California to Texas Car Shipping 2026 Cost & Transit

Shipping a car from California to Texas costs $1,050 to $1,335 on an open carrier, depending on season and city pair, and takes 3 to 4 days on the road. Fall orders paid $1,050 to $1,525; the market rate today for a standard sedan is $930 to $1,335 depending on the city pair, with SUVs around $1,195, pickups around $1,460 and vans around $1,620 on the Los Angeles to Austin lane. Enclosed transport is roughly $1,840 to $2,360. Across 453 SAKAEM shipments on this lane since 2022 the median price paid was $1,200, with the middle half between $1,050 and $1,350.

The drive is about 1,380 miles from Los Angeles to Austin and 1,550 to Houston, and takes 3 to 4 days on the road once the carrier has picked up the car; the median on our orders is 3 days. El Paso is a 2-day run. Pickup is scheduled separately: SAKAEM assigns a carrier within 1 to 3 business days for about 95% of shipments.

Texas to California. Today's market rate is about $1,155 from Los Angeles to Austin and $940 the other way, and over the last four years the westbound median has been $940 against $1,200 eastbound. More cars move from California to Texas than come back, so trucks returning to California price low to fill their spots.

Winter. Orders placed from December to February had a median price of $1,075, against $1,330 in summer and $1,210 in spring, a difference of about 25%. August is the single busiest month on this lane, with May and July close behind; in August give us a wider first-available window.

Los Angeles, by $150 to $180 on the same destination. Eastbound trucks fill in the Los Angeles basin and San Diego and run I-10; a San Jose, San Francisco or Sacramento pickup either waits a day or two for a full load or rides I-40 through Arizona and New Mexico to Dallas-Fort Worth. Los Angeles to Austin is $1,155 today against $1,335 from San Jose.

Open transport is what about nine in ten customers on this lane book. Enclosed transport costs about 60% more and makes sense for a classic, exotic or new luxury car. Toyota, Ford and Honda make up almost four in ten of the cars shipped on this lane, so open carriers are the norm; the Lexus, Mercedes-Benz and BMW owners who make up about one in seven are the usual enclosed bookings.

Yes, as long as it rolls, brakes and steers and you can provide a key. Tell us when you request the quote so a carrier with a winch is assigned; expect roughly $150 to $200 more than a running car.

Up to 100 lbs of personal items in the trunk or below the window line is included. Anything above that may be charged by the carrier, and valuables and documents should travel with you.

An adult you choose must be at both ends to inspect the car with the driver and sign the Bill of Lading. It does not have to be you; a friend, family member or colleague with your authorization works, which is how many relocating customers take delivery before they arrive themselves.