Quick answer: Shipping your car when you retire means booking a licensed auto transport company to collect it at your old home and deliver it to your new one while you fly or drive at your own pace. Book 7 to 30 days ahead, allow a 4 to 5 day pickup window, and expect 3 to 5 days in transit from the Northeast or Midwest to Florida. Open transport on those routes usually costs $700 to $1,100, and ABC gives a 10% senior discount to customers 65 and older.
A retirement move is different from other relocations. There is usually no start date to race, you may be moving two cars or one you have kept for years, and the new home is often in a 55-plus or gated community. This guide covers whether to ship or drive, typical prices and transit times on common retirement routes, when to book, how to move more than one vehicle, what to expect at a gated community and what to sort out when you arrive.
Should You Ship Your Car or Drive It to Your Retirement Home?
A drive from New York to Florida or Chicago to Arizona takes several long days, plus hotels, meals, fuel and the risk of a breakdown far from home. Shipping lets you fly, travel with family or take the trip slowly while your car rides on a carrier. It also keeps miles off a car you plan to keep for years, which matters most for a low-mileage, older or classic vehicle.
Shipping is even more useful when a couple is moving two cars. Driving both means two drivers for the whole trip or a second journey back, while shipping moves every vehicle in one booking.
For trips under about 1,000 miles, driving is usually cheaper. On longer moves, the costs of driving and shipping get close, and shipping saves you several days on the road. Our drive or ship guide puts numbers on both.
Common Retirement Routes: Distance, Transit Time and Cost
Most retirement moves head south or west, to Florida, Arizona or the Carolinas. These are typical figures for a running sedan on an open carrier with flexible dates.
| Route | Approximate distance | Transit time | Typical open-carrier cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York to Orlando, FL | 1,090 miles | 3 to 5 days | $700 to $1,100 |
| Boston to Orlando, FL | 1,300 miles | 3 to 5 days | $700 to $1,100 |
| Chicago to Orlando, FL | 1,150 miles | 3 to 5 days | $700 to $1,100 |
| Chicago to Phoenix, AZ | 1,800 miles | 4 to 7 days | $850 to $1,300 |
| Los Angeles to Phoenix, AZ | 370 miles | 1 to 2 days | $400 to $700 |
| Philadelphia to Myrtle Beach, SC | 550 miles | 2 to 4 days | $550 to $900 |
| New York to Charlotte, NC | 620 miles | 2 to 4 days | $550 to $900 |
Add the 4 to 5 day pickup window to the transit time. Prices rise in busy seasons: in October and November, when far more cars head south than north, routes into Florida run 10 to 20% above the rest of the year. Enclosed transport costs 40 to 60% more. For state-specific details, see our Florida car shipping, Arizona car shipping, North Carolina and South Carolina pages.
When Should You Book Car Shipping for a Retirement Move?
Without a job start date to work around, you can pick a shipping date that suits the rest of your move. Here is a simple timeline:
- Four to six weeks out: get a free quote so you can budget and settle on a moving date.
- 7 to 30 days out: book the shipment. Booking 10 to 20 days ahead usually gives the most accurate rate.
- After you book: ABC starts matching your car with a carrier the next business day. You give a 4 to 5 day pickup window (minimum 3 to 4 days), which is narrowed to 1 to 2 days once a carrier is secured.
- The week of pickup: prepare the car, confirm both addresses and send any gate or HOA access details.
- Pickup day: walk around the car with the driver, sign the bill of lading and keep your copy.
Season matters more than people expect. Summer (May to September) and January are the busiest months for carriers and can add 1 to 3 days to pickup. Snowbird traffic also fills southbound trucks in October and November and northbound trucks from March to May. If your date is flexible, a spring move south is often cheaper: the same Massachusetts to Florida move that costs about $1,300 in November can come in closer to $1,000 in May, when trucks head south half empty.
If you need the car collected or delivered on one specific day, ABC can guarantee the date by using a secure terminal near you, which generally adds $150 to $300 per vehicle.
Shipping Two Cars or a Car You Have Kept for Years
Retirement moves often involve more than one vehicle, or a car that deserves extra care.
- Get one quote for every vehicle. When two or more cars ride the same carrier from the same pickup point to the same destination, ABC’s multi-car discount saves up to 15% on each car, including the first. See how to ship multiple vehicles at once.
- Choose enclosed transport for a classic or collector car. A covered trailer keeps it out of the weather and road debris. Our classic car shipping guide covers the details.
- Mention any car that does not run. A non-running vehicle can still be shipped, but it needs a carrier with the right loading equipment, so say so when you request your quote. See how to ship a non-running car.
- Decide what to keep. If you are downsizing to one car, compare the shipping quote with what you could get for the second car before you book.
Open or Enclosed Transport for a Retirement Move
Most cars ship on open transport, the multi-car trailers you see on the highway. It is the most widely available and affordable option, and it suits everyday sedans, SUVs and pickups.
Enclosed transport costs 40 to 60% more and is worth it for a classic, luxury or low-mileage car, or a freshly detailed one you want kept away from road salt and weather on a long haul. ABC offers both, so you can ship a daily driver on an open carrier and a classic in an enclosed trailer as part of the same move.
Delivering to a 55-Plus or Gated Community
Many retirement homes in Florida, Arizona and the Carolinas sit inside gated communities, 55-plus communities or HOAs, and car carriers are 75 to 80 feet long. A little planning avoids delays:
- Give your coordinator the gate code, the security desk’s contact or the HOA office number when you book.
- If the community will not allow a full-size carrier inside, the driver meets you at the nearest wide street or a shopping center parking lot.
- The driver calls 24 hours before pickup and again the morning of pickup, and gives you a 4-hour delivery window.
