California to Texas Car Shipping (2024 Cost Guide)
Fact Checked by: Quick answer: The average cost to ship a car 1,407 miles from California to Texas ranges from $1,028 to $1,546 and takes three–eight days depending on factors like the transport type and season. For a more detailed quote, use our car shipping cost calculator.
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Shipping a car the reverse route? We’ve got you covered with our Texas to California car shipping guide.
The best California to Texas car shipping companies
We’ve done the research and these are the best car shipping companies to help transport your vehicle from California to Texas:
- Best for accurate pricing: Sherpa Auto Transport
- Best cross-country shipper: Montway Auto Transport
- Best for discounts: AmeriFreight Car Transport
- Best for overall value: SGT Auto Transport
- Best for quick pickup: Easy Auto Ship
- Price Lock Promise
- Pay by credit card
- Free car wash at delivery
- No upfront deposit
- Door-to-door service
- No upfront payment
- GPS tracking
- Multiple insurance options
- Competitive pricing
- Door-to-door shipping
- Competitive pricing
- Last-minute car shipments
- Guaranteed & expedited shipments
- Gap insurance coverage
- Multiple discounts
- No hidden fees
- Free online quotes
- Door-to-door service in 48 states
- Exact pickup dates
- Ships to & from HI
- No upfront deposit
- Expedited shipping
- No hidden fees
- Ships motorcycles & RVs
- Discount for cash payments
Alternative ways to ship your car from California to Texas
- Drive it yourself. This is straightforward but not always an option, and it will put about 1,407 miles on your car going from California to Texas. If you’re not sure, here are the pros and cons of driving your car vs shipping it.
- Ship it with your movers. If you need to ship your car from California for a move to Texas, you may want to hire a moving company that can handle car shipping, as well. Many long-distance moving companies work with reputable car shippers to coordinate auto transport.
- Hire a driver. Hire someone to drive the car from California to Texas for you. It’s an option, but will probably be a very costly one and involve trusting a driver to safely get your car to its destination.
- Ship by train. If this is an option for you, it’s an affordable and secure way of shipping your vehicle. Shipping a car by train is actually the cheapest way to ship your car!
CA to TX auto transport costs and transit times
The tables below detail the costs and estimated transit times for shipping a car between popular cities in California and Texas. The average travel distance is about 1,407 miles, with shipping times typically ranging from three to eight days .
Cost to ship a car from Los Angeles, CA to Texas
| From California to Texas | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles, CA to Houston, TX | $1,150 – $1,692 | 1,547 miles | 3 – 9 days |
| Los Angeles, CA to San Antonio, TX | $1,056 – $1,610 | 1,351 miles | 3 – 8 days |
| Los Angeles, CA to Dallas, TX | $1,103 – $1,578 | 1,436 miles | 3 – 8 days |
| Los Angeles, CA to Austin, TX | $1,035 – $1,564 | 1,376 miles | 3 – 8 days |
| Los Angeles, CA to Fort Worth, TX | $1,082 – $1,674 | 1,404 miles | 3 – 8 days |
Cost to ship a car from San Diego, CA to Texas
| From California to Texas | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego, CA to Houston, TX | $1,049 – $1,626 | 1,470 miles | 3 – 8 days |
| San Diego, CA to San Antonio, TX | $1,004 – $1,537 | 1,274 miles | 3 – 8 days |
| San Diego, CA to Dallas, TX | $1,005 – $1,610 | 1,358 miles | 3 – 8 days |
| San Diego, CA to Austin, TX | $928 – $1,508 | 1,299 miles | 3 – 8 days |
| San Diego, CA to Fort Worth, TX | $1,025 – $1,472 | 1,327 miles | 3 – 8 days |
Cost to ship a car from San Jose, CA to Texas
| From California to Texas | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose, CA to Houston, TX | $1,213 – $1,912 | 1,885 miles | 3 – 11 days |
| San Jose, CA to San Antonio, TX | $1,137 – $1,722 | 1,690 miles | 3 – 9 days |
| San Jose, CA to Dallas, TX | $1,184 – $1,705 | 1,689 miles | 3 – 9 days |
| San Jose, CA to Austin, TX | $1,214 – $1,833 | 1,715 miles | 3 – 9 days |
| San Jose, CA to Fort Worth, TX | $1,137 – $1,654 | 1,662 miles | 3 – 9 days |
Cost to ship a car from San Francisco, CA to Texas
| From California to Texas | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco, CA to Houston, TX | $1,244 – $1,967 | 1,927 miles | 3 – 11 days |
| San Francisco, CA to San Antonio, TX | $1,202 – $1,850 | 1,732 miles | 3 – 9 days |
| San Francisco, CA to Dallas, TX | $1,165 – $1,779 | 1,732 miles | 3 – 9 days |
| San Francisco, CA to Austin, TX | $1,214 – $1,726 | 1,757 miles | 3 – 11 days |
| San Francisco, CA to Fort Worth, TX | $1,275 – $1,868 | 1,704 miles | 3 – 9 days |
Cost to ship a car from Fresno, CA to Texas
| From California to Texas | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fresno, CA to Houston, TX | $1,189 – $1,779 | 1,765 miles | 3 – 11 days |
| Fresno, CA to San Antonio, TX | $1,082 – $1,659 | 1,569 miles | 3 – 9 days |
| Fresno, CA to Dallas, TX | $1,082 – $1,545 | 1,558 miles | 3 – 9 days |
| Fresno, CA to Austin, TX | $1,082 – $1,594 | 1,594 miles | 3 – 9 days |
| Fresno, CA to Fort Worth, TX | $1,150 – $1,562 | 1,532 miles | 3 – 9 days |
Shipping an SUV or truck from California to Texas
Since vehicles like SUVs, trucks, and vans are larger and heavier, it’s a bit more expensive to ship them than a sedan. How much more?
