California → Texas · About 1,400 miles
Ship a Car from Los Angeles to Dallas
Los Angeles to Dallas is about 1,400 miles — and one of the busiest auto transport lanes in the country. Constant relocation, dealer, and auction traffic between California and Texas means carriers run this route every day, which keeps prices competitive and pickup windows short. If you're moving, buying, or selling, this is one of the easiest lanes in America to ship on.
Typical transit is 3–5 days door to door once your vehicle is loaded. Most cars move on open transport — the standard, fully insured way the majority of vehicles travel. Classic, luxury, and exotic owners often step up to enclosed transport for full protection from weather and road debris across the desert stretches of the I-10 corridor.
Below you'll find the typical price ranges for this route, how the process works, and the details that actually move the price. California is a big state — a pickup in Northern California prices differently than one in the LA metro, just as a smaller Texas city prices differently than Dallas — so the ranges below are a guide, and the quote form gives you a price for your specific cities.
Los Angeles to Dallas car shipping cost
Typical ranges for a standard sedanOpen transport
typically $1,000–$1,500
Enclosed transport
typically $1,500–$2,200
Typical ranges for a standard sedan in running condition. Season is a factor too: prices run higher when demand peaks — snowbird season in the fall and spring, the summer moving season, and the year-end holidays — and lower in quieter months. Your exact price depends on your specific pickup and delivery cities — a Northern California pickup or a smaller Texas city prices differently than metro Los Angeles to Dallas. Use the quote form for your free quote.
Get a shipping quote
Enter your vehicle and dates to get your free quote for Los Angeles to Dallas — no obligation, and no payment due to get the number.
How it works
Three steps from quote to delivery — we handle the carrier, the scheduling, and the updates.
Get your quote & book
Get a shipping quote and book.
We assign your carrier
We match your vehicle with a vetted, insured carrier already running the LA–Dallas lane, and confirm your pickup window with you.
Pickup, transit & delivery
The driver inspects and loads your vehicle at your door, transits 3–5 days, and delivers in Dallas with updates along the way.
What we ship on this route
Cars & SUVs
Daily drivers, family SUVs, and crossovers.
Pickup trucks
Half-ton through heavy-duty, priced by size and weight.
Classic & collector cars
Enclosed transport recommended for full protection.
Motorcycles
Enclosed only, for full weather and road protection.
Vans & heavy-duty trucks
Quoted by our team — call for a quote.
What affects the price on this route
The typical ranges above are for a standard sedan shipping metro to metro. Here's what moves your quote within — or outside — those ranges.
Distance — about 1,400 miles
Mileage is the backbone of every quote. At about 1,400 miles, this lane prices in the long-haul band where the per-mile rate is at its most competitive — and your specific pickup and delivery cities set the exact distance.
Vehicle size & weight
A compact sedan takes one standard slot. Large SUVs, trucks, and heavy vehicles take more trailer space and weight capacity, so they price higher.
Running condition
A vehicle that runs, steers, and brakes loads in minutes. A non-running vehicle needs a winch and extra handling, which adds to the price.
Open vs. enclosed
Open transport (typically $1,000–$1,500) is the standard for everyday vehicles. Enclosed (typically $1,500–$2,200) puts your car inside a fully covered trailer.
Season & timing
Demand on this lane climbs in summer and during snowbird season, when carriers fill up fast and prices follow. If your dates are flexible — even by a day or two — you'll usually price better than a fixed, must-move date.
Ways to save on this route
- Stay flexible on pickup dates. Carriers fill trucks around their own schedules and reward flexibility — even a day or two of give usually prices better than a fixed, must-move date.
- Book 1–2 weeks ahead in peak season. Summer and snowbird-season trucks on this lane fill fast — booking early locks a better price and a wider choice of pickup days.
- Ship metro to metro when you can. Pickup and delivery in metro areas price better than remote or hard-to-reach locations, where a carrier has to deadhead to reach you.
