Driveaway vs Car Shipping: What’s the Best Way for Snowbirds to Get a Car to Florida?
If you're a Canadian snowbird heading to Florida, you may be wondering how to get your vehicle south without driving the entire distance yourself.
The main options are professional driveaway service, open car transport, enclosed transport and Amtrak Auto Train.
Each option has advantages depending on your budget, vehicle type, travel plans and whether you want to bring personal belongings.
Driveaway Vehicle Relocation
With a driveaway service, a professional driver personally drives your vehicle from Ontario directly to your Florida destination.
For many snowbirds, this is one of the most convenient options.
Benefits include:
-Door-to-door vehicle delivery
-Flexible pickup and delivery dates
-Airport coordination may be available
-Permitted personal belongings can travel inside the vehicle
-Assistance with cross-border documentation
-Personalized communication during the trip
The main consideration is that highway mileage will be added to your vehicle.
For regular cars, SUVs, minivans and pickup trucks, many snowbirds prefer the convenience over avoiding mileage.
Open Car Transport
Open auto transport moves your vehicle on a large carrier with several other vehicles.
The main advantage is that no driving mileage is added.
However, pickup and delivery often operate within a wider scheduling window, and large carriers may not be able to access every residential street, condo or gated community.
Rules for personal belongings also vary between transport companies.
Enclosed Car Transport
Enclosed transport provides additional protection from weather and road exposure.
It is usually best suited for:
-Classic cars
-Exotic vehicles
-Collector vehicles
-Luxury or high-value vehicles
It costs more than open transport but may be worth it when protecting a valuable vehicle is the priority.
Amtrak Auto Train
Amtrak Auto Train does not operate from Canada.
Canadian snowbirds must first drive to Lorton, Virginia. The train then travels to Sanford, Florida, where you collect your vehicle and continue driving to your final destination.
It can be useful if you want to travel with your vehicle, but it is not a direct Ontario-to-Florida car transportation service.
Which Option Is Best for Snowbirds?
Driveaway is a strong choice if you want:
-Door-to-door service
-Flexible scheduling
-Your vehicle delivered close to your arrival date
-Permitted belongings transported inside the vehicle
-The convenience of flying instead of driving south
Open or enclosed transport may be better if avoiding mileage is your main priority.
For many Ontario snowbirds with an everyday vehicle, professional driveaway service offers a simple balance of convenience, flexibility and personalized service.
Ontario to Florida Vehicle Relocation
DriveSouth.ca provides professional snowbird vehicle relocation between Ontario and popular Florida destinations including Toronto to Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Boca Raton, West Palm Beach, Naples, Fort Myers, Sarasota, Venice, Tampa, Clearwater and Orlando-area communities.