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How Much to Ship a Car from California to Texas

California to Texas is one of the busiest car shipping routes in the country. See what it costs from Los Angeles, the Bay Area, San Diego and Sacramento to Dallas, Houston, Austin and San Antonio, how long it takes, and how to book safely.

Reviewed by Transportvibe Editorial Team

How much does it cost to ship a car from California to Texas?

Shipping a standard sedan from California to Texas costs about $900–$1,400 on an open carrier. Los Angeles to Dallas runs about $950–$1,200 and takes 3–5 days after pickup. Enclosed transport costs $1,300–$2,250.

  • Transit time: 3–5 days from Southern California, 4–7 days from Northern California.
  • Cheapest months: January and February. Summer is peak moving season.
  • Main corridors: I-10 and I-20 (year-round), I-40 to North Texas.
Average cost, sedan, open
$900–$1,400estimate, depends on cities
Transit time
3–7 daysAfter pickup
Distance
1,350–1,960 miBetween major metros
Enclosed transport adds
40–60%Over open-carrier price
Price by city

California to Texas car shipping prices

Open-carrier prices for a standard sedan between the four biggest metro areas on each side. Darker cells cost more. Tap a city pair to start a quote for that route.

Estimated rates based on distance, carrier demand and season.
From ↓ / To →Dallas–Fort WorthTexasHoustonTexasAustinTexasSan AntonioTexas
Los Angeles$950–$1,2001,480 mi · 3–5 days$1,000–$1,2751,640 mi · 3–6 days$950–$1,2001,470 mi · 3–5 days$925–$1,2001,440 mi · 3–5 days
Bay Area$1,050–$1,3251,770 mi · 4–7 days$1,100–$1,4001,960 mi · 4–7 days$1,050–$1,3501,790 mi · 4–7 days$1,050–$1,3251,780 mi · 4–7 days
San Diego$925–$1,1751,420 mi · 3–5 days$975–$1,2501,560 mi · 3–6 days$925–$1,1751,390 mi · 3–5 days$900–$1,1501,350 mi · 3–5 days
Sacramento$1,025–$1,3251,730 mi · 4–7 days$1,100–$1,4001,930 mi · 4–7 days$1,050–$1,3251,760 mi · 4–7 days$1,050–$1,3251,750 mi · 4–7 days
LowerHigher
Book with confidence

Three ways to move your car to Texas

Compare independent companies, let our own licensed team handle it, or check a quote you already have.

Full Service

Let Transportvibe handle it

Full Service is our own licensed brokerage. Our team books a vetted carrier for your California to Texas move and handles the details for you. Shown separately from TrustScore rankings.

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Compare independent companies

See FMCSA-checked brokers and carriers that serve California to Texas, ranked by TrustScore with verified reviews. Companies can't pay to change their score.

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Red Flag Checker

Check a company before you pay

Paste a USDOT or MC number to see FMCSA authority, insurance status, complaint history and warning signs, including quotes far below the $900–$1,400 market range.

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The drive your car takes

Two corridors carriers use

Most California to Texas loads take the southern interstates. Which one your car rides depends on where it's going and the time of year.

  1. Los AngelesMost Southern California loads start here or in the Inland Empire.Pickup · Pacific Time
  2. PhoenixBusy hub where many carriers add or drop cars.Desert heat Jun–Sep
  3. El PasoTexas begins. Note the switch to Mountain Time here.Mountain Time
  4. Midland or San AntonioLoads split: I-20 toward Dallas, I-10 toward San Antonio and Houston.Route splits
  5. Dallas, Austin or HoustonDelivery in Central Time.Delivery · Central Time

This is the year-round default. It avoids mountain snow, but crosses desert where summer temperatures can top 110°F, so make sure your battery and coolant are in good shape before a June–September shipment.

What to expect

Your shipment, day by day

A typical Los Angeles to Dallas shipment booked with flexible dates.

  1. Day 0

    Book and verify

    Compare quotes, check the company's USDOT or MC number, and confirm the price and deposit in writing.

  2. Day 1–5

    Carrier assigned

    The broker finds a truck heading east. Flexible dates make this faster and cheaper.

  3. Pickup day

    Inspection and loading

    You and the driver note any existing damage on the Bill of Lading, then the car is loaded.

  4. +3–5 days

    On the road

    About 1,500 miles through Arizona and New Mexico, often with stops for other cars.

  5. Delivery

    Inspect and sign

    Check the car against the pickup report before signing. Note new damage on the Bill of Lading.

Ship or drive?

Is it cheaper to drive or ship your car to Texas?

Driving Los Angeles to Dallas is about 1,450 miles and roughly 21 hours behind the wheel. Change the numbers to match your car and trip.

Defaults are example values, not current averages. Enter your own for an accurate comparison. Return flight not included.

