California to Texas Car Shipping: The Complete Guide. If you are planning a move, buying a vehicle online, or sending a car to a family member, one question soon takes center stage: “How do I handle California to Texas car shipping without a hitch?” This guide answers that question in plain English. It explains why professional transport beats a marathon road trip, shows how pricing works, and walks you through every step from first quote to final delivery. Along the way, you will see why KR Trucking—an auto-transport company that ships cars, SUVs, pickups, motorcycles, and boats to all forty-eight contiguous states—makes the journey simple and safe.
1. Why trust a carrier instead of driving the miles yourself?
California to Texas car shipping covers anywhere from 1,400 to 1,900 highway miles, depending on your starting point. Driving that distance means two twelve-hour days behind the wheel, two nights in motels, and a to-be-determined dent in your gas card. A modern open car carrier solves those headaches in four ways:
Time savings
While a do-it-yourself trip eats an entire long weekend, a carrier picks up the vehicle, hits the interstate, and brings it to your new driveway while you focus on work, family, or packing.
Cost control
Fuel, hotel stays, restaurant meals, and a return flight add up fast. Professional shipping often costs less than the total out-of-pocket travel spend.
Reduced wear and tear
Long-distance drives rack up oil-change intervals, tire wear, and depreciation. Transport keeps the odometer low and preserves resale value.
Built-in insurance
Federal rules require every licensed carrier to carry cargo insurance. Your car rides under a blanket of coverage from start to finish.
2. How California to Texas car shipping actually works
On the surface, vehicle transport looks simple: load the car, secure it, drive east, unload. Yet hundreds of tiny details keep those wheels turning:
- Route selection
Southern corridor – I-15 south to I-10 east through Phoenix and El Paso.
Central corridor – I-40 through Flagstaff, Albuquerque, and Amarillo.
Northern corridor – I-80 to Salt Lake City, then US-287 to Dallas–Fort Worth. - Trailer configuration
KR Trucking runs eleven-car stinger-steer rigs for dealer loads, eight-car high-boy trailers for mixed retail freight, and enclosed hard-sides when customers request extra weather protection. - Load plan
Cars are driven onto the trailer nose-first for better aerodynamics. Each wheel sits in a shallow steel well, and a soft-loop tire bonnet passes over the tread to a ratchet on the deck. Solid wheel covers? No problem—straps cinch around the tire, never through the rim. - Inspection cycle
The driver completes a 30-point walk-around at pickup. Photos, mileage, and any prior scratches are logged into an electronic bill of lading (BOL). At delivery, the same checklist confirms condition.
Understanding the system helps you spot red flags when you shop for quotes. If a company cannot explain its exact load method or refuses to share its DOT and MC numbers, move on.
3. Mileage, transit time, and average cost
| Common Lane | Miles | Typical Time* | Open Carrier | Enclosed Carrier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles → Dallas | 1,460 | 4–6 days | $ | $$$ |
| San Francisco → Austin | 1,740 | 5–7 days | $$ | $$$$ |
| San Diego → Houston | 1,475 | 4–6 days | $ | $$$ |
| Sacramento → San Antonio | 1,640 | 5–7 days | $$ | $$$$ |
*Pickup day counts as Day 0 and off-loading as the final day. Weather, traffic, and special-event detours can add a buffer, but same-company data shows on-time delivery over 93 % of the time.
4. Six price factors every shipper should know
- Distance – longer hauls yield lower per-mile rates but a higher total invoice.
- Vehicle size and weight – full-size SUVs add 15–25 % over compact sedans.
- Trailer type – enclosed costs 40–50 % more due to fewer cars per load.
- Pickup flexibility – a three-day window can shave $75 off the dispatch price.
- Season – west-to-south “snowbird” spikes in October and March raise bids; mid-summer desert heat can also inflate rates as carriers adjust schedules.
- Fuel index – diesel prices play a direct role; most carriers use a weekly Department of Energy fuel surcharge table.
5. Open versus enclosed transport
Open transport
Ninety percent of California to Texas car shipping uses open trailers. Cars ride on two exposed decks but remain secure under DOT-rated straps. Open service is perfect for late-model daily drivers, company fleet vehicles, and dealer trades.
Enclosed transport
If you own a classic Corvette, a custom show truck, or a six-figure super-car, choose enclosed. The hard-sided trailer keeps out road spray, gravel, and prying eyes. KR Trucking’s enclosed fleet is lift-gate-equipped to load low-ground-clearance vehicles without scraping.
