Route guide · MI → TX
Shipping a car from Michigan to Texas
Shipping a running sedan from Detroit to Dallas costs about $925–$1,325 on an open carrier and $1,375–$1,975 in an enclosed trailer, with 3–5 days in transit. It ranks #103 among the 250 busiest car-shipping lanes, based on Census moving data.
- Open carrier, sedan
- $1,125
- Road miles
- 1,180
- Days in transit
- 3–5
- People moving a year
- 9.0K
- Companies at both ends
- 178
City to city
What it costs between Michigan and Texas cities
Open-carrier prices for a running sedan between Detroit, Grand Rapids, Lansing and Flint and Dallas, Houston, San Antonio and Austin — 1,090 to 1,470 road miles apart.
| From | Dallas | Houston | San Antonio | Austin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit | $925–$1,3251,180 mi · 3–5 days | $975–$1,3751,300 mi · 3–5 days | $1,000–$1,4251,460 mi · 3–6 days | $975–$1,4001,370 mi · 3–6 days |
| Grand Rapids | $875–$1,2751,090 mi · 3–5 days | $950–$1,3501,250 mi · 3–5 days | $975–$1,4001,380 mi · 3–6 days | $975–$1,3751,300 mi · 3–5 days |
| Lansing | $900–$1,3001,130 mi · 3–5 days | $950–$1,3501,270 mi · 3–5 days | $1,000–$1,4251,420 mi · 3–6 days | $975–$1,3751,330 mi · 3–6 days |
| Flint | $925–$1,3251,180 mi · 3–5 days | $975–$1,3751,320 mi · 3–5 days | $1,000–$1,4501,470 mi · 3–6 days | $975–$1,4001,380 mi · 3–6 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
Detroit to Dallas, 1,180 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 | $925–$1,325 | $1,375–$1,975 |
| Midsize SUV or crossover | $1,025–$1,475 | $1,550–$2,225 |
| Large SUV (Tahoe, Expedition) | $1,150–$1,650 | $1,725–$2,475 |
| Pickup truck | $1,200–$1,725 | $1,800–$2,575 |
| Motorcycle | $550–$800 | $825–$1,200 |
By month
Best time to ship
Prices on this lane peak in December (snowbird season, when retirees ship cars south for the winter, the holidays and winter weather up north), running about 25% above the quietest months. The cheapest time to ship from Michigan to Texas is March–May and September.
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Cheapest: about $1,125 Peak: about $1,400
About this route
Why so many cars go from Michigan to Texas
About 8,999 people moved from Michigan to Texas in each of the last two years, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (10,855 in 2023, 7,143 in 2024). That is 6.2% of everyone who left Michigan for another state, making Texas its #4 destination.
Traffic runs both ways — about 9,114 people a year move from Texas back to Michigan — so carriers run this lane year-round and quotes tend to be steady.
How the price compares
At a typical $1,125, shipping from Michigan to Texas is one of the cheaper long moves out of Michigan — Florida ($1,200) and Arizona ($1,400) cost more. That works out to about 95¢ a mile.
Distance and transit time
Expect about 1,180 road miles from Detroit to Dallas — 3–5 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.
On the road
- Winter storms in Michigan 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 Michigan and Texas, by trucks on file with the FMCSA. A company based at either end usually runs this lane often.
Pickup end Michigan
33 companies based in Michigan: 29 carriers, 3 brokers, 88 trucks in total, 8 years in business on average.
- A Line Transportation Westland · 9 trucks · since 2016 · USDOT 2919373
- Auto Moto Transport LLC Warren · 8 trucks · since 2020 · USDOT 3380547
- Stimson Transport LLC Davison · 8 trucks · since 2017 · USDOT 3035222
- Detroit Auto Carriers West Bloomfield · 4 trucks · since 2014 · USDOT 2528377
- JMS Transport LLC New Boston · 4 trucks · since 2015 · USDOT 2780708
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 Michigan? These guides cover the neighbouring lanes.
FAQ
Michigan 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 Michigan to Texas?
For a running sedan on an open carrier, expect about $925–$1,325 from Detroit to Dallas (1,180 road miles). Between other big cities in the two states prices range from $875–$1,450. An SUV costs about $1,025–$1,475, a pickup $1,200–$1,725, and an enclosed trailer $1,375–$1,975 for a sedan.
How long does it take to ship a car from Michigan to Texas?
Transit is usually 3–5 days after pickup for the 1,180-mile trip from Detroit 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 Michigan to Texas?
March–May and September is the cheapest window on this lane. Prices are highest in December, up to about 25% 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 Michigan to Texas?
Driving 1,180 miles takes about 3 days: roughly $150 in gas and 2 nights of hotels and meals (about $280). Shipping a sedan costs about $925–$1,325. Add wear on the car and 3 days off work, and the two come out close.
Which car shipping companies go from Michigan to Texas?
Our directory lists 33 companies based in Michigan and 145 based in Texas, each checked against FMCSA records, plus 96 that ship nationwide.