Shipping a Car from Houston, TX to Montgomery, AL
Ship from Houston and the car covers about 674 miles heading east to Montgomery, through Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. Allow 1–2 days after pickup, in line with roughly 13 hours of highway time. This lane sees steady, moderate demand.
The Route and Corridor
Along the way the route touches Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. In Louisiana, I-10 crosses the long Atchafalaya Basin bridge and I-20 runs across the north. Alabama: I-65 and I-20/I-59 carry most freight, with Birmingham as the main junction. 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. Baton Rouge (LA) sit close to the corridor, which is why trucks often add or drop vehicles there.
Pickup and Delivery Details
Pickup in Houston. Houston is a freight crossroads, so there is usually a truck passing through. The nearest major airport, George Bush Intercontinental Airport, is a common landmark for meeting a driver. Carriers usually load around I-10, I-45 and I-69.
Delivery in Montgomery. Alabama's capital on I-65/I-85, home to Maxwell Air Force Base. Montgomery Regional Airport is the usual reference point for staging in the area. Montgomery is a freight crossroads, so there is usually a truck passing through.
What Houston to Montgomery Costs
Over 674 miles, a standard sedan on open transport runs $505–$740 ($0.92 per mile). For a larger vehicle plan on $565–$830, and for enclosed carriage of a sedan plan on $730–$1,075 (about 45% above open). Delivery to Birmingham, 100 miles from Montgomery, would be $505–$745. For scale, Phoenix, AZ to Boulder, CO is a similar 701-mile move at $525–$770.
| Transport Type | Vehicle | Typical Price | Good For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Open | Sedan / Coupe | $505–$740 | Lowest cost, most common |
| Open | SUV / Truck | $565–$830 | Larger vehicles, same trailers |
| Open | Minivan | $565–$830 | Larger vehicles, same trailers |
| Enclosed | Sedan / Coupe | $730–$1,075 | High-value or low cars |
Prices shown are for a typical sedan; your quote depends on pickup and drop-off points, condition and season.
Timing and Seasonality
Montgomery has a large military community, so summer permanent-change-of-station season (about May to August) tightens carrier space. From June to November, tropical weather can force carriers to reroute near the coast, so leave a few spare days. Two weeks of lead time works well for 674 miles. Across Texas expect severe spring storms, Gulf hurricanes and desert heat in the west; across Alabama, humid summers and Gulf storm risk near the coast.
Practical Tips for This Lane
- Choose the trailer deliberately. Open at $505–$740 fits most cars; enclosed at $730–$1,075 suits luxury, classic or low cars.
- Vet the carrier. Check the MC number on safer.fmcsa.dot.gov and get insurance terms in writing before paying a deposit.
- Be flexible on the date. A five-day pickup window lets dispatchers slot your car into a load heading east.