Shipping A Car To Hawaii
10/01/2023
Shipping a car to Hawaii isn’t difficult with a little preparation, and according to Montway Auto Transport, this can cost between $1,500 and $2,100.
From our #1 rated provider, 
The Gist:
- While it can cost anywhere from $950 to $3,000 to ship a car to Hawaii, top provider Montway Auto Transport shared an estimate of between $1,500 and $2,100 for their services.
- The cost of shipping a car to Hawaii costs depends on several factors, such as the type of transport, vehicle size, and delivery method.
- To prepare for your vehicle shipment to Hawaii, we suggest having the proper documentation ready and getting your vehicle inspected.
If you’ve got a one-way ticket to Hawaii, you’re probably excited to start exploring the islands. But to do so requires a car, and the Aloha State isn’t the easiest place to take one.
Luckily, we’ve put together a guide to help simplify the process of shipping a car to Hawaii. Our team has reviewed the United States’ best car shipping companies, and now we’ve refined our list for transport across the Pacific.
Cost To Ship A Car To Hawaii
Shipping a car to or from Hawaii can cost anywhere from $950 to over $3,000, depending on several factors. To provide context for these numbers, we received price estimates from Montway Auto Transport, one of our top choices for cheap car shipping services. All costs are for shipping an operable 2018 Honda Accord using open transport.
Shipping A Car To Hawaii Cost
Below is the cost to ship a car from the most common ports of departure used to ship a vehicle to Hawaii.
| Port of Departure | Port of Arrival | Price Estimate |
|---|---|---|
| Long Beach | Honolulu | $1,449 |
| Long Beach | Maui, Big Island, or Kauai | $1,799 |
| Honolulu | Long Beach | $949 |
| Maui, Big Island, or Kauai | Long Beach | $1,349 |
| New York City | Honolulu | $3,119 |
| Chicago | Honolulu | $2,519 |
What Affects The Cost Of Shipping A Car To Hawaii?
These prices are constantly in flux and can vary widely depending on a number of factors, such as:
- Time of year: The summer months and January tend to be more expensive.
- Vehicle size: The larger the car, the more expensive it will be to move.
- Type of transport: Open transport is cheaper than enclosed transport.
- Delivery method: Door-to-door service costs more than port-to-port service.
- Destination: Shipping from Hawaii to California costs less than shipping to the East Coast or Midwest.
- Direction: Moving a car from Hawaii to the mainland is usually cheaper than the opposite.
- Price of fuel: If fuel is expensive, expect your car shipment cost to increase.
Sending your car to Oahu–the island that’s home to Honolulu–may cost a few hundred dollars less than shipping it to Kahului on Maui, Hilo on the Big Island, or Nawiliwili on Kauai. This is because a greater amount of traffic heads to and from Hawaii’s most populous island.
How To Ship A Car To Hawaii
Shipping a car to Hawaii is similar to shipping a car across the country, with a few added procedures that must be followed. Below are the exact steps needed to ship a vehicle to Hawaii.
- Choose your shipment method: Cars shipped to Hawaii are picked up at your home and transported to a port where a ship will take it to the port of arrival. This method is known as door-to-port shipping. Or, owners can drive their vehicle to the port of departure themselves. This method is known as port-to-port shipping.
- Request a quote: Contact multiple shipping brokers for free quotes. Be sure to have your vehicle information and shipping dates ready.
- Book a carrier: Pick the quote and company that best fits your needs and confirm the shipment. Once you book the carrier, the shipping process begins.
- Take out all personal belongings: Personal belongings should not be shipped inside your vehicle under most circumstances, as they add weight which can increase price, and they will not be covered by the carrier’s insurance policy.
- Wash and take pictures of your car: Cleaner cars help you take notice of all pre-existing dents, scratches, and more on your vehicle.
- Empty your tank: Cars shipped to Hawaii should have less than a quarter tank of gas.
