San Diego to Houston Car Shipping and Auto Transport Companies
San Diego to Houston Car Shipping
Written by Richard Avery, President of Smart Auto Move · USDOT 2887232 · MC 969368
Shipping a car from San Diego to Houston costs $1,100 to $1,350 on an open trailer. The trip is about 1,450 miles, mostly on Interstate 10, and takes three to five days on the road. The same range applies from Katy to Baytown, and the trip back to San Diego prices the same.
San Diego to Houston car shipping prices
Running mid-size vehicle on an open trailer, reviewed September 2026. The other rows are published lanes that check this figure.
| Route | Distance | Days on the road | Open transport |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego to Greater Houston | 1,450 miles | 3 to 5 days | $1,100 to $1,350 |
| Houston to San Diego THE OTHER DIRECTION | 1,450 miles | 3 to 5 days | $1,100 to $1,350 |
| Los Angeles to Houston FOR COMPARISON | 1,566 miles | 4 to 5 days | $1,100 to $1,400 |
| San Diego to Dallas-Fort Worth FOR COMPARISON | 1,360 miles | 3 to 5 days | $1,150 to $1,300 |
| San Diego to San Antonio FOR COMPARISON | 1,250 miles | 3 to 5 days | $1,000 to $1,150 |
These are estimates, not fixed prices. Diesel is the main cost in hauling a car and its price changes, so we review these ranges as the market moves. Day counts are road time, which begins after your pickup window. Enclosed adds about 80 percent over open. Non-running cars go on a winch truck for $200 or more on top. See how our national bands work.
One price from Katy to Baytown
Greater Houston is huge. Katy in the west and Baytown in the east sit more than 50 miles apart, and The Woodlands and Pearland are almost as far from each other north to south.
From San Diego, every part of it shares one range. A carrier heading into Houston usually has several cars for different suburbs, and works the whole metro in one sweep. Your address decides where the driver stops, not what you pay.
Houston is also one of the busiest car markets in the country, so trucks refill quickly for the trip back west. That is why Houston to San Diego prices the same as this lane.
San Diego to Houston Car Shipping Questions
What customers moving a car from San Diego County to Greater Houston ask us most.
What does it cost to ship a car from San Diego to Houston?
Most customers pay $1,100 to $1,350 for a running mid-size car on an open trailer. That covers pickup at your San Diego County address and delivery anywhere in Greater Houston.
How long does the trip take?
Three to five days on the road for about 1,450 miles. Your pickup window comes first, six days on Standard or three on Expedited.
Is Houston to San Diego the same price?
Yes. Our Houston to San Diego page publishes the same $1,100 to $1,350 in both directions. Houston is one of the busiest car markets in the country, so trucks fill easily either way.
How does this compare with shipping from Los Angeles?
Very closely. Los Angeles to Houston runs $1,100 to $1,400 over about 1,566 miles. San Diego sits a little nearer to Houston by road, so it lands at or just under the Los Angeles figure.
Does it cost more to reach Katy or The Woodlands than central Houston?
No. Greater Houston stretches more than 50 miles across, and every part of it shares one range. Drivers work the whole metro on a single trip.
What route does the truck take?
I-8 out of San Diego to Gila Bend, then Interstate 10 the rest of the way, through Tucson, El Paso and San Antonio into Houston.
Does hurricane season affect delivery?
It can add a day or two. Gulf hurricane season runs June through November. When a storm is on the way, drivers wait until roads are clear, and we keep you posted.
What is the best time to ship?
Late fall through spring schedules most easily. In the summer months, a booking two to three weeks out works best.
Which San Diego County cities do you pick up from?
Everywhere in the county, including San Diego, Chula Vista, Imperial Beach, La Mesa, Santee, Poway, San Marcos, Vista, Encinitas and Oceanside.
Where around Houston do you deliver?
The whole metro: Houston, Katy, Cypress, Spring, The Woodlands, Sugar Land, Pearland, Pasadena, League City and Baytown.
Do you have a location in Houston?
Yes. Houston is a Smart Auto Move service area. Our staffed office in Los Angeles backs up every Southern California pickup.
What if my Houston street is hard to reach?
Some Houston neighborhoods have narrow streets, deep ditches or low oak branches. The driver picks a nearby lot with room to load, free of charge.
