Illinois to Texas Car Shipping (2024 Cost Guide)
Fact Checked by: Quick answer: The average cost to ship a car 985 miles from Illinois to Texas ranges from $858 to $1,331 and takes two–seven 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 Illinois car shipping guide.
The best Illinois to Texas car shipping companies
We’ve done the research and these are the best car shipping companies to help transport your vehicle from Illinois 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 Illinois to Texas
- Drive it yourself. This is straightforward but not always an option, and it will put about 985 miles on your car going from Illinois 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 Illinois 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 Illinois 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!
IL 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 Illinois and Texas. The average travel distance is about 985 miles, with shipping times typically ranging from two to seven days .
Cost to ship a car from Chicago, IL to Texas
| From Illinois to Texas | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago, IL to Houston, TX | $781 – $1,367 | 1,083 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Chicago, IL to San Antonio, TX | $877 – $1,359 | 1,199 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Chicago, IL to Dallas, TX | $812 – $1,233 | 926 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Chicago, IL to Austin, TX | $886 – $1,442 | 1,120 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Chicago, IL to Fort Worth, TX | $804 – $1,310 | 949 miles | 2 – 7 days |
Cost to ship a car from Aurora, IL to Texas
| From Illinois to Texas | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aurora, IL to Houston, TX | $781 – $1,275 | 1,045 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Aurora, IL to San Antonio, TX | $930 – $1,318 | 1,172 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Aurora, IL to Dallas, TX | $802 – $1,308 | 899 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Aurora, IL to Austin, TX | $805 – $1,249 | 1,093 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Aurora, IL to Fort Worth, TX | $812 – $1,221 | 923 miles | 2 – 7 days |
Cost to ship a car from Joliet, IL to Texas
| From Illinois to Texas | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joliet, IL to Houston, TX | $781 – $1,301 | 1,035 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Joliet, IL to San Antonio, TX | $930 – $1,318 | 1,161 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Joliet, IL to Dallas, TX | $794 – $1,183 | 889 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Joliet, IL to Austin, TX | $781 – $1,314 | 1,083 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Joliet, IL to Fort Worth, TX | $845 – $1,284 | 913 miles | 2 – 7 days |
Cost to ship a car from Naperville, IL to Texas
| From Illinois to Texas | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Naperville, IL to Houston, TX | $854 – $1,275 | 1,049 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Naperville, IL to San Antonio, TX | $921 – $1,318 | 1,176 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Naperville, IL to Dallas, TX | $779 – $1,196 | 903 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Naperville, IL to Austin, TX | $822 – $1,367 | 1,097 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Naperville, IL to Fort Worth, TX | $845 – $1,259 | 927 miles | 2 – 7 days |
Cost to ship a car from Rockford, IL to Texas
| From Illinois to Texas | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rockford, IL to Houston, TX | $813 – $1,340 | 1,069 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Rockford, IL to San Antonio, TX | $930 – $1,415 | 1,196 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Rockford, IL to Dallas, TX | $828 – $1,209 | 923 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Rockford, IL to Austin, TX | $842 – $1,415 | 1,117 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Rockford, IL to Fort Worth, TX | $787 – $1,272 | 947 miles | 2 – 7 days |
Shipping an SUV or truck from Illinois 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 Illinois to Texas you should expect to pay between $1,073 and $1,664.
Factors that affect car shipping costs from IL to TX
When transporting your vehicle from the Land of Lincoln 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 Illinois to Texas spans approximately 985 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 Illinois, 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 Illinois 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 Illinois to Texas should take between two and seven 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 Illinois
More than 39 million people call Illinois home. Nicknamed the Land of Lincoln, Illinois' climate is clearly different in the northern and southern halves of the state. The northern half experiences cold winters and mild summers whereas the southern half experiences mild winters and hot and humid summers. Illinois is a part of "tornado alley"
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 Illinois 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 Illinois and when dropping it off in Texas.
Do you need car insurance when shipping your car from Illinois to Texas?
If you’re not driving the vehicle from Illinois 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 Illinois.
If you’re driving your car at all in either state, you should understand the requirements. The liability insurance minimums for Illinois are $25,000 bodily injury liability per person, $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident, and $20,000 property damage liability per accident.
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 Illinois to Texas?
Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from Illinois to Texas is about 985 miles, and that’s as fast as about 2 days. However, most car transport companies will take two to seven days to travel from Illinois to Texas.
Will I be required to have a vehicle inspection in either state?
In Illinois, emissions inspections are mandatory on a yearly basis for eligible vehicles in the Chicago and East St. Louis metropolitan areas. The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency conducts tests on automobiles before residents can renew their vehicle registration with the Secretary of State's office.
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 Illinois, 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 Illinois, 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 Illinois 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 Illinois and Texas to avoid any hidden costs.
What is the cheapest way to ship a car from Illinois to Texas?
The cheapest way to ship a car from Illinois 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 Illinois to Texas?
Shipping a car from Illinois to Texas costs $858 to $1,331.
