Texas to Michigan Car Shipping

Preparing your vehicle for car shipping from Texas to Michigan is simple. Follow these key steps to ensure a smooth transit:

• Clean your car: Wash the exterior so the carrier can clearly document any pre-existing scratches or dents during the inspection.
• Document the condition: Take photos of your vehicle from all angles before pickup. This protects you if any damage claims arise.
• Remove personal items: Clear out all personal belongings from the interior. Most carriers are not insured to cover personal items left in the vehicle.
• Remove accessories: Take off any exterior add-ons such as spoilers, roof racks, or custom mirrors that could be damaged in transit.
• Remove your toll pass: Detach any toll transponders (like TxTag or EZPass) to avoid unexpected charges along the route.
• Check fluids and tire pressure: Make sure your tires are properly inflated and there are no fluid leaks. Carriers may refuse a vehicle that is leaking.
• Leave a quarter tank of gas: Keep the fuel level around 25%. A full tank adds unnecessary weight, but you need enough fuel to load and unload the car.
• Disable toll and alarm systems: Turn off any automatic alarm systems to prevent disruptions during transport.
• Provide a working key: Make sure your carrier has a key to move the vehicle on and off the transport truck.

For a full checklist, visit our Vehicle Shipping Tips page. A little preparation goes a long way in ensuring your car arrives in Michigan safely and on time.

Yes, your vehicle is insured when shipping from Texas to Michigan with Sherpa Auto Transport. Every carrier in our network is required to carry a minimum of $1,000,000 in liability insurance and $100,000 in cargo insurance.

Before your car ever leaves Texas, we verify that the carrier’s insurance policy is active and in good standing. We don’t just take their word for it — every contracted carrier must also add Sherpa Auto Transport as a Certificate Holder on their insurance policy. This gives us an extra layer of oversight to protect your vehicle throughout the entire journey to Michigan.

It’s also a smart idea to check with your personal auto insurance provider before shipping. Some policies offer additional coverage during transport, which can give you extra peace of mind on a long haul like Texas to Michigan.

Have questions about coverage? Our team is happy to walk you through the details. Contact us anytime.

The sooner you book, the better. We recommend scheduling your pickup from Texas at least two weeks in advance. Booking early gives carriers more time to bundle your shipment with others heading in the same direction — which can also help lower your overall cost.

That said, if you’re in a hurry, Sherpa Auto Transport does offer expedited shipping options. Keep in mind that last-minute bookings may come with higher rates and fewer available carriers on the Texas-to-Michigan route.

As a general rule of thumb:

• 2+ weeks out: Best availability and pricing
• 1–2 weeks out: Good options, but slightly less flexibility
• Less than 1 week: Expedited service may be required

The Texas-to-Michigan route is a long haul — typically 1,200 to 1,500 miles depending on your exact pickup and delivery locations. Planning ahead ensures a smooth, stress-free experience.

No payment is due at the time of booking. We do require a payment method on file so that it is available to charge once a carrier is secured. We accept all major debit and credit cards, including Mastercard, Visa, Discover and American Express. The most convenient option is to pay for your shipment in full by credit card at the time a carrier is secured.

We also allow you to pay for your Initial Payment via credit or debit card and then pay the outstanding balance on delivery day via cash or a certified check made out to the carrier.

Your Sherpa shipment includes up to 100 lbs of personal items or household goods stored in the trunk area or secured below the window line. If you are shipping to or from a port or your shipment includes ocean transit, your vehicle must be emptied of all items. Sherpa and your assigned carrier cannot be responsible for personal items left inside the vehicle. See our Vehicle Shipping Tips for more details.

Yes. It is important that you, or another adult that you trust, is there for pickup and delivery of your vehicle. This designated person plays an important role in the shipping process including documenting the state of the vehicle and signing the Bill of Lading, which acts as a receipt of the vehicle’s condition.

When shipping your car from Texas to Michigan, you have two options: open transport and enclosed transport.

Open transport is the most popular and affordable choice. Your vehicle rides on an open-air trailer — the same kind used to deliver new cars to dealerships. It’s safe, reliable, and gets the job done for most standard vehicles.

Enclosed transport provides a fully covered trailer that shields your car from road debris, dust, and weather. The tradeoff? It typically costs 40–60% more than open transport. It’s best suited for:

• Classic or antique cars
• Luxury or exotic vehicles
• Cars with custom paint jobs or body modifications
• Low-clearance vehicles

For most everyday vehicles making the trip from Texas to Michigan, open transport is the smart, cost-effective choice. The long haul across states like Oklahoma, Missouri, and Indiana is well-traveled by our carriers, so your car is in good hands either way.

Not sure which option is right for you? Check out our in-depth open vs. enclosed auto transport guide to help you decide.

Yes! Door-to-door auto transport is our most popular service for shipping a car from Texas to Michigan — and for good reason. It’s the most convenient option available.

Here’s how it works: When you book your shipment, you provide your preferred pickup address in Texas and your delivery address in Michigan. Your assigned carrier will come directly to those locations to pick up and drop off your vehicle.

Keep in mind that “door-to-door” doesn’t always mean your exact driveway. Some neighborhoods have low-hanging trees, narrow streets, or tight turns that make it difficult for large car carriers to maneuver safely. If that’s the case, your driver will contact you to arrange a nearby alternative — like a parking lot or gas station just around the corner.

The bottom line: door-to-door service saves you time and hassle. You won’t need to drop your car off at a terminal or drive out of your way. Sherpa Auto Transport handles the heavy lifting so your vehicle gets from Texas to Michigan as smoothly as possible.

Many Auto Transport companies try to tease customers with lower rates, only to surprise you with “hidden costs” later. At Sherpa Auto Transport, we do things differently. We provide one locked-in price upfront and stick to it. If unexpected costs arise, we pay them out of our own pocket.

While we may not always be the cheapest option at first glance, our commitment to transparency and reliability offers exceptional value. As a premium service, we ensure an stress-free experience from start to finish.

We transport sedans, SUVs, pickup trucks, vans and motorcycles across the nation, including service to Alaska and Hawaii. At this time, we do not service boats, golf carts, ATVs, or RVs. We can ship both operable and inoperable vehicles so long as the vehicle can roll, brake, and steer, and that you can provide the carrier with a key to the vehicle. We can also ship electric vehicles.

Visit Sherpa’s FAQ page to learn more about car shipping!