Hawaii car transport FAQ: answers from the team that ships your car

PRICING

What Hawaii car transport costs

How much does it cost to ship a car to Hawaii?

Port to port from a West Coast terminal to Honolulu, a standard car runs $1,500 to $1,800 and spends five to eight days at sea. Car shipping to Hawaii costs more the farther from the West Coast the car starts, and more again when it’s headed to Maui, Kauai or the Big Island.

An SUV or full-size pickup that fits the standard size limit (21’8″ long, 8′ wide, 7′ tall) usually prices the same as a sedan on the ocean leg. Past any one of those limits, the vehicle gets an individual quote. Our Hawaii car shipping cost breakdown walks through every factor that moves the number.

What is the cheapest way to ship my car to Hawaii?

Bring the car to a California terminal yourself and ship it port to port to Honolulu. For a car inside standard size, that setup sits at the bottom of our range, around $1,500. Each change from there adds to the bill: a door pickup adds $250 to $400, a neighbor-island destination roughly $300 to $800, and an EV a $375 surcharge. When you compare quotes, compare the same service, because a port to port price and a door to door price cover different amounts of work. Our guide to the cheapest way to ship a car to Hawaii covers every way to bring the price down.

What can add to the price after I book?

Most extra charges come from the vehicle itself or from how long it sits after it lands. These can show up on top of a quote:

Some problems never appear as a fee, because the port refuses the car instead: fuel over a quarter tank, a dashboard warning light, a windshield crack nobody cleared in advance, a dirty car. A refusal costs more than anything in this table once you add a second truck run and a later sailing, so we check for all of it before we book.

Is it worth shipping a car to Hawaii?

For most cars in good shape, yes. Shipping from the West Coast runs $1,500 to $2,600 depending on the island, so the math works when the car is worth well above that and runs without warning lights. It works less well for an older car near the end of its life, where the shipping bill starts to approach the car’s value, or for one that needs repairs before a port will take it.

Buying a car on the mainland and shipping to Hawaii is common too, and we can collect it straight from the dealer. If it’s a current or recent model year bought out of state, read the Hawaii use tax answer below before you sign.

Does the military pay to ship my car to Hawaii?

For one car, usually yes. Qualifying PCS orders to Hawaii cover one privately owned vehicle, and that shipment runs through the government’s PCSmyPOV program, with drop-off at a Vehicle Processing Center by appointment. The names on your orders, ID, title and registration have to match exactly, suffixes included. A second car isn’t covered, and that’s the one military families ship with us. Active-duty members may qualify for a carrier military rate when the service member’s name is on the title or registration, and we check eligibility when we quote. We cover PCS timing and paperwork on our military car shipping to Hawaii page.

TIMING

Transit times and booking

How long does it take to ship a car to Hawaii?

From a West Coast pickup, plan on two to three weeks until the car is ready in Honolulu. Texas and the Midwest run three to four weeks, the East Coast and Florida three to five. Only five to eight of those days are at sea. The rest goes to the truck ride to the terminal, staging before the ship sails and unloading in Hawaii.

Staging is the phase people don’t plan for. Some receiving terminals take cars a week or more before the vessel leaves, because the car still has to be positioned for a sailing out of another port. On the island side, Hawaii lots don’t release cars the day the ship docks, so allow at least two more days. Maui, Kauai and the Big Island can take far longer, depending on which of two routings the car takes. Every quote we send shows the full window from pickup to release, and our page on how long it takes to ship a car to Hawaii breaks each phase down by origin.

How far ahead should I book?

About a month before you want the car to leave. Book much earlier and the vessel schedule can still shift. Book much later and you risk missing the drop-off window, which closes days before the ship sails. Some terminals also take cars by appointment only, with slots opening 30 days before the sailing. During the summer PCS season, when military moves pile up, give it an extra week or two. Once you book, we lock in the terminal appointment and schedule the pickup around it.

What happens if my car misses its ship?

It goes on the next sailing, and the delay depends on where it’s headed. To Honolulu, the next ship usually isn’t far behind. To a neighbor island on the routing that connects through Honolulu, the auto barge runs monthly, so a car that misses one connection can sit for weeks.

Most Hawaii car transport delays start on the mainland: a truck that reaches the terminal after the receiving cutoff, paperwork that isn’t ready, or a car that fails the gate check. We schedule every pickup against the terminal’s receiving cutoff, which can fall days before the ship leaves, and we check documents and condition before we dispatch a truck.

