How carriers move through New York.
The New York State Thruway carries I-87 from New York City to Albany and I-90 west through Syracuse, Rochester and Buffalo. I-87 continues north to Plattsburgh as the Northway, and I-81 runs from Binghamton through Syracuse to Watertown. I-86 and NY-17 cross the Southern Tier, and I-84 crosses the Hudson Valley. Commercial vehicles are barred from most parkways in the city and on Long Island.
Seasons and weather
Buffalo, Syracuse and the Tug Hill area get heavy lake-effect snow, and nor'easters hit the city and Long Island. Fall is the busiest time of year for snowbird shipments to Florida.
Why people ship cars in New York
New York is one of the country's largest snowbird markets, and much of that traffic heads to Florida. The Port of New York and New Jersey handles international vehicle traffic, Fort Drum near Watertown brings military moves, and universities from NYU and Columbia to Cornell, Syracuse and the SUNY campuses bring students.
In Manhattan and much of Brooklyn and Queens, the handoff often happens at a larger lot or an outer-borough location a full-size carrier can reach.
Parkways are closed to commercial vehicles, so carriers route around them. That can add time on Long Island and in Westchester.
New York city and town guides.
Each page covers that place's roads, routes, local pickup details and FAQs. Grouped by Census metro area.
New York–Newark–Jersey City metro
Buffalo–Cheektowaga metro
Albany–Schenectady–Troy metro
Kiryas Joel–Poughkeepsie–Newburgh metro
Binghamton metro
Ithaca metro
Elmira metro
Watertown–Fort Drum metro
Military communities
College towns
Port cities
Shipping across the New York line.
Interstate moves to neighboring states are some of the most common shipments. See corridor and seasonal details for each.
New York car shipping questions.
Can a car carrier pick up in Manhattan?
Sometimes, on a wide avenue at a quiet hour, but many Manhattan pickups happen at a nearby lot or in New Jersey or the outer boroughs. We'll confirm the meeting point before pickup.
When is the busiest time to ship a car from New York to Florida?
Southbound demand peaks from October through December, and northbound returns are busiest in April and May.
Does lake-effect snow affect upstate shipping?
Yes. Lake-effect storms can close sections of I-90 and I-81 for short periods, so allow a flexible window from December through February.
Which New York cities do you have shipping guides for?
We have 48 city and town pages for New York, including New York, Buffalo, Yonkers, Rochester, Syracuse, and Albany. We also ship to and from addresses anywhere else in the state.
How do I register a car after shipping it to New York?
Registration is handled by the New York State DMV. Requirements and deadlines change, so check the official site before you arrive. Keep your title, proof of insurance and the carrier's bill of lading handy.
Shipping a car in New York?
Share the route and we’ll come back with a quote and a recommended transport type.