State-to-state route
California to Texas car shipping
In October 2026, an open-carrier sedan from California to Texas typically costs $1,045–$1,465 depending on the metro pair, from San Diego to San Antonio at the low end to San Francisco to Dallas at the top. The reference run, Los Angeles to Dallas, is $1,085–$1,350 over 1,460 miles with 4–6 days in transit, mostly on I-10 through Phoenix and El Paso until Dallas loads switch to I-20. Source: HaulFare price model, October 2026 edition.
Updated October 2026
$1,045–$1,465
Open carrier, sedan, across 12 metro pairs, October 2026
1,460 mi
Los Angeles to Dallas
1–5 days
pickup window
4–6 days
in transit
How much does it cost to ship a car from California to Texas?
1,460 miles hub to hub · October 2026 · estimates for door-to-door service, carrier pay and broker fee included.
| Vehicle | Open carrier | Enclosed |
|---|---|---|
| Sedan | $1,085–$1,350 | $1,540–$1,915 |
| Small SUV / crossover | $1,170–$1,455 | $1,665–$2,070 |
| Full-size SUV | $1,300–$1,620 | $1,850–$2,300 |
| Pickup truck | $1,325–$1,645 | $1,880–$2,340 |
HaulFare price model 2026.09-seed, October 2026. Ranges, not quotes; the licensed transport partner confirms the actual price.
City pairs on this route
| City pair | Miles | Open carrier | Enclosed |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego → San Antonio | 1,329 | $1,045–$1,300 | $1,485–$1,850 |
| San Diego → Austin | 1,363 | $1,060–$1,315 | $1,500–$1,865 |
| San Diego → Dallas | 1,394 | $1,065–$1,325 | $1,510–$1,880 |
| Los Angeles → San Antonio | 1,418 | $1,075–$1,340 | $1,525–$1,900 |
| Los Angeles → Austin | 1,445 | $1,080–$1,345 | $1,535–$1,910 |
| Los Angeles → Dallas | 1,460 | $1,085–$1,350 | $1,540–$1,915 |
| San Diego → Houston | 1,535 | $1,105–$1,380 | $1,575–$1,960 |
| Los Angeles → Houston | 1,617 | $1,140–$1,415 | $1,615–$2,010 |
| Sacramento → Dallas | 1,696 | $1,165–$1,450 | $1,655–$2,060 |
| Sacramento → San Antonio | 1,718 | $1,170–$1,455 | $1,665–$2,070 |
| Sacramento → Austin | 1,728 | $1,175–$1,460 | $1,670–$2,080 |
| San Francisco → Dallas | 1,747 | $1,180–$1,465 | $1,680–$2,090 |
Sedan, October 2026. Distances are road estimates between city centres.
When is it cheapest to ship a car from California to Texas?
Jan
$1,168
Feb
$1,155
Mar
$1,208
Apr
$1,243
May
$1,278
Jun
$1,330
Jul
$1,340
Aug
$1,303
Sep
$1,243
Oct (October 2026)
$1,218
Nov
$1,190
Dec
$1,208
- October 2026
- Yearly average
Show as a table
| Month | Price (midpoint) |
|---|---|
| Jan | $1,168 |
| Feb | $1,155 |
| Mar | $1,208 |
| Apr | $1,243 |
| May | $1,278 |
| Jun | $1,330 |
| Jul | $1,340 |
| Aug | $1,303 |
| Sep | $1,243 |
| Oct | $1,218 |
| Nov | $1,190 |
| Dec | $1,208 |
Sedan, open carrier, midpoint of the range; columns rise above or fall below the lane's yearly average. Includes the national seasonal index and snowbird direction adjustment for this lane.
Route notes
By HaulFare Research Team. Car shipping price research. Updated Oct 1, 2026
The corridor
Most California to Texas loads start in the Los Angeles basin and the Inland Empire, where carriers stage trailers near Ontario, Fontana and San Bernardino along I-10 and I-15. The usual run is I-10 east past Palm Springs, through Phoenix and Tucson, and on to El Paso. In far West Texas, trucks bound for Dallas-Fort Worth split onto I-20 through Midland, Odessa and Abilene, while loads for San Antonio and Houston stay on I-10. Some drivers use I-40 through Flagstaff, Albuquerque and Amarillo instead.
San Diego cars head out on I-8 and join I-10 at Casa Grande, Arizona. Bay Area and Sacramento cars run down I-5 and cross the Tehachapi Mountains on SR 58 to Barstow, or get handed to a Los Angeles-area truck.
Direction matters for price. Carriers that unload in Southern California want an eastbound load before heading back across the Southwest, so truck supply out of Los Angeles stays steady. The catch is that many households have moved from California to Texas in recent years, and in summer their cars compete for the same trailer slots.
