What kind of shipment is yours?
Most people arrive knowing the route and not much else. Each of these pages explains one kind of shipment in plain language — what it involves, what moves the price, and what a provider will need to know before quoting it.
Open transport
The standard way most cars move.
Open transport moves your car on an uncovered multi-car trailer — the same kind that delivers new vehicles to dealerships. Miami sits at the foot of the I-95 corridor, one of the busiest car-shipping lanes in the country, which is why open transport here is the most widely available and least expensive way to ship.
- Everyday vehicles being relocated for a move, purchase or seasonal trip
- Shipments where cost matters more than weather protection
- Routes between major metros, where open capacity is easiest to find
Enclosed transport
Covered trailers for cars that warrant it.
Enclosed transport moves your vehicle inside a covered trailer. Miami’s concentration of exotics, collector cars and auction traffic means enclosed equipment does run through South Florida regularly — but each trailer holds fewer cars, so it costs more and takes longer to schedule than open transport.
- Classic, collector and show vehicles
- Exotics, low-clearance sports cars and anything with fresh paint or bodywork
- High-value or irreplaceable vehicles where exposure is not an acceptable risk
Auction & dealer purchases
Copart, IAA, Manheim and online buys.
South Florida is ringed with auction facilities, and every one of them starts charging storage quickly. A pickup can stall for reasons that have nothing to do with the driver — a missing gate pass, an unpaid balance, or a buyer number that does not match. Getting the paperwork lined up first is most of the job.
- Copart, IAA and other salvage or insurance auction purchases
- Manheim, ADESA and dealer-only auction buys
- Online marketplace purchases picked up from a dealership or storage lot
Non-running vehicles
Inoperable, project and salvage cars.
Inoperable vehicles move through Miami every day, from salvage-auction buys to project cars that have sat out one summer too many. What matters is the specific kind of inoperable: a car that rolls, steers and brakes can be winched onto a trailer, while one that does not is a much harder shipment requiring different equipment.
- Project cars, barn finds and long-term storage vehicles
- Salvage and total-loss purchases
- Cars with a dead battery, failed transmission or seized engine
Military & PCS moves
A clear path around orders and report dates.
A permanent change of station leaves a narrow window and a lot of moving parts, whether you are reporting to South Florida or leaving it. Shipping a personally owned vehicle is one of the pieces you can settle early — as long as the pickup window matches the reality of your report date and your access at both ends.
- PCS relocations between duty stations
- Service members deploying and leaving a vehicle with family
- Households shipping a second vehicle the family cannot drive
Snowbird & seasonal
Seasonal routes without the long drive.
Miami is one of the destinations the whole snowbird season points at: south in the autumn, north in the spring, on a schedule everyone in the industry knows. That predictability is useful — it means you can plan around the busy weeks instead of being surprised by them.
- Seasonal residents moving between a northern home and a southern one
- Anyone who would rather fly than drive a long interstate route twice a year
- Households sending a second car ahead of, or behind, the drivers
Not sure which one fits? Start the request anyway. We ask about the vehicle and its condition, and explain the difference before you get to the contact step.
Car Shipping Miami is a marketplace and advertising platform. Car Shipping Miami does not transport vehicles or provide transportation services. Transportation quotes and services are offered by independent providers. Review provider information and terms before choosing a service. How this marketplace works
Still not sure which one fits?
Start the request anyway. We ask about the vehicle and its condition, and you can pick “help me choose” on the service step.
Get your quoteCar Shipping Miami is a marketplace. Independent providers quote and perform the transport.