Everything you need to know about shipping a car to and from Texas

Texas is booming with job prospects and opportunities that can help shape careers. The state is famous for its Southern-style food, warm climate, and even more hospitable people, and these are some of the reasons that prompt hundreds of Americans to move to Texas. 

However, if you are thinking about moving to Texas, you might have to ship a lot of your stuff in addition to your car. This blog will help you if you are looking to move here and want to hire a company for car transport in Texas. Keep reading for a hassle free shipping experience.

Five Different Ways To Ship A Car To Or From Texas

There are five primary ways you can use Car transport in Texas. Selecting one option out of these depends on your budget, where you are shipping your car from, where you want to ship your vehicle in Texas, and whether you need to get the vehicle shipped almost urgently. You can choose the most cost-effective option for you and best suits your needs.

1.Drive it yourself

Texas is a Southern state in the USA, located on the South-Eastern coastline. If you are moving to a city in Texas from a neighboring state like New Mexico, Oklahoma, Louisiana, or Mississippi, you can drive the car independently. Since the distance is barely 500-600 miles, you can complete the trip merely 1-2 days. You can also add some goods in the car you want to transport to Texas and save on moving and shipping costs.

Moreover, this can be cost-effective since you will only be spending on fuel, food and beverages, and tolls. You can also make this a weekend road trip and treat it as a mini getaway with your friends or family. As a result, you will have transported your car to Texas while exploring new places, eating great food, and experiencing new cultures.

However, if you are driving from distant states like Washington, Minnesota, Montana, Michigan, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, or even Maine, the length of the road trip can take a toll on your body. You can get tired and distracted, leading to accidents on the road. Driving long distances can make you irritated and become a chore you no longer want to complete.

2. Get a professional to drive it for you

Driving long distances for transporting a car from Texas can be extremely overwhelming and exhausting for a person. If you are completing the drive alone, the time can seem never-ending, making you even more agitated.

If that sounds like something worrying you, then there is a more straightforward option where you can hire a professional to drive your car to Texas in exchange for a fee. These are seasoned drivers who may be retired or maybe students who want to make some extra few bucks on the side. These drivers have the professional experience required to transport my car from Texas. Moreover, you can save a lot of money by hitching a ride with these drivers, sending in some personal items in your vehicle, and saving money on shipping costs.

The only thing you have to ensure is finding a reliable and trustworthy driver who will not cheat you. Such persons can be hard to find, especially if you are in a hurry. Not to mention, these are professional services, and they can cost you a lot of money.

3. Use railway cargo services

Apart from using the roadways, another route you can use to ship your car to Texas is via the railways. All you need to do is ensure that the city from where you are transporting car from Texas must be on the rail cargo route of the destination. With rail cargo services, you can save a significant chunk of money and get your car to Texas on time since cargo trains are prompt and on time. Since not all train routes allow transporting cars, you will have to check whether you can ship it to anywhere in Texas from where your vehicle currently is.

Note that you will have to ensure that you drop the car off at the train station on time and get it loaded onto the train coach. You will also have to ensure that you are present when the train arrives in Texas to get the car unloaded and take it home.

4. Use an airplane cargo service

Apart from roadways and railways, another option for car transport in Texas is using an air cargo service. You can use the efficient air cargo service to deliver your car to Texas. An air cargo service is also the fastest way to get a vehicle shipped from one place to another.

However, you must note that the cost to transport the car to Texas via an airplane is super high. Depending on jet fuel prices and other critical factors, the airfares to transport a car to Texas are anywhere between $2,000 and $4,000. However, you can use airplane cargo services if you need your vehicle delivered to you within a day or two in case of an emergency. This can be the best option if you are shipping super expensive, luxury, or collectible and rare cars. 

5. Use the services of an auto transport company

If you want to ship your car out to Texas via a cost-effective and fast method, opting for an auto transport company can be your best option. An auto transport company uses trailers to ship your car from one city to another. Using an auto transport company is the best way to transport my car to Texas in the most efficient manner. 

An auto transport company gives you access to experienced drivers who have been transporting cars for a living for decades. You need to find an auto transport company, explain your requirement, fix a day, and get your vehicle picked up!

Different Types Of Car Shipping

There are primarily two types of car shipping. These are:

1.Enclosed shipping

This is a type of car shipping where your car is first loaded on a shipping container, mounted on a trailer then driven to its destination in Texas. Enclosed shipping is excellent for transporting luxury cars, high-value cars, and sports cars.

2.Open shipping  

This is a type of car shipping where your car is directly loaded onto a trailer and secured with safety harnesses. There is no container, but this is a cheaper shipping type when compared to enclosed shipping.

Different Types Of Car Shipping Services

There are three major types of car shipping services. These are:

1.Express Shipping Service 

Your car will be picked up within 1-2 business days of you making a booking in this service.

2.Guaranteed Shipping Service 

In this service, your car will be picked up within 24 hours of you making a booking.

3.Military Shipping Service 

Exclusively for army personnel and veterans, this service lends priority treatment to military personnel.

How Much Does It Cost To Ship A Car To Texas (And Vice Versa)?

