Moving South for the Winter?

Snowbirds Discount

Save $50 on your auto transport with our Snowbirds Discount - available now for: 
Nebraska, Virginia, Wisconsin, Delaware, Kentucky, Vermont, West Virginia, Iowa, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Ohio, New York, New Jersey, New Hampshire, Maine, Maryland, Indiana, Minnesota, Michigan, illinois, Connecticut, District Of Columbia, Massachusetts!

Use promo code AUTUMN-SNOWBIRDS before it’s gone.

With Delivery State of GA and FL

Talk to our team at (864) 668-5724 for details.

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Why Snowbirds Need Vehicle Transport

A lot of Americans who live in colder areas like the upper Midwest, New England or upstate New York like to spend the winter months in a warmer spot where the weather is more forgiving. Of course, relocating south for a few months and then back north again in the spring means a lot of details to take care of and a lot of loose ends to tie up, and one of them is vehicle transport. 

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Driving vs. Shipping Your Snowbird Car

You can drive your car to your snowbird destination, but it means wear and tear on the vehicle, fuel costs, related costs for travel, the risk involved in taking a car on the highway, and of course a long and exhausting drive. Or, you can just leave your snowbird car shipping up to the professionals and your car will be there when you arrive. 

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Why Timing Matters for Snowbird Car Shipping

Of course, timing is everything and it definitely pays off to get  a good jump on your snowbird auto logistics  and plan things out well in advance. Once things get busier and the volume of shipping orders picks up, rates will see an uptick due to the supply/demand dilemma as fewer transport drivers will be available to handle your vehicle. 

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About the Snowbird Car Shipping Process

 In these next few sections we’ll talk more about the best time to book snowbird car transport to save yourself some money, we’ll explain how vehicle shipping works and how you can set things up to your own expectations, and walk you through the whole snowbird car shipping process. 

How to Prepare Your Vehicle for Snowbird Car Transport

To ensure a seamless auto transport experience, there are some things you can do in advance to prep your car and make sure it’s ready for the road.

Wash the car thoroughly before shipping. You and the transport driver will each do inspections of the car’s condition for the Bill of Lading before and after shipping, and it’s easier to spot any dents, dings, scrapes or defects on a clean car. 

Lower curb weight means lower shipping costs, and we recommend shipping a vehicle with ¼ tank of fuel or less to keep curb weight down. 

If you live on a congested urban or suburban street with lots of parked cars, low hanging branches and sharp corners, it can be hard (or even against city ordinance) to get a commercial tractor-trailer to your curbside location. If so, consider an easier spot to meet your driver, such as an open parking lot nearby. 

Please remove any external accessories: light bars, bike racks, cargo boxes, etc. 

Enclosed trailer transport is recommended for lowriders, exotics, supercars and any other vehicle with very low ground clearance. 

Please be sure that your car’s battery is fully charged, all four tires are fully inflated and all lights work. 

Don’t forget your driver needs a copy of the car’s ignition key. 

Please remove personal items from your vehicle before shipping. It’s permissible, though, to ship up to 100 lb of personal stuff in the vehicle’s trunk or cargo area, as long as it’s secured and contained. 

Please check your car for fluid leaks: transmission, power steering fluid, coolant, motor oil, brake fluid. A driver might refuse to load a vehicle with fluid leaks. 

Please disable any alarms and remove any toll tags or parking tags. 

It’s suggested that you take plenty of photos of your car’s condition for an accurate record during the pre-trip and post-trip inspections. 

How Weather Affects Snowbird Auto Transport

Don’t forget that the mid-winter months often mean snow and ice on the roads, and that’s even more treacherous for a commercial auto transport tractor-trailer than it is for an SUV or minivan. Harsh winter weather can disrupt the driver’s  schedule and delay the delivery of your car at best, and at worst can mean the transport truck ends up in the ditch or in a collision. Why risk that? It’s just one more good reason to contact us and set up your snowbird auto transport well in advance, and give 3 to 6 weeks lead time to sort everything out. 