If you’re shipping a larger vehicle from California to Texas you should expect to pay between $1,285 and $1,933.
Factors that affect car shipping costs from CA to TX
When transporting your vehicle from the Golden State to the Lone Star State, these factors will influence your final price:
- Type of transport: Options like open, enclosed, or top-loaded transport cater to different needs. Open carriers are cost-effective, while enclosed transport provides added protection for luxury or classic cars. If you’re not sure, check out our guide comparing open vs. enclosed car shipping.
- Vehicle size and type: The dimensions and weight of your vehicle directly affect shipping costs. The larger and heavier your vehicle, the more it will cost to ship your car to Texas.
- Distance and route: The journey from California to Texas spans approximately 1,407 miles, influencing fuel and labor costs. The longer the distance, the bigger the price tag.
- Time of the year: Seasonal demand impacts the price of getting your car out of California, with summer and winter holidays often seeing a spike due to increased moving and travel activity.
- Fuel prices: Fluctuating fuel prices can significantly affect transport costs. This is an important consideration given the distance between California and Texas and the varying gas prices across the country.
- Delivery expectations: Because it’ll make their job easier, your auto shipper may give you a pricing discount if you’re flexible on delivery dates. That being said, getting your car from California to Texas should take between three and eight days. Expedited services are available but come at a higher cost.
Texas vehicle regulations you need to know
- Car insurance requirements: Every driver in Texas is mandated to have liability insurance known as 30/60/25 coverage. However, this minimum requirement may fall short in adequately covering the aftermath of a moderately severe accident. The basic policy offers $30,000 for individual injury coverage, up to $60,000 for injury coverage per accident, and provides up to $25,000 for property damage.
- Vehicle inspection: In Texas, vehicles undergo annual safety inspections covering brakes, lights, steering, tires, etc. Some qualify for a two-year cycle.
- Driver’s license: New residents are required to obtain a Texas driver license from the Texas Department of Public Safety within 90 days of moving to the state.
- Additional taxes: New residents must pay a $90 new resident tax instead of a use tax for a vehicle they bring into Texas. This applies if the vehicle was previously registered in the new resident's name in another state or foreign country.
Learn more with our car shipping checklist.
Transporting your vehicle from California
More than 39 million people call California home. Nicknamed the Golden State, California has a great Mediterranean climate throughout most of the state. In the Southeast, you may experience colder winters and hotter summers. The northern part of California experiences more rain than the rest of the state. Before your move be sure to check for rain or very hot days.
Transporting your vehicle to Texas
About 22 million people are living in the Lone Star State. Although winters are mild, hurricane season during the summer months may affect your move.
FAQ
Does someone have to be present when you ship a car for pickup in California and delivery in Texas?
Most companies will require that an adult of at least 18 years of age be present when picking up your car in California and when dropping it off in Texas.
Do you need car insurance when shipping your car from California to Texas?
If you’re not driving the vehicle from California to Texas, you aren't required to have typical car insurance. Your car hauler should have adequate insurance if an accident happened on the drive to Texas, which you should verify before loading your car in California.
If you’re driving your car at all in either state, you should understand the requirements. The minimum car insurance requirement in California is $15,000 for individual injury, $30,000 per accident, and $5,000 for property damage in the case of an accident involving another driver.
Every driver in Texas is mandated to have liability insurance known as 30/60/25 coverage. However, this minimum requirement may fall short in adequately covering the aftermath of a moderately severe accident. The basic policy offers $30,000 for individual injury coverage, up to $60,000 for injury coverage per accident, and provides up to $25,000 for property damage.
How long does it take to ship a car from California to Texas?
Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from California to Texas is about 1,407 miles, and that’s as fast as about 3 days. However, most car transport companies will take three to eight days to travel from California to Texas.
Will I be required to have a vehicle inspection in either state?
California requires an annual safety inspection to ensure that all vehicles used on public roads are in good condition and safe to operate. The inspection can be carried out at any California Department of Transportation approved service station.
In Texas, vehicles undergo annual safety inspections covering brakes, lights, steering, tires, etc. Some qualify for a two-year cycle.
If I have a driver’s license in California, will I need one in Texas?
New residents are required to obtain a Texas driver license from the Texas Department of Public Safety within 90 days of moving to the state.
If I bought a car in California, will I be required to pay sales tax in Texas after shipping it there?
It’s important to understand any tax implications if you’re having a car shipped from California to Texas after purchasing it.
New residents must pay a $90 new resident tax instead of a use tax for a vehicle they bring into Texas. This applies if the vehicle was previously registered in the new resident's name in another state or foreign country.
We recommend that you always check for updated tax information in both California and Texas to avoid any hidden costs.
What is the cheapest way to ship a car from California to Texas?
The cheapest way to ship a car from California to Texas is to ship it on a train or choose an open trailer transport method, avoid expedited shipping, and be flexible with your pickup dates.
How much does it cost to ship a car from California to Texas?
Shipping a car from California to Texas costs $1,028 to $1,546.
