Seattle to Tampa Car Shipping Cost | 253-200-5645
Seattle to Tampa Car Shipping
Open transport, door to door, about 3,170 miles. Prices below come from our own recent shipments.
What you enter here is used by Smart Auto Move to give you a quote and talk with you directly. We do not sell it to third parties for marketing.
Seattle to Tampa car shipping typically cost between $1,850 to $2,000 for a mid-size car on an open trailer, with most cars arriving in 8 to 9 days. as of September 2026, .
Your car leaves a city that once washed whole hills into Elliott Bay to flatten itself out, and lands in one where wild roosters wander the brick streets of Ybor City as protected residents. Tampa is one of the better-value Florida cities to reach from Washington, and the reason is worth a minute of your time.
How much does it cost to ship a car from Seattle to Tampa?
Plan on $1,850 to $2,000 for a mid-size car on an open trailer, Seattle to Tampa, as of September 2026. Pickup trucks, large SUVs and vans run higher because they take more room on the trailer. Enclosed is a separate tier. These are estimates based on our most recent trips and current fuel rates.
Sedans and small SUVs on an open trailer. The most common booking on this route.
Full-size pickups, three-row SUVs and vans. Height and length decide the add.
Enclosed. A $1,925 open move is roughly $3,450 enclosed. Right for a classic, an exotic, or a car too low for a ramp.
The same band covers the rest of Tampa Bay, since the whole metro sits inside about 30 miles.
- St. Petersburg
- Clearwater
- Brandon
- Riverview
- Wesley Chapel
- Lutz
- Palm Harbor
- Apollo Beach
Your live price comes from the calculator above or from a quick phone call to our Washington office (253) 200-5645 or the Florida office (407) 377-6073 . We are glad to take the call.
What do other Washington to Florida routes cost?
All figures below are open transport, mid-size car, as of September 2026.
| Route | Distance | Price | Transit | Network |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle to Jacksonville | 2,992 mi | $1,825 to $1,975 | 8 days | Carrier network |
| Kent to Daytona Beach | 3,075 mi | $1,825 to $1,975 | 8 to 9 days | Carrier network |
| Lakewood to Kissimmee | 3,100 mi | $1,850 to $2,000 | 8 days | Office to office |
| Seattle to Tampa | 3,170 mi | $1,850 to $2,000 | 8 to 9 days | Carrier network |
| Tacoma to Orlando | 3,150 mi | $1,875 to $2,025 | 8 days | Carrier network |
| Olympia to Fort Lauderdale | 3,250 mi | $2,025 to $2,175 | 9 to 10 days | Carrier network |
| JBLM to Miami | 3,330 mi | $2,125 to $2,275 | 9 to 10 days | Carrier network |
Tampa prices close to Orlando and well under South Florida, even though it is further from Washington than Jacksonville. Tampa Bay is one of the busiest freight markets in the state, so a driver who drops your car there has plenty waiting to pick up. Delivery towns with little going back out cost more, whatever the mileage says.
How long does it take to ship a car from Seattle to Tampa?
Most cars take 8 to 9 days on the road, Seattle to Tampa. That is driving time once your car is loaded. Before that comes the pickup window: 6 days on standard service, 3 days on expedited, counted from the first date you tell us you are ready.
Trucks head east on I-90 or I-84, cut south through the middle of the country, and come down I-75 through Georgia into Tampa Bay. Drivers cover 400 to 550 miles a day and stop for other pickups and deliveries on the way. Nine days on a run this long is normal, not a delay.
Give us the widest date window you can. A flexible window lets your car catch a truck already heading south with one spot left, and on a route this long that is the easiest money you will save.
What affects the price on this route?
Six things move the number, in roughly this order.
Tampa Bay sends out nearly as much freight as it takes in, so drivers are not stuck empty after they drop. That keeps this route friendly.
A trailer holds ten cars or six trucks. Bigger vehicle, bigger share of the load.
Flexible dates catch the cheap last spot. Tight dates buy priority instead.
October through February is the busy southbound stretch. Book earlier in those months.
Open or enclosed. Open is the right call for a daily driver.
A car that does not roll, steer and brake needs a winch, which changes the price. Tell us up front.
Is my car insured from Seattle to Tampa?
Your car never sits anywhere
It goes from your address straight onto the carrier and stays covered under Carrier Cargo Insurance for the entire trip.
No terminal, no storage lot, no gap in coverage across 3,170 miles. Once a carrier is assigned we can send you their certificate of insurance on request, right away.
You and the driver walk around the car together at pickup and note its condition on the Bill of Lading. You do the same in Tampa. Those two documents are what the coverage rests on, so take your time with them and take your own photos at both ends.