- If you cannot be there, you can name a friend, relative, neighbor, property manager or community concierge to release or receive the car. They must be 18 or over and show photo ID to sign the bill of lading.
- If the new home is not ready when the car arrives, ABC can arrange a short hold or delivery to another address. Storage fees may apply.
With door-to-door service, which is ABC’s standard, the carrier gets as close to each address as it can safely and legally reach.
How to Prepare Your Car for a Retirement Move
- Wash the car and take dated photos of every side, the interior and the odometer.
- Remove valuables. ABC allows up to 100 pounds of personal items in the car as a courtesy, at the driver’s discretion, but they are not insured. Keep documents, medications and anything irreplaceable with you.
- Leave about a quarter tank of fuel.
- Turn off the alarm and remove toll tags and garage door openers.
- Have one set of keys ready that works the ignition, trunk and glove box.
- Tell your coordinator about leaks, mechanical problems or anything unusual about the car.
Our 10-step car shipping checklist covers preparation in more detail.
How the Process Works With ABC Auto Shipping
- Get a quote with your pickup and delivery addresses, your vehicles and your first available date.
- Book with no deposit. You pay only once a carrier is secured, and the quote is flat-rate, so the quote you accept is the price you pay.
- Carrier matching starts the next business day, and your coordinator confirms the pickup window.
- Pickup. The driver inspects the car with you and records its condition on the bill of lading.
- Delivery. You inspect the car against the bill of lading before you sign. Write any new damage on it and have the driver acknowledge it, because claims depend on it.
Handing your car to someone you have never met is a fair concern. Check any company’s USDOT and MC numbers on FMCSA’s SAFER website before you book; ABC’s are USDOT 2340626 and MC-797279. Your car is insured for damage the driver causes from pickup to delivery.
How Much Does It Cost to Ship a Car for a Retirement Move?
| Distance | Open carrier |
|---|---|
| Under 500 miles | $400 to $700 |
| 500 to 1,000 miles | $550 to $900 |
| 1,000 to 1,500 miles | $700 to $1,100 |
| 1,500 to 2,000 miles | $850 to $1,300 |
| Over 2,000 miles | $1,000 to $1,700 |
These are typical prices for a running sedan with flexible dates. Larger vehicles, enclosed transport and busy seasons cost more. Our car shipping cost guide explains what moves the price.
Retirees can often lower the price further:
- Senior discount: 10% for customers 65 and older.
- Multi-car discount: up to 15% per car when the vehicles share a carrier, pickup point and destination.
- Returning customers and referrals: $50 to $200 per car, depending on the number of cars, the vehicles and the route.
To claim a discount, request a quote, then reply to the email quote from info@abcautoshipping.com and ask your agent to apply it. Being flexible on dates and avoiding the October and November rush into Florida also helps.
When You Arrive: Registering Your Car in Your New State
Your new state will expect you to get a driver’s license, register the car and meet its insurance rules within a set time. Florida, for example, asks new residents to title and register their vehicle within 10 days of establishing residency and to get a Florida driver’s license within 30 days. An out-of-state car also needs a VIN verification, which a law enforcement officer, a licensed Florida dealer or a county tax collector’s office can complete. See the Florida new resident page for the full list. Other states set their own deadlines, so check your new state’s motor vehicle office soon after you arrive, and keep your title, registration and insurance documents with you rather than in the car.
Snowbirds: Splitting the Year Between Two Homes
If your retirement plan includes summers up north and winters somewhere warmer, shipping the car each season saves two long drives a year. Southbound demand peaks in October and November and northbound demand from March to May, so book two to four weeks before the rush. If you know your return date, book both legs together. Our snowbird car shipping service and snowbird shipping guide cover seasonal routes and round trips in more detail.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far in advance should I book car shipping for a retirement move?
Book 7 to 30 days before your first available pickup date; 10 to 20 days ahead usually gives the most accurate rate. If you are moving south in October or November, book two to four weeks before that rush.
Does ABC Auto Shipping offer a senior discount?
Yes. Customers 65 and older get a 10% senior discount. Request a quote, then reply to the email quote and ask your agent to apply it.
Can I ship two cars at the same time?
Yes. One quote can cover every vehicle, and when the cars share a carrier, pickup point and destination, the multi-car discount saves up to 15% on each car.
How much does it cost to ship a car for a retirement move?
From the Northeast or Midwest to Florida, about 1,000 to 1,500 miles, open transport usually costs $700 to $1,100 for a running sedan with flexible dates. Routes into Florida run 10 to 20% higher in October and November, and enclosed transport adds 40 to 60%.
How long does it take to ship a car to Florida from the Northeast?
Usually 3 to 5 days in transit once the car is picked up, plus the 4 to 5 day pickup window.
Can the carrier deliver inside a gated or 55-plus community?
Often, yes. Give your coordinator the gate code or HOA contact when you book. If the community will not allow a full-size carrier inside, the driver meets you at the nearest wide street or a shopping center.
Does someone need to be there for pickup and delivery?
Yes. You, or an adult of 18 or over you name, must be there with photo ID to inspect the car and sign the bill of lading at each end.
Can I pack belongings in the car?
ABC allows up to 100 pounds of personal items as a courtesy, at the driver’s discretion. They are not insured, so keep valuables, documents and medications with you.
Ship Your Car to Your Retirement Home
ABC Auto Shipping is a licensed auto transport broker (USDOT 2340626, MC-797279) with over 20 years of experience and an A+ rating as a BBB Accredited Business. There is no deposit, you pay only once your carrier is secured, and the quote you accept is the price you pay. Get a free quote and ask about the senior discount, or call 877-686-5611.
