Seasonal auto transport for snowbirds — send your car south for winter and back in spring, without the long drive.
Every fall, thousands of snowbirds head from the cold north to warmer states — and every spring they head back. Snowbird car shipping lets you bring your vehicle along without making the long drive twice. Here's how seasonal auto transport works with Ship Guy.
Snowbird car shipping is seasonal auto transport designed for people who split the year between two homes — typically spending winters in warm-weather states like Florida, Arizona, or Texas and returning north for the summer. Instead of making a long, tiring drive twice a year, you have your vehicle picked up at one home and delivered to the other by a professional carrier. It's one of the most common reasons people ship a car, and the routes between the northern states and the Sun Belt are among the busiest in the country.
Driving 1,000 or 2,000 miles each way adds up fast — days on the road, fuel, hotels, meals, and hundreds of miles of wear on your vehicle, often through rough winter weather. For retirees and seasonal residents especially, shipping is the easier, safer, and frequently more economical choice. You can fly to your destination on your own schedule and have your car waiting when you arrive. Many couples ship two vehicles together, while others send one car south for the season and leave a second vehicle up north.
Seasonal shipping follows the same three simple steps as any Ship Guy shipment. You get a free quote with your pickup and delivery locations and travel dates. We match your vehicle with a vetted carrier and schedule a door-to-door pickup window. The driver inspects and loads your car, then transports it to your destination while you track progress. At delivery, you inspect the vehicle, sign, and take your keys — often right at your seasonal residence or community.
Timing is everything with seasonal transport. Demand surges in two windows each year: the southbound rush from roughly October through December, and the northbound return from March through May. During these peaks, carriers fill quickly and prices rise with demand, so booking two to three weeks ahead — or more — helps you lock in better rates and your preferred dates. If your schedule is flexible, you'll have more options. If you have a firm arrival date, consider booking early or asking about expedited service for a faster, prioritized pickup.
The cost of seasonal shipping depends on distance, the size and condition of your vehicle, transport type (open or enclosed), and — importantly — the time of year. Because snowbird routes are in high demand during peak season, rates tend to climb as carrier space tightens. Booking ahead and staying flexible with your dates are the best ways to manage the price. As with every Ship Guy shipment, your quote is all-in and transparent, with no hidden fees and no upfront deposit — you pay only once your vehicle is dispatched.
Open transport is the affordable, widely used standard and is perfectly suited to everyday vehicles making the seasonal trip. If you're moving a classic convertible, a luxury car, or a collector vehicle to your winter home, enclosed transport adds a fully covered trailer that protects against weather and road debris over the long haul. Our specialists can help you choose based on your vehicle and budget when you request your quote.
We ship on all the major snowbird corridors, including:
Even if your specific cities aren't on a major lane, our nationwide network reaches all 50 states, so we can arrange transport between your two homes wherever they are. Browse popular routes and service areas for more.
A little preparation keeps your seasonal shipment smooth. Wash your vehicle and take dated photos to document its condition. Remove personal belongings and toll transponders, leave about a quarter tank of fuel, disable alarms, and provide one set of keys. If your car will sit for a stretch before or after transport, it's a good idea to check the battery and tire pressure. Make sure an authorized adult is available at both ends — or arrange a nearby meeting point if your community has access restrictions or your street is hard for a large transporter to reach.
Because snowbird season runs in two predictable directions, it pays to think about the round trip, not just the trip down. Many seasonal residents book their southbound shipment in the fall and then arrange the northbound return as spring approaches. If you already know roughly when you'll head back, mentioning it when you book the first leg helps our team plan ahead and keep your dates on track. Reserving early for the return is especially valuable, since the spring northbound rush fills carrier space just as quickly as the fall migration south. A little planning on both ends means less stress and better pricing all season long.
Ship Guy is a licensed, bonded, FMCSA-registered auto transport broker that makes snowbird car shipping simple, season after season. With nationwide coverage, transparent all-in pricing, no upfront deposit, a vetted carrier network, real-time tracking, and 24/7 U.S.-based support, your vehicle is in reliable hands for the trip south and the trip home.
Ready to plan your seasonal move? Get your free quote in about 60 seconds, or call (866) 280-3481 to lock in your dates. You can also learn about state-to-state shipping or read how the process works.
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