Miami to San Francisco Car Shipping Cost
Miami, FL to San Francisco, CA Car Shipping Cost
You have arrived at the right place for Miami to San Francisco car shipping cost and services. Direct Express Auto Transport originated the instant quote calculator for Miami, FL to San Francisco, CA car shipping. For two decades, we have established ourselves as the top rated authority on what it takes to ship a car from Miami, Florida to San Francisco, California safely, reliably, and competitively.
Choose Between Three Auto Transport Rates For The Best Miami, FL to San Francisco, CA Car Shipping Service
Direct Express Auto Transport uniquely offers three levels of car shipping service. Our Standard Tier or rate, is the most basic market car shipping price that a carrier might be expected to accept. Unless that particular route has more competition. In that case, we highly recommend our Expedited Tier or rate, which usually separates our customers’ vehicles from the pack, making it stand out and ship first, or quicker. We have a high customer satisfaction rating for Expedited Tier.
Then there are some customers who want their car shipped right away, or as soon as possible. To do that, we offer the Rush Tier or rate, which goes up and over the Expedited rate, and carriers often jump to pick up that customer vehicle. The nice thing is that all three tiers are laid out nicely on our car shipping calculator and you can easily decide which one to choose.
How Much Does It Cost To Ship My Car From Miami to San Francisco
These auto shipping rates were generated on the date this blog was published, which is good for estimating and gives you a fairly good idea. Check for updated pricing.
Estimated Miami to San Francisco Car Shipping Cost
| Approximate Miles: 3,000 | Standard Rate | Expedited Rate | Rush Rate |
| Type of Vehicle: Sedan / Open Transport | $1189 | $1454 | $1609 |
| Usually Assigned A Carrier In … | 1-8 days | 1-4 days | 1-2 days |
| Normal Transit Time On The Road Is 6-8 days Once Picked Up |
Direct Express Auto Transport Services
Top Reasons To Ship My Car
There may be any number of reasons why you are shipping your car from Miami to San Francisco. Here is what we see most often.
I’m Moving To San Francisco And Need To Ship My Car
The average American will move 12 times in their life. About 53% of the time, it is less than 50 miles away. So no need for them to ship a car. Another 12% move 50-300 miles away. Again, very few of them will need to transport a vehicle, but it may occasionally happen. That leaves 35%, or roughly one third of all Americans, who will move to a new city over 300 miles away. That would be approximately four (4) significant long distance relocations for the average American in their lifetime. It is those people who find us by word of mouth or online, and request an auto transport quote and service. In this case, to ship a car from Miami to San Francisco.
Miami Auction House, Dealership or Individual Car Purchase
Nationwide in 2018, there were 9.9 million vehicles sold at auction houses. Add to that hefty figure, automobile dealerships also selling to out of state buyers and there are likely over one million vehicles sold every month between them. The over-whelming majority of those vehicles require professional car shipping services and they call us at 800-600-3750.
But wait … there’s more. The internet is teaming with online car buying sites that have vehicles listed for sale by individual owners and dealerships. Our customers find and purchase vehicles listed on KBB, Edmunds, Car.com, CarsDirect.com, Autolist, Carvana, CarGurus, AutoTrader, Vroom, eBay Motors, and more. They contact Direct Express Auto Transport to ship cars across the country.
I’m Shipping My Vehicle To A Family Member In The San Francisco Bay Area
We often talk to customers who are shipping a vehicle out of state to a family member. Sometimes it is a parent transporting a car to a son or daughter. Sometimes it is a grandmother or grandfather who has passed away and a family member is inheriting their vehicle. Whatever the reason, we are here to help get it done.
There Is A Car Show In San Francisco
Seems like every few days, there is a car show somewhere in America. Especially in the good weather months and warmer winter climates. It is actually a high stress situation for anyone trying to get a collector or sports car to a car show on time. Reputable c brokers cannot and should not guarantee delivery dates, and that doesn’t sit well with folks who absolutely must have their vehicle delivered by a certain date.
Seasonal Miami to San Francisco Car Shipping
As the seasons change, there are fluctuations in the auto transport industry. The peak car shipping season is April through September. There is nearly 50% more car shipments during that warm weather period than there are in October through March. Call that a huge seasonal fluctuation, which creates interesting changes in auto transport pricing too. Sometimes it is higher in one direction than the reverse. It is always good to periodically check our car shipping rates from Miami to San Francisco.
Snowbird Auto Transport
The most popular form of seasonal car shipping is called Snowbird Auto Transport. A “snowbird” auto shipping customer is usually from a colder northern state, who then heads south for the winter. Renting a car for months is too expensive. So the snowbird customer will ship a car instead. Smart.