OUR SERVICE

How we handle your shipment

Do I need to book with the ocean carrier myself?

No. Your car sails on a Matson or Pasha Hawaii vessel, and we book that space for you. We choose the carrier and sailing that fit your car and island, set the terminal appointment, send the truck, check the paperwork and follow the car until it’s released in Hawaii. You deal with one team from quote to keys. The single exception is an EV or plug-in hybrid, where the carrier requires the registered owner to place the booking (details below).

Door to door, door to port or port to port: what’s the difference?

The difference is who moves the car at each end.

Door pickup adds $250 to $400 in California. The mainland truck is the part of Hawaii car transport that takes the most timing work, because it has to reach the terminal inside the receiving window for your sailing, so we book and schedule it ourselves. Port to port costs least, but plan on a ride home from the terminal.

Which mainland ports do you ship from?

Cars sail to Hawaii from Long Beach, Oakland and San Diego. San Diego is the only mainland gateway for EVs and plug-in hybrids, and Oakland has tighter size limits than the other two.

There’s no regular Hawaii car sailing from Seattle or Tacoma right now. A Pacific Northwest car either goes to a receiving point near Seattle or rides a truck south, and the ocean leg starts in California either way. Cars from Las Vegas, Texas and other inland states reach a California terminal by truck.

Each starting point has its own page: California to Hawaii car shipping, shipping out of San Diego and Seattle to Hawaii car shipping.

CAR PREP

Preparing your car for the port

What are the requirements for shipping a car to Hawaii?

A car has to drive on and off the ship under its own power, and that’s where the checklist starts. The car needs:

• Working brakes and steering, including the emergency brake, with no fluid leaks
• At least 6 inches of ground clearance
• Fuel between 1/8 and 1/4 of a tank
• A clean exterior and a vacuumed, dry interior
• No dashboard warning lights
• Nothing inside except the items in the next answer
• Dimensions within 21’8″ long, 8′ wide and 7′ tall for standard pricing

These rules for shipping a car to Hawaii apply on both ocean routes, with tighter size limits at Oakland. Paperwork is covered in the documents section below, and our guide on how the shipping process works follows each step from booking to pickup.

Does your car have to be empty when you ship it?

Yes, apart from a short list of items. The spare tire and jack can stay in their usual place, along with the owner’s manual, secured child seats, floor mats and seat covers. Everything else comes out, including luggage, boxes, tools, chargers, truck bed contents and whatever’s in the glove box. Terminal staff and agricultural inspectors open every compartment, so leave them unlocked. Anything left inside has to come out before the terminal accepts the car, so empty it before pickup and ship belongings with your household move.

How much gas can be in the tank?

Between 1/8 and 1/4 of a tank. Coast Guard rules cap fuel at a quarter tank because gasoline counts as hazardous material on the ship, and the ports also set a floor of 1/8. If we’re picking the car up, set the level before the truck arrives, since there’s no way to burn off fuel between your driveway and the terminal. EVs and plug-in hybrids follow a charge rule instead: 20 to 50%.

Why would the port turn my car away?

The reason people don’t see coming is a dashboard warning light. A check-engine, airbag or tire pressure light can be enough for the terminal to refuse the car, so clear known faults before pickup. A cracked or chipped windshield needs approval before drop-off, and we send the photos and get an answer before a truck goes out. Lift kits, roof racks and cargo boxes count toward the size limits because terminals measure the car as it arrives, and Oakland caps height under 76 inches, lower than the other terminals. Mud in the wheel wells can get a car turned away, and so can an interior still damp from a fresh shampoo. That’s why we ask about warning lights, the windshield and any modifications when we quote.

SPECIAL VEHICLES

EVs, hybrids, trucks and non-running cars

Can I ship an electric car or hybrid to Hawaii?

You can, but the rules are stricter than for a gas car. EVs and plug-in hybrids ship on one ocean route only, out of San Diego, to Honolulu, Kahului, Hilo or Nawiliwili. The other route doesn’t take them at all right now. The battery has to sit between 20 and 50% charge, shipping or power-save mode goes on if the car has one, and the car’s phone app should stay off during the trip because every check-in drains the battery. Expect a $375 surcharge, plus $250 if the charge drops below 20% and the crew has to step in. Non-running EVs, or EVs with damage beyond normal wear, aren’t accepted.