- Choose open unless the car calls for enclosed. Open transport (typically $1,000–$1,500) is the best value for everyday vehicles — save enclosed for a classic, exotic, or high-value car.
Good to know for this route
- Carriers run LA → Dallas daily, so pickup windows on this lane are short — often within a few days of booking.
- A little flexibility pays. Being open on the exact pickup day anywhere in the LA basin lets us match you to the best-positioned truck — and the better price that comes with it.
- Heat and desert miles are real. Texas summer heat and the long desert stretches on the I-10 corridor are exactly why many classic and luxury owners choose enclosed transport on this route.
- Book 1–2 weeks ahead in peak season. Summer and snowbird months fill trucks on this lane quickly; early booking locks your price and your pickup day.
Preparing your car for pickup
A few quick steps before the driver arrives make pickup smooth — and protect you if anything comes up in transit.
- Keep the fuel tank about a quarter full. That's plenty for loading and unloading, without the extra weight of a full tank.
- Remove personal items and loose accessories. Carriers aren't insured for belongings left inside the vehicle, so clear out anything you can't replace.
- Wash the car before pickup. A clean car makes the pre-shipment inspection photos accurate, so any existing marks are documented clearly.
- Note any existing damage with the driver. Walk the car together at pickup and make sure it's recorded on the bill of lading before you sign.
- Disable alarms and remove toll tags. It prevents surprise alarms in transit and toll charges piling up along the way.
- Have a spare key ready if possible. The driver needs a working key for loading and unloading at both ends.
Los Angeles to Dallas car shipping FAQs
The questions we hear most on this lane, answered with this route's typical ranges.
How much does it cost to ship a car from Los Angeles to Dallas?
For a standard sedan in running condition, open transport typically runs $1,000–$1,500 and enclosed transport typically runs $1,500–$2,200 on this route of about 1,400 miles. The exact number depends on the specific cities and ZIPs on both ends — a Northern California pickup or a smaller Texas city prices differently than metro Los Angeles to Dallas. Larger vehicles, non-running condition, and tight timelines can also move the price. Your price comes from the quote form — get your free quote with the quote tool above or by calling 800-507-2629.
How long does it take to ship a car from Los Angeles to Dallas?
Typical transit is 3–5 days door to door once your vehicle is picked up. Carriers average roughly 500 miles a day, and because this is one of the busiest lanes in the country, the wait for pickup after booking is usually short as well.
Is open or enclosed transport better for this route?
For most everyday vehicles, open transport is the right call — it's how the large majority of cars move between LA and Dallas, and your vehicle is fully insured either way. Choose enclosed if you're shipping a classic, luxury, exotic, or freshly restored vehicle: the fully covered trailer shields it from desert sun, Texas heat, and road debris along the I-10 corridor.
How far in advance should I book?
1–2 weeks ahead is ideal, especially in peak season. That said, carriers run this lane daily, so shorter-notice moves are often possible — booking earlier simply gives you the best price and the widest choice of pickup days.
Can you pick up outside central LA or deliver outside Dallas?
Yes. We pick up across the entire Los Angeles basin and deliver throughout Dallas–Fort Worth. Service is door to door to your exact address wherever a full-size carrier can safely and legally reach it — and if a street is too tight, the driver will arrange the nearest accessible meeting spot with you. Keep in mind the figures on this page are based on the Los Angeles and Dallas metro areas — pickups or deliveries well outside those metros can price differently, which is why the quote form asks for your specific cities.
Areas served on this lane
Los Angeles basin pickups
Los Angeles, Long Beach, Anaheim, Santa Ana, Riverside, San Bernardino, Pasadena, Glendale — plus Orange County and the Inland Empire.
Dallas–Fort Worth deliveries
Dallas, Fort Worth, Arlington, Plano, Irving, Garland, Denton, McKinney, Frisco, and surrounding suburbs.
Service is door to door — the truck comes to your address wherever it can safely and legally park. If a street is too tight for a full-size hauler, the driver will arrange the nearest accessible meeting spot with you.