Open, enclosed, and expedited auto transport across metro Detroit, backed by the deepest carrier pool in the country.
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Detroit, Michigan
Car shipping in Detroit is easier than almost anywhere. The reason is obvious once you think about it.
Ship Guy is a licensed auto transport broker. We book vetted carriers across Detroit and southeast Michigan, and we do not own the trucks.
The plants ship hundreds of thousands of new vehicles a year. The carriers that haul them are based here. That density spills over to everyone else.
This page covers what it means for your pickup and the northern end of Interstate 75. It also covers the Windsor border, the winters, and the suburbs.
Most pickups happen within 1 to 2 days. Often the carrier started its morning at a plant nearby.
Toledo, Cleveland, and Columbus are same-day lanes. Chicago takes a day. Florida runs three to four.
Interstate 75 starts here and ends in Miami. Every fall, that makes Detroit one of the easiest cities to ship a car south from.
The Advantage
No city has more car carriers per resident than Detroit.
The assembly plants in Dearborn, Sterling Heights, Warren, and Hamtramck load new vehicles onto trailers every day. Those trailers have to come back, and they take private cars with them.
Dealer transfers, auction moves, and manufacturer shipments keep the yards busy year round. A private pickup slots easily into that flow.
Interstate 75, 94, and 96 meet here, with Interstate 696 and 275 looping the suburbs. A carrier can reach any suburb from the freeways in minutes.
The result is fast scheduling and competitive pricing on nearly every lane. Short Midwest trips are about as cheap as car shipping gets.
Lanes & Costs
The corridors that start in the Motor City, with estimated open-transport ranges. Price your exact route above.
| Route | Corridor · distance | Est. transit | Est. open rate* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toledo, OH | I-75 · ~60 mi | Same day | $150–$240 |
| Cleveland, OH | I-75/I-80 · ~170 mi | Same day | $220–$340 |
| Columbus, OH | US-23/I-75 · ~200 mi | Same day | $230–$350 |
| Chicago, IL | I-94 · ~280 mi | 1 day | $260–$390 |
| Indianapolis, IN | I-69 · ~290 mi | 1 day | $270–$400 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | I-75/I-80/I-79 · ~285 mi | 1 day | $270–$400 |
| Nashville, TN | I-75/I-65 · ~530 mi | 1–2 days | $440–$630 |
| New York, NY | I-80 · ~615 mi | 2 days | $470–$680 |
| Atlanta, GA | I-75 · ~720 mi | 2 days | $500–$730 |
| Tampa, FL | I-75 · ~1,190 mi | 3–4 days | $800–$1,150 |
*Estimated 2026 ranges for an operable sedan, open carrier. SUVs and trucks add about 10 to 25 percent; enclosed adds more. Carrier availability on your dates sets the actual number.
Interstate 75 is the story here. It runs from Detroit to Miami without a break, and Florida-bound carriers leave every day from October on.
Interstate 94 to Chicago and Interstate 80 to the East Coast are steady year round. The cost guide lays out the other variables.
The Florida Lane
Interstate 75 begins at the Canadian border in Sault Ste. Marie, but for car shipping it begins in Detroit.
Michigan sends more seasonal cars to Florida than nearly any state. Retirees from Grosse Pointe, Bloomfield Hills, and the whole metro winter in Florida. The Gulf Coast and central Florida draw most of them.
Demand headed south grows from October through December. The return trip peaks from March through May.
Because the lane is a straight shot, it is one of the easiest to book from Detroit. Two to three weeks of lead time keeps every option open.
Planning tips for both directions are on our snowbird page.
The Border
Detroit shares its river with Canada, and people ask about Windsor constantly.
The bridges and the tunnel carry traffic across the river every day. A vehicle moving into Canada, though, is an international shipment with customs paperwork and a different carrier.
We arrange domestic shipping only. Anywhere in the United States is fine, from Dearborn to Miami.
For a cross-border move, ask and we will steer you to the right people. For a car already on this side, we can send it to any state.
Winter
Detroit winters are hard on cars and on schedules.
Lake-effect snow and deep cold slow loading from December through February. When a storm closes Interstate 75 or 94, carriers wait for plows.
Road salt is heavy all winter, and spring thaw leaves the potholes the city is known for. Many collector-car owners go enclosed for those months.
