Car Shipping from Minneapolis, MN to Tampa, FL

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Distance
1,608 mi
Transit Time
5-7 days
Estimated Cost
$850–$1150
Solid Market

Shipping from Minneapolis, MN

Minneapolis is a functional market but it takes a little more patience than you might expect from a metro of 3.6 million people. Manheim Minneapolis is in Maple Grove, northwest of the city. Manheim Northstar Minnesota is in Shakopee, to the southwest. ADESA Minneapolis adds more wholesale volume. IAA operates in the south metro area. The auction infrastructure is there. I-94 runs east to Milwaukee and Chicago and west toward Fargo. I-35 is the main north-south route, splitting into I-35W and I-35E through the Twin Cities and connecting the metro south to Des Moines, Kansas City, and eventually Texas. The market issue is that Minneapolis is not a destination that keeps carriers coming back. Carriers going north past Chicago or north past Des Moines eventually hit Minneapolis and then there is nothing above them. They have to deadhead back south to get their next load.

Pickups in Minneapolis average 3 to 5 days. During the summer relocation season that can tighten up nicely to 2 to 3 days, especially on southbound routes to Texas and the South. The real challenge is winter. From November through March, carriers add surcharges or avoid the market altogether when weather gets severe. Snowstorms along I-94 and I-35 are not hypothetical, they happen every winter and they affect scheduling. If you are shipping between November and March, build in extra time and understand that pricing will be higher. The snowbird season starting in October also means a lot of southbound demand from Minnesota to Arizona and Florida, which can temporarily spike prices on those specific routes. Get a quote to see what your specific route looks like.

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 Minneapolis to Tampa on open carrier currently estimates between $850 and $1150. That is based on the 1,608-mile distance and current market conditions.

Minneapolis runs slightly above the national average on most routes, especially anything north or east. Southbound routes to Texas, Arizona, and Florida can be competitive during snowbird season because carriers are actively filling loads heading that direction. Routes east to Chicago and the Northeast are solid. Where pricing noticeably goes up is in winter, when carriers add weather premiums, and on any route that requires a carrier to deadhead back to a major hub after delivery. Routes to the West Coast or Mountain West are efficient in summer but less predictable in winter. Get a quote to see your exact price.

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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