Ship Your Car from
California to Hawaii.
All-inclusive from $1,730 port-to-port. We coordinate your overland pickup from California to Long Beach — timed to your Matson sailing.
Overland from California
1–2 days
Total to Oahu
14–18 days
Departure port
Long Beach
Port-to-port rate
$1,730
Door-to-port from
$2,530+
How We Ship Cars from California to Hawaii
Every California shipment travels via Matson Navigation — the dominant carrier for Hawaii auto transport. Your vehicle departs from Long Beach and arrives in an enclosed Roll-on/Roll-off deck, protected from saltwater and weather for the entire Pacific crossing.
From California, overland transit to Long Beach takes approximately 1–2 days. We dispatch vetted, licensed carriers and time your pickup backward from the Matson vessel departure — miss the port cutoff by one day and your vehicle waits up to two weeks for the next sailing.
Your California to Hawaii Process
Overland pickup in California
A vetted carrier picks up your vehicle and drives it to Long Beach. Transit: ~1–2 days.
Port drop-off and vessel loading
Your vehicle is delivered to the Long Beach terminal, inspected, and driven aboard a Matson Roll-on/Roll-off vessel.
Pacific crossing
Your car crosses to Oahu in an enclosed deck — protected from saltwater, weather, and open-air exposure. Ocean transit: ~12–14 days.
Hawaii inspection + pickup
Your vehicle passes USDA inspection and is released at the Honolulu terminal. Most customers pick up within 1–2 days of arrival.
Zero Paperwork This Direction
No documents required to ship TO Hawaii.
No title. No registration. Nothing to gather or email. Just show up at the Long Beachterminal with your photo ID and Matson booking number — we're one of the few Hawaii shippers that can say that. (Coming back? Returns from Hawaii need five documents — we manage that checklist for you.)
Common Questions
How much does it cost to ship a car from California to Hawaii?
Port-to-port from California to Hawaii starts at $1,730. Door-to-port starts at $2,530+. Both rates are all-inclusive — Matson ocean freight, terminal handling, and basic cargo insurance.
How long does it take to ship a car from California to Hawaii?
Total transit from California to Oahu is approximately 14–18 days. This includes 1–2 days overland from California to Long Beach, plus 12–14 days ocean crossing via Matson.
Which port does my car ship from when leaving California?
Cars from California depart from the Matson auto terminal in Long Beach. Terminal address: 1320 Pier C St, Long Beach, CA 90813. Gate hours Mon–Fri 8:00am–4:00pm.
Is door-to-port shipping available from California?
Yes. We dispatch a vetted carrier to your address in California and deliver your vehicle directly to the Long Beach Matson terminal. Starts at $2,530+. $600 deposit secures your booking.
What is the 76-inch height limit at Oakland and does it affect my vehicle?
The Oakland cargo terminal has a 76-inch (6'4") height restriction for the enclosed vessel. Most standard passenger cars, sedans, crossovers, and standard SUVs are well under this limit. Lifted trucks, full-size vans, and vehicles with roof racks may exceed it. If your vehicle is close to 76 inches, we verify eligibility before booking and route through Long Beach if needed.
Do you handle military car shipping from California to Hawaii?
Yes. We regularly assist military personnel PCSing from California bases to Hawaii. Whether you are at Camp Pendleton, March AFB, Travis AFB, or Edwards AFB, we coordinate around your orders timeline and JPPSO requirements. Military vehicle shipments from California to Hawaii are among our most common requests.
How long does it take to ship a car from California to Hawaii?
Total transit to Oahu is 14–18 days from pickup. The journey has two legs: overland carrier from your California address to the departure terminal (1–2 days — same-day terminal drop is common for Los Angeles and Bay Area addresses), then a Matson Ro/Ro vessel from Long Beach or Oakland to Honolulu (12–14 days at sea). Shipping to a neighbor island adds approximately 2–3 days for the coordinated inter-island barge transfer after Honolulu.
Which port does California ship through?
California ships through two ports depending on your location. Southern California — Los Angeles, San Diego, Fresno, and the Central Valley south of Sacramento — routes through Long Beach. Northern California — the Bay Area, Sacramento, and the Central Valley north of Fresno — routes through Oakland. We determine the correct port at booking based on your pickup address.
Do you pick up from Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, and Sacramento?
Yes. We dispatch door pickup statewide from all major California metros — Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, Sacramento, and surrounding areas. For military PCS moves, we serve all six California installations: Naval Base San Diego, Camp Pendleton, MCAS Miramar, and Vandenberg SFB in Southern California (routing to Long Beach), and Travis AFB and NAS Lemoore in Northern California (routing to Oakland). San Diego has a dedicated page with base-specific pricing: carshippinghawaii.com/san-diego-to-hawaii-car-shipping
California → Hawaii Rates
Port-to-Port
Drop at Long Beach, pick up in Hawaii
Door-to-Port
We pick up in California
Talk to a specialist
(808) 378-7540How Your Car Gets from California to the Ship
Most California vehicles run the I-5 corridors to the Long Beach terminal — roughly 1–2 days of overland transit before the ship enters the picture. Here is how we control that leg:
Vetted Carrier Network
We only dispatch licensed, cargo-insured overland carriers with A-ratings to move your vehicle along the interstate corridors.
Full Insurance Verification
Each overland leg is covered by the carrier’s cargo insurance up to $100,000. We verify policy standing before dispatching.
Seamless Port Delivery
Our dispatch team coordinates Long Beach gate hours and schedules the Matson terminal appointment, preventing delay fees and missed cutoffs.
What's Included in Every California Shipment
Book Online with K'AI — Save up to $100
Skip the manual order. Book directly through our K'AI online portal and save $50 on your port-to-port deposit — or $100 on door-to-port and port-to-door.
Standard Rate
$1,780
Manual booking · full $200 deposit
K'AI Online Rate
$1,730
$50 off your deposit · book online instead of calling in
Fill the form
K'AI texts you a confirmed quote in under 2 min
Book in the portal
Save your card — it is NOT charged at this step
We call to confirm
We verify your car qualifies, confirm dates & final price
You're booked
Card is charged only after you approve the final details
Door-to-port & port-to-door: Save $100 off the $600 deposit when you book online with K'AI (card saved, not charged). We speak with you first to confirm your car qualifies, your dates work, and the price is correct.
Port-to-port to Oahu. Rates for neighbor islands differ.
Related Routes & Resources
Return Shipping
Hawaii to California Car ShippingShip to a Specific Island
Ship Car to Maui Ship Car to Kauai Ship Car to Big Island Car Shipping to Oahu