Dealer Car Transport Between the Carolinas and Florida

To ship a dealer unit between the Carolinas and Florida, send the full addresses at both ends, a named contact and lot hours for each store, the VIN, whether the car runs, and any release it needs. Florida is one of the busiest lanes we run, and most of it comes north: cars bought or traded in Florida and headed to Carolinas lots.

Here is what that looks like in our own numbers. From January through October 2026, FCT delivered 221 cars between the Carolinas and Florida. 184 of them came north, from Florida to North or South Carolina. 37 went south. 192 were for dealerships, and 21 rode enclosed.

Why does so much dealer inventory come north from Florida?

Florida has a deep used car market, and Carolinas stores buy there all year: from other dealers, at auctions and through online sales. A store in Charlotte or Raleigh finds the right unit in Orlando or Tampa, and the car needs to be on its lot, not in a parking spot four states away.

What should a dealer send for a Florida pickup?

• The full pickup address. Plus the store's name and the lot or stock number if the car sits on a big lot or at an auction.
• A contact who will be there. A name and direct number at the Florida store, not just the main line. Ask who releases cars to carriers.
• Lot hours. When the gate opens, when the desk closes, and whether they release cars on Saturday.
• The release. For an auction or dealer purchase, the gate pass or release showing the car is paid for and cleared. If it's pending, book anyway and say so.
• The VIN and condition. Year, make, model, and whether it runs, drives and steers. Non-running units can be moved, but the carrier needs to know before dispatch.
• Keys. Where they are and who hands them over.

Our guide to auction gate passes and releases covers what a driver has to show to get a car off an auction lot.

Sending a car south to Florida

The southbound side is smaller for us, but it's steady: dealer trades with Florida stores, cars sold to Florida buyers, and units going back to a lessor or a fleet. The same order details apply. Add the receiving store's hours and who checks the car in, since the truck may be dropping several cars along the way.

Individuals use the same lane every fall to send a car to a winter home. If that's you, our open auto transport page covers single cars.

Open or enclosed on the Florida lane?

Most dealer units ride open, like the 200 of our Florida-lane cars this year that weren't enclosed. Enclosed is for classic, exotic and high-value cars, or a sold car going to a buyer who expects it clean on arrival. Our guide to open or enclosed for dealer inventory lays out when each makes sense.

How do you track a unit coming up from Florida?

The driver and truck are confirmed before pickup, and so are the pickup window and the expected delivery window. If something changes on the road, you hear it from us first. In the client portal at fctorders.com, you log in with your email and a 6-digit code to see every order, the driver's live location while the driver is active, and the delivery BOL once the car is dropped.

When it arrives, have someone look it over against the bill of lading before signing. Our checklist for checking in a car delivered by a carrier walks the porter through it.

Booking a Florida move with FCT

FCT has moved cars out of the Charlotte area since 2012 and ships anywhere in the continental U.S. For the Florida lane we handle dealer trades, auction pickups and store-to-store moves, several units on one order, with one point of contact from quote to drop-off. See the Florida vehicle shipping page and the Charlotte to Orlando route for more.

The dealer desk is open Monday to Saturday, 9 AM to 6 PM Eastern, at (980) 552-1101. Send orders any time through the quote form.

Frequently asked questions

How many cars does FCT move between the Carolinas and Florida?

From January through October 2026, FCT delivered 221 cars between North or South Carolina and Florida. 184 came north from Florida, 37 went south, and 192 were for dealerships.

What should a dealer send for a Florida pickup?

The full pickup address, a named contact and lot hours at the Florida store, the release for auction or dealer purchases, the VIN with year, make and model, whether the car runs, and where the keys are.

Can I book a Florida pickup before the release clears?

Yes. Book the move and tell us the release is pending. A carrier on the lane can be lined up, and the car is scheduled once the release comes through.

Can FCT move several Florida units on one order?

Yes. Send every unit's pickup, drop-off and VIN together and one person handles the whole order. Call the dealer desk at (980) 552-1101.

Do you ship enclosed between the Carolinas and Florida?

Yes. Most dealer units ride on open trailers. Classic, exotic and high-value cars can go enclosed.

Need a car moved?

FCT gives dealers one point of contact from quote to drop-off. Request a quote or call (980) 552-1101, and a real person gets back to you.