vehicles on the board, comparing apples to apples, always ship first. And it does not matter how long a vehicle order has been waiting.
A fresh car shipping order entered today to Jacksonville, FL, paying a higher carrier fee than one entered weeks ago, will land a spot on an auto transport trailer first. The vehicle shipping industry is not first come – first served. And it does not matter how long a vehicle order has been waiting.
The lion’s share of the car shipping market is mainly concentrated in three regions. All of them cold weather winter states. So we narrow our final discussion about Snowbird auto transport to: New England, the Eastern Seaboard, and the Midwest.
Here’s our report of single vehicles available to ship in running condition, listed as preferring OPEN Car Transport, in the three largest markets on any given day:
|
Three Most Popular Snowbird Routes To Florida |
Early January Vehicles Available To Ship |
Late January Vehicles Available To Ship |
Late January Vehicles Available To Ship |
Comments About January 2025 Snowbird Shipments |
|
New England (MA, RI, NH, ME, VT) to Florida |
845 |
541 |
104 |
In the span of just three weeks in January 2025, the number of vehicles available to ship from New England to Florida steadily decreased by 88% |
|
Eastern States (NY, NJ, PA, MD, CT, DE) to Florida |
1,125 |
985 |
301 |
In the span of just three weeks in January 2025, the number of vehicles available to ship from the Eastern Seaboard to Florida steadily decreased by 74% |
|
Midwest States (IL, MI, OH, IN, WI, IA, MO) to Florida |
1,203 |
975 |
187 |
In the span of just three weeks in January 2025, the number of vehicles available to ship from the Midwest States to Florida steadily decreased by 84% |
Customers should keep in mind that whether they know it or not, they are competing with other customers for car transport space. Securing a spot is the hard part. Once done, shipping is actually easier by comparison. To get a spot, your chances improve by the higher carrier fee you pay.
The above car shipping table to Florida from the three busiest regions, shows intense competition in early and late January. The competition only begins to wane by the end of January. And drops 75% to 90%.
Car shipping quotes also go down, though not as dramatically as you might suppose.
Jacksonville is a popular destination for car transport companies in the winter. So are the surrounding communities such as St. Augustine, Palm Coast, Daytona Beach, Gainesville, and more.
Car Shipping Prices Calculator To Jacksonville, FL During Snowbird Season in late January 2025
Direct Express Auto Transport, with over 20 years of experience in calculating car shipping prices to Jacksonville, FL, provides the following late January 2025 market pricing guide to help you make the best decision on when to ship your car.
In late January 2025, car shipping prices to Jacksonville, FL fell significantly in the three major regions of New England, Eastern Seaboard, and Midwest. Snowbird season car shipping orders plummet in late January.
In most of the other regions, basically west of the Mississippi River, auto transport orders remain relatively stable to Jacksonville, FL. Those regions barely participate in Snowbird vehicle shipments to Florida. They hardly go up, nor down.
Scroll down to see car shipping prices in your region to Jacksonville, FL during the late January 2025 snowbird season. We include the average temperatures in late January for each starting city.
Use the Direct Express Auto Transport car shipping costs calculator for a precise quote for your vehicle shipment order.
Car Shipping Rates To Jacksonville, FL From New England Cities in late January 2025
The New England states experienced an 88% drop in Snowbird auto transport shipments to Florida in late January 2025. Car shipping prices fall significantly.
Here are the late January 2025 market car shipping prices and best trucking routes from each starting city to Jacksonville, Florida, with average late January temperatures in each starting city:
Car Shipping Prices are based on a regular-size sedan, in running condition, shipping OPEN transport.
