Car Shipping to and From Hawaii: Tips and Costs (2024)

Shipping a car to Hawaii is different from shipping one anywhere else in the U.S. Those who need to move their vehicles across the Pacific generally bring them to one of various ports on the West Coast for transit.

The auto shipping process varies depending on the carrier you use, but with most of them you’ll follow the same basic steps:

• Receive quotes: To get car shipping quotes online, provide transport brokers with shipment details such as vehicle information, pickup and dropoff dates and your final destination. Note that not all car transporters offer services to Hawaii.
• Choose a provider: Each shipping broker will offer different quotes for car shipping to Hawaii. Choose the provider that best fits your needs and budget.
• Prepare your car: Remove as many personal items as possible to reduce your vehicle’s weight during the shipment. You’ll also want to disconnect the car’s alarm system and leave no more than a quarter tank of gas.
• Gather key documents: You’ll need a photo ID, car title and vehicle registration papers for your car to be shipped from a port. If your car is financed or leased, you also must show a notarized letter from your lienholder approving the Hawaii car transport.
• Drop off your car: Take your vehicle to the designated pickup location, whether it’s a port, shipping terminal or the street outside your house. Inspect the car for pre-existing damages with a representative from your Hawaii auto shipping provider.
• Pick up the vehicle: The last step of car shipping for Hawaii is picking up your vehicle from its destination port on either the islands or the mainland. Inspect your vehicle for damages once again, sign a bill of lading and pay the shipment’s remaining balance.

What Is a Car Shipping Broker?

A shipping broker connects you with auto carriers who are willing to transport a vehicle to your desired destination. To begin, you must get free quotes from a car shipping company. In order to receive an instant quote, companies will typically ask you for the following:

• Make, model and age of the vehicle
• The car’s operability status
• Pickup and dropoff locations
• Name and contact information
• Your preferred delivery time frame
• Chosen auto transport services

Brokers will then take this information and match you with carriers that offer car shipping to Hawaii. Regardless of whether your pickup location is a terminal or your front door, you’ll meet the assigned carrier on the agreed-upon pickup day. Before transporting the vehicle, you and the carrier will conduct a thorough inspection of it.

Choosing the Right Car Shipping Provider

The two most important things to consider as you compare car shipping providers are its years of experience in the industry and transparent pricing. We also recommend checking out company reviews on Google and Trustpilot.

In August 2023, our team surveyed 1,000 car shipping customers. When asked about the most important consideration in choosing an auto transport broker, 24% of respondents chose industry reputation. Cost was the key factor for 21% of those surveyed. Speed of delivery and insurance coverage offered by providers were also popular responses.

How To Prepare Your Car for Shipping

Before sending your vehicle across the Pacific Ocean, there are a few steps you can take to make sure it’s properly prepared. One of the most critical ones is to sign the bill of lading.

The bill of lading serves as an agreement between the carrier and customer on the transaction of your shipment, much like a receipt. It’s also used to keep track of any pre-existing damages to your vehicle before it gets shipped to Hawaii. This is important to make sure that the auto shipper is held liable for damages that occur during transit.

Here are some of the best ways to make sure your vehicle is ready for shipping:

• Take pictures: Take pictures of your car on pickup day to document its condition before the shipping process begins.
• Remove personal items: Personal belongings can’t be shipped inside of your vehicle. Be sure to remove any remaining items before pickup day.
• Empty gas tank: Leave no more than a quarter tank of gas in your car to decrease the overall cost of shipping to Hawaii.
• Bring proper documentation: Bring your vehicle registration, the car’s title and a photo ID to the agreed-upon pickup location.

List of Shipping Ports in Hawaii

There are several shipping ports spread across the Hawaiian Islands, with the main ones being:

• Honolulu on Oahu
• Kahului on Maui
• Nawiliwili on Kauai
• Hilo and Kawaihae on the Big Island of Hawaii
• Kaunakakai on Molokai

Shipping a car to Oahu could cost less than to other Hawaiian ports since there’s more demand to the state’s most populous island.

How Long Does Hawaii Car Shipping Take?

Vehicle shipping from mainland ports to any of the Hawaiian Islands takes longer than shipments within the Lower 48, even if the transport has on-time arrival. That’s because cars shipped to Hawaii must get loaded onto a ship to cross the Pacific Ocean. The entire process can take anywhere from one to three weeks, with times being longer if you’re shipping to or from the East Coast or an inland location.

Hawaii Car Shipping From the East Coast

Those on the East Coast often drive their cars across the country to ports such as Long Beach, Oakland and Seattle/Tacoma to make car shipping to Hawaii both easier and cheaper. Roll-on/roll-off (RORO) shipping, where cars are loaded onto a cargo ship with a ramp and then unloaded with other cargo at the destination port, is a relatively simple and affordable transport service.

The convenience of door-to-door service isn’t available with RORO shipping, as you’ll have to drive to a port to drop off and pick up your vehicle. However, it’s a straightforward car transport option that usually leads to the lowest prices for car shipping to Hawaii.

Car Shipping From Hawaii to the Mainland

Transport routes go in both directions when it comes to Hawaii car shipping. Aloha State drivers heading to the mainland can easily have their cars shipped to West Coast ports located in California, Alaska and Washington State. Shipping to the East Coast or the Midwest is a far costlier and more time-consuming process, but it can still be done.