Route guide · TX → CA
Shipping a car from Texas to California
Shipping a running sedan from Dallas to Los Angeles costs about $1,000–$1,450 on an open carrier and $1,525–$2,150 in an enclosed trailer, with 3–6 days in transit. It ranks #4 among the 250 busiest car-shipping lanes, based on Census moving data.
- Open carrier, sedan
- $1,225
- Road miles
- 1,470
- Days in transit
- 3–6
- People moving a year
- 42.1K
- Companies at both ends
- 267
City to city
What it costs between Texas and California cities
Open-carrier prices for a running sedan between Dallas, Houston, San Antonio and Austin and Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego and San Jose — 1,330 to 1,970 road miles apart.
| From | Los Angeles | San Francisco | San Diego | San Jose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas | $1,000–$1,4501,470 mi · 3–6 days | $1,100–$1,5751,790 mi · 4–7 days | $975–$1,4001,390 mi · 3–6 days | $1,075–$1,5251,710 mi · 4–7 days |
| Houston | $1,050–$1,5001,630 mi · 4–6 days | $1,150–$1,6501,970 mi · 4–7 days | $1,025–$1,4501,530 mi · 4–6 days | $1,125–$1,6001,890 mi · 4–7 days |
| San Antonio | $1,000–$1,4251,430 mi · 3–6 days | $1,100–$1,5751,790 mi · 4–7 days | $975–$1,3751,330 mi · 3–6 days | $1,075–$1,5251,700 mi · 4–7 days |
| Austin | $1,000–$1,4251,450 mi · 3–6 days | $1,100–$1,5751,810 mi · 4–7 days | $975–$1,4001,360 mi · 3–6 days | $1,075–$1,5501,720 mi · 4–7 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
Dallas to Los Angeles, 1,470 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 | $1,000–$1,450 | $1,525–$2,150 |
| Midsize SUV or crossover | $1,125–$1,600 | $1,700–$2,425 |
| Large SUV (Tahoe, Expedition) | $1,250–$1,800 | $1,900–$2,700 |
| Pickup truck | $1,300–$1,875 | $1,975–$2,800 |
| Motorcycle | $600–$875 | $900–$1,300 |
By month
Best time to ship
Prices on this lane peak in June–August (the summer moving peak), running about 8% above the quietest months. The cheapest time to ship from Texas to California is January–May and September–November.
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Cheapest: about $1,225 Peak: about $1,325
About this route
Why so many cars go from Texas to California
About 42,090 people moved from Texas to California in each of the last two years, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (38,732 in 2023, 45,447 in 2024). That is 8.7% of everyone who left Texas for another state — no state draws more people from Texas.
This is the lighter direction: about 85,566 people a year move California to Texas. Carriers that bring cars into Texas need loads back toward California, so it's worth asking for a backhaul price on this leg.
How the price compares
At a typical $1,225, shipping from Texas to California costs more than sending a car to Virginia ($1,200) and Maryland ($1,200) but less than to Pennsylvania ($1,250) and New York ($1,275). That works out to about 83¢ a mile.
Distance and transit time
Your car spends 3–6 days on the road for the roughly 1,470 miles from Dallas to Los Angeles, after a pickup window of a few days while the carrier assembles a full load. The car heads west and crosses 2 time zones — from Central to Pacific time — so confirm whether the delivery window you are given is in local time.
On the road
- Trucks usually take the southern route across the desert Southwest, which stays open all winter — one reason this lane runs on schedule year-round.
Companies
Car carriers at both ends of the route
The largest carriers headquartered in Texas and California, by trucks on file with the FMCSA. A company based at either end usually runs this lane often.
Pickup 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
Delivery end California
122 companies based in California: 91 carriers, 18 brokers, 1,809 trucks in total, 11 years in business on average.
- Hansen & Adkins Auto Transport Inc Los Alamitos · 965 trucks · since 1994 · USDOT 568253
- Professional Auto Transport Inc Jurupa Valley · 257 trucks · since 2003 · USDOT 1130314
- Central Valley Auto Transport Inc Strathmore · 76 trucks · since 2001 · USDOT 978079
- DBN Auto Transport Anaheim · 75 trucks · since 2017 · USDOT 2979175
- Safe Auto Transport Inc N Highlands · 44 trucks · since 2013 · USDOT 2411467
96 more companies in our directory ship to all 48 contiguous states. Browse all companies →
Related routes
Nearby alternatives
Moving close to California but not into it — or coming from somewhere near Texas? These guides cover the neighbouring lanes.
From Texas to states near California
To California from states near Texas
FAQ
Texas to California car shipping: questions
Numbers on this page come from our price model, Census moving data and California's DMV.
How much does it cost to ship a car from Texas to California?
For a running sedan on an open carrier, expect about $1,000–$1,450 from Dallas to Los Angeles (1,470 road miles). Between other big cities in the two states prices range from $975–$1,650. An SUV costs about $1,125–$1,600, a pickup $1,300–$1,875, and an enclosed trailer $1,525–$2,150 for a sedan.
How long does it take to ship a car from Texas to California?
Transit is usually 3–6 days after pickup for the 1,470-mile trip from Dallas to Los Angeles. 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 Texas to California?
January–May and September–November is the cheapest window on this lane. Prices are highest in June–August, up to about 8% more. If you must ship in peak months, book three to four weeks ahead.
How soon do I have to register my car in California after moving?
California requires new residents to register within 20 days of becoming a resident. The car must pass a California smog check, and it has to meet California emission standards to be registered at all.
Is it cheaper to drive or ship my car from Texas to California?
Driving 1,470 miles takes about 3 days: roughly $190 in gas and 2 nights of hotels and meals (about $280). Shipping a sedan costs about $1,000–$1,450. Add wear on the car and 3 days off work, and the two come out close.
Which car shipping companies go from Texas to California?
Our directory lists 145 companies based in Texas and 122 based in California, each checked against FMCSA records, plus 96 that ship nationwide.