Route guide · IL → TX
Shipping a car from Illinois to Texas
Shipping a running sedan from Chicago to Dallas costs about $825–$1,225 on an open carrier and $1,250–$1,850 in an enclosed trailer, with 2–4 days in transit. It ranks #21 among the 250 busiest car-shipping lanes, based on Census moving data.
- Open carrier, sedan
- $1,025
- Road miles
- 940
- Days in transit
- 2–4
- People moving a year
- 23.8K
- Companies at both ends
- 251
City to city
What it costs between Illinois and Texas cities
Open-carrier prices for a running sedan between Chicago, Rockford, Springfield and Peoria and Dallas, Houston, San Antonio and Austin — 740 to 1,240 road miles apart.
| From | Dallas | Houston | San Antonio | Austin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $825–$1,225940 mi · 2–4 days | $900–$1,3001,110 mi · 3–5 days | $950–$1,3501,240 mi · 3–5 days | $900–$1,3001,150 mi · 3–5 days |
| Rockford | $825–$1,225920 mi · 2–4 days | $900–$1,3001,100 mi · 3–5 days | $925–$1,3251,210 mi · 3–5 days | $900–$1,3001,130 mi · 3–5 days |
| Springfield | $750–$1,150740 mi · 2–4 days | $800–$1,200900 mi · 2–4 days | $850–$1,2501,030 mi · 3–5 days | $825–$1,225940 mi · 2–4 days |
| Peoria | $775–$1,175800 mi · 2–4 days | $850–$1,250970 mi · 2–4 days | $875–$1,2751,090 mi · 3–5 days | $850–$1,2501,010 mi · 3–5 days |
A pickup or delivery far from these metros usually adds $75–$150. Quotes move with fuel prices and truck space, so treat these as a yardstick. Price your own addresses →
By vehicle
Price by vehicle type
Chicago to Dallas, 940 miles. Bigger and heavier vehicles take more room and weight on the trailer, so they cost more.
| Vehicle | Open carrier | Enclosed |
|---|---|---|
| Sedan or small car | $825–$1,225 | $1,250–$1,850 |
| Midsize SUV or crossover | $925–$1,375 | $1,400–$2,050 |
| Large SUV (Tahoe, Expedition) | $1,025–$1,525 | $1,550–$2,300 |
| Pickup truck | $1,075–$1,600 | $1,600–$2,400 |
| Motorcycle | $500–$725 | $750–$1,100 |
By month
Best time to ship
Prices on this lane peak in December (snowbird season, when retirees ship cars south for the winter and the holidays), running about 20% above the quietest months. The cheapest time to ship from Illinois to Texas is February–May and September.
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Cheapest: about $1,025 Peak: about $1,225
About this route
Why so many cars go from Illinois to Texas
About 23,845 people moved from Illinois to Texas in each of the last two years, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (24,181 in 2023, 23,509 in 2024). That is 8.2% of everyone who left Illinois for another state, making Texas its #4 destination.
Traffic is lopsided: only about 16,708 people a year go the other way, Texas to Illinois. Trucks heading into Texas fill up quickly, so pickups are usually fast — but carriers have less reason to discount in peak months.
How the price compares
At a typical $1,025, shipping from Illinois to Texas costs more than sending a car to New York ($1,000) and South Carolina ($1,000) but less than to Colorado ($1,075) and Florida ($1,200). That works out to about $1.09 a mile.
Distance and transit time
Expect about 940 road miles from Chicago to Dallas — 2–4 days on the truck after pickup. Carriers usually load several cars before heading out, so the pickup window matters as much as transit time. The car heads southwest and stays on Central time the whole way.
On the road
- Winter storms in Illinois can slow pickups and deliveries in December through February — leave slack in your schedule.
Companies
Car carriers at both ends of the route
The largest carriers headquartered in Illinois and Texas, by trucks on file with the FMCSA. A company based at either end usually runs this lane often.
Pickup end Illinois
106 companies based in Illinois: 90 carriers, 14 brokers, 1,639 trucks in total, 8 years in business on average.
- Cassens Transport Company Edwardsville · 911 trucks · since 1974 · USDOT 124358
- Orgil Auto Transport Rosemont · 75 trucks · since 2010 · USDOT 2005112
- Americars Transportation Inc Aurora · 65 trucks · since 2016 · USDOT 2913704
- Windy City Auto Transportation LLC Hazel Crest · 61 trucks · since 2025 · USDOT 4367050
- American Auto Transport Inc Lombard · 57 trucks · since 2004 · USDOT 1291429
Delivery end Texas
145 companies based in Texas: 102 carriers, 24 brokers, 1,183 trucks in total, 9 years in business on average.
- Usal Houston · 382 trucks · since 1989 · USDOT 357779
- Car Transport Inc Burleson · 309 trucks · since 1984 · USDOT 248283
- Transcar Express LLC Brownsville · 89 trucks · since 2010 · USDOT 2066413
- Texas Auto Carriers San Antonio · 31 trucks · since 1984 · USDOT 521201
- Transporting Cars Champion Inc Arlington · 26 trucks · since 2012 · USDOT 2287307
96 more companies in our directory ship to all 48 contiguous states. Browse all companies →
Related routes
Nearby alternatives
Moving close to Texas but not into it — or coming from somewhere near Illinois? These guides cover the neighbouring lanes.
FAQ
Illinois to Texas car shipping: questions
Numbers on this page come from our price model, Census moving data and Texas's DMV.
How much does it cost to ship a car from Illinois to Texas?
For a running sedan on an open carrier, expect about $825–$1,225 from Chicago to Dallas (940 road miles). Between other big cities in the two states prices range from $750–$1,350. An SUV costs about $925–$1,375, a pickup $1,075–$1,600, and an enclosed trailer $1,250–$1,850 for a sedan.
How long does it take to ship a car from Illinois to Texas?
Transit is usually 2–4 days after pickup for the 940-mile trip from Chicago to Dallas. Getting the car picked up takes another 1–5 days on a standard booking; expedited pickup within 1–2 days costs about 30% more.
When is the cheapest time to ship a car from Illinois to Texas?
February–May and September is the cheapest window on this lane. Prices are highest in December, up to about 20% more. Whatever the month, a flexible pickup date booked 2–3 weeks out gets the best price.
How soon do I have to register my car in Texas after moving?
Texas requires new residents to register within 30 days of becoming a resident. Get Texas insurance first. Cars in 17 emissions counties — including Harris (Houston), Dallas, Tarrant (Fort Worth) and Travis (Austin) — need an emissions test; then register at the county tax assessor-collector.
Is it cheaper to drive or ship my car from Illinois to Texas?
Driving 940 miles takes about 2 days: roughly $120 in gas and 1 night of hotels and meals (about $140). Shipping a sedan costs about $825–$1,225. Over this distance driving usually costs less, if you can spare the day.
Which car shipping companies go from Illinois to Texas?
Our directory lists 106 companies based in Illinois and 145 based in Texas, each checked against FMCSA records, plus 96 that ship nationwide.