Kentucky to Texas Car Shipping (2025 Cost Guide)

Quick answer: The average cost to ship a car 1,117 miles from Kentucky to Texas ranges from $820 to $1,390 and takes two–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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  • Services all 50 states
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Shipping a car the reverse route? We’ve got you covered with our Texas to Kentucky car shipping guide.

The best Kentucky to Texas car shipping companies

We’ve done the research and these are the best car shipping companies to help transport your vehicle from Kentucky to Texas:

Best for accurate pricing
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moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.5 / 5
Get a quote (833) 775-1461
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  • Price Lock Promise
  • Pay by credit card
  • Free car wash at delivery
  • No upfront deposit
  • Door-to-door service
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Get a quote (833) 775-1461
Best cross-country shipper
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moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.5 / 5
Get a quote (224) 206-5633
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  • No upfront payment
  • GPS tracking
  • Multiple insurance options
  • Competitive pricing
  • Door-to-door shipping
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Best for discounts
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moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.3 / 5
Get a quote (770) 501-9057
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  • Competitive pricing
  • Last-minute car shipments
  • Guaranteed & expedited shipments
  • Gap insurance coverage
  • Multiple discounts
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Get a quote (770) 501-9057
Best for overall value
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moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.9 / 5
Get a quote (864) 492-1221
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  • No hidden fees
  • Free online quotes
  • Door-to-door service in 48 states
  • Exact pickup dates
  • Ships to & from HI
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Get a quote (864) 492-1221
Best for quick pickup
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moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.9 / 5
Get a quote (888) 259-6046
At A Glance
  • No upfront deposit
  • Expedited shipping
  • No hidden fees
  • Ships motorcycles & RVs
  • Discount for cash payments
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Get a quote (888) 259-6046

Alternative ways to ship your car from Kentucky to Texas

  • Drive it yourself. This is straightforward but not always an option, and it will put about 1,117 miles on your car going from Kentucky 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 Kentucky 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 Kentucky 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!

KY 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 Kentucky and Texas. The average travel distance is about 1,117 miles, with shipping times typically ranging from two to eight days .

Cost to ship a car from Louisville, KY to Texastoggle

From Kentucky to Texas Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Louisville, KY to Houston, TX $758 – $1,187 951 miles 2 – 7 days
Louisville, KY to San Antonio, TX $837 – $1,390 1,109 miles 2 – 8 days
Louisville, KY to Dallas, TX $790 – $1,159 836 miles 2 – 7 days
Louisville, KY to Austin, TX $823 – $1,242 1,031 miles 2 – 8 days
Louisville, KY to Fort Worth, TX $763 – $1,174 867 miles 2 – 7 days

Cost to ship a car from Lexington, KY to Texastoggle

From Kentucky to Texas Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Lexington, KY to Houston, TX $795 – $1,258 989 miles 2 – 7 days
Lexington, KY to San Antonio, TX $888 – $1,390 1,148 miles 2 – 8 days
Lexington, KY to Dallas, TX $802 – $1,198 873 miles 2 – 7 days
Lexington, KY to Austin, TX $745 – $1,292 1,069 miles 2 – 8 days
Lexington, KY to Fort Worth, TX $774 – $1,226 905 miles 2 – 7 days

Cost to ship a car from Bowling Green, KY to Texastoggle

From Kentucky to Texas Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Bowling Green, KY to Houston, TX $759 – $1,147 841 miles 2 – 7 days
Bowling Green, KY to San Antonio, TX $748 – $1,246 999 miles 2 – 7 days
Bowling Green, KY to Dallas, TX $794 – $1,075 726 miles 1 – 6 days
Bowling Green, KY to Austin, TX $814 – $1,226 920 miles 2 – 7 days
Bowling Green, KY to Fort Worth, TX $795 – $1,140 757 miles 2 – 7 days

Cost to ship a car from Owensboro, KY to Texastoggle

From Kentucky to Texas Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Owensboro, KY to Houston, TX $786 – $1,139 869 miles 2 – 7 days
Owensboro, KY to San Antonio, TX $776 – $1,254 1,027 miles 2 – 8 days
Owensboro, KY to Dallas, TX $772 – $1,106 753 miles 2 – 7 days
Owensboro, KY to Austin, TX $790 – $1,226 948 miles 2 – 7 days
Owensboro, KY to Fort Worth, TX $787 – $1,125 785 miles 2 – 7 days

Cost to ship a car from Covington, KY to Texastoggle

From Kentucky to Texas Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Covington, KY to Houston, TX $784 – $1,192 1,048 miles 2 – 8 days
Covington, KY to San Antonio, TX $940 – $1,425 1,204 miles 2 – 8 days
Covington, KY to Dallas, TX $790 – $1,287 933 miles 2 – 7 days
Covington, KY to Austin, TX $854 – $1,363 1,126 miles 2 – 8 days
Covington, KY to Fort Worth, TX $813 – $1,175 964 miles 2 – 7 days

Shipping an SUV or truck from Kentucky to Texastoggle

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 Kentucky to Texas you should expect to pay between $1,025 and $1,738.

Factors that affect car shipping costs from KY to TX

When transporting your vehicle from the Bluegrass 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 Kentucky to Texas spans approximately 1,117 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 Kentucky, 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 Kentucky 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 Kentucky to Texas should take between two 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 Kentucky

More than 39 million people call Kentucky home. Nicknamed the Bluegrass State, Kentucky has relatively hot, humid, rainy summers, and moderately cold and rainy winters. Kansas rarely experiences the extremes cold of the northern states nor the heat of the state in the Deep South.

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 Kentucky and delivery in Texas?toggle

Most companies will require that an adult of at least 18 years of age be present when picking up your car in Kentucky and when dropping it off in Texas.

Do you need car insurance when shipping your car from Kentucky to Texas?toggle

If you’re not driving the vehicle from Kentucky 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 Kentucky.

If you’re driving your car at all in either state, you should understand the requirements. The insurance coverage includes Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability with limits of $25,000 per person/$50,000 per accident and $25,000 respectively; Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist coverage (not required); Personal Injury Protection with a limit of $10,000; and optional Collision and Comprehensive coverage for vehicle repair or replacement expenses, with no requirement.

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 Kentucky to Texas?toggle

Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from Kentucky to Texas is about 1,117 miles, and that’s as fast as about 3 days. However, most car transport companies will take two to eight days to travel from Kentucky to Texas.

Will I be required to have a vehicle inspection in either state?toggle

When moving to Kentucky from another state, a one-time Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) inspection is required. To complete the VIN inspection, bring the vehicle and its title to the Sheriff's office in the county where the car will be registered.

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 Kentucky, will I need one in Texas?toggle

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 Kentucky, will I be required to pay sales tax in Texas after shipping it there?toggle

It’s important to understand any tax implications if you’re having a car shipped from Kentucky 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 Kentucky and Texas to avoid any hidden costs.

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

The cheapest way to ship a car from Kentucky 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 Kentucky to Texas?toggle

Shipping a car from Kentucky to Texas costs $820 to $1,390.

Helpful Kentucky resources