A car that will sit outside for pickup should have a healthy battery. Deep cold drains a weak one before the truck arrives.
Who Ships Here
Beyond the industry, Detroit moves follow the base, the campuses, and the suburbs.
Selfridge Air National Guard Base sits on Lake St. Clair in Harrison Township. Guard and Reserve personnel move on orders year round, and the handoff happens outside the gate.
The University of Michigan in Ann Arbor and Wayne State downtown both send cars in each September. They head home each May. Michigan State is ninety minutes west.
Royal Oak, Ferndale, and Birmingham have tight older streets where the driver meets you on a main road. Troy, Novi, and Canton are wide enough for curbside.
Ship Guy is an independent broker, unconnected to the military. Our military page has the move-planning details.
Your Options
Open transport is how the industry moves cars, and it is the everyday choice for private shipments too.
Enclosed transport keeps winter salt, slush, and grit off a car. Bloomfield Hills and Grosse Pointe keep enclosed carriers busy with collector cars.
A daily driver rides open without a second thought. Each option is described on our open and enclosed pages.
The Basics
It works in three stages: a price, a pickup, and a delivery.
Approve the price and a carrier is lined up. Before loading, the driver documents the car’s condition on a Bill of Lading and you sign. That document is checked again at delivery.
Our how it works and preparation guides cover each step.
Why Ship Guy
We put the Motor City’s carrier density to work for a private shipment.
Ship Guy is licensed with active FMCSA brokerage authority and a $75,000 surety bond. Both are public and easy to check.
You get a single coordinator from quote to delivery. That contact handles open, enclosed, and expedited transport. All of it is listed on the services page.
Nearby
Carriers that work Detroit also cover these nearby cities.
Statewide guide: Michigan auto transport · See all 66 cities we serve →
Visit Us
Our office is on Fort Street downtown, a few blocks from the riverfront and the Lodge Freeway.
Detroit FAQ
Because the auto industry keeps more carriers here than anywhere. The plants load new vehicles onto trailers every day. Those trailers take private cars on the way back. Dealer transfers and auction moves add to the flow. A private pickup slots into it easily. Short Midwest lanes are about as cheap as shipping gets.
Tampa usually runs eight hundred to eleven hundred fifty dollars for a sedan, and Miami a bit more. Interstate 75 goes straight there, about twelve hundred miles. Southbound rates climb from October through December. SUVs and trucks come in 10 to 25 percent higher. A quote gives you a firm number for your dates.
No, a move into Canada is an international shipment with customs paperwork and a different carrier. We arrange domestic shipping only. Anywhere in the United States is fine. For a cross-border move, ask and we will steer you to the right people.
Sometimes, by about a day. Lake-effect snow and deep cold slow loading, and a storm can close Interstate 75 or 94 for hours. Carriers hold for the plows rather than push through. You hear from us the minute a route changes. Enclosed transport is available if salt worries you.
Yes, the base in Harrison Township is inside the metro and easy to serve. Selfridge housing is gated, and the handoff is outside the gate. We build the timeline around your report date. Ship Guy is an independent broker, unconnected to the military.
Yes, we handle student cars each September and May. Ann Arbor is forty miles west and easy to reach. Wayne State is downtown, so the handoff usually happens at a lot nearby. An adult has to be on site to sign. September and May fill quickly, so plan ahead.
Yes, that is the everyday business of Detroit carriers. A car bought at auction or online can be delivered to your driveway. Dealers move inventory between lots on open carriers constantly. Send us the pickup lot and the delivery address.
Usually not the older blocks themselves, which are tight and tightly parked. The driver meets you on Woodward or a main road nearby. Troy, Novi, Canton, and the newer suburbs are wide enough for curbside. Send the address and we will verify.
Yes, non-running cars are routine in Detroit. A winch does the loading, and the added time carries a fee. We need three answers: roll, steer, brake. We match the carrier accordingly.
Open with the pickup and delivery addresses. Then comes the year, make, and model. Mention whether it runs and rolls. Decide on open or enclosed and give us a range of dates. That is everything an accurate Detroit quote needs. Sharp details make a sharp number.
Get Started
A quote takes about two minutes. Then tell us your suburb and dates. We will match you with one of the many carriers based here.