Kentucky to Texas Car Shipping (2024 Cost Guide)

Quick answer: The average cost to ship a car 1,111 miles from Kentucky to Texas ranges from $868 to $1,318 and takes two–eight days depending on factors like the transport type and season. For a more detailed quote, use our car shipping cost calculator.

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  • Services all 50 states
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Shipping a car the reverse route? We’ve got you covered with our Texas to Kentucky car shipping guide.

The best Kentucky to Texas car shipping companies

We’ve done the research and these are the best car shipping companies to help transport your vehicle from Kentucky to Texas:

Best for accurate pricing
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moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.5 / 5
Check prices (833) 775-1461
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  • Price Lock Promise
  • Pay by credit card
  • Free car wash at delivery
  • No upfront deposit
  • Door-to-door service
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Check prices (833) 775-1461
Best cross-country shipper
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moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.5 / 5
Check prices (224) 206-5633
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  • No upfront payment
  • GPS tracking
  • Multiple insurance options
  • Competitive pricing
  • Door-to-door shipping
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Check prices (224) 206-5633
Best for discounts
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moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.3 / 5
Check prices (770) 501-9057
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  • Competitive pricing
  • Last-minute car shipments
  • Guaranteed & expedited shipments
  • Gap insurance coverage
  • Multiple discounts
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Check prices (770) 501-9057
Best for quick pickup
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moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.9 / 5
Check prices (888) 259-6046
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  • No upfront deposit
  • Expedited shipping
  • No hidden fees
  • Ships motorcycles & RVs
  • Discount for cash payments
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Check prices (888) 259-6046
Best for overall value
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moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.9 / 5
Check prices (864) 492-1221
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  • No hidden fees
  • Free online quotes
  • Door-to-door service in 48 states
  • Exact pickup dates
  • Ships to & from HI
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Check prices (864) 492-1221

Alternative ways to ship your car from Kentucky to Texas

  • Drive it yourself. This is straightforward but not always an option, and it will put about 1,111 miles on your car going from Kentucky to Texas. If you’re not sure, here are the pros and cons of driving your car vs shipping it.
  • Ship it with your movers. If you need to ship your car from Kentucky for a move to Texas, you may want to hire a moving company that can handle car shipping, as well. Many long-distance moving companies work with reputable car shippers to coordinate auto transport.
  • Hire a driver. Hire someone to drive the car from Kentucky to Texas for you. It’s an option, but will probably be a very costly one and involve trusting a driver to safely get your car to its destination.
  • Ship by train. If this is an option for you, it’s an affordable and secure way of shipping your vehicle. Shipping a car by train is actually the cheapest way to ship your car!

KY to TX auto transport costs and transit times

The tables below detail the costs and estimated transit times for shipping a car between popular cities in Kentucky and Texas. The average travel distance is about 1,111 miles, with shipping times typically ranging from two to eight days .

Cost to ship a car from Louisville, KY to Texas

From Kentucky to Texas Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Louisville, KY to Houston, TX $860 – $1,219 953 miles 2 – 7 days
Louisville, KY to San Antonio, TX $904 – $1,345 1,109 miles 2 – 8 days
Louisville, KY to Dallas, TX $844 – $1,178 836 miles 2 – 7 days
Louisville, KY to Austin, TX $838 – $1,314 1,031 miles 2 – 8 days
Louisville, KY to Fort Worth, TX $800 – $1,243 867 miles 2 – 7 days

Cost to ship a car from Lexington, KY to Texas

From Kentucky to Texas Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Lexington, KY to Houston, TX $858 – $1,306 990 miles 2 – 7 days
Lexington, KY to San Antonio, TX $930 – $1,331 1,148 miles 2 – 8 days
Lexington, KY to Dallas, TX $816 – $1,206 874 miles 2 – 7 days
Lexington, KY to Austin, TX $830 – $1,327 1,069 miles 2 – 8 days
Lexington, KY to Fort Worth, TX $828 – $1,196 905 miles 2 – 7 days

Cost to ship a car from Bowling Green, KY to Texas

From Kentucky to Texas Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Bowling Green, KY to Houston, TX $820 – $1,275 843 miles 2 – 7 days
Bowling Green, KY to San Antonio, TX $854 – $1,262 1,000 miles 2 – 8 days
Bowling Green, KY to Dallas, TX $761 – $1,172 726 miles 1 – 6 days
Bowling Green, KY to Austin, TX $828 – $1,209 921 miles 2 – 7 days
Bowling Green, KY to Fort Worth, TX $793 – $1,159 757 miles 2 – 7 days

Cost to ship a car from Owensboro, KY to Texas

From Kentucky to Texas Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Owensboro, KY to Houston, TX $808 – $1,280 870 miles 2 – 7 days
Owensboro, KY to San Antonio, TX $838 – $1,275 1,027 miles 2 – 8 days
Owensboro, KY to Dallas, TX $785 – $1,194 754 miles 2 – 7 days
Owensboro, KY to Austin, TX $828 – $1,322 949 miles 2 – 7 days
Owensboro, KY to Fort Worth, TX $777 – $1,143 785 miles 2 – 7 days

Cost to ship a car from Covington, KY to Texas

From Kentucky to Texas Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Covington, KY to Houston, TX $830 – $1,340 1,049 miles 2 – 8 days
Covington, KY to San Antonio, TX $1,004 – $1,479 1,206 miles 2 – 8 days
Covington, KY to Dallas, TX $804 – $1,297 933 miles 2 – 7 days
Covington, KY to Austin, TX $868 – $1,442 1,128 miles 2 – 8 days
Covington, KY to Fort Worth, TX $778 – $1,283 964 miles 2 – 7 days

Shipping an SUV or truck from Kentucky to Texas

Since vehicles like SUVs, trucks, and vans are larger and heavier, it’s a bit more expensive to ship them than a sedan. How much more?