One of the crucial aspects of having your car shipped to Texas from any part of the country involves knowing, ‘how much to transport a car to Texas?’ However, there is no way to learn the fixed cost to ship a car to and from Texas. You will have to estimate a few factors and take the help of an auto transport company to help you get an estimate for the transport. The cost to transport the car to Texas keeps increasing or decreasing and is highly dynamic. Some of these factors that can help you get an estimate of the cost include:

1.The location: One of the most factors that will help you get an approximate cost of making the transport includes the state, city, and exact location from where the car is being transported. Another factor controlling the cost is exactly where the vehicle is transported in Texas. For example, if you want to transport my car to Texas from a state like New Mexico, Oklahoma, or Louisiana, the distance traveled is 500 miles on average. However, if you are shipping your car from a far-off state like New York, Washington, Minnesota, Michigan, or Oregon, the distance traveled is around 1,500 miles on average. For states like Maine, this distance increases to 2,100-2,200 miles. Since the distance increases, the total cost of transport also increases.

2.The type of transport service: Guaranteed shipping service is likely to cost a little more than express shipping. On the other hand, military shipping service is cheaper than both guaranteed and express shipping since it gives serving and retired army personnel a discount. Similarly, enclosed shipping is likely to have higher prices than open shipping.

3.The weather: If you have your car shipped during adverse weather conditions like heavy rainfall, heatwave, snowfall, or a storm, you may have to pay more since the drivers will have to make halts to ensure safety of your vehicle.

4.Car details: The car type, model, make, year of manufacturing, and car condition also adds to how much it takes to ship a car to Texas.

5.Fuel prices: If the fuel prices go up, it might increase the cost to transport car to Texas.

How Long Does It Take To Ship A Car To Texas (And Vice Versa)?

Distance between the point of delivery and the pick-up point determines the shipment journey’s final duration. The distance between the delivery spot in Texas and the other city will help estimate how much time it will take to get the car shipped. If the car transport in Texas is done from a nearer city like New Mexico, Oklahoma, Arkansas, or Louisiana, it may take a few hours to 1 day to get the car delivered to Texas. However, if the vehicle is being shipped from a distant state like New York, Minnesota, Maine, or Michigan, it can take 5-9 days to transport my car to Texas.

Apart from the distance, the time of the year and the weather during transport impact the time taken to transport my car from Texas. For instance, if the weather changes drastically, the auto transport company drivers may have to stop temporarily and wait for the weather to clear up.

Additionally, the route, the unexpected detours, road closures, and the traffic jams may increase the time it takes to ship a car to or from Texas.

How Does The Process Of Shipping A Car To And From Texas Work?

Once you have found the right auto transport company that fits your needs, you will receive a quote to ship your car.

Once a deal for car transport in Texas is fixed, you will have to tell them a date, time, and address for the car pick-up. A team from the auto transport company arrives at the car’s current location and assesses the vehicle for any damages. The same will be mentioned on the Bill of Lading and signed by you.

When the car is about to reach its final destination, the company will ask you to see if there are any damages, as per what the Bill of Lading includes. If you are satisfied, you can sign the Bill of Lading and complete the delivery process.

How To Find The Best Auto Transport Company To Ship A Car To And From Texas

For shipping your car to or from any city in Texas, you would ideally want to choose an auto transport company that ranks at the top among its competitors and has massive experience shipping cars to the Southern part of the country. For selecting the best auto transport company to get your vehicle shipped to or from Texas, you may assess the following factors to help you make the most informed decision:

1.Experience: Understand the company’s overall experience in transporting cars, especially in Southern USA. The company should ideally have experienced drivers and a well-qualified team to care for your requirement.

2.Quote: One of the most important things that make a difference is this question- ‘how much to transport a car to Texas.’ Thus, you should compare the quotes provided by many auto transport companies and see which company makes a deal with the most extensive features and services.

3.Services: Try and understand if the auto transport company offers services like door-to-door pick-up and drop and other exclusive services that add value to your life.

4.Reviews: Go through the auto transport company’s reviews to see what past customers say about them.

5.Miscellaneous: Read through the fine print and see what are the auto transport company’s inclusions in the package they provide. Look for the company’s licensing and insurance policies.

FAQs Regarding Shipping A Car To And From Texas

What Documents Should I Keep Handy To Ship A Car To And From Texas? 

You only need minimal paperwork to get your car shipped to and from Texas. You will need to get all the paperwork signed and given to you by the auto transport company when they pick your car up, including the Bill of Lading.

How Long Is An Auto Transport Company’s Quote Valid?

The expiration of a quote differs for each auto transport company. However, as a standard practice, it is valid for at least seven business days, after which the auto transport company may choose to increase or decrease the prices.

How Can I Pay For The Auto Transport Service? 

Trustworthy auto transport companies accept payments for their services using various means like debit cards, credit cards, net banking, and even mobile wallets like PayPal.

Does Insurance Cover My Car During Transit?

All auto transport companies in the country have a valid insurance policy. Thus, your car will be covered under insurance when it is in transit.

Pros and cons of moving to Texas

Pros:

•             Friendly people

•             No income taxes

•             Lots of job opportunities

•             Low cost of living

•             Super affordable homes

Cons:

•             Overwhelming summer heat

•             High property taxes

•             Low healthcare quality

•             Dismal school infrastructure

•             High bug population

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