- Get your car pre-inspected: If your car is deemed inoperable at the time of pickup, you may encounter extra fees or be completely denied an ocean shipment.
- Turn off your alarm system: All alarms must be disconnected before travel.
- Drop off vehicle: Take your car to the agreed-upon pickup location. Bring your car’s title, its vehicle registration, and photo ID when shipping a car to Hawaii. If you’re taking a vehicle back to the U.S. mainland, bring a notarized letter from your car’s lien holder or second owner if applicable.
- Sign the bill of lading: The carrier that picks your car up will do their own inspection, which will include you signing the bill of lading. The bill of lading acts as an official receipt of your shipment and as a report that you can use to file claims with if your car gets damaged during transport.
- Pick up your car: Go to the pickup location and receive your vehicle.
- Inspect your vehicle: Once you receive it, inspect your car for any damage caused during transit. If the car is damaged, you must file a claim with the carrier.
Hawaii Auto Transport Ports
There are several ports in Hawaii that cars are shipped to. These cities include:
- Kawaihae, Hawaii
- Hilo, Hawaii
- Honolulu, Oahu
- Kahului, Maui
- Nawiliwili, Kauai
- Kaunakakai, Molokai
Shipping A Car From Hawaii To The Mainland
Cars can be shipped from Hawaii to the contiguous U.S. states using the following American ports of arrival:
- Long Beach, California
- Oakland, California
- Anchorage, Alaska
- Tacoma, Washington
- New York, New York
How Long Does It Take To Ship A Car To Hawaii?
Hawaii car transport is a trickier task than shipping to most other states. Since it’s in the middle of the Pacific, most vehicles get loaded onto a boat and endure transit times of about one to three weeks to reach the Hawaiian islands.
Do You Need A Broker to Ship Your Car To Hawaii?
There are many auto transport companies out there, but not all of them ship to Hawaii–which is why it’s important to double-check a company’s services when browsing websites. You can contact cargo and freight companies directly to see if any will ship your car to the Aloha State, but most car owners go through brokers when it comes to ocean shipments.
Door To Port Shipping
Auto transport brokers tend to partner with freight companies that take care of transporting your car across international waters. For example, if you’re shipping a car from Rhode Island to Hawaii, your broker would assign a truck carrier to load your car onto a trailer and transport it across the country.
They would drive the trailer holding your vehicle all the way to a West Coast shipping port, where a different cargo company will inspect it before placing it in a container and loading onto a ship. This is often called door-to-port shipping.
It’s possible to ship your car with an air freight carrier, but this means putting it on a plane, which usually costs significantly more and isn’t worth that higher price tag.
Roll-On/Roll-Off Car Shipping
Another method commonly used is roll-on/roll-off shipping, where cars are driven directly to a West Coast port and loaded onto a ship headed to Hawaii. Once their car arrives at its destination, it is rolled off the boat with the rest of the cargo.
Many from the eastern United States opt to drive their cars to the ports in Los Angeles, Seattle/Tacoma, Oakland, and San Diego to take advantage of the West Coast’s lower shipping prices.
What You Need To Get Car Shipping Quotes To Hawaii
Most auto transport companies require you to get a free quote to start the Hawaii car shipping process. When you go online to get the instant quote, you’ll need to provide the following information:
- Make, model, and age of your vehicle
- Whether your vehicle is inoperable or not
- Mainland pickup or delivery location (city, state, and ZIP code)
- Hawaiian island pickup or delivery location
- Preferred time frame for shipment
- Transport service choices (open or enclosed)
- Name and contact information
One of the broker’s representatives will contact you to finalize your vehicle shipping choices and payment methods. They will then find and assign a carrier to meet you either at a terminal or as closely as possible to your door. After a thorough inspection, the carrier will load your car onto the trailer and drive it to a West Coast mainland port.
Should I Ship My Car To Hawaii?
