Why seasonal residents ship
The drive between a summer home and a winter one is usually two or three days each way, with hotels, fuel, and whatever the weather decides to do. Shipping the car and flying takes a morning. You arrive rested, and the car arrives without the extra miles.
The snowbird calendar
Seasonal traffic moves in two waves, and both are predictable.
- Southbound. October through December, peaking around Thanksgiving. Trucks to Florida, Texas, and Arizona are full, and prices on those lanes rise.
- Northbound. March through May, peaking in April. The same trucks run the other way.
If you can travel a little before or after the peak, you will have more choice of dates and usually a better price. Either way, book about three weeks ahead and offer a pickup window of several days.
Seasonal residents in Arkansas
Arkansas sends cars in both directions. Residents of Hot Springs Village, Bella Vista, and the lake communities head to the Gulf Coast, the Rio Grande Valley, and Arizona for the winter. Others come the opposite way and spend the warm months on Beaver Lake or in the Ozarks. Our Hot Springs, Benton, Bentonville, and Rogers pages have local detail.
Gated and age-restricted communities
Many winter communities limit commercial trucks. Some require a gate pass, some set delivery hours, and some keep large vehicles out altogether. Check your community’s rules before the truck is on its way. The usual answer is a handoff at the gatehouse, the clubhouse lot, or a shopping center just outside.
When you are not there yet
Flights and trucks rarely land on the same day. If the car will arrive before you do, a neighbor, a relative, or the community’s property manager can receive it. If it leaves after you do, the same person can release it. They need the key, your booking details, and our phone number.
What a seasonal trip costs
The price follows the same rules as any shipment: distance, vehicle size, open or enclosed, and timing. What is different is that everyone on your route wants the same weeks. Shipping at the front or back edge of the season, and being flexible by a few days, makes more difference to a snowbird’s price than anything else. The quote form shows the figure for your dates.
A car that has been sitting
A vehicle left in a garage for six months may not start when the truck arrives. Have someone check the battery and tires a few days before pickup. If it will not start, tell us, and the carrier brings a winch.
Common questions
Can I book both directions at once?
You can book the first leg now and the return when your dates are firm. Plans change over a season, and a booking made a few weeks ahead is early enough.
Can I pack the trunk with things for the season?
Plan on an empty car. Carriers are licensed to move vehicles, and belongings inside are generally not covered.
Is open transport fine for a snowbird trip?
For most cars, yes. Choose enclosed if the vehicle is a classic or a convertible you would not leave out in the weather.
How long does the trip take?
A typical run of 1,000 to 1,500 miles takes four to six days on the truck, plus a few days to arrange pickup.