Is door to door really door to door in Seattle and Tampa?
Yes. The driver comes to your address at both ends whenever the truck fits. A car hauler runs about 75 feet and needs room to stop, load and pull out. Where a street will not take one, we agree on a wide spot close by, usually a shopping center or school lot a few blocks away.
In Seattle
The hills do most of the deciding. Queen Anne, Capitol Hill and the steep blocks above Ballard are the ones we plan around, along with the narrow one-way streets in Fremont. Lots along Aurora Avenue, SODO and the north end of Lake City Way take a full trailer with room to spare.
In Tampa
Tree cover is the thing to plan for here rather than hills. Hyde Park, Seminole Heights and the brick streets around Davis Islands have low oak limbs that a loaded top deck will not clear, so we often meet a block or two away on a wider road. Gated communities in Westchase, New Tampa and FishHawk usually need a call to the gate ahead of time. Brandon, Riverview and most of Pasco County are straight door to door.
Your driver calls ahead on both ends and works the details out with you.
PCS moves from Washington to MacDill
MacDill Air Force Base sits on the peninsula south of downtown Tampa and is home to two combatant commands, so orders bring people there from all over. Washington sends them from Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Naval Station Everett, NAS Whidbey Island and Naval Base Kitsap.
- MacDill AFB
- US Central Command
- US Special Operations Command
- Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg
Book as soon as you have a report date, since summer fills up on both coasts. Give us the widest pickup window your orders allow. If you are flying ahead of your household goods, a spouse or friend can release the car for you as long as they can meet the driver and sign the Bill of Lading. Deliveries usually happen just outside the gate rather than on base, which is faster for everyone.
Shipping a car south for the winter
Tampa Bay draws a lot of seasonal residents, and a good share of this route follows that calendar. Cars head south from October and back north from March.
- Book 3 to 4 weeks out in peak season
- Ask about a return booking
- Keep your insurance active in transit
- Battery tender for the off months
The earlier you set your date in those months, the more choice you have. Tell us when you plan to come back and we can plan the return at the same time. Keep your own policy in force while the car travels, since Carrier Cargo Insurance covers it during transport and your policy picks up again the moment you drive it.
Can I leave personal items in the car?
Usually yes, within reason. Most drivers will take a few things as a courtesy. Keep it under about 100 pounds, pack it neatly, and keep it out of sight from outside the car. Think a few boxes in the trunk rather than a carload. The one thing to know is that you are paying to move the vehicle, so the carrier's insurance covers the car itself. Keep anything you would hate to lose with you.
How do I prepare my car for the trip?
Half an hour of prep is all it takes, and it makes the pickup inspection quick.
Wash it
A clean car makes existing scratches easy to see and photograph at pickup.
Quarter tank
An industry standard request. Enough to drive on and off, light enough to save weight.
Strip the outside
Remove bike racks, roof boxes, loose trim and toll tags. Fold the mirrors in.
Check the basics
Top off fluids, check tire pressure, and tell us about any leak or alarm quirk.
Leave one key with the driver and keep your spare. Take photos of all four corners, the roof and the odometer the morning of pickup.
How far ahead should I book, and how does payment work?
Book two to three weeks ahead on this route and you will have good choice of dates. Payment is a deposit when you book and the balance at delivery, usually by cashier's check, money order or cash. You can also put the full amount on a credit card at the time of booking.
Paying the whole thing by card at booking is popular for a reason. It clears the funds up front so they are ready for the carrier, and it lets you spread the cost over your card's installments rather than handing over money on delivery day in a new city.
The deposit also means we are working with committed customers, which is what lets us hold a price and get a truck assigned.
Cancellation
Cancel any time before we assign a carrier and your deposit comes back to you. Once we assign one and send you the driver's details, that money is spoken for. It is not gone, though. You can push the move back and use it on a later shipment.
How do I know a car shipping company is legitimate?
Check the USDOT number first. Ours is 2887232 and you can look it up on the federal SAFER database in under a minute. Then read reviews across more than one site and check a BBB record. Smart Auto Move has been in business over ten years and holds an A+ rating with the BBB.
The number one red flag is a quote far below the rest. If four companies quote you $1,850 to $2,000 for Seattle to Tampa and a fifth says $1,150, ask that company directly whether the rate is confirmed. If they say yes, go read complaints about that company specifically and look for the words bait and switch.
Here is the part most people have backwards. Many think a good company never asks for money up front. The opposite is closer to the truth. A company that takes nothing up front often is not confident it can get a carrier at the price it quoted. Those are frequently the same ones that call back two weeks later saying the rate has gone up.