Most people escaping the winters head to a state that enjoys year-round summer weather, like Florida, which is by far the most popular snowbird destination. However, other popular snowbird states are California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas. Gulf coast Louisiana and Alabama are also favored snowbird destinations.
College Student Miami to San Francisco Car Shipping
For the most part, we see a flurry of college student auto shipping every August and September, and then again in May and June. Maybe it was always dangerous for a college student to drive across country alone in the 60’s and 70’s, and we just didn’t realize it, but we get it now. The safest and smartest thing to do is to ship a car to your college student and fly them there.
Here are some of the more notable colleges and universities in the Miami and San Francisco areas:
Miami, FL Colleges & Universities
San Francisco, CA Colleges & Universities
Military Personnel Miami to San Francisco Car Shipping
Here are some military bases in the Miami and San Francisco areas:
Military Bases Near Miami, FL
- Eglin Air Force Base
- Hurlburt Field
- MacDill Air Force Base
- Patrick Air Force Base
- Pensacola Florida Military Bases
- Tyndall Air Force Base
- United States Southern Command
Military Bases Near San Francisco, CA
- Beale Air Force Base in Marysville, CA
- Edwards Air Force Base in Edwards, CA
- Travis Air Force Base in Fairfield, CA
- Mcclellan Air Force Base in Sacramento, CA
- Presidio Of Monterey Army Base in Monterey, CA
- Camp Parks PRFTA Army Base in Dublin, CA
ISC Alameda Coast Guard Base in Alameda, CA - Camp Roberts Army Base in Monterey, CA
Camp San Luis Obispo Army Base in San Luis Obispo, CA
Tracen Petaluma Coast Guard Base in Petaluma, CA - Fort Hunter Liggett Army Base in Monterey, CA
Naval Postgraduate School Navy Base in Monterey, CA
Military Ocean Terminal Concord Navy Base Concord, CA
Corporate Relocation Auto Shipping
We are experts in Corporate Relocation, and as well, other large organizations. Whether the company is picking up the car shipping tab, or you are footing the bill yourself, we are a wealth of information and competitive pricing. The Miami, FL to San Francisco, CA route for business corporate relocations is popular.
Here are some of the more notable businesses in the Miami and San Francisco areas:
Notable Miami, Florida Companies
- AIG
- American Airlines
- Cisco
- Disney
- Exxon
- Kraft Foods
- Microsoft
- SBC Communications
- Sony
- Oracle
- Visa International
- Walmart
Notable San Francisco Companies
- Salesforce
- Cisco Systems
- Wells Fargo
- Oracle
- Adobe
- Apple Computer
- Uber
- Hewlett-Packard
Major Sports Teams Player Trades & Car Shipping from Miami to San Francisco
Very few athletes stay with one team their entire career. Often times without warning, the team General Manager calls a player to inform him or her that they have been traded. And now that player needs to ship a car, usually an SUV, from Miami to San Francisco. That’s when Direct Express Auto Transport steps in to make that as quick and stress free as possible.
Here are some of the major sports franchises in the Miami and San Francisco areas:
Notable Miami Sports Teams
| Miami Marlins (MLB) | Miami Dolphins (NFL) | |
| Miami Heat (NBA) | Florida Panthers (NHL) | |
| Inter Miami CF (MLS) |
Notable San Francisco Sports Teams
| San Francisco Giants (MLB) | San Francisco 49ers (NFL) | |
| Golden State Warriors (NBA) | San Jose Earthquakes (MLS) | |
| San Jose Sharks (NHL) | Oakland Athletics (MLB) |
Why Choose Our Miami to San Francisco Car Shipping Company?
The Original Car Shipping Quote Calculator
Direct Express Auto Transport originated the instant car shipping quote calculator in 2004. It is still the best, most sophisticated and reliable auto shipping calculator available anywhere. We offer three unique options that we call tiers of car shipping estimates from Miami to San Francisco. The standard rate is the cheapest car transport quote, but it may take longer. Use it if you are patient. The expedited vehicle shipping rate is most recommended, and we have countless satisfied customers because the process tends to go quicker. The rush rate is our highest level of car shipping service, and many customers are glad they went with that method.
Top Auto Transport FAQ’s from Miami to San Francisco
How Far In Advance Should You Set Up Your Miami to San Francisco Car Shipping Order?
We recommend scheduling your auto transport order anywhere from two days to two weeks in advance. We are often able to ship your car on the very same day, but providing us with a longer lead time allows us to schedule your vehicle transport better. You want the most current pricing, and you get that by staying within two weeks of your first available date to ship.
