Lanes & Local
Chicago to Texas Car Shipping on Our Own Trucks: Dallas, Houston, Austin and San Antonio
Moving from Chicago to Texas or buying a car there? Our own trucks and drivers run Illinois to Texas and back. Pickup areas, transit times, booking tips.
Chicago to Texas is one of the most common moves in the country. Families relocating to Dallas or Austin, people buying a truck in Houston, students heading to school in San Antonio.
It's also one of our own routes. Velocity is a licensed motor carrier with its own trucks and drivers, and they run Illinois and Indiana to Texas and back. Here's how it works.
What you get on our own trucks
When you book Chicago to Texas with us, your car usually rides on a Velocity truck with a Velocity driver:
- A driver who calls ahead. You get a call before pickup and before delivery.
- A pickup window you can plan around. Our trucks already run this route on a schedule, so we can usually give you a real window when we quote.
- One point of contact. Velocity dispatch answers for your car from quote to delivery.
If your dates don't fit our schedule, a vetted carrier through our licensed broker partner can cover the trip. We tell you before pickup, so there are no surprises at the curb.
Where we pick up and deliver
In Illinois: door to door across Chicago and the suburbs, from Evanston and Schaumburg to Naperville, Joliet and Orland Park. We also pick up across Indiana on the way.
In Texas: Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, Austin and San Antonio, plus the towns around them. Delivery to a house, an apartment complex, a dealer or a storage lot.
If a street is too tight for a car carrier, the driver arranges a nearby meeting spot with you ahead of time.
How long it takes
Chicago to Dallas is about 925 miles. Houston, Austin and San Antonio run 1,000 to 1,200 miles. Once your car is loaded, most moves take:
- Dallas-Fort Worth: about two days
- Houston, Austin, San Antonio: two to three days
What it costs
Price depends on the vehicle, open or enclosed transport, and how busy the week is. We don't post a fixed price list because rates move with fuel and the season. Our Indianapolis to Dallas and Indianapolis to Houston pages show live prices on our Texas trucks, and the Indianapolis Car Shipping Cost Index has today's numbers on our Indianapolis routes. For Chicago pickups, your written quote is the number.
Your written, all-in quote is the number that counts.
Booking tips for Chicago to Texas
- Book one to two weeks ahead. That gives you the widest choice of pickup days on our schedule.
- Tell us the car's condition. If it doesn't run or has no keys, we need to know so the driver brings the right equipment.
- Moving the whole household? Ship the car a few days before you leave so it's waiting in Texas, or a few days after so you have it until moving day. Our moving guide walks through the timing.
- Bought the car in Texas? Book transport before you pay so shipping is part of the deal. See how to get a car you bought online home.
- Empty it out. Personal items aren't covered by auto transport insurance. Our pre-shipment checklist covers the rest.
Texas back to Chicago
Our trucks run the route both ways. If you're moving back north, buying a car in Texas, or sending a car to a student in Chicago, we pick up across Texas and deliver to Chicago, the suburbs and Indiana.
The bottom line
Chicago to Texas is one of our own routes, so your car usually rides with a Velocity driver on our schedule. We ship door to door anywhere in the lower 48, too. Request a quote with your addresses and dates, and we'll tell you exactly how we'd move it.
Frequently asked questions
Do you really haul Chicago to Texas on your own trucks?
Yes. Velocity's own trucks and drivers run Illinois and Indiana to Texas and back, so on this route your car usually rides with a Velocity driver. If your dates don't fit our schedule, a vetted carrier through our licensed broker partner can cover it, and we tell you before pickup.
How long does it take to ship a car from Chicago to Texas?
Once your car is loaded, Chicago to Dallas typically takes about two days, and Houston, Austin or San Antonio two to three days. Dispatch gives you a pickup window when you book.
How much does it cost to ship a car from Chicago to Texas?
It depends on the vehicle, open or enclosed transport, and the week you ship. For today's prices on our Texas routes, see the Indianapolis Car Shipping Cost Index or request a quote. Quotes arrive within minutes during business hours.
Can you pick up in the Chicago suburbs?
Yes. We pick up door to door across the city and suburbs. If your street is too tight for a car carrier, we arrange a nearby meeting spot with you in advance.
Do you ship cars from Texas back to Chicago?
Yes. Our trucks run the route both ways, so we pick up across Texas and deliver to Chicago, the suburbs and Indiana.
