Route guide · PA → TX
Shipping a car from Pennsylvania to Texas
Shipping a running sedan from Philadelphia to Dallas costs about $1,025–$1,450 on an open carrier and $1,525–$2,200 in an enclosed trailer, with 4–6 days in transit. It ranks #81 among the 250 busiest car-shipping lanes, based on Census moving data.
- Open carrier, sedan
- $1,250
- Road miles
- 1,530
- Days in transit
- 4–6
- People moving a year
- 10.7K
- Companies at both ends
- 283
City to city
What it costs between Pennsylvania and Texas cities
Open-carrier prices for a running sedan between Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown and Erie and Dallas, Houston, San Antonio and Austin — 1,260 to 1,780 road miles apart.
| From | Dallas | Houston | San Antonio | Austin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia | $1,025–$1,4501,530 mi · 4–6 days | $1,050–$1,4751,580 mi · 4–6 days | $1,100–$1,5501,780 mi · 4–7 days | $1,075–$1,5251,700 mi · 4–7 days |
| Pittsburgh | $950–$1,3501,260 mi · 3–5 days | $975–$1,3751,340 mi · 3–6 days | $1,025–$1,4501,520 mi · 4–6 days | $1,000–$1,4251,440 mi · 3–6 days |
| Allentown | $1,025–$1,4501,520 mi · 4–6 days | $1,050–$1,4751,590 mi · 4–6 days | $1,100–$1,5501,780 mi · 4–7 days | $1,075–$1,5251,690 mi · 4–7 days |
| Erie | $975–$1,3751,320 mi · 3–5 days | $1,000–$1,4251,420 mi · 3–6 days | $1,050–$1,4751,590 mi · 4–6 days | $1,025–$1,4501,500 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
Philadelphia to Dallas, 1,530 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 | $1,025–$1,450 | $1,525–$2,200 |
| Midsize SUV or crossover | $1,150–$1,625 | $1,725–$2,450 |
| Large SUV (Tahoe, Expedition) | $1,275–$1,825 | $1,925–$2,750 |
| Pickup truck | $1,325–$1,900 | $2,000–$2,850 |
| Motorcycle | $625–$875 | $925–$1,325 |
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 Pennsylvania to Texas is February–May and September.
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Cheapest: about $1,250 Peak: about $1,500
About this route
Why so many cars go from Pennsylvania to Texas
About 10,709 people moved from Pennsylvania to Texas in each of the last two years, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (8,438 in 2023, 12,979 in 2024). That is 4.1% of everyone who left Pennsylvania for another state.
Traffic runs both ways — about 9,464 people a year move from Texas back to Pennsylvania — so carriers run this lane year-round and quotes tend to be steady.
How the price compares
At a typical $1,250, shipping from Pennsylvania to Texas costs more than sending a car to Florida ($1,125) and Georgia ($975) but less than to Colorado ($1,350) and Arizona ($1,575). That works out to about 82¢ a mile — long hauls cost less per mile because loading and paperwork are spread over more distance.
Distance and transit time
Your car spends 4–6 days on the road for the roughly 1,530 miles from Philadelphia to Dallas, after a pickup window of a few days while the carrier assembles a full load. 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 Pennsylvania and Texas, by trucks on file with the FMCSA. A company based at either end usually runs this lane often.
Pickup end Pennsylvania
138 companies based in Pennsylvania: 128 carriers, 9 brokers, 899 trucks in total, 9 years in business on average.
- Brothers Auto Transport LLC Wind Gap · 92 trucks · since 1995 · USDOT 621208
- Adcock Transport Manheim · 85 trucks · since 1993 · USDOT 540755
- Rafael Auto Transport LLC Oakdale · 77 trucks · since 2021 · USDOT 3677616
- McGann & Chester Towing and Heavy Duty Pittsburgh · 61 trucks · since 1986 · USDOT 279905
- Fine Line Transportation LLC Lititz · 54 trucks · since 2011 · USDOT 2136888
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 Pennsylvania? These guides cover the neighbouring lanes.
From Pennsylvania to states near Texas
To Texas from states near Pennsylvania
FAQ
Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania to Texas?
For a running sedan on an open carrier, expect about $1,025–$1,450 from Philadelphia to Dallas (1,530 road miles). Between other big cities in the two states prices range from $950–$1,550. An SUV costs about $1,150–$1,625, a pickup $1,325–$1,900, and an enclosed trailer $1,525–$2,200 for a sedan.
How long does it take to ship a car from Pennsylvania to Texas?
Transit is usually 4–6 days after pickup for the 1,530-mile trip from Philadelphia 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 Pennsylvania to Texas?
February–May and September is the cheapest window on this lane. Prices are highest in December, up to about 20% 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 Pennsylvania to Texas?
Driving 1,530 miles takes about 4 days: roughly $200 in gas and 3 nights of hotels and meals (about $420). Shipping a sedan costs about $1,025–$1,450. Add wear on the car and 4 days off work, and the two come out close.
Which car shipping companies go from Pennsylvania to Texas?
Our directory lists 138 companies based in Pennsylvania and 145 based in Texas, each checked against FMCSA records, plus 96 that ship nationwide.