Timing and season
February is typically the cheapest month on this lane, after holiday moves wind down. July is typically the most expensive, when summer relocations and school-calendar moves fill trailers heading east. This is not a snowbird lane, so fall and spring swings are mild.
Demand usually eases after the summer peak, but weather still matters. Gulf hurricane season runs through November, and a storm near Houston can hold deliveries for several days. Monsoon storms in Arizona can bring dust storms and flash flooding on I-10 between Phoenix and Tucson. In winter, I-10 stays mostly clear, but I-40 near Flagstaff and Albuquerque can close for snow, which pushes trucks south.
Pickup and delivery in California and Texas
A 75-foot hauler cannot get into hillside neighborhoods like Silver Lake or the Hollywood Hills, and many Orange County and Inland Empire tracts are gated with HOA rules against commercial trucks. The usual fix is a big retail or stadium parking lot near a freeway exit. On this lane the pickup window typically runs 1 to 5 days from your first available date. Have the keys ready, keep the tank near a quarter full, empty the cabin, and take the FasTrak transponder off the windshield. Mark every existing scratch on the bill of lading with the driver.
In Texas, Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston sprawl across wide suburbs. Master-planned communities in Frisco, McKinney, Katy and The Woodlands often restrict large trucks, but wide arterial roads make meeting spots easy to find. Drivers tend to avoid the Dallas North Tollway and the Sam Houston Tollway, so pick a spot near a free highway exit.
What moves the price on this lane
In October 2026, an open-carrier sedan typically runs $1,085 to $1,350, an SUV $1,300 to $1,620, and a pickup $1,325 to $1,645. Enclosed sedan transport typically runs $1,540 to $1,915. Starting farther south helps a little: San Diego to San Antonio typically runs $1,045 to $1,300. A car that does not run needs a winch, which adds $150 in our model, and a high desert pickup can add up to $175.
Summer is the biggest driver here, since July quotes sit near the top of each range. A Northern California pickup also adds several hundred miles before the truck reaches I-10. HaulFare is neither a broker nor a carrier. We publish these Texas lane prices and pass your request to one licensed broker, and before you pay a deposit it is worth asking which carrier will run I-10 with your car and checking that carrier on FMCSA.
Lane facts
- Carriers run I-10 east from Los Angeles through Phoenix, Tucson and El Paso, then take I-20 toward Dallas-Fort Worth or stay on I-10 for San Antonio and Houston.
- Loads build in the Los Angeles basin and the Inland Empire on the California end and break down in Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, Austin and San Antonio on the Texas end.
- Eastbound demand peaks in July with summer relocations, while February is typically the cheapest month to move a car from California to Texas.
- San Diego cars usually take I-8 east to join I-10 at Casa Grande, Arizona, which keeps the San Diego to San Antonio run at about 1,329 miles.
Related routes
Sources
- Texas Department of Motor Vehicles: New to Texas (register within 30 days), txdmv.gov
- Texas Department of Motor Vehicles: Bexar County emissions testing begins November 1, 2026, txdmv.gov
- FMCSA: Get operating authority (MC docket number) for carriers and brokers, fmcsa.dot.gov
- How much it costs to ship a car: the HaulFare price model, haulfare.com
California to Texas FAQ
How much does it cost to ship a car from California to Texas?
In October 2026 an open-carrier sedan typically runs $1,085 to $1,350 from Los Angeles to Dallas. SUVs typically run $1,300 to $1,620, pickups $1,325 to $1,645, and enclosed sedan transport $1,540 to $1,915. These are typical ranges, not a fixed price, and the licensed broker a Texas-bound request is referred to quotes the actual figure.
How long does car shipping from California to Texas take?
Plan on 4 to 6 days on the road once the car is loaded for the roughly 1,460-mile run. Add a 1 to 5 day pickup window before that, since the carrier has to fit your car into a full load leaving Southern California.
What is the best month to ship a car from California to Texas?
February is usually the cheapest month on this lane, after holiday moves end and before spring relocations begin. July is usually the priciest, when summer moves fill eastbound trailers. If your date is flexible, avoid late June through early August.
Can a car carrier pick up at my home in Los Angeles?
Often, but not always. A loaded 75-foot hauler cannot climb narrow hillside streets or enter many gated Orange County and Inland Empire communities, so drivers commonly meet owners at a large retail lot near a freeway on-ramp. Mention tight streets, HOA rules or permit parking to the broker who sets up your Los Angeles pickup.
Do I need to register my car in Texas after shipping it from California?
Yes. Texas gives new residents 30 days to register a vehicle at the county tax office. Texas ended the safety inspection for most passenger cars in 2025, but cars registered in the Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, Austin, El Paso and, from November 2026, San Antonio areas still need an emissions test first. Keep your California title or lienholder details handy, since the county office will ask for them.
