Route guide · TX → VA
Shipping a car from Texas to Virginia
Shipping a running sedan from Dallas to Virginia Beach costs about $1,000–$1,425 on an open carrier and $1,500–$2,125 in an enclosed trailer, with 3–6 days in transit. It ranks #60 among the 250 busiest car-shipping lanes, based on Census moving data.
- Open carrier, sedan
- $1,225
- Road miles
- 1,420
- Days in transit
- 3–6
- People moving a year
- 13.5K
- Companies at both ends
- 173
City to city
What it costs between Texas and Virginia cities
Open-carrier prices for a running sedan between Dallas, Houston, San Antonio and Austin and Virginia Beach, Richmond, Alexandria and Roanoke — 1,180 to 1,640 road miles apart.
| From | Virginia Beach | Richmond | Alexandria | Roanoke |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas | $1,000–$1,4251,420 mi · 3–6 days | $975–$1,3751,340 mi · 3–6 days | $975–$1,4001,390 mi · 3–6 days | $925–$1,3251,180 mi · 3–5 days |
| Houston | $1,000–$1,4251,430 mi · 3–6 days | $975–$1,4001,370 mi · 3–6 days | $1,000–$1,4251,430 mi · 3–6 days | $925–$1,3251,210 mi · 3–5 days |
| San Antonio | $1,050–$1,5001,640 mi · 4–6 days | $1,025–$1,4751,570 mi · 4–6 days | $1,050–$1,5001,630 mi · 4–6 days | $1,000–$1,4251,410 mi · 3–6 days |
| Austin | $1,025–$1,4751,560 mi · 4–6 days | $1,025–$1,4501,490 mi · 3–6 days | $1,025–$1,4751,550 mi · 4–6 days | $975–$1,3751,330 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
Dallas to Virginia Beach, 1,420 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–$1,425 | $1,500–$2,125 |
| Midsize SUV or crossover | $1,125–$1,600 | $1,675–$2,375 |
| Large SUV (Tahoe, Expedition) | $1,250–$1,775 | $1,875–$2,650 |
| Pickup truck | $1,300–$1,850 | $1,950–$2,775 |
| Motorcycle | $600–$850 | $900–$1,275 |
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 Virginia is January–February and September–November.
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Cheapest: about $1,200 Peak: about $1,400
About this route
Why so many cars go from Texas to Virginia
About 13,473 people moved from Texas to Virginia in each of the last two years, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (11,470 in 2023, 15,476 in 2024). That is 2.8% of everyone who left Texas for another state.
Traffic runs both ways — about 16,066 people a year move from Virginia back to Texas — so carriers run this lane year-round and quotes tend to be steady.
How the price compares
At a typical $1,200, shipping from Texas to Virginia costs more than sending a car to Florida ($1,175) and Nevada ($1,150) but less than to California ($1,225) and Pennsylvania ($1,250). That works out to about 85¢ a mile.
Distance and transit time
Expect about 1,420 road miles from Dallas to Virginia Beach — 3–6 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 east-northeast and crosses one time zone — from Central to Eastern 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 Texas and Virginia, 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 Virginia
28 companies based in Virginia: 26 carriers, 2 brokers, 107 trucks in total, 12 years in business on average.
- Prestige Auto Transport Mount Crawford · 28 trucks · since 2004 · USDOT 1306068
- Autova Auto Transport LLC Madison Hts · 7 trucks · since 2023 · USDOT 4122145
- Ata Centreville · 6 trucks · since 2012 · USDOT 2303078
- Cavalier Transport Inc Spotsylvania · 5 trucks · since 2018 · USDOT 3193540
- Helens Transportation LLC Frederickburg · 5 trucks · since 2008 · USDOT 1779934
96 more companies in our directory ship to all 48 contiguous states. Browse all companies →
Related routes
Nearby alternatives
Moving close to Virginia but not into it — or coming from somewhere near Texas? These guides cover the neighbouring lanes.
FAQ
Texas to Virginia car shipping: questions
Numbers on this page come from our price model, Census moving data and Virginia's DMV.
How much does it cost to ship a car from Texas to Virginia?
For a running sedan on an open carrier, expect about $1,000–$1,425 from Dallas to Virginia Beach (1,420 road miles). Between other big cities in the two states prices range from $925–$1,500. An SUV costs about $1,125–$1,600, a pickup $1,300–$1,850, and an enclosed trailer $1,500–$2,125 for a sedan.
How long does it take to ship a car from Texas to Virginia?
Transit is usually 3–6 days after pickup for the 1,420-mile trip from Dallas to Virginia Beach. 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 Virginia?
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 Virginia after moving?
Virginia requires new residents to register within 30 days of becoming a resident. Title and register together; cars kept in Northern Virginia need an emissions inspection unless they have a valid certificate from the last 12 months.
Is it cheaper to drive or ship my car from Texas to Virginia?
Driving 1,420 miles takes about 3 days: roughly $180 in gas and 2 nights of hotels and meals (about $280). Shipping a sedan costs about $1,000–$1,425. Add wear on the car and 3 days off work, and the two come out close.
Which car shipping companies go from Texas to Virginia?
Our directory lists 145 companies based in Texas and 28 based in Virginia, each checked against FMCSA records, plus 96 that ship nationwide.