Car Shipping from Chicago, IL to Tampa, FL

Fully insured, door-to-door auto transport. No deposit until your carrier is confirmed. 5-star rated.

Distance
1,227 mi
Transit Time
3-5 days
Estimated Cost
$700–$1000
Major Hub

Shipping from Chicago, IL

Chicago is the crossroads of American auto transport. Four major interstates converge here. I-90 and I-94 run east to west. I-55 drops south toward St. Louis. I-80 is one of the most heavily used carrier corridors in the country running straight across the middle of the US. Manheim Chicago is one of the largest and most active auto auctions in the Midwest. The dealer market across the metro and suburbs is deep. Carriers are always moving through Chicago because there is always another load waiting for them.

Pickups from Chicago run 1 to 3 days most of the time. The northern suburbs, western suburbs, and south side generally work better for carrier access than tight downtown neighborhoods. We move cars from the city regularly but if you can arrange a pickup from a suburb or parking lot near an on-ramp it smooths things out. Winter is Chicago's one challenge. January and February can slow pickups by a few days as some carriers avoid the Great Lakes region during heavy snowfall weeks. The rest of the year is fast and competitive. Get a quote to check current availability.

High Volume

Arriving in Tampa, FL

Tampa is one of the best positioned markets in Florida for auto transport and that is saying something because Florida as a whole is extremely active. Manheim Tampa is on South 50th Street in the city. ADESA Tampa is right nearby on North 50th Street. Copart Tampa South is also in the market. That kind of auction density inside the city limits means carriers have real business reasons to be here. I-75 is the main north-south corridor, connecting Tampa straight to Atlanta and up to Detroit. I-4 runs east across the state to Orlando and Daytona Beach. The two highways meet near downtown Tampa and that convergence is what makes this market tick. Carriers running the Florida snowbird circuit treat Tampa as a reliable staging point.

Tampa receives cars well. Carriers on I-75 from Atlanta and further north are making this run constantly during the fall and winter months. The flip side is that in late spring and summer when snowbirds head back north, there can be a short window where northbound loads are so abundant that carriers snap them up fast, making deliveries from out of state slightly quicker to coordinate. Summer is slower overall for in-state Florida demand, but the interstate corridors stay active. One thing to know is that Tampa Bay traffic on I-4 and I-275 can affect carrier timing during rush hours. Drivers account for this and it is not a major issue.

Pricing on This Route

Shipping a standard sedan from Chicago to Tampa on open carrier currently estimates between $700 and $1000. That is based on the 1,227-mile distance and current market conditions.

Chicago runs right around the national average on most routes. Summer is busiest and prices edge up a little. Winter sees slightly more variability because of the weather factor. Routes to and from the South, Texas, and Florida are very active and competitively priced. Long haul routes to the West Coast are solid because carriers on I-80 fill up in both directions. Get a quote and see exactly where your lane sits.

Tampa runs at or slightly below the national average depending on your route and the time of year. During peak snowbird season from November through February, southbound pricing into Tampa is competitive because carriers are actively filling loads heading to Florida. In May and June when snowbirds reverse course, northbound pricing from Tampa can actually be favorable for the same reason. Summer months are slower and carriers need a little more incentive to come down. Routes to Atlanta on I-75 and to Orlando on I-4 are consistently efficient. Routes to Texas are active. Long haul to the Northeast or West Coast will cost more. Get a quote to see your exact price.

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