More than 120 Google reviews across our offices, averaging 4.7. Our Washington office is in Lakewood, south of Seattle, and the dispatchers who schedule your carrier and call you with updates work there in your time zone. Our Florida office sits near Orlando, about 80 miles east of Tampa. Visits at either one are by appointment.
How shipping your car works, start to finish
Get your price
Use the calculator or call. You get a real number, not a teaser.
Book your dates
Deposit down, first available date set, and your window starts there.
We assign a carrier
You get the driver's name and number, and a certificate of insurance on request.
Pickup and delivery
Inspection at your address in Seattle, then again in Tampa. Balance due at delivery.
Between those points you can reach us by phone or email whenever you want an update. We do not call or text you to sell you anything. Tracking is GPS when the carrier and truck support it, plus the driver's phone number and email updates from us. Not every truck on the road carries a working tracking system, so we tell you plainly what you will have.
What our customers say
Crystal Evans was very helpful.
Seattle to Tampa car shipping FAQ
How much does it cost to ship a car from Seattle to Tampa?
Plan on $1,850 to $2,000 for a mid-size car on an open trailer as of September 2026. Full-size pickups, three-row SUVs and vans run $150 to $300 above that. These figures come from our own recent shipments on this route and are estimates, since fuel prices move them.
How long does the trip take?
Eight to nine days on the road once your car is loaded, covering about 3,170 miles. Before that comes your pickup window, which is 6 days on standard service and 3 days on expedited, counted from the first date you say you are ready.
Why is Tampa cheaper than Miami if it is a similar distance?
Because of what happens after the drop. Tampa Bay is one of the busiest freight markets in Florida, so a driver who delivers there has plenty of loads waiting to pick up. Miami sits at the end of the peninsula and sends out far less than it takes in, so that driver works harder to fill a load going home.
Do you deliver to St. Petersburg, Clearwater and Brandon?
Yes, and at the same price band as Tampa itself. The whole metro sits inside about 30 miles, so St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Brandon, Riverview, Wesley Chapel, Lutz, Palm Harbor and Apollo Beach all quote in the same range on this route.
Should I choose open or enclosed transport?
Open is right for almost every daily driver and it is what the prices on this page cover. Enclosed runs about 80 percent more, so a $1,925 open move is roughly $3,450 enclosed. Choose it for a classic, an exotic, fresh paint, or a car too low to clear a ramp.
Is my car insured during transport?
Yes. Your car goes from your address straight onto the carrier and stays covered under Carrier Cargo Insurance for the entire trip. Once a carrier is assigned we can give you their certificate of insurance on request, right away.
Can I leave personal items in the car?
Usually yes, within reason. Most drivers will take a few things as a courtesy. Keep it under about 100 pounds, pack it neatly, and keep it out of sight from outside the car. Think a few boxes in the trunk rather than a carload. The one thing to know is that you are paying to move the vehicle, so the carrier's insurance covers the car itself. Keep anything you would hate to lose with you.
Can the truck reach my street in Hyde Park or Seminole Heights?
Often yes, though low oak limbs are the usual obstacle rather than street width. A loaded top deck needs clearance those old canopies do not always give, so we sometimes meet a block or two away on a wider road. Your driver calls ahead and picks the spot with you.
How do I prepare my car for shipping?
Wash it so existing marks show, leave about a quarter tank of fuel, and remove roof boxes, bike racks and toll tags. Fold the mirrors in, check tire pressure and fluids, and take photos of all four corners and the odometer the morning of pickup. Hand the driver one key and keep your spare.
How far ahead should I book, and how does payment work?
Two to three weeks ahead gives you good choice of dates on this route. You pay a deposit at booking and the balance at delivery, commonly by cashier's check, money order or cash. You can also put the full amount on a credit card, but only at the time of booking.
What is your cancellation policy?
Cancel any time before we assign a carrier and your deposit comes back to you. Once we assign one and send you the driver's details, that money is spoken for. It is not gone, though. You can push the move back and use it on a later shipment.
When is the best time to ship a car to Tampa?
Any month works, but October through February is the busy southbound stretch as seasonal residents head down. Book three to four weeks out in those months and you will have your pick of dates. March through May is the same story in reverse for the trip back north.
Do you ship cars to MacDill Air Force Base?
Yes, and it is a regular delivery for us. We usually meet just outside the gate rather than on base, which is quicker for everyone and avoids access paperwork for the driver. Book as soon as you have a report date, since summer PCS season fills up on both coasts.
How do I know Smart Auto Move is legitimate?
Look up USDOT 2887232 on the federal SAFER database and check our BBB record, where we hold an A+ rating. We have been in business over ten years and have more than 120 Google reviews across our offices, averaging 4.7. Watch for any quote far below the others, since that is the most common warning sign in car shipping.