Florida to Texas car shipping tends to follow paychecks. Floridians head to Houston for energy jobs and the Texas Medical Center, to Dallas and Plano for corporate headquarters, and to Austin for tech. Military families from Eglin and Hurlburt Field get orders to Fort Cavazos, Fort Bliss or Joint Base San Antonio. Whatever the reason, the drive is two full days on I-10 at minimum, and many people would rather fly out of MIA, MCO or TPA and have the car meet them.
Starting the trip in Florida makes pickup simple for most people. Sahara Auto Transport is based in Hollywood, in Broward County, and we schedule pickups across the state every day, from Miami-Dade high-rises to Orlando subdivisions and Panhandle beach towns. If you live in a gated community or a condo with a low parking garage, we coordinate a meeting spot with the front desk or gate staff so the driver can load without trouble.
Texas delivery is usually roomy. New neighborhoods around Katy, Cypress, Frisco, Prosper, Leander and New Braunfels were built with wide streets, though some HOAs prefer big trucks to stop at the entrance. Inner-city spots in Dallas's Uptown or Austin's Zilker can be tighter. Once you arrive, you will have a limited window to register the car in Texas, and a Texas toll tag is worth getting if you plan to use the toll roads.
Pricing
How much it costs to ship a car from Florida to Texas
Estimated ranges for a typical trip of about 1,130 miles on this route, updated November 2026.
Sedan or coupe
- Open carrier
- $950 to $1,200
- Enclosed
- $1,475 to $1,875
SUV, crossover or minivan
- Open carrier
- $1,100 to $1,375
- Enclosed
- $1,700 to $2,150
Pickup or large SUV
- Open carrier
- $1,225 to $1,575
- Enclosed
- $1,900 to $2,425
- These are estimates, not quotes. Your exact price depends on the addresses, vehicle, condition, season and carrier availability.
- Non-running vehicles that need a winch usually add $150 to $250. Peak season and expedited pickup can raise the price.
From the peninsula to the Lone Star State
Carriers leaving South Florida usually head north on the Florida Turnpike or I-75, then turn west on I-10 near Lake City. Panhandle and North Florida loads join I-10 directly. The westbound run crosses Tallahassee, the Alabama coast at Mobile, Mississippi's Gulf towns and southern Louisiana before entering Texas at Orange, with Houston about 100 miles beyond the state line.
Cars bound for Dallas and Fort Worth often leave I-10 at Lafayette and head north on I-49 to Shreveport, then west on I-20, or they continue to Houston and turn north on I-45. Austin and San Antonio deliveries stay on I-10 west of Houston, with Austin reached by way of US-290 or TX-71. Plan on 3 to 5 days for most pairs, and closer to a week for El Paso.
City to city
Popular Florida to Texas trips
Miami, FL → Houston, TX
1,190 miles · 3 to 5 days
Est. $975 to $1,225
Orlando, FL → Dallas, TX
1,110 miles · 3 to 5 days
Est. $950 to $1,200
Tampa, FL → Austin, TX
1,150 miles · 3 to 5 days
Est. $950 to $1,225
Jacksonville, FL → San Antonio, TX
1,060 miles · 3 to 4 days
Est. $925 to $1,175
Fort Walton Beach, FL → Killeen, TX
740 miles · 2 to 3 days
Est. $775 to $1,000
Fort Lauderdale, FL → Fort Worth, TX
1,330 miles · 4 to 5 days
Est. $1,025 to $1,300
Transit times start at pickup. Prices are November 2026 estimates for a running sedan on an open carrier, not quotes.
Busy seasons heading west to Texas
Demand out of Florida toward Texas rises from April through August. That is when school years end, military PCS season is in full swing and job changes cluster around midyear. Spring also sends a wave of carriers out of Florida after the winter season, which generally keeps westbound capacity healthy, but booking two weeks ahead is still smart in June and July.
Fall and early winter are often easier for Florida to Texas shipping, because most carriers are crowding into Florida rather than out of it. Hurricane season is the wild card: a storm in the Gulf can pause pickups in Florida or slow I-10 through Louisiana and Southeast Texas for a day or more. On the Texas end, summer heat is intense but routine, and occasional winter ice in Dallas is the main cold-weather risk.
Before you book
Tips for this route
- Texas expects new residents to register within about 30 days. Bring your Florida title, proof of Texas insurance and any required inspection paperwork to the county tax assessor-collector office, and check TxDMV for the current steps.
- Get a Texas toll tag early. Houston's Hardy and Westpark tollways, the Dallas North Tollway and Austin's SH 130 are largely cashless, and most new arrivals simply sign up for a TxTag, EZ TAG or NTTA TollTag.
- Leaving a Florida condo? Confirm moving-day rules with the association. Many buildings in Miami-Dade and Broward require a reserved time for vehicle handoffs at the loading area.
- Houston flash flooding is real. During heavy summer rain, low streets and underpasses can flood fast, so give us an alternate delivery spot on higher ground if storms are in the forecast.
- Military members: share your report date and base. Fort Cavazos, Fort Bliss and Joint Base San Antonio each have their own gate rules, so delivery to an off-base address or nearby lot is often the simplest option.