That route requires the registered owner to place the EV booking personally, so the booking goes in your name. We handle everything around it: the truck to San Diego, the charge and settings check, timing the handoff to the sailing, and pickup or delivery in Hawaii.

Regular hybrids without a plug ship like gas cars when the battery is nickel-metal hydride. A lithium-ion hybrid is refused on one route, so send us the exact year, model and trim and we’ll match it to a route that takes it.

Can you ship a truck, lifted or oversize vehicle?

Yes. Pickups and SUVs ship at standard pricing when they stay within 21’8″ long, 8′ wide and 7′ tall, and most stock models do. Long-bed crew cab trucks are the ones that usually run over on length. Past any one limit, the vehicle ships as oversize with its own quote.

Lifts, bigger tires and roof racks change the numbers, since the measurement happens at the gate with everything attached. Oakland is the strictest: under 76 inches tall and under 76 inches across the outside of the tires, so we send taller or wider trucks through Long Beach. Send us the real height with any rack or lift on it. Our page on shipping a truck to Hawaii covers heavy-duty and lifted trucks in more depth.

Can I ship a car that doesn’t run?

Sometimes, and only if we set it up before drop-off. One ocean route takes non-running conventional cars for a handling charge of about $500. The other requires every car to run. The terminal can turn away a dead car that shows up on a standard booking, so tell us when you request the quote.

A weak 12-volt battery is its own risk. The crew may try a jump start if it’s safe, but the battery is the owner’s responsibility, and a car that won’t start at the gate can miss its sailing. Replace a tired battery before shipping. Non-running EVs and plug-in hybrids aren’t accepted on any route.

DOCUMENTS

Documents and the lien holder authorization letter

What documents do I need to ship a car to Hawaii?

Going over takes less paperwork than coming back, because Hawaii law adds ownership checks on cars leaving the state.

When our driver delivers the car to the terminal instead of you, the terminal can require a notarized authorization from the owner, so we send that form with your booking paperwork. Active-duty members add a military ID, and the name on every document should match the registration exactly. Shipping between islands has its own short list, covered further down.

Can I ship a financed car to Hawaii?

Yes, and the trip over is the easy direction. Shipping a financed car to Hawaii usually takes nothing beyond your registration and ID, and we’ll tell you at booking if your lender’s permission is needed. Leaving Hawaii is different. State law (HRS §286-57) bars removing a Hawaii-registered car without proof of ownership or the legal owner’s permission, so a lender on the title or registration has to authorize the shipment in writing. A leased car needs the same from the leasing company, and a company car needs a letter from an officer of the company. Government-funded PCS shipments require lien or lease approval in both directions.

What should the lien holder letter say?

The letter has to identify the car and the person shipping it. A lien holder authorization letter should include:

• The year, make and model
• The VIN
• The destination port
• The name of the person authorized to ship the car

It comes from the lender in writing and doesn’t need a notary. Lenders don’t work to a set turnaround, so request it as soon as you know your move date. We check the letter against the terminal’s requirements before your appointment, so a missing VIN or the wrong port won’t hold the car at the gate.

Can someone else drop off or pick up my car?

Yes, with the owner’s paperwork. For drop-off, the person handing the car over needs a notarized authorization from the registered owner (or a power of attorney) plus a copy of the owner’s ID. Leaving Hawaii, the terminal won’t take the car without it. For pickup in Hawaii, the terminal needs advance notice with a copy of the owner’s license, the booking number and the name of the person collecting the car. We send that notice for you once you tell us who’s picking up.

ROUTES

Neighbor islands and the trip back to the mainland

How do cars get to Maui, Kauai or the Big Island?

There are two routings, and the difference is measured in weeks. On the first, the car sails to Honolulu and waits for the monthly auto barge to Kahului, Hilo or Nawiliwili, which puts the full trip at 33 to 45 days from the mainland sailing. On the second, the ship calls Kahului and Hilo directly from San Diego about every two weeks, with roughly seven days at sea, and adds Nawiliwili on selected sailings. Some of those sailings still stop in Honolulu first.

When your date lines up with a direct call, we book it. When it doesn’t, we give you both options with real dates so you can weigh the wait. Expect $1,800 to $2,600 from the West Coast either way. Our pages on shipping a car to Maui and shipping a car to Kauai cover each island’s port in detail.

Can I ship a car between Hawaiian islands?

