Shipping a Car from San Antonio, TX to Fort Lauderdale, FL
Ship from San Antonio and the car covers about 1,361 miles eastbound to Fort Lauderdale, through Texas, Louisiana and Florida. Allow 2–4 days after pickup, in line with roughly 27 hours of highway time. It is a lighter lane, so flexibility on dates helps.
The Route and Corridor
A carrier on this lane works through Texas, Louisiana and Florida. Texas: I-35, I-10, I-45, I-20 and I-40 cross a state where El Paso to Houston is about 750 miles. Expect afternoon thunderstorms and hurricane season from June to November in Florida. Pickup is on Central time and delivery on Eastern time, so a driver's call can come an hour off your clock. Toll roads in Texas and Florida are built into carrier pricing.
What San Antonio to Fort Lauderdale Costs
We estimate open transport for a standard sedan at $815–$1,155, which is about $0.72 per mile over 1,361 miles. For a larger vehicle plan on $915–$1,295, and for enclosed carriage of a sedan plan on $1,180–$1,675 (about 45% above open). Delivery to Miami, 42 miles from Fort Lauderdale, would be $810–$1,145. For scale, Scottsdale, AZ to Tacoma, WA is a similar 1,307-mile move at $785–$1,110. Loading in Austin, about 74 miles from San Antonio, is $25 cheaper at $790–$1,120.
| Service | Car Type | Price Range | Why Choose It |
|---|---|---|---|
| Open | Sedan / Coupe | $815–$1,155 | Lowest cost, most common |
| Open | SUV / Truck | $915–$1,295 | Bigger cars, same open trailers |
| Open | Minivan | $915–$1,295 | Bigger cars, same open trailers |
| Enclosed | Sedan / Coupe | $1,180–$1,675 | High-value or low cars |
Estimates are for a standard sedan; your quote depends on exact addresses, condition and season.
Timing and Seasonality
San Antonio has a large military community, so summer permanent-change-of-station season (about May to August) tightens carrier space. From June to November, tropical weather can force carriers to reroute near the coast, so leave a few spare days. For a 1,361-mile trip, request quotes about three weeks before pickup. Across Texas expect severe spring storms, Gulf hurricanes and desert heat in the west; across Florida, afternoon thunderstorms and hurricane season from June to November.
Pickup and Delivery Details
Pickup in San Antonio. Carriers usually load around I-10, I-35 and I-37. San Antonio sits on busy trucking corridors, which helps with availability. San Antonio has a sizeable service-member population, so permanent-change-of-station season matters.
Delivery in Fort Lauderdale. Drivers often use the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport area as a staging reference. Fort Lauderdale is a seasonal-resident destination, so fall and spring bring surges of traffic. A working port in the Fort Lauderdale area means customs and terminal release can affect timing for some vehicles.
Practical Tips for This Lane
- Have a storm plan. For coastal legs from June to November, agree on a backup date up front.
- Compare nearby pickup points. Moving the handoff a short drive from San Antonio can change the price on a 1,361-mile lane.
- Vet the carrier. Check the MC number on safer.fmcsa.dot.gov and get insurance terms in writing before paying a deposit.