Route guide · TX → LA
Shipping a car from Texas to Louisiana
Shipping a running sedan from Dallas to New Orleans costs about $650–$1,025 on an open carrier and $950–$1,525 in an enclosed trailer, with 2–3 days in transit. It ranks #143 among the 250 busiest car-shipping lanes, based on Census moving data.
- Open carrier, sedan
- $850
- Road miles
- 530
- Days in transit
- 2–3
- People moving a year
- 19.1K
- Companies at both ends
- 146
City to city
What it costs between Texas and Louisiana cities
Open-carrier prices for a running sedan between Dallas, Houston, San Antonio and Austin and New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Shreveport and Lafayette — 210 to 610 road miles apart.
| From | New Orleans | Baton Rouge | Shreveport | Lafayette |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas | $650–$1,025530 mi · 2–3 days | $600–$975440 mi · 1–3 days | $475–$800210 mi · 1–2 days | $575–$925390 mi · 1–3 days |
| Houston | $575–$925390 mi · 1–3 days | $525–$875300 mi · 1–2 days | $500–$850250 mi · 1–2 days | $500–$850240 mi · 1–2 days |
| San Antonio | $675–$1,075610 mi · 2–3 days | $650–$1,025530 mi · 2–3 days | $575–$950410 mi · 1–3 days | $600–$975460 mi · 1–3 days |
| Austin | $650–$1,025550 mi · 2–3 days | $600–$975470 mi · 1–3 days | $550–$900330 mi · 1–2 days | $575–$950400 mi · 1–3 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 New Orleans, 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 | $650–$1,025 | $950–$1,525 |
| Midsize SUV or crossover | $725–$1,150 | $1,075–$1,700 |
| Large SUV (Tahoe, Expedition) | $800–$1,275 | $1,200–$1,900 |
| Pickup truck | $825–$1,325 | $1,250–$1,975 |
| Motorcycle | $375–$600 | $575–$925 |
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 Louisiana is January–May and September–November.
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Cheapest: about $825 Peak: about $900
About this route
Why so many cars go from Texas to Louisiana
About 19,148 people moved from Texas to Louisiana in each of the last two years, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (18,446 in 2023, 19,850 in 2024). That is 4% of everyone who left Texas for another state.
Traffic runs both ways — about 26,314 people a year move from Louisiana back to Texas — so carriers run this lane year-round and quotes tend to be steady.
How the price compares
At a typical $825, shipping from Texas to Louisiana costs more than sending a car to Mississippi ($775) and Arkansas ($725) but less than to Tennessee ($925) and Alabama ($925). That works out to about $1.56 a mile — short runs cost more per mile because the fixed cost of loading and unloading weighs more.
Distance and transit time
The 530-mile run from Dallas to New Orleans takes 2–3 days on a carrier — short enough that driving yourself is a real option. The car heads east-southeast and stays on Central time the whole way.
On the road
- Hurricane season (June–November) occasionally delays Gulf and Atlantic coast deliveries; carriers will reschedule rather than drive into a storm.
Companies
Car carriers at both ends of the route
The largest carriers headquartered in Texas and Louisiana, 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 Louisiana
1 companies based in Louisiana: 1 carriers, 0 brokers, 3 trucks in total, 21 years in business on average.
- JDL Auto Transport Jamestown · 3 trucks · since 2005 · USDOT 1442244
96 more companies in our directory ship to all 48 contiguous states. Browse all companies →
Related routes
Nearby alternatives
Moving close to Louisiana but not into it — or coming from somewhere near Texas? These guides cover the neighbouring lanes.
From Texas to states near Louisiana
FAQ
Texas to Louisiana car shipping: questions
Numbers on this page come from our price model, Census moving data and Louisiana's DMV.
How much does it cost to ship a car from Texas to Louisiana?
For a running sedan on an open carrier, expect about $650–$1,025 from Dallas to New Orleans (530 road miles). Between other big cities in the two states prices range from $475–$1,075. An SUV costs about $725–$1,150, a pickup $825–$1,325, and an enclosed trailer $950–$1,525 for a sedan.
How long does it take to ship a car from Texas to Louisiana?
Transit is usually 2–3 days after pickup for the 530-mile trip from Dallas to New Orleans. 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 Louisiana?
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 Louisiana after moving?
Louisiana requires new residents to register once you become a resident. New residents title and register with the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles.
Is it cheaper to drive or ship my car from Texas to Louisiana?
Driving 530 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 Texas to Louisiana?
Our directory lists 145 companies based in Texas and 1 based in Louisiana, each checked against FMCSA records, plus 96 that ship nationwide.