Auto Transport Quote:
- Boston, MA to Jacksonville, FL
- Car Shipping Cost: $744
- Driving Distance: 1200 miles
- Manchester, NH to Jacksonville, FL
- Auto Transport Quote: $713
- Driving Distance: 1150 miles
- Providence, RI to Jacksonville, FL
- Car Transport Price: $682
- Driving Distance: 1100 miles
- Portland, ME to Jacksonville, FL
- Vehicle Shipping Rate: $732
- Driving Distance: 1180 miles
- Hartford, CT to Jacksonville, FL
- Auto Shipping Quote: $651
- Driving Distance: 1050 miles
Best Trucking Routes:
- Boston, MA:
Take I-95 S directly through New England, continue through New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, then use I-295 S into Jacksonville. - Manchester, NH:
Use I-95 S from Manchester through Massachusetts, continuing along I-95 S through Rhode Island, New York, and Delaware, before entering Florida via I-295 S. - Providence, RI:
Travel south on I-95 S through Rhode Island, New Jersey, and Delaware, then take I-295 S into Jacksonville. - Portland, ME:
Follow I-95 S through Maine and New Hampshire, entering Florida via I-295 S and continuing on I-75 S into Jacksonville. - Hartford, CT:
Take I-95 S from Hartford, continuing through New York and Delaware, before arriving in Jacksonville via I-295 S.
Average Fahrenheit Temperatures in Late January:
- Boston, MA: Highs around 39°F, lows around 25°F.
- Manchester, NH: Highs around 37°F, lows around 22°F.
- Providence, RI: Highs around 40°F, lows around 26°F.
- Portland, ME: Highs around 37°F, lows around 22°F.
Your car is likely to be on a vehicle transport trailer to Jacksonville, FL for a minimum of three days, and more likely four or five days.
Auto Transport Quotes To Jacksonville, FL From Eastern Seaboard Cities in late January 2025
The Eastern Seaboard states experienced a 74% drop in Snowbird auto transport shipments to Florida in late January 2025. Vehicle shipping costs also decreased dramatically.
Here are the late January 2025 market car shipping prices and best trucking routes from each starting city to Jacksonville, Florida, with average late January temperatures in each starting city:
Car Shipping Prices are based on a regular-size sedan, in running condition, shipping OPEN transport.
Auto Transport Quote:
- NYC, NY to Jacksonville, FL
- Auto Transport Quote: $576
- Driving Distance: 900 miles
- Medford, NY to Jacksonville, FL
- Vehicle Shipping Rate: $560
- Driving Distance: 875 miles
- Trenton, NJ to Jacksonville, FL
- Car Transport Price: $576
- Driving Distance: 900 miles
- Pittsburgh, PA to Jacksonville, FL
- Car Shipping Quote: $461
- Driving Distance: 720 miles
- Philadelphia, PA to Jacksonville, FL
- Auto Shipping Quote: $557
- Driving Distance: 870 miles
- Baltimore, MD to Jacksonville, FL
- Vehicle Transport Cost: $486
- Driving Distance: 760 miles
- Wilmington, DE to Jacksonville, FL
- Car Transport Rate: $512
- Driving Distance: 800 miles
- Washington, DC to Jacksonville, FL
- Vehicle Shipping Price: $464
- Driving Distance: 725 miles
- Alexandria, VA to Jacksonville, FL
- Auto Shipping Cost: $464
- Driving Distance: 725 miles
Best Trucking Routes:
- NYC, NY:
Take I-95 S from NYC, continue through New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware, and take I-295 S into Jacksonville. - Medford, NY:
Take I-95 S directly from Medford to Jacksonville, continuing through New Jersey and Delaware. - Trenton, NJ:
Take I-95 S, following the same route through New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware. - Pittsburgh, PA:
Take I-76 E, then I-70 E to I-75 S, which will lead directly to Jacksonville. - Philadelphia, PA:
Travel via I-95 S from Philadelphia, continuing through Delaware and Maryland, and onto Jacksonville. - Baltimore, MD:
Take I-95 S to I-295 S and then I-75 S directly into Jacksonville. - Wilmington, DE:
Take I-95 S from Wilmington through Maryland and into Jacksonville. - Washington, DC:
Take I-95 S directly, following it through Virginia and North Carolina to Jacksonville. - Alexandria, VA:
Take I-95 S from Alexandria through Maryland and continue south to Jacksonville.
Average Fahrenheit Temperatures in Late January:
- NYC, NY: Highs around 39°F, lows around 25°F.
- Medford, NY: Highs around 37°F, lows around 22°F.
- Trenton, NJ: Highs around 39°F, lows around 25°F.
- Pittsburgh, PA: Highs around 32°F, lows around 20°F.
- Philadelphia, PA: Highs around 40°F, lows around 26°F.
- Baltimore, MD: Highs around 44°F, lows around 30°F.
