Route guide · TX → MN
Shipping a car from Texas to Minnesota
Shipping a running sedan from Dallas to Minneapolis costs about $850–$1,250 on an open carrier and $1,275–$1,875 in an enclosed trailer, with 3–5 days in transit. It ranks #229 among the 250 busiest car-shipping lanes, based on Census moving data.
- Open carrier, sedan
- $1,050
- Road miles
- 1,020
- Days in transit
- 3–5
- People moving a year
- 4.5K
- Companies at both ends
- 161
City to city
What it costs between Texas and Minnesota cities
Open-carrier prices for a running sedan between Dallas, Houston, San Antonio and Austin and Minneapolis, Rochester, Duluth and St. Cloud — 950 to 1,470 road miles apart.
| From | Minneapolis | Rochester | Duluth | St. Cloud |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas | $850–$1,2501,020 mi · 3–5 days | $825–$1,225950 mi · 2–4 days | $925–$1,3251,180 mi · 3–5 days | $875–$1,2751,050 mi · 3–5 days |
| Houston | $950–$1,3501,240 mi · 3–5 days | $925–$1,3251,180 mi · 3–5 days | $1,000–$1,4001,400 mi · 3–6 days | $950–$1,3751,290 mi · 3–5 days |
| San Antonio | $975–$1,3751,310 mi · 3–5 days | $950–$1,3501,250 mi · 3–5 days | $1,000–$1,4501,470 mi · 3–6 days | $975–$1,3751,340 mi · 3–6 days |
| Austin | $950–$1,3501,230 mi · 3–5 days | $925–$1,3251,170 mi · 3–5 days | $975–$1,4001,390 mi · 3–6 days | $950–$1,3501,260 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 Minneapolis, 1,020 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 | $850–$1,250 | $1,275–$1,875 |
| Midsize SUV or crossover | $950–$1,400 | $1,450–$2,125 |
| Large SUV (Tahoe, Expedition) | $1,075–$1,575 | $1,600–$2,350 |
| Pickup truck | $1,125–$1,625 | $1,675–$2,450 |
| Motorcycle | $525–$750 | $775–$1,125 |
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 Minnesota is September–November.
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Cheapest: about $1,050 Peak: about $1,225
About this route
Why so many cars go from Texas to Minnesota
About 4,490 people moved from Texas to Minnesota in each of the last two years, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (4,400 in 2023, 4,579 in 2024). That is 0.9% of everyone who left Texas for another state.
This is the lighter direction: about 7,028 people a year move Minnesota to Texas. Carriers that bring cars into Texas need loads back toward Minnesota, so it's worth asking for a backhaul price on this leg.
How the price compares
At a typical $1,050, shipping from Texas to Minnesota costs more than sending a car to Illinois ($1,025) and Indiana ($1,000) but less than to North Carolina ($1,075) and Arizona ($1,075). That works out to about $1.03 a mile.
Distance and transit time
Expect about 1,020 road miles from Dallas to Minneapolis — 3–5 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 north-northeast and stays on Central time the whole way.
On the road
- Winter storms in Minnesota 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 Minnesota, 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 Minnesota
16 companies based in Minnesota: 16 carriers, 2 brokers, 325 trucks in total, 23 years in business on average.
- Advanced Auto Transport Inc Lake Elmo · 205 trucks · since 1998 · USDOT 752871
- Carstensen & Sons Trucking Inc Cannon Falls · 42 trucks · since 1987 · USDOT 285579
- Express Auto Transport Inc Farmington · 37 trucks · since 1996 · USDOT 653539
- Becker Auto Transport Inc Hayward · 6 trucks · since 1995 · USDOT 589012
- Dreckmans Auto Transport Inc Balaton · 4 trucks · since 2006 · USDOT 1552868
96 more companies in our directory ship to all 48 contiguous states. Browse all companies →
Related routes
Nearby alternatives
Moving close to Minnesota but not into it — or coming from somewhere near Texas? These guides cover the neighbouring lanes.
From Texas to states near Minnesota
To Minnesota from states near Texas
FAQ
Texas to Minnesota car shipping: questions
Numbers on this page come from our price model, Census moving data and Minnesota's DMV.
How much does it cost to ship a car from Texas to Minnesota?
For a running sedan on an open carrier, expect about $850–$1,250 from Dallas to Minneapolis (1,020 road miles). Between other big cities in the two states prices range from $825–$1,450. An SUV costs about $950–$1,400, a pickup $1,125–$1,625, and an enclosed trailer $1,275–$1,875 for a sedan.
How long does it take to ship a car from Texas to Minnesota?
Transit is usually 3–5 days after pickup for the 1,020-mile trip from Dallas to Minneapolis. 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 Minnesota?
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 Minnesota after moving?
Minnesota requires new residents to register within 60 days of becoming a resident. Register at a deputy registrar office or by mail.
Is it cheaper to drive or ship my car from Texas to Minnesota?
Driving 1,020 miles takes about 3 days: roughly $130 in gas and 2 nights of hotels and meals (about $280). Shipping a sedan costs about $850–$1,250. Add wear on the car and 3 days off work, and the two come out close.
Which car shipping companies go from Texas to Minnesota?
Our directory lists 145 companies based in Texas and 16 based in Minnesota, each checked against FMCSA records, plus 96 that ship nationwide.