6. Step-by-step timeline
Step 1 – Research and request quotes
Verify each company’s DOT # and insurance. Compare all-in rates, not teaser bids with unknown fees.
Step 2 – Select a carrier or broker
A carrier owns the trucks it dispatches. A broker posts your order to its driver network and arranges a truck for a fee. KR Trucking does both, giving you the control of a carrier and the flexibility of a broker when high volume is required.
Step 3 – Reservation & paperwork
Sign the rate confirmation and return it via email. Provide pickup and delivery addresses plus two contact numbers.
Step 4 – Vehicle preparation
Wash the car, remove toll tags, disable alarms, and take pictures in bright daylight. Leave a quarter tank of gas and one set of keys.
Step 5 – Pickup inspection
The driver reviews photos, records mileage, and notes any pre-existing damage on the electronic BOL. Both parties sign.
Step 6 – In-transit communication
Use KR Trucking’s customer portal to track GPS dots on the map. Dispatch sends automatic text updates at state lines and twelve hours prior to arrival.
Step 7 – Delivery
Meet the driver, walk around the car, confirm condition, pay any remaining balance, and sign the BOL. Delivery completed.
7. Preparing your vehicle like a pro
- Clean inside and out – dirt hides dings.
- Photograph – take four corners, each side, roof, hood, trunk, wheels, and interior.
- Check fluids – top off coolant and oil; fix leaks.
- Reduce weight – golf clubs and tool boxes stay home; under 100 lb of personal items is allowed, but they must sit in the trunk.
- Fold in mirrors and antennas – reduces risk of bending or breakage.
- Alarm fuse or valet mode – prevents false alarms during stops.
Seasonal note: If shipping in August, verify coolant and A/C recharge. Desert stretches can push temps above 110 °F.
8. KR Trucking: your coast-to-coast auto transport expert
Our company started in 2012 with one truck running freight along the East coast. Today, KR Trucking operates out of our base in Florida, with lanes covering every major metropolitan area in the continental United States.
- In-house drivers – no subcontract guessing games.
- Real-time GPS – track your car 24/7.
- Broker capability on demand – need fifty fleet units moved next month? One call covers it.
- Many years in the auto transport industry – customer trust you can verify.
California to Texas car shipping is one of our busiest cross-country lanes. We regularly ship cars out of Los Angeles, San Diego, Fontana, Bay Area and Sacramento. Dallas, Austin, San Antonio, and Houston are among our most frequent delivery destinations in Texas.
9. Calendar tips: choosing the best week to ship
- January – New-year moves and CES in Las Vegas raise outbound California volume. Book early.
- March – SXSW spikes Austin inbound loads; allow a bigger pickup window.
- May–June – Ideal weather both states. College moves boost demand but capacity remains solid.
- Late August – Desert heat is highest; consider enclosed if you have leather or antique interiors.
- October – Snowbirds head south; rates creep up west-to-east.
- December – Holiday freight slows auto transport; carriers often offer deals to fill decks before end-of-year audits.
10. Frequently asked questions
Can I put personal items in the car?
Yes—up to 100 lb in the trunk or back seat. Heavy boxes can damage suspension or violate driver weight limits.
What if the car is inoperable?
We can winch a non-running vehicle for an extra $150–$250, but we need forklift access on both ends.
Will the driver call ahead?
Absolutely. Standard practice is a call or text 12–24 hours before pickup and again 2 hours out on delivery day.
Is enclosed faster?
Transit time is similar. The difference is protection, not speed.
Do you ship motorcycles or boats?
Yes. Motorcycles ride in soft-tie chocks in a dedicated trailer. Boats up to 28 ft travel on licensed boat haulers.
11. Final checklist before you click “Book”
- Gather three quotes for California to Texas car shipping—compare apples to apples.
- Confirm each company’s DOT, MC, and cargo-insurance paperwork.
- Pick a three-day pickup window and provide flexible hours.
- Photograph your vehicle.
- Pack only essential items.
- Keep your phone handy for driver updates.
When you choose KR Trucking, one call does it all. We schedule, secure, and track your car from the Pacific Coast to the Lone Star State with no hidden fees.
Ready to move? Fill out our instant-quote form. Our dispatch team will lock your rate for seven days, assign a truck, and send you a tracking link.
Get your free, no obligation vehicle shipping quote today.
Thank you for reading our long-form guide to California to Texas car shipping. Safe travels—and welcome to Texas!