Shipping a Car from San Francisco, CA to Dallas, TX
The San Francisco–Dallas lane covers roughly 1,762 road miles eastbound, through California, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas. Allow 3–5 days after pickup, in line with roughly 35 hours of highway time. It is among the busier lanes we price, so carrier availability is usually good.
What San Francisco to Dallas Costs
A sedan on an open trailer is priced at roughly $880–$1,235 on this route, or $0.60 for each of the 1,762 miles. Enclosed shipping adds about 45% ($1,275–$1,790), while SUV and truck surcharges bring open pricing to $985–$1,385. Delivery to Fort Worth, 30 miles from Dallas, would be $865–$1,210. A comparable-length trip, Dallas, TX to San Jose, CA (1,724 mi), is priced at $860–$1,205. If you can start from San Jose (70 mi away) the estimate is $855–$1,200, $25 cheaper.
| Service | Car Type | Estimated Cost | Good For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Open | Sedan / Coupe | $880–$1,235 | Lowest cost, most common |
| Open | SUV / Truck | $985–$1,385 | Bigger cars, same open trailers |
| Open | Minivan | $985–$1,385 | Bigger cars, same open trailers |
| Enclosed | Sedan / Coupe | $1,275–$1,790 | High-value or low cars |
Prices shown are for a typical sedan; actual quotes vary with pickup and drop-off points, condition and season.
Timing and Seasonality
From December to March, mountain weather is the biggest timing risk, and carriers may wait out a storm. Desert heat rarely stops trucks, but midday loading can be hard, so early-morning pickups are common. Three weeks of lead time works well for 1,762 miles. Across California expect mild coastal weather but snow on the Sierra passes in winter; across Texas, severe spring storms, Gulf hurricanes and desert heat in the west.
The Route and Corridor
The direct line between the two cities crosses California, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas. 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. In New Mexico, I-25, I-40 and I-10 climb above 5,000 feet in places. Expect desert heat above 110°F in summer and snow near Flagstaff on I-40 in Arizona. Metros near that straight-line path include San Jose (CA), Albuquerque (NM) and Santa Fe (NM), although the actual interstate routing may bend around them. Pickup is on Pacific time and delivery on Central time, so a driver's call can come an hour off your clock.
Pickup and Delivery Details
Pickup in San Francisco. Peninsula city with steep, narrow streets where large trucks often meet customers at a nearby lot. San Francisco International Airport is the usual reference point for staging in the area. San Francisco has port activity, so imported or exported vehicles may need extra release time. Expect to meet the driver at an open lot because of street and tunnel limits.
Delivery in Dallas. Dallas sits on busy trucking corridors, which helps with availability. The nearest major airport, Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, is a common landmark for meeting a driver. One of the country's biggest vehicle-transport hubs, with I-30, I-35E and I-45 and heavy carrier supply.
Practical Tips for This Lane
- Keep the tank low. About a quarter tank keeps weight down for the trip to Dallas.
- Vet the carrier. Check the MC number on safer.fmcsa.dot.gov and get insurance terms in writing before paying a deposit.
- Ask for a call-ahead. Request a heads-up about a day before the truck reaches Dallas.