Because of Hawaii’s isolated location, expect a steep auto shipping cost when sending your vehicle to the state. If your car isn’t worth much, it may be better to leave it on the mainland. On the other hand, a vehicle worth $30,000 may be well suited for shipment.
Car Shipping Hawaii: Conclusion
This article reviewed everything there is to know about shipping a car to Hawaii. There are instances where it’s both a good idea and a bad idea to pay for car shipping to the Aloha State. However, properly preparing your vehicle for transport and comparing shipping quotes with several providers will help make the process go as smoothly as possible.
Best Car Shipping Company To Hawaii
Since shipping a car to Hawaii takes extra effort, not all industry leaders offer the service. Luckily, top providers Easy Auto Ship and Montway Auto Transport regularly carry vehicles to and from the Aloha State.
Easy Auto Ship: Hawaii
Since its founding in 2013, Easy Auto Ship has gained a reputation for providing both reliable and cheap shipping services.
The provider offers many benefits to its customers, from an extensive insurance policy to the choice of specific car pickup and delivery dates. Perhaps most significantly, Easy Auto Ship provides guaranteed pricing, so hidden fees cannot be added once an offer has been accepted.
Though some other shippers hold slightly higher customer satisfaction scores, Easy Auto Ship’s mix of competitive rates and quality benefits makes it a top choice for shipping a car to Hawaii.
Keep reading: Easy Auto Ship review
Montway Auto Transport: Hawaii
We ranked Montway Auto Transport as the top car shipper in the country, and it’s a great choice for shipping a car to Hawaii as well. The company’s rates are consistently among the lowest in the industry, despite the extra services offered to customers.
Montway Auto Transport offers great value for the price. With thousands of partners and over 15 years of industry experience, expect great service when shipping your vehicle with this provider.
Keep reading: Montway Auto Transport review
Car Shipping To Hawaii: FAQ
Below are frequently asked questions regarding shipping a car to Hawaii.
How much does it cost to ship a car to Hawaii?
Shipping a car to Hawaii can cost anywhere from $950 to over $3,000, depending on the starting point, time of year, and vehicle size. To find some of the lowest prices, we recommend checking out Easy Auto Ship and Montway Auto Transport.
Can I ship my car to Hawaii with stuff in it?
Shipping your car to Hawaii with personal items inside is not recommended and is often not permitted. Most Hawaii vehicle transport companies will request that you remove any objects inside your car pre-shipment to prevent damages.
Is it worth shipping a car to Hawaii?
Shipping a car to Hawaii sometimes makes sense, but not always. If your car holds little value or you plan to sell it soon, you may want to trade it in before the move. However, if your car is expensive or essential to your long-term plans, shipping it to Hawaii makes sense.
How long does it take to ship a car to Hawaii?
It can take anywhere from eight to 20 days to ship a car to Hawaii. It often takes this long because it depends on whether the car is being shipped by plane or boat, and where in the U.S. the car is being shipped from. In most cases, a car would be shipped on the road by a truck carrier, driven to the West Coast, and loaded onto a cargo ship for the Aloha State.
How We Rate Auto Shippers
Our review process aims to deliver consistent and unbiased assessments of car shipping companies. While there are multiple qualities that make an auto transport provider successful, our review team focuses on those we believe are the most important for consumers:
- Cost: Cost can be difficult to compare between providers because so many factors impact auto shipping rates. To determine our cost score, we perform a secret shopper analysis for a variety of vehicles and routes.
- Services: Our team of experts looks at the types of services available, as well as insurance coverage and the ability to guarantee pickup and drop-off dates. Ratings also take into account whether the transport company is a broker or a carrier.
- Reputation: It’s important that a car shipping provider is able to deliver your vehicle in a safe and timely manner. Companies with a strong rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB) score well in this category. Established providers with a long history of reliable service also receive positive marks.
- Customer Experience: We comb through consumer reviews on sites like the BBB to learn about customer experiences. Car transport companies with a low volume of complaints score well in this area.
