Delaware car shipping benefits from location. The state is small, but Interstate 95 runs right through Wilmington and Newark on its way between Philadelphia and Baltimore, putting northern Delaware on one of the busiest auto transport lanes in the country. Wilmington, the largest city, sees carriers nearly every day. If you want to ship a car to Delaware or move one out, there is usually a truck passing within a few miles. Downstate, Dover and Sussex County are reached via Delaware Route 1 and US-13.
Sussex County has become a magnet for retirees. Lewes, Rehoboth Beach, Millsboro and the communities around Bethany Beach and Fenwick Island attract new residents from Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland and New York, and many of them also spend winters in Florida. That creates steady snowbird traffic heading south each fall and back each spring. Sahara Auto Transport handles plenty of these moves, and because we are based in South Florida, we know the receiving end of the lane well.
Dover adds military and government demand. Dover Air Force Base is a major airlift hub, and state government workers relocate to the capital regularly. Students at the University of Delaware in Newark and Delaware State University in Dover bring move-in and move-out peaks. Most Delaware addresses are easy for car carriers, though beach-town side streets and gated 55-plus communities sometimes need an alternate meeting point. At Sahara we sort out those details before dispatch so pickup goes smoothly.
Pickup and delivery
Where we ship in Delaware
Wilmington
The largest city sits on I-95 and I-495, with banking and corporate relocations and a historic downtown where curbside loading can be tight.
Newark
The University of Delaware's college town on I-95, with move-in demand each late August and an easy stop for passing carriers.
Dover
The capital and home of Dover Air Force Base, reached via Route 1 and US-13, with plenty of room to load.
Middletown
One of the state's fastest-growing towns, with newer subdivisions near Route 1 and US-301 that are carrier-friendly.
Rehoboth Beach and Lewes
Beach towns with narrow streets and heavy summer traffic, where we often arrange loading at a lot off Route 1.
Millsboro and Georgetown
Inland Sussex County communities with many 55-plus developments and quieter roads, good for early morning pickups.
Routes our carriers use
Main corridors in and out of Delaware
I-95
Crosses northern Delaware for about 23 miles, including the tolled Delaware Turnpike section near Newark that connects to Maryland.
Delaware Route 1
The main north to south highway from I-95 near Christiana to Dover and the beaches, with toll plazas near Biddles Corner and Dover.
US-13
Runs the length of the state through Dover, Seaford and Delmar, a toll-free alternative to Route 1.
US-113
Carries traffic through Milford, Georgetown and Millsboro toward Selbyville and Maryland's Eastern Shore.
Delaware Memorial Bridge (I-295)
Links Delaware with the New Jersey Turnpike across the Delaware River, the path for most loads to and from New York.
Ports and logistics hubs
- Port of Wilmington on the Delaware River
- Port of Baltimore, one of the busiest US ports for roll-on/roll-off vehicles
- Port of Philadelphia
Transit times
How long shipping from Delaware takes
Boston, MA
320 to 350 miles · 1 to 3 days
Est. $550 to $700
Chicago, IL
740 to 780 miles · 2 to 4 days
Est. $800 to $1,000
Orlando, FL
880 to 940 miles · 2 to 4 days
Est. $850 to $1,100
South Florida
1,110 to 1,170 miles · 3 to 5 days
Est. $950 to $1,200
Los Angeles, CA
2,680 to 2,740 miles · 7 to 10 days
Est. $1,425 to $1,825
Transit starts once your vehicle is loaded. Prices are November 2026 estimates for a running sedan on an open carrier, not quotes. Ocean shipments to Alaska and Hawaii are priced individually.
Beach traffic, coastal storms and snowbird season
Summer is beach season, and Route 1 between Lewes and Fenwick Island backs up on Friday and Sunday afternoons from Memorial Day through Labor Day. We schedule Sussex County pickups and deliveries for weekdays or early mornings when possible. Summer is also the busiest stretch for family relocations through Wilmington and Newark.
Coastal storms matter more than snow. Nor'easters in fall and winter can flood low roads around Lewes, Rehoboth and the inland bays, and Atlantic hurricane season runs June 1 to November 30, though direct hits are uncommon. Northern Delaware gets moderate snow most winters. The snowbird calendar drives pricing as well: southbound demand to Florida climbs from October to December, and the return north peaks in April and May.
Local know-how
Tips for shipping a car in Delaware
- Delaware gives new residents about 60 days to title and register; check the Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles for inspection and title requirements.
- Delaware's tolls use E-ZPass, so take your transponder out before pickup and the carrier's trip through toll plazas will not land on your account.
- For beach deliveries in summer, ask for a weekday window, because weekend Route 1 traffic can add hours.
- Many 55-plus communities in Sussex County limit large trucks; check with your HOA and tell us where a carrier can safely load.
- Shipping to Florida for the winter? Book by early October to get ahead of the November rush down I-95.