Route guide · IN → TX
Shipping a car from Indiana to Texas
Shipping a running sedan from Indianapolis to Dallas costs about $800–$1,200 on an open carrier and $1,225–$1,825 in an enclosed trailer, with 2–4 days in transit. It ranks #148 among the 250 busiest car-shipping lanes, based on Census moving data.
- Open carrier, sedan
- $1,000
- Road miles
- 900
- Days in transit
- 2–4
- People moving a year
- 6.8K
- Companies at both ends
- 176
City to city
What it costs between Indiana and Texas cities
Open-carrier prices for a running sedan between Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, Evansville and South Bend and Dallas, Houston, San Antonio and Austin — 740 to 1,300 road miles apart.
| From | Dallas | Houston | San Antonio | Austin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indianapolis | $800–$1,200900 mi · 2–4 days | $850–$1,2501,020 mi · 3–5 days | $925–$1,3251,180 mi · 3–5 days | $875–$1,2751,090 mi · 3–5 days |
| Fort Wayne | $850–$1,2501,010 mi · 3–5 days | $900–$1,3001,140 mi · 3–5 days | $975–$1,3751,300 mi · 3–5 days | $925–$1,3251,210 mi · 3–5 days |
| Evansville | $750–$1,150740 mi · 2–4 days | $800–$1,200850 mi · 2–4 days | $850–$1,2501,020 mi · 3–5 days | $825–$1,225930 mi · 2–4 days |
| South Bend | $850–$1,250990 mi · 2–4 days | $900–$1,3001,140 mi · 3–5 days | $950–$1,3501,280 mi · 3–5 days | $925–$1,3251,200 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
Indianapolis to Dallas, 900 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 | $800–$1,200 | $1,225–$1,825 |
| Midsize SUV or crossover | $900–$1,350 | $1,350–$2,025 |
| Large SUV (Tahoe, Expedition) | $1,025–$1,525 | $1,525–$2,275 |
| Pickup truck | $1,050–$1,575 | $1,575–$2,350 |
| Motorcycle | $475–$725 | $725–$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 Indiana to Texas is February–May and September.
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Cheapest: about $1,000 Peak: about $1,200
About this route
Why so many cars go from Indiana to Texas
About 6,808 people moved from Indiana to Texas in each of the last two years, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (5,369 in 2023, 8,246 in 2024). That is 5.4% of everyone who left Indiana for another state.
Traffic runs both ways — about 7,561 people a year move from Texas back to Indiana — so carriers run this lane year-round and quotes tend to be steady.
How the price compares
At a typical $1,000, shipping from Indiana to Texas is one of the cheaper long moves out of Indiana — Florida ($1,125) and Arizona ($1,325) cost more. That works out to about $1.11 a mile.
Distance and transit time
Expect about 900 road miles from Indianapolis 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 crosses one time zone — from Eastern to Central time — so confirm whether the delivery window you are given is in local time.
Companies
Car carriers at both ends of the route
The largest carriers headquartered in Indiana and Texas, by trucks on file with the FMCSA. A company based at either end usually runs this lane often.
Pickup end Indiana
31 companies based in Indiana: 31 carriers, 1 brokers, 589 trucks in total, 10 years in business on average.
- Crown Auto Carriers Inc Highland · 300 trucks · since 2020 · USDOT 3479368
- Karona Hauling Inc Merrillville · 50 trucks · since 2020 · USDOT 3475243
- Roadrunners Autotransport Inc Hammond · 44 trucks · since 1990 · USDOT 395100
- Lada Trans Inc Merrillville · 35 trucks · since 2017 · USDOT 2998381
- American Truck Transport Angola · 34 trucks · since 2025 · USDOT 4362830
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 Indiana? These guides cover the neighbouring lanes.
FAQ
Indiana 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 Indiana to Texas?
For a running sedan on an open carrier, expect about $800–$1,200 from Indianapolis to Dallas (900 road miles). Between other big cities in the two states prices range from $750–$1,375. An SUV costs about $900–$1,350, a pickup $1,050–$1,575, and an enclosed trailer $1,225–$1,825 for a sedan.
How long does it take to ship a car from Indiana to Texas?
Transit is usually 2–4 days after pickup for the 900-mile trip from Indianapolis 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 Indiana 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 Indiana to Texas?
Driving 900 miles takes about 2 days: roughly $120 in gas and 1 night of hotels and meals (about $140). Shipping a sedan costs about $800–$1,200. Over this distance driving usually costs less, if you can spare the day.
Which car shipping companies go from Indiana to Texas?
Our directory lists 31 companies based in Indiana and 145 based in Texas, each checked against FMCSA records, plus 96 that ship nationwide.