Route guide · VA → TX
Shipping a car from Virginia to Texas
Shipping a running sedan from Virginia Beach to Dallas 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 #49 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
- 16.1K
- Companies at both ends
- 173
City to city
What it costs between Virginia and Texas cities
Open-carrier prices for a running sedan between Virginia Beach, Richmond, Alexandria and Roanoke and Dallas, Houston, San Antonio and Austin — 1,180 to 1,640 road miles apart.
| From | Dallas | Houston | San Antonio | Austin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia Beach | $1,000–$1,4251,420 mi · 3–6 days | $1,000–$1,4251,430 mi · 3–6 days | $1,050–$1,5001,640 mi · 4–6 days | $1,025–$1,4751,560 mi · 4–6 days |
| Richmond | $975–$1,3751,340 mi · 3–6 days | $975–$1,4001,370 mi · 3–6 days | $1,025–$1,4751,570 mi · 4–6 days | $1,025–$1,4501,490 mi · 3–6 days |
| Alexandria | $975–$1,4001,390 mi · 3–6 days | $1,000–$1,4251,430 mi · 3–6 days | $1,050–$1,5001,630 mi · 4–6 days | $1,025–$1,4751,550 mi · 4–6 days |
| Roanoke | $925–$1,3251,180 mi · 3–5 days | $925–$1,3251,210 mi · 3–5 days | $1,000–$1,4251,410 mi · 3–6 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
Virginia Beach to Dallas, 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 December (snowbird season, when retirees ship cars south for the winter and the holidays), running about 20% above the quietest months. The cheapest time to ship from Virginia to Texas is February–May and September.
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Cheapest: about $1,200 Peak: about $1,450
About this route
Why so many cars go from Virginia to Texas
About 16,067 people moved from Virginia to Texas in each of the last two years, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (14,137 in 2023, 17,996 in 2024). That is 6.2% of everyone who left Virginia for another state, making Texas its #5 destination.
Traffic runs both ways — about 13,473 people a year move from Texas back to Virginia — so carriers run this lane year-round and quotes tend to be steady.
How the price compares
At a typical $1,200, shipping from Virginia to Texas costs more than sending a car to Florida ($1,025) but less than to Colorado ($1,350) and Arizona ($1,550). That works out to about 85¢ a mile.
Distance and transit time
Expect about 1,420 road miles from Virginia Beach to Dallas — 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 west and crosses one time zone — from Eastern to Central 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 Virginia and Texas, by trucks on file with the FMCSA. A company based at either end usually runs this lane often.
Pickup 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
Delivery 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
96 more companies in our directory ship to all 48 contiguous states. Browse all companies →
Related routes
Nearby alternatives
Moving close to Texas but not into it — or coming from somewhere near Virginia? These guides cover the neighbouring lanes.
FAQ
Virginia to Texas car shipping: questions
Numbers on this page come from our price model, Census moving data and Texas's DMV.
How much does it cost to ship a car from Virginia to Texas?
For a running sedan on an open carrier, expect about $1,000–$1,425 from Virginia Beach to Dallas (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 Virginia to Texas?
Transit is usually 3–6 days after pickup for the 1,420-mile trip from Virginia Beach to Dallas. 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 Virginia to Texas?
February–May and September is the cheapest window on this lane. Prices are highest in December, up to about 20% 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 Texas after moving?
Texas requires new residents to register within 30 days of becoming a resident. Get Texas insurance first. Cars in 17 emissions counties — including Harris (Houston), Dallas, Tarrant (Fort Worth) and Travis (Austin) — need an emissions test; then register at the county tax assessor-collector.
Is it cheaper to drive or ship my car from Virginia to Texas?
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 Virginia to Texas?
Our directory lists 28 companies based in Virginia and 145 based in Texas, each checked against FMCSA records, plus 96 that ship nationwide.