Route guide · TX → IL
Shipping a car from Texas to Illinois
Shipping a running sedan from Dallas to Chicago costs about $825–$1,225 on an open carrier and $1,250–$1,850 in an enclosed trailer, with 2–4 days in transit. It ranks #47 among the 250 busiest car-shipping lanes, based on Census moving data.
- Open carrier, sedan
- $1,025
- Road miles
- 940
- Days in transit
- 2–4
- People moving a year
- 16.7K
- Companies at both ends
- 251
City to city
What it costs between Texas and Illinois cities
Open-carrier prices for a running sedan between Dallas, Houston, San Antonio and Austin and Chicago, Rockford, Springfield and Peoria — 740 to 1,240 road miles apart.
| From | Chicago | Rockford | Springfield | Peoria |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas | $825–$1,225940 mi · 2–4 days | $825–$1,225920 mi · 2–4 days | $750–$1,150740 mi · 2–4 days | $775–$1,175800 mi · 2–4 days |
| Houston | $900–$1,3001,110 mi · 3–5 days | $900–$1,3001,100 mi · 3–5 days | $800–$1,200900 mi · 2–4 days | $850–$1,250970 mi · 2–4 days |
| San Antonio | $950–$1,3501,240 mi · 3–5 days | $925–$1,3251,210 mi · 3–5 days | $850–$1,2501,030 mi · 3–5 days | $875–$1,2751,090 mi · 3–5 days |
| Austin | $900–$1,3001,150 mi · 3–5 days | $900–$1,3001,130 mi · 3–5 days | $825–$1,225940 mi · 2–4 days | $850–$1,2501,010 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
Dallas to Chicago, 940 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 | $825–$1,225 | $1,250–$1,850 |
| Midsize SUV or crossover | $925–$1,375 | $1,400–$2,050 |
| Large SUV (Tahoe, Expedition) | $1,025–$1,525 | $1,550–$2,300 |
| Pickup truck | $1,075–$1,600 | $1,600–$2,400 |
| Motorcycle | $500–$725 | $750–$1,100 |
By month
Best time to ship
Prices on this lane peak in March–May (snowbird season, when retirees ship cars back north for the summer), running about 15% above the quietest months. The cheapest time to ship from Texas to Illinois is January–February and September–November.
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Cheapest: about $1,025 Peak: about $1,175
About this route
Why so many cars go from Texas to Illinois
About 16,708 people moved from Texas to Illinois in each of the last two years, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (15,227 in 2023, 18,189 in 2024). That is 3.5% of everyone who left Texas for another state.
This is the lighter direction: about 23,845 people a year move Illinois to Texas. Carriers that bring cars into Texas need loads back toward Illinois, so it's worth asking for a backhaul price on this leg.
How the price compares
At a typical $1,025, shipping from Texas to Illinois costs more than sending a car to Indiana ($1,000) and Kentucky ($1,000) but less than to Wisconsin ($1,050) and Minnesota ($1,050). That works out to about $1.09 a mile.
Distance and transit time
Expect about 940 road miles from Dallas to Chicago — 2–4 days on the truck after pickup. Carriers usually load several cars before heading out, so the pickup window matters as much as transit time. The car heads northeast and stays on Central time the whole way.
On the road
- Winter storms in Illinois 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 Texas and Illinois, 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 Illinois
106 companies based in Illinois: 90 carriers, 14 brokers, 1,639 trucks in total, 8 years in business on average.
- Cassens Transport Company Edwardsville · 911 trucks · since 1974 · USDOT 124358
- Orgil Auto Transport Rosemont · 75 trucks · since 2010 · USDOT 2005112
- Americars Transportation Inc Aurora · 65 trucks · since 2016 · USDOT 2913704
- Windy City Auto Transportation LLC Hazel Crest · 61 trucks · since 2025 · USDOT 4367050
- American Auto Transport Inc Lombard · 57 trucks · since 2004 · USDOT 1291429
96 more companies in our directory ship to all 48 contiguous states. Browse all companies →
Related routes
Nearby alternatives
Moving close to Illinois but not into it — or coming from somewhere near Texas? These guides cover the neighbouring lanes.
FAQ
Texas to Illinois car shipping: questions
Numbers on this page come from our price model, Census moving data and Illinois's DMV.
How much does it cost to ship a car from Texas to Illinois?
For a running sedan on an open carrier, expect about $825–$1,225 from Dallas to Chicago (940 road miles). Between other big cities in the two states prices range from $750–$1,350. An SUV costs about $925–$1,375, a pickup $1,075–$1,600, and an enclosed trailer $1,250–$1,850 for a sedan.
How long does it take to ship a car from Texas to Illinois?
Transit is usually 2–4 days after pickup for the 940-mile trip from Dallas to Chicago. 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 Texas to Illinois?
January–February and September–November is the cheapest window on this lane. Prices are highest in March–May, up to about 15% 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 Illinois after moving?
Illinois requires new residents to register within 30 days of becoming a resident. Apply for an Illinois title and registration at a Secretary of State facility or by mail.
Is it cheaper to drive or ship my car from Texas to Illinois?
Driving 940 miles takes about 2 days: roughly $120 in gas and 1 night of hotels and meals (about $140). Shipping a sedan costs about $825–$1,225. Over this distance driving usually costs less, if you can spare the day.
Which car shipping companies go from Texas to Illinois?
Our directory lists 145 companies based in Texas and 106 based in Illinois, each checked against FMCSA records, plus 96 that ship nationwide.