Yes. The inter-island barge loads during the day, sails that evening and usually arrives the next day, and Young Brothers runs that service. Reserve at least two weeks ahead. There’s no direct sailing from one neighbor island to another, so a car going from Maui to Kauai transfers through Honolulu. Hawaii law (HRS §286-271) sets the dock list: current registration, a photo ID and proof of insurance from the registered owner. Anyone shipping for the owner needs a notarized authorization, and a car bought within the last 30 days can use a signed certificate of ownership in some cases. The quarter-tank limit applies here too. Our inter-island car shipping page covers the full process.

Can you ship my car from Hawaii back to the mainland?

Yes, to any state. Honolulu to a California port runs $1,050 to $1,400, and Maui, Kauai or the Big Island to California runs $2,000 to $2,500. From the California port, we truck the car on to Texas, Florida, Las Vegas or wherever you’re headed.

The return trip is where Hawaii car transport paperwork gets strict: current registration, the title or a lender’s letter, and notarized authorization if anyone but the owner drops the car off. Cleaning gets strict too. USDA rules keep Hawaii soil, seeds and plant material off the mainland, so wash the undercarriage, wheel wells, tires and engine bay, and vacuum every compartment. A pressure or steam wash is worth it on a car that’s seen dirt roads. Full details are on our Hawaii to mainland car shipping page, with separate pages for shipping between Hawaii and Texas and shipping between Hawaii and Florida.

AFTER ARRIVAL

Customs, taxes and registration

Do I go through customs when shipping a car to Hawaii?

No. A car moving between the mainland and Hawaii is a domestic shipment, so there’s no customs entry and no duty. The inspection that does apply to importing and exporting vehicles to and from Hawaii is agricultural. Hawaii’s Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity screens arriving cargo for pests and soil, and USDA rules restrict soil, plants and fruit leaving Hawaii for the mainland. That’s why a dirty car can fail in either direction, even though no border crossing is involved.

Is there a Hawaii vehicle import tax?

Not on a car just because it arrived from the mainland. What people call a Hawaii vehicle import tax is usually use tax, filed on Form G-27, and it can apply to a current, previous or next model-year car bought outside Hawaii and brought in. The tax uses landed value, which counts the purchase price plus shipping, handling and insurance. Credits and exemptions cover some cases, including tax already paid in another state and time the car spent in use before the move, and active-duty members with legal residence elsewhere can be treated differently. If you’re shipping a new car to Hawaii, have your tax preparer check G-27 before you buy. A car that’s several model years old falls outside it.

How do I register my car after it arrives?

Within 30 days of the car’s arrival. First, buy Hawaii no-fault insurance. Then take the car to one of roughly 500 safety inspection stations, where the state caps the inspection at $25.75 for cars and trucks. For registration after shipping a car to Hawaii, bring the title, the inspection paperwork, proof of insurance and the bill of lading, which shows the VIN and arrival date. On Oahu, the total depends mostly on weight: a 3,320 lb car comes to about $367, most of it weight tax. If the car keeps its mainland registration, the county issues an out-of-state permit instead, at $5 on Kauai and the Big Island and $100 on Maui.

PICKUP

Pickup, damage and insurance

How do I pick up my car in Hawaii?

Two or more days after the ship docks, with your booking number and a photo ID. Hawaii lots don’t release cars on arrival day, and we tell you as soon as yours is ready. Some terminals run pickup by appointment, so book your slot when we call. Plan on about 30 minutes for checkout and arrive at least half an hour before the lot closes.

Free storage can be as short as 4 days, and after that the charge can run $25 a day. That cost falls on the owner and usually can’t be waived. If your flight lands after the car does, name a pickup agent or let us deliver the car to your address on the island.

What if my car is damaged during shipping?

Write it on the delivery receipt before you leave the Hawaii lot, because that note is what a claim rests on. Walk around the car in good light and compare it with the vehicle condition report from drop-off and your own dated photos from before pickup. On one route, damage not noted at the lot may not be considered at all; the other allows 3 calendar days to report hidden damage. Minor rock chips, hairline scratches and scuffs count as normal wear.

Carrier liability runs from $3,000 to about $8,000 for an average car, depending on the route, and it isn’t insurance. Declaring a higher value at booking raises that limit for an added charge, which makes sense on a newer or high-value car. Your own auto policy may cover ocean transit, so ask your insurer directly before the car ships. If something does go wrong, send us the photos and the marked-up receipt and we take the claim from there. Most claims take three to four weeks once the paperwork is complete.