Route guide · IA → TX
Shipping a car from Iowa to Texas
Shipping a running sedan from Des Moines to Dallas costs about $750–$1,150 on an open carrier and $1,125–$1,725 in an enclosed trailer, with 2–4 days in transit. It ranks #211 among the 250 busiest car-shipping lanes, based on Census moving data.
- Open carrier, sedan
- $950
- Road miles
- 740
- Days in transit
- 2–4
- People moving a year
- 4.9K
- Companies at both ends
- 152
City to city
What it costs between Iowa and Texas cities
Open-carrier prices for a running sedan between Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Davenport and Sioux City and Dallas, Houston, San Antonio and Austin — 740 to 1,120 road miles apart.
| From | Dallas | Houston | San Antonio | Austin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines | $750–$1,150740 mi · 2–4 days | $850–$1,250970 mi · 2–4 days | $875–$1,2751,040 mi · 3–5 days | $825–$1,225960 mi · 2–4 days |
| Cedar Rapids | $775–$1,175820 mi · 2–4 days | $850–$1,2501,020 mi · 3–5 days | $900–$1,3001,110 mi · 3–5 days | $850–$1,2501,030 mi · 3–5 days |
| Davenport | $775–$1,175820 mi · 2–4 days | $850–$1,2501,010 mi · 3–5 days | $900–$1,3001,120 mi · 3–5 days | $850–$1,2501,030 mi · 3–5 days |
| Sioux City | $775–$1,175790 mi · 2–4 days | $875–$1,2751,040 mi · 3–5 days | $875–$1,2751,070 mi · 3–5 days | $850–$1,2501,000 mi · 2–5 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
Des Moines to Dallas, 740 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 | $750–$1,150 | $1,125–$1,725 |
| Midsize SUV or crossover | $825–$1,275 | $1,250–$1,925 |
| Large SUV (Tahoe, Expedition) | $925–$1,425 | $1,400–$2,150 |
| Pickup truck | $975–$1,475 | $1,450–$2,225 |
| Motorcycle | $450–$675 | $675–$1,025 |
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 Iowa to Texas is February–May and September.
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Cheapest: about $950 Peak: about $1,125
About this route
Why so many cars go from Iowa to Texas
About 4,948 people moved from Iowa to Texas in each of the last two years, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (6,140 in 2023, 3,755 in 2024). That is 6.8% of everyone who left Iowa for another state, making Texas its #5 destination.
Traffic runs both ways — about 4,748 people a year move from Texas back to Iowa — so carriers run this lane year-round and quotes tend to be steady.
How the price compares
At a typical $950, shipping from Iowa to Texas is one of the cheaper long moves out of Iowa — Arizona ($1,175) and Florida ($1,250) cost more. That works out to about $1.28 a mile.
Distance and transit time
The 740-mile run from Des Moines to Dallas takes 2–4 days on a carrier — short enough that driving yourself is a real option. The car heads south-southwest and stays on Central time the whole way.
On the road
- Winter storms in Iowa 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 Iowa and Texas, by trucks on file with the FMCSA. A company based at either end usually runs this lane often.
Pickup end Iowa
7 companies based in Iowa: 7 carriers, 0 brokers, 20 trucks in total, 5 years in business on average.
- Magnum Auto & Transportation Inc Quasqueton · 6 trucks · since 2020 · USDOT 3514106
- Double A Auto Delivery Johnston · 4 trucks · since 2011 · USDOT 2133293
- B&E Transport LLC Davenport · 2 trucks · since 2019 · USDOT 3263857
- DDM Auto Transport LLC Montezuma · 2 trucks · since 2022 · USDOT 3856054
- L&G Transportation Whittemore · 2 trucks · since 2025 · USDOT 4385182
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 Iowa? These guides cover the neighbouring lanes.
FAQ
Iowa 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 Iowa to Texas?
For a running sedan on an open carrier, expect about $750–$1,150 from Des Moines to Dallas (740 road miles). Between other big cities in the two states prices range from $750–$1,300. An SUV costs about $825–$1,275, a pickup $975–$1,475, and an enclosed trailer $1,125–$1,725 for a sedan.
How long does it take to ship a car from Iowa to Texas?
Transit is usually 2–4 days after pickup for the 740-mile trip from Des Moines to Dallas. The wait for pickup is separate: typically 1–5 days, or 1–2 days if you pay about 30% more for expedited service.
When is the cheapest time to ship a car from Iowa to Texas?
February–May and September is the cheapest window on this lane. Prices are highest in December, up to about 20% more. If you must ship in peak months, book three to four weeks ahead.
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 Iowa to Texas?
Driving 740 miles takes about 2 days: roughly $90 in gas and 1 night of hotels and meals (about $140). Shipping a sedan costs about $750–$1,150. Over this distance driving usually costs less, if you can spare the day.
Which car shipping companies go from Iowa to Texas?
Our directory lists 7 companies based in Iowa and 145 based in Texas, each checked against FMCSA records, plus 96 that ship nationwide.