Frequently Asked Questions About Shipping Cars to Hawaii

Considering the vast ocean that runs between Hawaii and another state added to the land transportation and interisland car shipping if needed, the shipping should take more than a couple of days to a few weeks. To give you a clearer idea, a vehicle shipped from Miami to Honolulu will take 13 to 20 days and shipping from Atlanta to Kahului will it takes 12 to 19 days.

Again, it would be best to ask for an estimated date of delivery from your service company. This way, you would know how early you should have your vehicle shipped for it to arrive on your desired date.

If you have decided on getting your car shipped to Hawaii, then you would need to bring several documentations with you before leaving your car to the port. If you cannot drive your car yourself, then you can have someone take your place and bring the documents in your stead as long as they are at least 18 years old. You should also have them bring a power of an attorney to prove that they are allowed to ship the car.

The auto transport service may differ from one carrier to the other. However, the process should include the following steps:

To start, you need to reach out to a shipping broker and provide details about your shipment such as the shipping date and vehicle information.

Afterwards, the broker should present a list of carrier quotes and options you can choose from. The process then begins as soon as you choose a carrier.

Next, you have to make sure that there are no items inside your car so there won’t be any added weight. Have less than a quarter tank of gas and disconnect both the battery and alarm system.

For this, you will be given the option to bring the vehicle to the port or shipping terminal yourself or have a professional driver pick it up from your house and drive it themselves. Be sure to prepare all the necessary documents needed before driving to the port which was listed above.

Lastly, do pick up your vehicle from either the destination port or the delivery location as soon as it arrives in Hawaii.

You will probably make three payments in the process. First, companies will most likely ask you to pay a certain amount of initial deposit as a reservation fee for a spot in the ship. Then, a second payment will be made either over the phone or using a debit or credit card as soon as you arrive to the port. Lastly, a payment either in cashier’s check, cash, or money order will be given directly to the driver.

For those who are permanently migrating to Hawaii, you might be wondering if it’s really better to ship your vehicle instead of selling it and buying a new one in Hawaii. Certainly, knowing that the living expense in Hawaii is higher than most states, you would want to spend as little as possible on the move.



The choice will depend on you and the condition of your car. If your car is recently purchased or is in great shape with little to no need of repair, then shipping the vehicle will be the wisest choice as it saves time and energy. However, if it’s an old model that needs a lot of work, then you would want to sell it and buy a new one on the island instead. 

You might also want to consider buying a used car instead of a new one as this would be cheaper. On the other hand, if it’s for short-term visits, then car shipping is a smart choice as car rentals can be incredibly expensive in some months. Also, it is cheaper and a lot more convenient.

Yes, as long as you have prepared the necessary documents and are fully aware of the different rules to follow in order to ship a leased car to Hawaii.



Here is a checklist of the records and clearances you will need:

• An approval letter from the lien holder that allows shipment of vehicle
• Proof of Ownership (Bill of Sale or Car title)
• Certificate of Safety Inspection
• VIN Number
• Details on the consignee
• Bill of Lading
• Registration Plate
• State of Origin
• Color of the vehicle
• Verbal affirmation of whether or not the vehicle is operable
  

It is not recommended to ship a car with items inside of it and you will probably be asked to remove everything prior to shipment. Not only does this add up to the shipping cost due to added weight, but it is also more likely to become damaged during the shipment. It would be better to ship your goods separately.

Now you should be wondering “then how do I ship my stuff to Hawaii?”

As for your household goods, you can choose between having them shipped via shipping container or crates, or via mail services. The most widely used method is via ship which can range from $5,000 to $10,000, because people who are fully moving out are most likely in less of a rush. Moreover, using a shipping company is the cheapest choice to move larger and more items.

However, if you’re moving with not much baggage, then you might want to opt for a mailing service instead as it arrives in as fast as 3-6 days. In the continental U.S, you can choose between USPS, FedEx, or UPS. To find out how much to ship household goods to Hawaii, you can request for a quote at your chosen service by providing the weight and dimensions of your items.

At this point, you have gone over the top car shipping FAQs. You now have a clear idea on whether or not you should go for Hawaii car shipping during a trip or a permanent move. Certainly, more often than not, this option will be faster and more convenient. However, you should also consider the possibility of its price exceeding the value of your car. This applies especially to cars that are old and does not work as well as before.

In addition, you can also try checking on the public transportation options available in the city you’re moving to as you may find that there’s no need to have a car to get around. Oahu for instance, has exceptional public busses. You can check on the available public transportations in different cities here.