If you’re shipping a larger vehicle from Kentucky to Texas you should expect to pay between $1,085 and $1,648.

Factors that affect car shipping costs from KY to TX

When transporting your vehicle from the Bluegrass State to the Lone Star State, these factors will influence your final price:

  • Type of transport: Options like open, enclosed, or top-loaded transport cater to different needs. Open carriers are cost-effective, while enclosed transport provides added protection for luxury or classic cars. If you’re not sure, check out our guide comparing open vs. enclosed car shipping.
  • Vehicle size and type: The dimensions and weight of your vehicle directly affect shipping costs. The larger and heavier your vehicle, the more it will cost to ship your car to Texas.
  • Distance and route: The journey from Kentucky to Texas spans approximately 1,111 miles, influencing fuel and labor costs. The longer the distance, the bigger the price tag.
  • Time of the year: Seasonal demand impacts the price of getting your car out of Kentucky, with summer and winter holidays often seeing a spike due to increased moving and travel activity.
  • Fuel prices: Fluctuating fuel prices can significantly affect transport costs. This is an important consideration given the distance between Kentucky and Texas and the varying gas prices across the country.
  • Delivery expectations: Because it’ll make their job easier, your auto shipper may give you a pricing discount if you’re flexible on delivery dates. That being said, getting your car from Kentucky to Texas should take between two and eight days. Expedited services are available but come at a higher cost.

Texas vehicle regulations you need to know

  • Car insurance requirements: Every driver in Texas is mandated to have liability insurance known as 30/60/25 coverage. However, this minimum requirement may fall short in adequately covering the aftermath of a moderately severe accident. The basic policy offers $30,000 for individual injury coverage, up to $60,000 for injury coverage per accident, and provides up to $25,000 for property damage.
  • Vehicle inspection: In Texas, vehicles undergo annual safety inspections covering brakes, lights, steering, tires, etc. Some qualify for a two-year cycle.
  • Driver’s license: New residents are required to obtain a Texas driver license from the Texas Department of Public Safety within 90 days of moving to the state.
  • Additional taxes: New residents must pay a $90 new resident tax instead of a use tax for a vehicle they bring into Texas. This applies if the vehicle was previously registered in the new resident's name in another state or foreign country.

Learn more with our car shipping checklist.

Transporting your vehicle from Kentucky

More than 39 million people call Kentucky home. Nicknamed the Bluegrass State, Kentucky has relatively hot, humid, rainy summers, and moderately cold and rainy winters. Kansas rarely experiences the extremes cold of the northern states nor the heat of the state in the Deep South.

Transporting your vehicle to Texas

About 22 million people are living in the Lone Star State. Although winters are mild, hurricane season during the summer months may affect your move.

FAQ

Does someone have to be present when you ship a car for pickup in Kentucky and delivery in Texas?

Most companies will require that an adult of at least 18 years of age be present when picking up your car in Kentucky and when dropping it off in Texas.

Do you need car insurance when shipping your car from Kentucky to Texas?

If you’re not driving the vehicle from Kentucky to Texas, you aren't required to have typical car insurance. Your car hauler should have adequate insurance if an accident happened on the drive to Texas, which you should verify before loading your car in Kentucky.

If you’re driving your car at all in either state, you should understand the requirements. The insurance coverage includes Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability with limits of $25,000 per person/$50,000 per accident and $25,000 respectively; Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist coverage (not required); Personal Injury Protection with a limit of $10,000; and optional Collision and Comprehensive coverage for vehicle repair or replacement expenses, with no requirement.

Every driver in Texas is mandated to have liability insurance known as 30/60/25 coverage. However, this minimum requirement may fall short in adequately covering the aftermath of a moderately severe accident. The basic policy offers $30,000 for individual injury coverage, up to $60,000 for injury coverage per accident, and provides up to $25,000 for property damage.

How long does it take to ship a car from Kentucky to Texas?

Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from Kentucky to Texas is about 1,111 miles, and that’s as fast as about 3 days. However, most car transport companies will take two to eight days to travel from Kentucky to Texas.

Will I be required to have a vehicle inspection in either state?

When moving to Kentucky from another state, a one-time Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) inspection is required. To complete the VIN inspection, bring the vehicle and its title to the Sheriff's office in the county where the car will be registered.

In Texas, vehicles undergo annual safety inspections covering brakes, lights, steering, tires, etc. Some qualify for a two-year cycle.

If I have a driver’s license in Kentucky, will I need one in Texas?

New residents are required to obtain a Texas driver license from the Texas Department of Public Safety within 90 days of moving to the state.

If I bought a car in Kentucky, will I be required to pay sales tax in Texas after shipping it there?

It’s important to understand any tax implications if you’re having a car shipped from Kentucky to Texas after purchasing it.

New residents must pay a $90 new resident tax instead of a use tax for a vehicle they bring into Texas. This applies if the vehicle was previously registered in the new resident's name in another state or foreign country.

We recommend that you always check for updated tax information in both Kentucky and Texas to avoid any hidden costs.

What is the cheapest way to ship a car from Kentucky to Texas?

The cheapest way to ship a car from Kentucky to Texas is to ship it on a train or choose an open trailer transport method, avoid expedited shipping, and be flexible with your pickup dates.

How much does it cost to ship a car from Kentucky to Texas?

Shipping a car from Kentucky to Texas costs $868 to $1,318.

Helpful Kentucky resources