- Wilmington, DE: Highs around 43°F, lows around 29°F.
- Washington, DC: Highs around 44°F, lows around 31°F.
- Alexandria, VA: Highs around 44°F, lows around 31°F.
Your car is likely to be on a vehicle transport trailer to Jacksonville, FL for a minimum of two days, and more likely three or four days.
Vehicle Shipping Quotes To Jacksonville, FL From Midwest Cities in late January 2025
The Midwest states spiraled downward 84% in Snowbird auto transport shipments to Florida from early to late January 2025. Auto transport prices dropped as well.
Here are the late January 2025 market car shipping prices and best trucking routes from each starting city to Jacksonville, Florida, with average late January temperatures in each starting city:
Car Shipping Prices are based on a regular-size sedan, in running condition, shipping OPEN transport.
Auto Transport Quote:
- Chicago, IL to Jacksonville, FL
- Car Shipping Cost: $767
- Driving Distance: 1180 miles
- Milwaukee, WI to Jacksonville, FL
- Vehicle Shipping Rate: $722
- Driving Distance: 1110 miles
- Detroit, MI to Jacksonville, FL
- Car Transport Price: $702
- Driving Distance: 1080 miles
- Cleveland, OH to Jacksonville, FL
- Auto Shipping Quote: $546
- Driving Distance: 840 miles
- Cincinnati, OH to Jacksonville, FL
- Car Shipping Quote: $468
- Driving Distance: 720 miles
- Indianapolis, IN to Jacksonville, FL
- Vehicle Transport Cost: $439
- Driving Distance: 675 miles
- St. Louis, MO to Jacksonville, FL
- Auto Transport Cost: $448
- Driving Distance: 690 miles
- Des Moines, IA to Jacksonville, FL
- Automobile Shipping Quote: $514
- Driving Distance: 790 miles
Best Trucking Routes:
- Chicago, IL:
Take I-55 S and I-57 S through Illinois and into Kentucky, then merge onto I-75 S to Jacksonville. - Milwaukee, WI:
Take I-94 E to I-80 E and continue through Indiana and Ohio, then take I-75 S to Jacksonville. - Detroit, MI:
Take I-75 S from Detroit, continuing through Ohio and Kentucky, then merge onto I-75 S to Jacksonville. - Cleveland, OH:
Take I-71 S from Cleveland, continuing through Ohio, and then merge with I-75 S toward Jacksonville. - Cincinnati, OH:
Take I-75 S from Cincinnati directly through Kentucky and Tennessee, following to Jacksonville. - Indianapolis, IN:
Take I-70 E, then merge onto I-75 S directly into Jacksonville. - St. Louis, MO:
Take I-44 E, then merge with I-75 S, leading directly to Jacksonville. - Des Moines, IA:
Take I-80 E to I-75 S, and continue directly to Jacksonville.
Average Fahrenheit Temperatures in Late January:
- Chicago, IL: Highs around 31°F, lows around 16°F.
- Milwaukee, WI: Highs around 27°F, lows around 14°F.
- Detroit, MI: Highs around 30°F, lows around 16°F.
- Cleveland, OH: Highs around 33°F, lows around 19°F.
- Cincinnati, OH: Highs around 38°F, lows around 22°F.
- Indianapolis, IN: Highs around 34°F, lows around 20°F.
- St. Louis, MO: Highs around 40°F, lows around 25°F.
- Des Moines, IA: Highs around 26°F, lows around 12°F.
Your car is likely to be on a vehicle transport trailer to Jacksonville, FL for a minimum of three days, and more likely four or five days.
Bottom Line: Snowbird Car Shipping Prices To Jacksonville, FL
By late January, Snowbird season is all but over. Parity begins to return to auto transport costs. Snowbird car shipping prices to Jacksonville, FL decrease, and the reverse route from the city elevates. By February, and most certainly March, car shipping costs will become even to and fro.
In the Spring, come late March and April, the Florida Snowbirds will migrate home to the north, which will continue through May and early June. At that time, the madness will return, but in the opposite direction from the winter.
At Direct Express Auto Transport, we are used to it. An auto transport service will likely ship your car promptly and securely for the right carrier fee. We provide three options, which depend on the size, route, timeframe, and season.
As a consumer, it is important to understand the services involved in vehicle shipping from your region of the country to Jacksonville, FL.
