Route guide · WI → TX
Shipping a car from Wisconsin to Texas
Shipping a running sedan from Milwaukee to Dallas 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 #139 among the 250 busiest car-shipping lanes, based on Census moving data.
- Open carrier, sedan
- $1,050
- Road miles
- 1,010
- Days in transit
- 3–5
- People moving a year
- 7.3K
- Companies at both ends
- 160
City to city
What it costs between Wisconsin and Texas cities
Open-carrier prices for a running sedan between Milwaukee, Madison, Green Bay and Eau Claire and Dallas, Houston, San Antonio and Austin — 960 to 1,400 road miles apart.
| From | Dallas | Houston | San Antonio | Austin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee | $850–$1,2501,010 mi · 3–5 days | $925–$1,3251,190 mi · 3–5 days | $975–$1,3751,310 mi · 3–5 days | $950–$1,3501,220 mi · 3–5 days |
| Madison | $825–$1,225960 mi · 2–4 days | $900–$1,3001,150 mi · 3–5 days | $950–$1,3501,260 mi · 3–5 days | $925–$1,3251,170 mi · 3–5 days |
| Green Bay | $900–$1,3001,110 mi · 3–5 days | $950–$1,3751,290 mi · 3–5 days | $1,000–$1,4001,400 mi · 3–6 days | $975–$1,3751,320 mi · 3–5 days |
| Eau Claire | $875–$1,2751,040 mi · 3–5 days | $950–$1,3501,250 mi · 3–5 days | $975–$1,3751,330 mi · 3–6 days | $950–$1,3501,250 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
Milwaukee to Dallas, 1,010 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 | $1,425–$2,100 |
| Large SUV (Tahoe, Expedition) | $1,075–$1,575 | $1,600–$2,350 |
| Pickup truck | $1,100–$1,625 | $1,675–$2,450 |
| Motorcycle | $500–$750 | $775–$1,125 |
By month
Best time to ship
Prices on this lane peak in December (snowbird season, when retirees ship cars south for the winter, the holidays and winter weather up north), running about 25% above the quietest months. The cheapest time to ship from Wisconsin to Texas is March–May and September.
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Cheapest: about $1,050 Peak: about $1,325
About this route
Why so many cars go from Wisconsin to Texas
About 7,258 people moved from Wisconsin to Texas in each of the last two years, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (8,581 in 2023, 5,934 in 2024). That is 6.9% of everyone who left Wisconsin for another state, making Texas its #4 destination.
Far fewer people make the reverse move — about 5,151 a year from Texas to Wisconsin. Carriers bound for Texas rarely run empty, which keeps pickups quick but prices firm.
How the price compares
At a typical $1,050, shipping from Wisconsin to Texas costs more than sending a car to North Carolina ($950) but less than to Florida ($1,225) and Arizona ($1,300). That works out to about $1.04 a mile.
Distance and transit time
Milwaukee to Dallas is about 1,010 road miles, or 3–5 days on a car carrier. Most of the wait is before pickup, while the driver fills the trailer. The car heads southwest and stays on Central time the whole way.
On the road
- Winter storms in Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin and Texas, by trucks on file with the FMCSA. A company based at either end usually runs this lane often.
Pickup end Wisconsin
15 companies based in Wisconsin: 15 carriers, 4 brokers, 536 trucks in total, 18 years in business on average.
- Auto Truck Transport USA LLC Pleasant Priaire · 420 trucks · since 1988 · USDOT 317106
- Unimark Truck Transport LLC Pleasant Prairie · 66 trucks · since 2002 · USDOT 1065561
- Riverview Auto Transport Partners LLC Manitowoc · 8 trucks · since 1994 · USDOT 568605
- Unimark Transportation Services Inc Pleasant Priaire · 8 trucks · since 2004 · USDOT 1208224
- Roadside Auto & Truck Transport Inc Pleasant Prairie · 7 trucks · since 1996 · USDOT 664041
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 Wisconsin? These guides cover the neighbouring lanes.
From Wisconsin to states near Texas
To Texas from states near Wisconsin
FAQ
Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin to Texas?
For a running sedan on an open carrier, expect about $850–$1,250 from Milwaukee to Dallas (1,010 road miles). Between other big cities in the two states prices range from $825–$1,400. An SUV costs about $950–$1,400, a pickup $1,100–$1,625, and an enclosed trailer $1,275–$1,875 for a sedan.
How long does it take to ship a car from Wisconsin to Texas?
Transit is usually 3–5 days after pickup for the 1,010-mile trip from Milwaukee to Dallas. Before that, allow 1–5 days for a carrier to be assigned — or pay roughly 30% extra to have it collected within 48 hours.
When is the cheapest time to ship a car from Wisconsin to Texas?
March–May and September is the cheapest window on this lane. Prices are highest in December, up to about 25% more. In any month, giving the carrier a wide pickup window lowers the quote.
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 Wisconsin to Texas?
Driving 1,010 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 Wisconsin to Texas?
Our directory lists 15 companies based in Wisconsin and 145 based in Texas, each checked against FMCSA records, plus 96 that ship nationwide.