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When Is the Best Time to Book Snowbird Auto Transport?

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The Best Time to Ship Your Car South for the Winter

The best times to ship a car south for the winter would be October and November – that’s when you can really beat the rush and find some good deals on snowbird auto transport. If you live in a place like Boston, Cleveland or Buffalo, things might already be starting to get pretty cold by November anyway. When it’s time to relocate back home for the spring, March and April tend to be more affordable months for snowbird car shipping. 

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How Seasonal Demand Affects Snowbird Auto Transport Rates

The numbers prove it – the auto logistics business is cyclical by nature, and there are certain times when there’s a spike in the volume of orders that we handle. When things are busier like that, there will be fewer drivers on call who can take on incoming orders and that scarcity of available transport means that shipping is naturally going to be a little more expensive. May through August tend to be busy months, and December through mid February are usually more hectic as well. Booking 3 to 6 weeks in advance gives you plenty of time to take the auto shipping chore off your own plate, it lets you beat busy season and higher rates, and it helps us have plenty of breathing room to assign your order to a driver and set things up. 

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Tips to Save Money on Snowbird Car Shipping

Another handy tip is to try to have enough flexibility to book your auto transport for midweek rather than the weekend, since rates are often higher on weekend dates. It’s also worth mentioning that auto transport to or from bigger cities can save you some money - getting to a remote small town or rural area that’s far off the Interstate means more miles, more time on the drivers’ part, and higher shipping costs. 

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Top 5 Snowbird Destinations and How to Get Your Car There Hassle-Free

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Popular Warm Destinations for Snowbirds

A lot of northerners end up in Texas cities like Corpus Christi or Galveston (right on the Gulf), Arizona for its dry heat, southern California, Florida or Gulf towns like Biloxi, Mississippi or Mobile, Alabama. It might be a bit of a culture shock, but it beats having to deal with subfreezing temperatures and several inches (or feet) of snow everywhere for weeks on e

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Major Routes for Snowbird Auto Transport

When it’s time to plan out snowbird auto transport to those destinations, the logistics part is greatly simplified by the Interstate highway system, with north-south Interstates like I-85, I-95, I-45, I-35 and I-55 taking up a lot of the snowbird car shipping routes.
Most auto logistics companies ask for at least two weeks lead time to be able to plan out your order an

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Choosing a Reliable Snowbird Car Shipping Company

When you’re thinking about snowbird car shipping to get your vehicle to your winter home, don’t just go with the company that presents itself with the lowest rates. Too many times, those low rates are truly too good to be true, and customers find out that cheap car shipping company is cutting corners on performance and service. You really need a qualified, trusted and

Frequently Asked Questions About Snowbird Car Shipping

What is Snowbird Auto Transport?

It’s a great way to get your car from a cold northern climate to a warm and sunny southern part of the US for the winter, then get it back home again in spring. 

Do snowbird transport services offer door-to-door delivery?

Yes - snowbird transport services offer door-to-door delivery! It’s the ultimate in convenience option that you can get from SGT Auto transport once you request the delivery from us. 

Are there tips for snowbirds to prepare their car for transport?

Yes - there are tips for snowbirds to prepare their vehicles for transportation. Helping you prepare your vehicle for shipping, SGT Auto Transport offers a list of steps to follow. in order to be ready in time avoiding any rush, and not missing anything. See above our tips for snowbirds to prepare your car for transportation.

How can I find reliable snowbird car transport companies?

Compare rates, compare reviews, research the services offered and make sure that the company has all the necessary permits and accreditation for interstate transport. 

How are snowbirds getting their cars to Florida?

Some people drive to Florida for the winter, but it’s such a long and taxing drive that many people prefer to have their vehicles shipped.

How much does it cost to ship a car to Florida?

Rates can vary, we suggest using SGT Auto Transport’s Quote Calculator feature to get an accurate idea. For example: Shipping a car from Florida to Texas is 2 - 3 days, and costs between $699 - $899; Florida to California auto transportation takes average between 5 - 7 days and makes around $899 - $1099.

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