Route guide · MO → TX
Shipping a car from Missouri to Texas
Shipping a running sedan from Kansas City to Dallas costs about $650–$1,025 on an open carrier and $975–$1,525 in an enclosed trailer, with 2–3 days in transit. It ranks #108 among the 250 busiest car-shipping lanes, based on Census moving data.
- Open carrier, sedan
- $850
- Road miles
- 540
- Days in transit
- 2–3
- People moving a year
- 13.0K
- Companies at both ends
- 175
City to city
What it costs between Missouri and Texas cities
Open-carrier prices for a running sedan between Kansas City, St. Louis, Springfield and Columbia and Dallas, Houston, San Antonio and Austin — 430 to 930 road miles apart.
| From | Dallas | Houston | San Antonio | Austin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas City | $650–$1,025540 mi · 2–3 days | $750–$1,150760 mi · 2–4 days | $775–$1,175830 mi · 2–4 days | $750–$1,150750 mi · 2–4 days |
| St. Louis | $700–$1,075640 mi · 2–3 days | $775–$1,175800 mi · 2–4 days | $825–$1,225930 mi · 2–4 days | $800–$1,200850 mi · 2–4 days |
| Springfield | $600–$950430 mi · 1–3 days | $675–$1,075620 mi · 2–3 days | $725–$1,125720 mi · 2–4 days | $700–$1,075640 mi · 2–3 days |
| Columbia | $675–$1,050580 mi · 2–3 days | $750–$1,150770 mi · 2–4 days | $800–$1,200880 mi · 2–4 days | $775–$1,175790 mi · 2–4 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
Kansas City to Dallas, 540 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 | $975–$1,525 |
| Midsize SUV or crossover | $725–$1,150 | $1,075–$1,725 |
| Large SUV (Tahoe, Expedition) | $800–$1,275 | $1,200–$1,925 |
| Pickup truck | $850–$1,325 | $1,250–$2,000 |
| Motorcycle | $375–$625 | $575–$925 |
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 Missouri to Texas is February–May and September.
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Cheapest: about $825 Peak: about $1,000
About this route
Why so many cars go from Missouri to Texas
About 13,009 people moved from Missouri to Texas in each of the last two years, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (10,883 in 2023, 15,134 in 2024). That is 9.7% of everyone who left Missouri for another state, making Texas its #2 destination.
Traffic runs both ways — about 11,022 people a year move from Texas back to Missouri — so carriers run this lane year-round and quotes tend to be steady.
How the price compares
At a typical $825, shipping from Missouri to Texas is one of the cheaper long moves out of Missouri — Arizona ($1,150) and Florida ($1,225) cost more. That works out to about $1.53 a mile — short runs cost more per mile because the fixed cost of loading and unloading weighs more.
Distance and transit time
Kansas City to Dallas is about 540 road miles — 2–3 days on the truck. On a run this short, many people weigh shipping against driving it themselves. The car heads south-southwest and stays on Central time the whole way.
Companies
Car carriers at both ends of the route
The largest carriers headquartered in Missouri and Texas, by trucks on file with the FMCSA. A company based at either end usually runs this lane often.
Pickup end Missouri
30 companies based in Missouri: 30 carriers, 0 brokers, 456 trucks in total, 14 years in business on average.
- Redbird Carriers and Fastrack Auto Transport Saint Louis · 265 trucks · since 1984 · USDOT 251582
- CNS Transportation LLC Warrensburg · 49 trucks · since 2025 · USDOT 4371608
- Smith Auto Transport Strafford · 34 trucks · since 2013 · USDOT 2368130
- Passport Transport Lebanon · 23 trucks · since 2010 · USDOT 2043860
- Reliable Transport LLC Springfield · 8 trucks · since 2011 · USDOT 2205331
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 Missouri? These guides cover the neighbouring lanes.
FAQ
Missouri 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 Missouri to Texas?
For a running sedan on an open carrier, expect about $650–$1,025 from Kansas City to Dallas (540 road miles). Between other big cities in the two states prices range from $600–$1,225. An SUV costs about $725–$1,150, a pickup $850–$1,325, and an enclosed trailer $975–$1,525 for a sedan.
How long does it take to ship a car from Missouri to Texas?
Transit is usually 2–3 days after pickup for the 540-mile trip from Kansas City 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 Missouri 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 Missouri to Texas?
Driving 540 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 Missouri to Texas?
Our directory lists 30 companies based in Missouri and 145 based in Texas, each checked against FMCSA records, plus 96 that ship nationwide.