Route guide · OH → TX
Shipping a car from Ohio to Texas
Shipping a running sedan from Columbus to Dallas costs about $875–$1,275 on an open carrier and $1,325–$1,925 in an enclosed trailer, with 3–5 days in transit. It ranks #61 among the 250 busiest car-shipping lanes, based on Census moving data.
- Open carrier, sedan
- $1,075
- Road miles
- 1,080
- Days in transit
- 3–5
- People moving a year
- 13.5K
- Companies at both ends
- 207
City to city
What it costs between Ohio and Texas cities
Open-carrier prices for a running sedan between Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati and Toledo and Dallas, Houston, San Antonio and Austin — 960 to 1,480 road miles apart.
| From | Dallas | Houston | San Antonio | Austin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus | $875–$1,2751,080 mi · 3–5 days | $925–$1,3251,170 mi · 3–5 days | $975–$1,4001,350 mi · 3–6 days | $950–$1,3501,260 mi · 3–5 days |
| Cleveland | $925–$1,3251,210 mi · 3–5 days | $975–$1,3751,310 mi · 3–5 days | $1,000–$1,4501,480 mi · 3–6 days | $1,000–$1,4001,400 mi · 3–6 days |
| Cincinnati | $825–$1,225960 mi · 2–4 days | $875–$1,2751,060 mi · 3–5 days | $950–$1,3501,230 mi · 3–5 days | $900–$1,3001,140 mi · 3–5 days |
| Toledo | $900–$1,3001,120 mi · 3–5 days | $950–$1,3501,240 mi · 3–5 days | $1,000–$1,4001,400 mi · 3–6 days | $975–$1,3751,310 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
Columbus to Dallas, 1,080 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 | $875–$1,275 | $1,325–$1,925 |
| Midsize SUV or crossover | $1,000–$1,425 | $1,475–$2,150 |
| Large SUV (Tahoe, Expedition) | $1,100–$1,600 | $1,650–$2,400 |
| Pickup truck | $1,150–$1,675 | $1,725–$2,500 |
| Motorcycle | $525–$775 | $800–$1,150 |
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 Ohio to Texas is February–May and September.
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Cheapest: about $1,075 Peak: about $1,300
About this route
Why so many cars go from Ohio to Texas
About 13,459 people moved from Ohio to Texas in each of the last two years, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (13,463 in 2023, 13,455 in 2024). That is 7.4% of everyone who left Ohio for another state, making Texas its #3 destination.
Far fewer people make the reverse move — about 8,722 a year from Texas to Ohio. Carriers bound for Texas rarely run empty, which keeps pickups quick but prices firm.
How the price compares
At a typical $1,075, shipping from Ohio to Texas is one of the cheaper long moves out of Ohio — Florida ($1,125) and Colorado ($1,200) cost more. That works out to about 100¢ a mile.
Distance and transit time
Columbus to Dallas is about 1,080 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 west-southwest and crosses one time zone — from Eastern to Central time — so confirm whether the delivery window you are given is in local time.
Companies
Car carriers at both ends of the route
The largest carriers headquartered in Ohio and Texas, by trucks on file with the FMCSA. A company based at either end usually runs this lane often.
Pickup end Ohio
62 companies based in Ohio: 56 carriers, 6 brokers, 421 trucks in total, 8 years in business on average.
- Sam Auto Trans LLC Twinsburg · 76 trucks · since 2014 · USDOT 2520572
- Ascot Auto Trans LLC Akron · 45 trucks · since 2013 · USDOT 2429414
- Bwi Haul Solutions Cincinnati · 42 trucks · since 2021 · USDOT 3779250
- Advance Auto Transport Sylvania · 30 trucks · since 2013 · USDOT 2370875
- Professional Auto Transport LLC Howard · 30 trucks · since 2025 · USDOT 4408547
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 Ohio? These guides cover the neighbouring lanes.
FAQ
Ohio 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 Ohio to Texas?
For a running sedan on an open carrier, expect about $875–$1,275 from Columbus to Dallas (1,080 road miles). Between other big cities in the two states prices range from $825–$1,450. An SUV costs about $1,000–$1,425, a pickup $1,150–$1,675, and an enclosed trailer $1,325–$1,925 for a sedan.
How long does it take to ship a car from Ohio to Texas?
Transit is usually 3–5 days after pickup for the 1,080-mile trip from Columbus 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 Ohio to Texas?
February–May and September is the cheapest window on this lane. Prices are highest in December, up to about 20% 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 Ohio to Texas?
Driving 1,080 miles takes about 3 days: roughly $140 in gas and 2 nights of hotels and meals (about $280). Shipping a sedan costs about $875–$1,275. Add wear on the car and 3 days off work, and the two come out close.
Which car shipping companies go from Ohio to Texas?
Our directory lists 62 companies based in Ohio and 145 based in Texas, each checked against FMCSA records, plus 96 that ship nationwide.