Snowbird Car Shipping & Auto Transport
Heading south for the winter sounds pretty good. Spending two days driving there every fall and doing it all over again in the spring? Slightly less appealing.
Heights Transport Solutions coordinates snowbird car shipping for seasonal moves, helping owners get their own vehicle between homes without adding a long road trip, extra mileage or another rental car to the equation.
Plan Ahead for Snowbird Season
Most seasonal moves happen between October and December heading south and again from March through May on the return trip.
Those are busy months for auto transport, so advance notice matters. When possible, Heights recommends planning about a month ahead, especially if your travel dates are already tied to airline tickets or the end of a rental.
Flexible Dates Make Everything Easier
Carriers are not necessarily sitting around every neighborhood waiting for someone to head to Florida. Many run specific routes on specific weeks, and availability can tighten quickly during peak snowbird season.
A little flexibility with pickup and delivery dates can improve carrier availability and may help with auto shipping costs.
It also helps to have a backup person who can release or receive the vehicle if your travel schedule and the carrier's schedule do not line up perfectly.
Open or Enclosed Seasonal Transport
Both open auto transport and enclosed transport can work for seasonal moves.
Many snowbird customers prefer enclosed transport, particularly when they are moving a newer, luxury or especially well-kept vehicle. Enclosed carriers are less common, though, which makes early scheduling even more useful.
For repeat customers, Heights may also try to work with familiar carriers when possible so the driver already knows the vehicle, the locations and the general routine.
Coordinating Around Your Flight
Snowbird transport often involves tighter timing than a typical vehicle shipment because customers are flying between homes and want the car reasonably close to their arrival or departure date.
We will work around those dates as closely as possible, but pickup and delivery times are estimates. Weather, traffic, other stops and carrier schedules can all affect timing.
Our guide to how long auto shipping takes explains the factors that can move those dates around.
Bringing Belongings Along
Many snowbirds place a suitcase or other belongings inside the vehicle during the move. If you plan to do that, tell Heights beforehand.
Valuables should generally stay with you. Larger amounts of personal property may add weight, and those items are not automatically covered the same way the vehicle itself is. If extra coverage is needed for belongings inside the car, that should be arranged before transport.
In other words, the golf clubs may be coming south too, but they should not sneak aboard without anyone knowing.
Insurance and Vehicle Condition
Carriers transporting vehicles for Heights are required to maintain cargo insurance while the vehicle is in transit.
The vehicle is inspected at pickup and again at delivery, with photos used to document its condition. More information is available on our insurance and compliance page.
Seasonal Transport Across the Country
Heights coordinates nationwide vehicle transport for seasonal residents traveling between homes throughout the country.
Once the routine is established, the goal is pretty simple: you handle the flight, we help handle the car, and nobody has to spend two days staring at interstate exit signs.
Frequently Asked Questions
When possible, plan about a month ahead. Snowbird season creates heavy demand in the fall and spring, and advance notice gives Heights more time to find a carrier that fits your route and travel schedule.
We can plan around your travel dates, but pickup and delivery times are estimates. Weather, traffic and carrier schedules can cause delays, so having some flexibility or a backup person who can release or receive the vehicle is helpful.
Possibly, but let Heights know ahead of time. Avoid packing valuables, and be aware that personal belongings may not be covered by the carrier's standard cargo insurance. Larger amounts of belongings can also add weight to the shipment.
It depends on the vehicle and your preferences. Many snowbird customers choose enclosed transport for newer, luxury or especially well-kept vehicles, while open transport is typically more widely available and less expensive.
Thousands of seasonal vehicles are moving in the same direction during fall and spring. Higher demand, tighter pickup windows and limited carrier availability can all increase rates during peak snowbird season.
Sometimes. Heights may try to work with familiar carriers for repeat seasonal customers when routes and schedules line up. Using the same driver can be convenient because they may already know the vehicle and both pickup locations.