Car/Vehicle Shipping Cost from Miami, Florida to Panama City

Typical ranges (2025): Recent consolidated container shipping from Port Everglades (Ft. Lauderdale) or Miami to Panama's ports (Cristobal) have run from $2,750 to $4,475 per vehicle. Pricing depends on container type, whether your car is shipped solo or consolidated, vehicle size, and seasonal demand.

Driving is usually cheaper for shorter distances, but for long cross-country moves, the cost difference shrinks, and shipping often becomes more cost-effective when factoring in gas, food, lodging, wear-and-tear, and time, making it worth paying a carrier to avoid the hassle and expense of a long solo trip, though driving saves on carrier fees but adds travel time and costs.

It's often cheaper to ship a car by train, especially for long distances on specific routes like Amtrak's Auto Train (DC to Florida), offering enclosed protection for potentially less than an open truck carrier; however, for general cross-country moves not on Amtrak routes, truck (open carrier) is usually the most economical, though trains offer better protection and environmental benefits if available.