Drive it

$716
Fuel
$181
Hotels
$240
Food
$150
Wear on your car
$145

Ship it

$950–$1,200
Open carrier, sedan
LA → Dallas
Miles added to your car
0
Your days on the road
0
You travel by
Flight (extra)

With your numbers, driving costs less than shipping, but adds about 3 days on the road and 1,450 miles to your car.

Both ends of the trip

Leaving California, arriving in Texas

Before pickup in California

Things that catch California shippers out.

  • Remove your FasTrak transponder. It can register tolls as the truck passes toll points, and it won't work on Texas toll roads.
  • Plan around city access. Large carriers can't reach many streets in Los Angeles, San Francisco or San Diego. Agree on a nearby lot in advance.
  • Check the battery and coolant. The southern corridor crosses hot desert. A weak battery is the most common reason a car won't start at delivery.
  • Leave about a quarter tank and remove personal items and loose accessories.

After delivery in Texas

For new Texas residents. Confirm current rules with TxDMV and DPS.

  • Register within 30 days at your county tax assessor-collector office.
  • Get Texas insurance of at least $30,000 per person, $60,000 per accident and $25,000 property damage.
  • No California smog check needed. Texas no longer requires annual safety inspections for most passenger cars; emissions testing still applies in several metro counties, including Dallas–Fort Worth, Houston and Austin.
  • Set up a TxTag, EZ TAG or TollTag if you'll use toll roads around Dallas, Houston or Austin.
Timing

Best time to ship a car from California to Texas

This is one of the busiest moving routes in the country, so demand follows the moving calendar.

Dec–Feb

Winter

Lower demand

Lowest prices of the year

January and February are usually the cheapest months. Use the southern corridor to avoid snow on I-40.

Mar–May

Spring

Moderate

Prices start climbing

Prices start rising in April as relocation season begins. Book two to three weeks ahead.

Jun–Aug

Summer

Peak

Highest prices, longest waits

June to August is peak moving season, with desert heat on the southern corridor. Hurricane season can affect Houston deliveries.

Sep–Nov

Fall

Moderate

Prices settle

Demand eases after Labor Day. A good balance of price and reliable weather on both corridors.

Ready to ship your car from California to Texas?

Let our Full Service team book a vetted carrier for you, or check any company with the Red Flag Checker before you pay a deposit.

Questions

California to Texas car shipping FAQ

How much does it cost to ship a car from California to Texas?

Shipping a standard sedan from California to Texas costs about $900–$1,400 on an open carrier. Los Angeles to Dallas runs about $950–$1,200, while Bay Area to Houston, the longest common pairing, runs about $1,100–$1,400. Enclosed transport costs $1,300–$2,250.

How long does it take to ship a car from California to Texas?

Most cars arrive 3–5 days after pickup from Southern California and 4–7 days from Northern California. Add 1–5 days for the carrier to schedule pickup, depending on how flexible your dates are.

Is it cheaper to drive or ship a car from California to Texas?

Driving is often cheaper in direct costs: fuel, two hotel nights, food and wear for Los Angeles to Dallas can come in under the $950–$1,200 shipping price. Shipping makes sense when you value the 3 days of driving you save, want to avoid about 1,450 miles of wear, or are moving more than one car. Use the calculator on this page with your own numbers, and remember to add a flight if you ship.

What is the cheapest way to ship a car from California to Texas?

Book an open carrier two to three weeks ahead, keep your pickup window flexible, and meet the driver near I-5, I-10 or I-15 instead of on a narrow city street. Avoid peak summer weeks if you can.

Can I put my car on a train from California to Texas?

No. Amtrak's Auto Train, the only US passenger train that carries cars, runs only between Lorton, Virginia, and Sanford, Florida. Between California and Texas, your options are a car carrier or driving.

Is it cheaper to ship a car from Texas to California?

It can be. Many more cars move from California to Texas than the other way, so carriers heading back west sometimes discount to fill space. Compare prices on our Texas to California page.

Do I need to register my car in Texas after moving from California?

Yes. New Texas residents must register their vehicle within 30 days through their county tax assessor-collector office. Texas no longer requires annual safety inspections for most passenger vehicles, but emissions testing still applies in several metro counties, including the Dallas–Fort Worth, Houston and Austin areas.

Can I pack personal items in my car?

Some carriers allow a small amount of personal items in the trunk, but many don't, and carrier cargo insurance usually doesn't cover them. Ship valuables and documents separately.

Related routes and guides

How we estimate prices. Prices, distances and transit times on this page are estimates for a standard sedan, based on route distance, typical carrier per-mile rates, seasonal demand and the extra cost of enclosed transport. Quotes from individual companies can be higher or lower. Texas registration details come from the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles; Auto Train details from Amtrak.