Route guide · LA → TX
Shipping a car from Louisiana to Texas
Shipping a running sedan from New Orleans to Dallas costs about $650–$1,025 on an open carrier and $950–$1,525 in an enclosed trailer, with 2–3 days in transit. It ranks #89 among the 250 busiest car-shipping lanes, based on Census moving data.
- Open carrier, sedan
- $850
- Road miles
- 530
- Days in transit
- 2–3
- People moving a year
- 26.3K
- Companies at both ends
- 146
City to city
What it costs between Louisiana and Texas cities
Open-carrier prices for a running sedan between New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Shreveport and Lafayette and Dallas, Houston, San Antonio and Austin — 210 to 610 road miles apart.
| From | Dallas | Houston | San Antonio | Austin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans | $650–$1,025530 mi · 2–3 days | $575–$925390 mi · 1–3 days | $675–$1,075610 mi · 2–3 days | $650–$1,025550 mi · 2–3 days |
| Baton Rouge | $600–$975440 mi · 1–3 days | $525–$875300 mi · 1–2 days | $650–$1,025530 mi · 2–3 days | $600–$975470 mi · 1–3 days |
| Shreveport | $475–$800210 mi · 1–2 days | $500–$850250 mi · 1–2 days | $575–$950410 mi · 1–3 days | $550–$900330 mi · 1–2 days |
| Lafayette | $575–$925390 mi · 1–3 days | $500–$850240 mi · 1–2 days | $600–$975460 mi · 1–3 days | $575–$950400 mi · 1–3 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
New Orleans to Dallas, 530 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 | $650–$1,025 | $950–$1,525 |
| Midsize SUV or crossover | $725–$1,150 | $1,075–$1,700 |
| Large SUV (Tahoe, Expedition) | $800–$1,275 | $1,200–$1,900 |
| Pickup truck | $825–$1,325 | $1,250–$1,975 |
| Motorcycle | $375–$600 | $575–$925 |
By month
Best time to ship
Prices on this lane peak in June–August (the summer moving peak), running about 8% above the quietest months. The cheapest time to ship from Louisiana to Texas is January–May and September–November.
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Cheapest: about $825 Peak: about $900
About this route
Why so many cars go from Louisiana to Texas
About 26,314 people moved from Louisiana to Texas in each of the last two years, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (28,458 in 2023, 24,170 in 2024). That is 28% of everyone who left Louisiana for another state — no state draws more people from Louisiana.
Traffic runs both ways — about 19,148 people a year move from Texas back to Louisiana — so carriers run this lane year-round and quotes tend to be steady.
How the price compares
At a typical $825, shipping from Louisiana to Texas is one of the cheaper long moves out of Louisiana — California ($1,400) cost more. That works out to about $1.56 a mile — short runs cost more per mile because the fixed cost of loading and unloading weighs more.
Distance and transit time
The 530-mile run from New Orleans to Dallas takes 2–3 days on a carrier — short enough that driving yourself is a real option. The car heads west-northwest and stays on Central time the whole way.
On the road
- Hurricane season (June–November) occasionally delays Gulf and Atlantic coast deliveries; carriers will reschedule rather than drive into a storm.
Companies
Car carriers at both ends of the route
The largest carriers headquartered in Louisiana and Texas, by trucks on file with the FMCSA. A company based at either end usually runs this lane often.
Pickup end Louisiana
1 companies based in Louisiana: 1 carriers, 0 brokers, 3 trucks in total, 21 years in business on average.
- JDL Auto Transport Jamestown · 3 trucks · since 2005 · USDOT 1442244
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 Louisiana? These guides cover the neighbouring lanes.
From Louisiana to states near Texas
To Texas from states near Louisiana
FAQ
Louisiana 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 Louisiana to Texas?
For a running sedan on an open carrier, expect about $650–$1,025 from New Orleans to Dallas (530 road miles). Between other big cities in the two states prices range from $475–$1,075. An SUV costs about $725–$1,150, a pickup $825–$1,325, and an enclosed trailer $950–$1,525 for a sedan.
How long does it take to ship a car from Louisiana to Texas?
Transit is usually 2–3 days after pickup for the 530-mile trip from New Orleans 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 Louisiana to Texas?
January–May and September–November is the cheapest window on this lane. Prices are highest in June–August, up to about 8% 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 Louisiana to Texas?
Driving 530 miles takes about 2 days: roughly $70 in gas and 1 night of hotels and meals (about $140). Shipping a sedan costs about $650–$1,025. Over this distance driving usually costs less, if you can spare the day.
Which car shipping companies go from Louisiana to Texas?
Our directory lists 1 companies based in Louisiana and 145 based in Texas, each checked against FMCSA records, plus 96 that ship nationwide.