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TX → IA

Car shipping from Texas to Iowa

One of the routes we run most between Texas and Iowa. Roughly 950 miles metro to metro, 2 to 3 days in transit, and a price set by what carriers are accepting the week you book.

Distance
~950 mi
Houston to Des Moines
Transit
2-3 days
Once collected
Open carrier
$650-$840
~0.77/mi
Enclosed
$1,040-$1,340
Fully covered

Carriers usually run this lane on I-35, picking up I-40 across the middle. Drivers route around weather, roadworks and the other vehicles on the trailer, so that is the usual line rather than a fixed one.

What moves the price

Why a TX to IA quote changes

Two cars on the same lane in the same week can price differently. On 950 miles, these are the factors that actually shift the number.

Price this lane now
  • Where the lane sits against carrier demand

    Houston and Des Moines are both served daily, so this lane fills quickly. Rates track what carriers are accepting on it that week rather than a fixed table, which is why $650 to $840 is a band and not a single figure.

  • Which trailer the car travels on

    Around nine in ten vehicles on this lane move open. Enclosed adds roughly 60%, taking it to $1,040-$1,340, and buys four walls, a lift gate and a truck carrying fewer cars.

  • Vehicle size and condition

    Trucks, SUVs and lifted vehicles take more deck space and weight than the sedan those figures assume, typically adding 10 to 25%. Anything that will not roll, steer and brake needs winch loading, which not every carrier on this lane has.

  • Where your addresses sit

    950 miles is the sweet spot for this kind of freight, and most trucks running it are already going. What moves your price is whether both ends sit near the corridor or need a detour to reach.

  • Seasonal direction of travel

    This is the return leg of the snowbird season, which peaks March through May. Demand out of Texas concentrates into a few weeks, and carriers who arrive full and leave empty price accordingly.

Pickup and delivery

Texas and Iowa metros we cover

Door to door means as close to your address as the truck can legally and safely get. These are the metros carriers run on this lane most often.

  • Houston

    Des Moines

  • Dallas

    Cedar Rapids

  • Austin

    Davenport

  • San Antonio

    Des Moines

Not on the list? We cover every ZIP in both states. Call +1 (888) 807-4249 and a coordinator will confirm the route.

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Lane questions

Texas to Iowa, answered

Shipping Iowa to Texas instead

Most standard sedans move on this lane for $650 to $840 open, or $1,040 to $1,340 enclosed. That works out around 0.77/mi over 950 miles. Larger vehicles, non-running vehicles and tight collection windows price above it.

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