Route guide · MN → TX
Shipping a car from Minnesota to Texas
Shipping a running sedan from Minneapolis to Dallas costs about $850–$1,250 on an open carrier and $1,275–$1,875 in an enclosed trailer, with 3–5 days in transit. It ranks #145 among the 250 busiest car-shipping lanes, based on Census moving data.
- Open carrier, sedan
- $1,050
- Road miles
- 1,020
- Days in transit
- 3–5
- People moving a year
- 7.0K
- Companies at both ends
- 161
City to city
What it costs between Minnesota and Texas cities
Open-carrier prices for a running sedan between Minneapolis, Rochester, Duluth and St. Cloud and Dallas, Houston, San Antonio and Austin — 950 to 1,470 road miles apart.
| From | Dallas | Houston | San Antonio | Austin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis | $850–$1,2501,020 mi · 3–5 days | $950–$1,3501,240 mi · 3–5 days | $975–$1,3751,310 mi · 3–5 days | $950–$1,3501,230 mi · 3–5 days |
| Rochester | $825–$1,225950 mi · 2–4 days | $925–$1,3251,180 mi · 3–5 days | $950–$1,3501,250 mi · 3–5 days | $925–$1,3251,170 mi · 3–5 days |
| Duluth | $925–$1,3251,180 mi · 3–5 days | $1,000–$1,4001,400 mi · 3–6 days | $1,000–$1,4501,470 mi · 3–6 days | $975–$1,4001,390 mi · 3–6 days |
| St. Cloud | $875–$1,2751,050 mi · 3–5 days | $950–$1,3751,290 mi · 3–5 days | $975–$1,3751,340 mi · 3–6 days | $950–$1,3501,260 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
Minneapolis to Dallas, 1,020 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 | $850–$1,250 | $1,275–$1,875 |
| Midsize SUV or crossover | $950–$1,400 | $1,450–$2,125 |
| Large SUV (Tahoe, Expedition) | $1,075–$1,575 | $1,600–$2,350 |
| Pickup truck | $1,125–$1,625 | $1,675–$2,450 |
| Motorcycle | $525–$750 | $775–$1,125 |
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 Minnesota to Texas is March–May and September.
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Cheapest: about $1,050 Peak: about $1,325
About this route
Why so many cars go from Minnesota to Texas
About 7,029 people moved from Minnesota to Texas in each of the last two years, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (7,959 in 2023, 6,098 in 2024). That is 6.3% of everyone who left Minnesota for another state, making Texas its #4 destination.
Far fewer people make the reverse move — about 4,490 a year from Texas to Minnesota. Carriers bound for Texas rarely run empty, which keeps pickups quick but prices firm.
How the price compares
At a typical $1,050, shipping from Minnesota to Texas is one of the cheaper long moves out of Minnesota — Arizona ($1,225) and Florida ($1,325) cost more. That works out to about $1.03 a mile.
Distance and transit time
Minneapolis to Dallas is about 1,020 road miles, or 3–5 days on a car carrier. Most of the wait is before pickup, while the driver fills the trailer. The car heads south-southwest and stays on Central time the whole way.
On the road
- Winter storms in Minnesota 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 Minnesota and Texas, by trucks on file with the FMCSA. A company based at either end usually runs this lane often.
Pickup end Minnesota
16 companies based in Minnesota: 16 carriers, 2 brokers, 325 trucks in total, 23 years in business on average.
- Advanced Auto Transport Inc Lake Elmo · 205 trucks · since 1998 · USDOT 752871
- Carstensen & Sons Trucking Inc Cannon Falls · 42 trucks · since 1987 · USDOT 285579
- Express Auto Transport Inc Farmington · 37 trucks · since 1996 · USDOT 653539
- Becker Auto Transport Inc Hayward · 6 trucks · since 1995 · USDOT 589012
- Dreckmans Auto Transport Inc Balaton · 4 trucks · since 2006 · USDOT 1552868
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 Minnesota? These guides cover the neighbouring lanes.
From Minnesota to states near Texas
To Texas from states near Minnesota
FAQ
Minnesota 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 Minnesota to Texas?
For a running sedan on an open carrier, expect about $850–$1,250 from Minneapolis to Dallas (1,020 road miles). Between other big cities in the two states prices range from $825–$1,450. An SUV costs about $950–$1,400, a pickup $1,125–$1,625, and an enclosed trailer $1,275–$1,875 for a sedan.
How long does it take to ship a car from Minnesota to Texas?
Transit is usually 3–5 days after pickup for the 1,020-mile trip from Minneapolis to Dallas. Before that, allow 1–5 days for a carrier to be assigned — or pay roughly 30% extra to have it collected within 48 hours.
When is the cheapest time to ship a car from Minnesota to Texas?
March–May and September is the cheapest window on this lane. Prices are highest in December, up to about 25% more. In any month, giving the carrier a wide pickup window lowers the quote.
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 Minnesota to Texas?
Driving 1,020 miles takes about 3 days: roughly $130 in gas and 2 nights of hotels and meals (about $280). Shipping a sedan costs about $850–$1,250. Add wear on the car and 3 days off work, and the two come out close.
Which car shipping companies go from Minnesota to Texas?
Our directory lists 16 companies based in Minnesota and 145 based in Texas, each checked against FMCSA records, plus 96 that ship nationwide.