Should I Ship My Car Open or Enclosed from Miami to San Francisco?
About 97% of all vehicle shipments are shipped on an Open Trailer. It’s proven to be a very safe method with statistically very few problems. You may notice new cars being delivered to dealerships in an open trailer, and that’s because it’s safe. If you have a collector car or really expensive automobile, say around $100,000 or more, then we recommend shipping it in an Enclosed Trailer. But it is up to the customer to decide what is best for him or her. Direct Express Auto Transport is an industry authority and can guide you on that decision.
Is It Better To Pay An Auto Transport Deposit?
Making a nominal partial payment is preferred by carriers but not essential. Carriers like getting paid with Cash or Money Order upon delivery for services rendered, and who doesn’t? A partial credit card payment and balance due upon delivery accomplishes that. But a full credit card payment upfront also works if the carrier trusts the broker. Carriers have known Direct Express Auto Transport for nearly twenty years and the trust is there. So either method works with us.
Should I Insure My Vehicle While In Transit from Miami to San Francisco?
All auto transportation carriers are required by the US Department of Transportation to have a current and valid insurance policy. Direct Express Auto Transport double checks the insurance policy prior to assigning the customer vehicle to any carrier. That said, we do recommend that a customer not depend entirely on the car shipping carrier’s insurance policy because sometimes acts of God, such as hail, sleet, snowstorms, hurricanes, tornadoes and more might damage your vehicle. Those things are not covered by the carrier’s policy, but they would be by your personal policy. Car transport service drivers are only responsible for negligence.
When I Ship My Car, Can I Put Stuff In It?
The strict D.O.T. interpretation is no, you cannot ship items inside your vehicle. However, the reality is that almost all carriers allow items that weigh less than 100 pounds, roughly the equivalent of 2 suitcases. We recommend placing any additional items in the trunk and out of sight. The U.S. Transportation Law states that a carrier can be fined $10,000 for hauling household items in the vehicle, but it’s rarely enforced. However, the car shipping drivers do estimate the weight of each vehicle and don’t want problems at weight scales. So they must keep the personal items to a minimum.
Some drivers will accept a tip ($50-$300) for hauling extra stuff, but some won’t, or simply can’t, due to the overall weight. Rule of thumb, don’t take advantage. The driver is there to ship your car, not move your personal belongings.
How Long Will It Take To Pick Up My Vehicle In Miami?
Over 90% of our orders ship inside of one week. That could be anywhere from 1 to 7 days. Most of the U.S. population lives in a major metropolitan area and is shipping to another well populated area, and that makes a big difference. Cars usually ship in a very regular manner, almost half within just a few days. Miami is a large metropolitan area, so we would expect a timely carrier assignment and pick up.
If either your origination or destination locations are away from population centers, in other words, in a remote area, then you might consider meeting a driver in a nearby big city or town to increase your chances of shipping timely. Or adding money to the carrier fee may entice a carrier. Remember, anyone you choose can serve as your point of contact, which takes the stress out of shipping your vehicle.
How Long Does It Take To Deliver My Vehicle To San Francisco?
Delivering your car to San Francisco is the final step in the process, and also the simplest part. Once your vehicle has been assigned and picked up, not too much can go wrong. After your vehicle is picked up, you can estimate that it will take roughly one day of transit time for every 500 miles distance.
Delivery Time Estimate Guide
100-500 miles takes 1 or 2 days
500-1000 miles takes 2 or 3 days
1000-1500 miles takes 3 or 4 days
1500-2000 miles takes 4 or 5 days
2000-2500 miles takes 5 or 6 days
2500-3000 miles takes 6 or 7 days
Depending on the distance, weather conditions and population centers it could be a few days or weeks until a vehicle reaches its destination. The carriers will usually estimate about 10 days on coast to coast trips, but they frequently arrive earlier.
How Do I Prepare My Vehicle For Shipment?
In Miami, clean out your vehicle of all loose items as much as possible. Leave nothing of value in the vehicle. It’s very rare that any items are stolen during transport, but we recommend extra caution to prevent loss.
Keep extra items as previously discussed to a minimum and place in the trunk or out of sight. Have only about a quarter tank of gasoline. Give the car shipping carrier a set of keys and advise them of any special instructions for your vehicle, like difficulty starting, steering, braking, etc..
Driver Consideration: Being a truck driver can be a thankless job. They work long hours and are away from their families for weeks at a time. Please be friendly and considerate to our drivers once they arrive in San Francisco, and they will treat you in the same manner. Most people tip them $50 to $100 for a job well done.
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