Shipping a Car from Orlando, FL to Houston, TX
Ship from Orlando and the car covers about 1,022 miles westbound to Houston, through Florida, Alabama, Louisiana and Texas. A carrier needs about three days on the road at the usual 500 miles a day, and we estimate 2–3 days in transit once the car is loaded. Volume is lower here, so a flexible pickup window helps carriers fit you onto a truck.
Pickup and Delivery Details
Pickup in Orlando. Central Florida tourism and relocation hub on I-4, very busy in snowbird season. Carriers usually load around I-4. Winter residents arriving or leaving Orlando drive seasonal demand.
Delivery in Houston. Giant Gulf Coast metro and port with deep carrier supply, but exposed to hurricane-season delays. The nearest major airport, George Bush Intercontinental Airport, is a common landmark for meeting a driver. Carriers typically arrive around I-10, I-45 and I-69.
The Route and Corridor
A carrier on this lane works through Florida, Alabama, Louisiana and Texas. In Louisiana, I-10 crosses the long Atchafalaya Basin bridge and I-20 runs across the north. In Texas, I-35, I-10, I-45, I-20 and I-40 cross a state where El Paso to Houston is about 750 miles. Expect afternoon thunderstorms and hurricane season from June to November in Florida. Metros near that straight-line path include New Orleans (LA), although the actual interstate routing may bend around them. Pickup is on Eastern time and delivery on Central time, so a driver's call can come an hour off your clock. Toll roads in Florida and Texas are built into carrier pricing.
Timing and Seasonality
Hurricane season (June to November) can pause or reroute trucks along the coast. Start getting quotes roughly three weeks ahead for a move of 1,022 miles. Across Florida expect afternoon thunderstorms and hurricane season from June to November; across Texas, severe spring storms, Gulf hurricanes and desert heat in the west.
What Orlando to Houston Costs
Expect open transport for a standard sedan at $615–$870, which is about $0.73 per mile over 1,022 miles. SUVs and pickups usually add about 12% ($690–$975); enclosed sedan transport is $890–$1,260, roughly 45% more than open. Going the other way, Houston, TX to Orlando, FL is estimated at $605–$860. For scale, Houston, TX to Des Moines, IA is a similar 979-mile move at $585–$830. If you can start from Tampa (86 mi away) the estimate is $570–$805, $45 cheaper.
| Service | Vehicle | Typical Price | Good For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Open | Sedan / Coupe | $615–$870 | Lowest cost, most common |
| Open | SUV / Truck | $690–$975 | Bigger cars, same open trailers |
| Open | Minivan | $690–$975 | Bigger cars, same open trailers |
| Enclosed | Sedan / Coupe | $890–$1,260 | Maximum protection from weather and debris |
Estimates are for a standard sedan; your quote depends on pickup and drop-off points, condition and season.
Practical Tips for This Lane
- Be flexible on the date. A three-day pickup window lets dispatchers slot your car into a load heading west.
- Vet the carrier. Check the MC number on safer.fmcsa.dot.gov and get insurance terms in writing before paying a deposit.
- Remove loose items. Personal belongings are usually not insured in transit; clear the cabin before pickup in Orlando.