How long do I have to register in Texas?
You have 30 days from your move. Harris, Fort Bend and Montgomery counties require an emissions test before you register, so plan it early.
Do you ship electric vehicles?
Yes. Charge the car to about half before pickup and leave the charging cable in the car for the driver.
Is door-to-door included?
Yes, in every quote.
Open or enclosed to Houston?
Open suits almost any daily driver. Enclosed fits a classic, a low sports car or fresh paint, and runs about 80 percent more.
Can you ship a car that won't run?
Yes, on a winch truck. Plan on $200 or more above the running price, based on the car.
What does Expedited change?
Your pickup window shrinks from six days to three. The road time is the same.
Can I ship two cars?
Yes. Two cars bound for one Houston address often go on the same truck.
Can I leave things in the car?
Usually yes, within reason. About 100 pounds in the trunk is fine. Carrier Cargo Insurance covers the car rather than what you pack.
How do I get my car ready?
Wash it, photograph all four sides, leave about a quarter tank, disable the alarm and take out your FasTrak.
Who insures the car?
The carrier does, through Carrier Cargo Insurance, from pickup in San Diego to delivery in Houston. The certificate comes to you once the truck is assigned.
How do you choose my carrier?
From our vetted network of over 16,000 carriers, each with active FMCSA authority and insurance on file.
How can I check your company?
Search USDOT 2887232 or MC 969368 on SAFER, the free FMCSA lookup.
Should I just drive it?
It is about 21 hours of driving, or three days with stops, hotels and fuel. Shipping hands you those days back and saves 1,450 miles of wear.
Will my price change after booking?
It holds. With the Smart Price Promise, the price we quote is the price you pay, as long as the car, route, condition and shipping details stay the same.
What do you need to give me a quote?
Your two zip codes, the year, make and model, whether the car runs, and your first available date. Use the form above or call 888-709-9078.
Timing around summer and hurricane season
From San Diego the truck takes I-8 to Gila Bend, then Interstate 10 through Tucson, El Paso and San Antonio into Houston. It is a southern road that runs well all year.
Gulf hurricane season runs June through November. If a storm heads toward the coast, drivers hold back until the roads are clear, and we update you. A day or two of flexibility covers it. Late fall through spring is the easiest stretch to book.
Your pickup window, six days on Standard or three on Expedited, comes before the road time. Our guide to how long car shipping takes lays out the full timeline.
Pickup across San Diego County, delivery across Houston
We pick up anywhere in the county: San Diego, Chula Vista, Imperial Beach, La Mesa, Santee, Poway, San Marcos, Vista, Encinitas and Oceanside.
We deliver across the metro: Houston, Katy, Cypress, Spring, The Woodlands, Sugar Land, Pearland, Pasadena, League City and Baytown.
Some Houston streets have deep drainage ditches, low oak branches or tight turns for a 75-foot hauler. The driver meets you at a nearby open lot instead, at no extra cost. Houston is a Smart Auto Move service area, and our staffed Los Angeles office supports the California side.
Registering your California car in Houston
Texas gives new residents 30 days to register. Harris, Fort Bend and Montgomery counties all require an emissions test first, so book it early in that window along with Texas insurance.
A car that arrives soon after you makes that easy. Our Houston car shipping page covers the metro in more depth.
Open, enclosed or expedited to Houston
Open trailers carry most cars on this lane at the best price. Enclosed is a good fit for a classic, a low sports car or fresh paint, and it keeps Gulf rain and sun off the finish, at about 80 percent more.
Expedited cuts your pickup window to three days. If you serve in the military or study full time, see our military discount and college student discount. The open and enclosed guide compares trailer types.
Who carries and insures your car to Houston
Your car rides with a carrier from our vetted network of over 16,000. Each one holds active FMCSA authority with insurance on file, and we check equipment and service history before assigning your car.
Carrier Cargo Insurance, the carrier's own policy, covers your car from loading in San Diego to delivery in Houston, and your certificate arrives once the truck is set. On SAFER, search USDOT 2887232, MC 969368 to check us.
What our customers report
Reviews from customers across our offices and service areas, Houston included. You can read more on our BBB profile, where we hold an A+ rating and have been accredited since 2016.
Crystal Evans was very helpful.
More San Diego and Houston car shipping pages
Other routes out of San Diego and into Texas.