Florida is one of the longest states in the U.S. To drive from Pensacola, in the Florida Panhandle, to Miami, in the Southern part of the state, takes you on a 533 mile, 2 day journey through woods, swamps, and cities.

And few people moving to Florida, either on a permanent or seasonal basis, ever use the words "Florida" and "public transit" in the same sentence. Simply put, you absolutely need a car in Florida. And which better car to have than your own?

By moving your own car into Florida, you have the benefit of driving a car you are familiar with, plus you don't have to worry about high car rental costs or the well-publicized dangers of driving a rental car in the Sunshine State.

Amtrak Auto Train

Snowbirds have for over three decades enjoyed the convenience of Amtrak's Auto Train. Departing from Lorton, VA to Sanford, FL on a daily basis, Auto Train allows drivers to load up their cars onto enclosed carriers and then board the train and "let Amtrak do the driving." On the train, passengers can enjoy hot meal services three times a day, entertainment, and even sleeper accommodations.

Truck-Based Auto Relocation to Florida

Yet Auto Train is expensive, inflexible, and little more than a novelty for East Coasters wishing to spend the winter in warmer climes. If cost and efficiency are the main issues, then drivers are advised to seek out a reputable auto shipping broker to move their vehicle by truck. Drivers can then fly to any one of Florida's modern airports, allowing them to enjoy tropical temperatures within hours instead of days.

Transporting Your Vehicle via Water

Florida borders three major bodies of water: the Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean, and the Atlantic Ocean. As a result, shipping your vehicle into Florida via ship-based transportation is an excellent option. Not only that, but Florida boasts 14 deepwater ports that annually bring in billions of dollars worth of goods and passenger traffic.

Once your vehicle arrives at a Florida port (most likely Tampa, Canaveral, or Miami), you will need to make sure that the auto shipper can take care of transporting your car to your residence by car carrier. Otherwise, you will be responsible for picking up the vehicle directly at the seaport terminal, which can often by difficult to locate and negotiate.

Establishing Florida Residency?

It is important to distinguish between Florida snowbirds (temporary residents) and those who move to Florida on a permanent basis as part of a new job or other major life change. The State of Florida is very understanding about its snowbird population, and thus they require that out-of-state vehicles be registered only if the owner becomes employed, places children in public school, or otherwise takes actions to establish residency. The bad news is that Florida imposes a very tight schedule for registering the vehicle: ten days after entering the state.

For new Florida residents, it is necessary to obtain auto insurance, and take that proof of insurance to the local Florida county tax collector's office in order to transfer title. Registration is concurrent with shifting vehicle title.