Car Shipping from Raleigh, NC to Houston, TX

Fully insured, door-to-door auto transport. No deposit until your carrier is confirmed. 5-star rated.

Distance
1,288 mi
Transit Time
3-5 days
Estimated Cost
$750–$1050
Solid Market

Shipping from Raleigh, NC

Raleigh is a solid and growing auto transport market. The Research Triangle is one of the fastest-growing relocation destinations in the country right now. Companies like IBM, Cisco, SAS, and a wave of biotech and pharma firms have been pulling professionals in from California, New York, and the Northeast for years. That means a steady stream of cars moving in and out. I-40 is the main artery connecting Raleigh west to Durham, Chapel Hill, and all the way to Asheville. I-85 gives carriers a direct shot up to Charlotte and the Virginia border. ADESA Raleigh services the market and Manheim North Carolina operates out of Kenly, about 50 miles east. The auction density is not Dallas-level but it is enough to keep carriers moving through consistently.

Most pickups in Raleigh happen within 2 to 4 days. The Research Triangle has enough consistent volume that carriers plan routes through here regularly. If your car is out in Cary, Apex, or Morrisville near the I-40 corridor, pickup is smooth. If you are inside the beltline near downtown you may need a quick meetup near a more accessible lot but it is not a problem. Late August sees a spike in demand around NC State and UNC move-in season, and May gets busy with graduations, so give a little extra lead time then. Get a quote to see what your specific route looks like.

Major Hub

Arriving in Houston, TX

Houston is one of the easiest cities in the country for auto transport. We move cars in and out of here every single day. It sits right on I-10 and I-45 which are two of the busiest carrier corridors in the US. There are hundreds of dealerships across the metro, plus Manheim Houston, ADESA Houston, and multiple Copart and IAA locations. That means carriers are always running through here looking for loads. On top of that, the Port of Houston handles a ton of vehicle imports and exports, so there is never a shortage of trucks in the area.

Delivering to Houston is just as easy as picking up. Carriers are already headed this way constantly on I-10 from both directions and I-45 from Dallas. You will not need to pay extra or wait longer just to get someone to come here. Houston is a destination that carriers actually want to go to because they know there will be another load waiting for them when they drop yours off. That keeps things moving fast and keeps your costs down.

Pricing on This Route

Shipping a standard sedan from Raleigh to Houston on open carrier currently estimates between $750 and $1050. That is based on the 1,288-mile distance and current market conditions.

Raleigh runs right around the national average on most routes, sometimes slightly above on lanes that do not have heavy carrier traffic in both directions. Routes to and from Charlotte, Atlanta, and the DC area are well-serviced and competitive. Long haul routes to Texas, the Midwest, or the West Coast cost a bit more simply because Raleigh is not a major hub. The relocation market helps keep prices fair though because there is consistent two-way demand. Get a quote to see your exact price.

Houston almost always runs at or below the national average. High carrier volume means more competition for your load and that keeps prices down. The huge number of dealerships and auctions in the area means there is constant demand, but there are also plenty of carriers to meet it. The only time you might see prices bump up a little is during hurricane season when some trucks reroute away from the Gulf. But even then we are talking small increases, not anything crazy. Get a quote to see exactly what your route costs right now.

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