The Original Car Shipping Prices Calculator To Jacksonville, Florida For Snowbirds
Direct Express Auto Transport originated the instant car shipping costs calculator in 2004. It is still the best, most sophisticated, reliable tool available online. We offer three options that we call tiers of car shipping quote estimates to Jacksonville, Florida.
The Standard rate is the cheapest car shipping quote. Use the Standard rate if you can be patient.
The Expedited rate, or tier as we call them, is the most recommended and best auto transport quote. We have countless satisfied Expedited rate customers because the vehicle shipping process tends to go quicker.
The Rush rate is our highest level of car transport quotes and service, and many customers are glad they went with that method too. If in a hurry, go Rush rate.
Here are just some of the major Florida destination hubs during the auto transport snowbird season that we service:
Miami
Fort Lauderdale
Boca Raton
Melbourne
Orlando
Jacksonville
Tampa
Sarasota
Fort Myers
Naples
Car Transport Cost: FAQ
Over 90% of our orders ship inside of one week. That could be anywhere from 1 to 7 days. Most of the U.S. population lives in a major metropolitan area and is shipping to another well populated area, and that makes a big difference. Cars usually ship in a very regular manner, almost half within just a few days.
If either your origination or destination locations are away from population centers, in other words, in a remote area, then you might consider meeting a driver in a nearby big city or town to increase your chances of shipping timely. Or adding money to the carrier fee may entice a carrier. Remember, anyone you choose can serve as your point of contact, which takes the stress out of shipping your vehicle.
Clean out your vehicle of all loose items as much as possible. Leave nothing of value in the vehicle. It’s very rare that any items are stolen during transport, but we recommend extra caution to prevent loss.
Keep extra items as previously discussed to a minimum and place in the trunk or out of sight. Have only about a quarter tank of gasoline. Give the auto transport carrier a set of keys and advise them of any special instructions for your vehicle, like difficulty starting, steering, braking, etc.
Driver Consideration: Being a truck driver can be a thankless job. They work long hours and are away from their families for weeks at a time. Please be friendly and considerate to our drivers, and they will treat you in the same manner.
The first factor used to calculate car shipping cost is the transport distance. Next are the length, height and weight of the vehicle, followed by running condition and type of trailer (Open or Enclosed). Finally, seasonal fluctuations may impact the overall cost.
Maneuvering non-operational vehicles on and off a car transport trailer is a big challenge. Car shipping companies much prefer operational (running) vehicles because it gives them an easier option to reposition their entire load. Non-running vehicles take considerably more time to get on and off the trailer. So the car shipping quote must reflect the higher cost. Many auto transporters don’t have a winch and cannot accommodate non-running vehicles. That is one reason it takes longer on average to ship non-operational vehicles. Fewer do it. If at all possible, fixing your vehicle before trying to ship it will save on the non-running car transport cost, and make the process go faster.
Delivering is final step in the process, and also the simplest part. Once your vehicle has been assigned and picked up, not too much can go wrong. Once the vehicle is picked up, you can estimate that it will take roughly 1 day of transit time for every 500 miles distance. Delivery Time Estimate Guide 100-500 miles takes 1 or 2 days 500-1000 miles takes 2 or 3 days 1000-1500 miles takes 3 or 4 days 1500-2000 miles takes 4 or 5 days 2000-2500 miles takes 5 or 6 days 2500-3000 miles takes 6 or 7 days Depending on the distance, weather conditions and population centers it could be a few days or weeks until a vehicle reaches its destination. The carriers usually estimate about 10 days on coast to coast trips, but they frequently arrive earlier.
Yes and no. The strict interpretation is no, you can’t ship items inside your vehicle. The reality is that almost all carriers look the other way on items that weigh less than 100 pounds, roughly the equivalent of 2 suitcases. We recommend placing any additional items in the trunk and out of sight. The U.S. Transportation Law states that a carrier can be fined $10,000 for hauling household items in the vehicle, but it’s rarely enforced. However, the drivers do estimate the weight of each vehicle that they carry and don’t want problems at weight scales. So they must keep the personal items to a minimum. Some drivers will accept a tip ($50-$250) for hauling extra stuff, but some won’t. Rule of thumb, don’t take advantage.
