Car/Vehicle Shipping Cost from Houston, Texas to Plano, Texas

Generally, driving is cheaper than shipping for shorter distances, but the cost difference shrinks and shipping can become a better value for long hauls when factoring in hidden costs like wear & tear, time, and your own travel expenses (lodging, food). For very long trips (1000+ miles) or unreliable cars, the added costs of driving (depreciation, maintenance, fatigue) might make shipping more economical overall, say Move.org and SoFi.

Generally, shipping a car by train is cheaper than by truck, especially for long distances (over 500 miles) and major routes, due to its high capacity and efficiency, though trucks offer more flexibility and potentially faster door-to-door service. Train transport is often more affordable, potentially saving hundreds of dollars, while providing secure, enclosed transport and reducing your car's mileage and emissions.

The cheapest way to ship a car to another state is by using an open transport carrier, which loads your vehicle onto a large, multi-car trailer, often for hundreds less than enclosed options, especially if you opt for terminal-to-terminal delivery, book in the off-season (fall/spring), and stay flexible with dates, saving more by avoiding last-minute costs and using companies like Montway Auto Transport or Ship a Car Direct.