Ship Your Car to Hawaii — All-Inclusive From $1,730
How Much Does It Cost to Ship a Car to Hawaii?
Shipping a car to Hawaii starts at $1,730 port-to-port to Oahu, plus overland transport from your address to the West Coast port. Every quote is all-inclusive and locked at booking — no hidden fees, no post-booking surcharges. Here's exactly what it costs, what's included, and what makes the price go up or down.
$1,730+
Port-to-port starting price
13–17Days
door-to-port (Oahu)
2 ports
Long Beach & Oakland
4.9★
Google rating
"Dropped off at Oakland on a Tuesday morning. Car was at Sand Island sixteen days later. Easiest part of the whole move."
Yuki M. - Alameda CA to Honolulu
4.9 / 5 Stars
212 Verified Google Reviews
Matson Exclusive
Hawaii Route Specialist
USDOT Licensed
DOT #3505506 · MC #1158539
Island-Owned & Operated
Honolulu, HI Based
18 Years Experience
Thousands of Moves
The Mainland Connection
We handle everything from pickup to port delivery.
Shipping requires precise coordination between inland transport and ocean freight schedules. We dispatch fully vetted, licensed carriers to collect your vehicle from any location and ensure it arrives at the port on time for the assigned sailing window.
Simple. Transparent. Reliable.
How Shipping a Car to Hawaii Works
Shipping a car to Hawaii has two parts that together make your total: ocean freight, which is the same no matter where you start, and an overland leg priced by the distance from your address to the West Coast departure port. Cars sail from Long Beach (Southern California) or Oakland (Northern California and the Pacific Northwest) — both connect to the same Hawaii terminals on the same Matson vessels at the same ocean rate.
Ocean freight to Oahu is $1,730 port-to-port. The overland leg is what changes your total: customers near the West Coast ports add as little as $65 to $200, while East Coast origins add the most. Driving the car to the port yourself (port-to-port) is the lowest-cost option from anywhere in the country.
Get your quote and confirm your route
Call (808) 378-7540 or fill out the form. We confirm which West Coast port serves your location, verify your vehicle fits that port's clearance limits, and lock your all-inclusive price at booking.
We coordinate your sailing window
We go through the calendar with you personally — your move-out date, flight, and housing — and time the drop-off or carrier pickup so your vehicle reaches the port for the next available Matson sailing.
Door-to-port pickup or self drop-off
For door-to-port, a licensed carrier picks up at your address and delivers it to the port. For port-to-port, you drive to the terminal yourself with your ID and pay a lower deposit.
Matson sails to Hawaii — you pick up at the terminal
Ocean transit from Long Beach or Oakland to Honolulu takes about 12 to 14 days. We notify you when your vehicle reaches available status at the Hawaii terminal and walk you through pickup.
Long Beach vs Oakland - Which Port Is Yours?
Your origin determines your departure port — this is a routing assignment, not a preference. Arriving at the wrong port means your vehicle won't be processed that day, so we confirm port assignment at booking. The more critical detail: Oakland has stricter vehicle clearance limits than Long Beach, and vehicles that exceed Oakland's 76-inch limit are turned away at the gate with no same-day alternative.
Southern California
Long Beach, CA
Height clearance
7 ft 0 in (84 inches)
Width clearance
7 ft 2 in (86 inches)
Hours
Mon–Fri, 7AM–3:30PM
Lunch closure
11:30AM–1:00PM
regions served
Southern California, plus AZ, NV, CO, all Midwest, all South, all East Coast (via Long Beach)
Other states
AZ, NV, CO, all Midwest, all South, all East Coast
Northern California
Oakland, CA
Height clearance
76 in (6 ft 4 in) total
Width clearance
76 in total (incl. mirrors)
Hours
Mon–Fri, 7AM–3:30PM
Lunch closure
11:30AM–1:00PM
regions served
Northern California, Oregon, Washington
Other states
Oregon, Washington
Oakland's 76-inch limit - measure before you drive
Oakland's 76-inch height and width clearance applies to your vehicle's total assembled dimensions - including every roof rack, cargo carrier, bike mount, rooftop tent, aftermarket lift kit, and mirrors at full extension. This is 8 inches more restrictive on height than Long Beach's 84-inch limit. If you are using Oakland and your vehicle has any additions, measure it fully assembled before you leave home. Vehicles over the limit are turned away at the port gate - there is no exception or same-day alternative. Call us before booking if you are unsure.
Oakland's 76-inch limit - measure before you drive
Fresno-area customers can route to either port. Oakland is approximately 170 miles north; Long Beach is approximately 230 miles south. Oakland is the shorter drive and typically carries lower overland cost from the Central Valley. Call us and we will route you to the more cost-effective option for your specific city.
Northern California, Oregon, Washington
Your ocean freight is fixed at $1,730 to Oahu. What changes your total is the overland leg — the distance from your address to the West Coast port (Long Beach or Oakland). The closer you are, the less you add. Below are typical door-to-port totals to Oahu by region.
Costs by Region
| Origin Region | Overland to Port | Door-to-Port Total (Oahu) |
|---|---|---|
| West Coast — CA, OR, WA (near port) | $65 – $250 | $1,795 – $1,980 |
| Southwest — AZ, NV, UT, NM | $300 – $550 | $2,030 – $2,280 |
| Mountain / Midwest — CO, TX, IL, MN | $500 – $850 | $2,230 – $2,580 |
| Southeast — GA, FL, NC, TN | $800 – $1,050 | $2,530 – $2,780 |
| Northeast — NY, VA, MA, PA | $900 – $1,150 | $2,630 – $2,880 |
| Port-to-Port — Oahu (drive to the port yourself) | No overland fee | $1,730 |
| Port-to-Port — neighbor islands | No overland fee | $2,550+ |
Overland ranges reflect the current carrier market. Call for your exact all-in quote: (808) 378-7540
Pricing
Starting Rates by Destination Island
Pricing Tip: Shipping to Oahu rather than a neighbor island saves roughly $820 on ocean freight. Neighbor island shipments from the East Coast can take 32 to 40 days total — plan ahead for Maui, Kauai, or the Big Island. neighbor island shipments can take 32 to 40 days total - plan well ahead if Maui, Kauai, or the Big Island is your destination.
Peak season pricing: Peak season surcharges apply June through August — vessels fill up quickly during summer. Book and deposit early to lock your rate. Book and deposit early to lock your quoted rate regardless of what the market does after you book.
About deposits: Door-to-Port deposit: $600 applied toward your total. Port-to-Port deposit: $200 applied toward your total. Neither is added on top of the quoted price - both are applied against it. What we quote is what you pay, guaranteed.
🌺 Oahu (Honolulu)
$1,730+
Port-to-port
13 to 17 days total
🌿 Maui (Kahului)
$2,550+
Port-to-port
26 to 32 days total
🌋 Big Island (Hilo)
$2,550+
Port-to-port
26 to 32 days total
🌊 Kauai (Nawiliwili)
$2,550+
Port-to-port
26 to 32 days total
Ready to get your exact all-in price ?
Get a transparent, all-in quote - no hidden fees, no obligations.
Transparent Pricing
Door-to-Port vs. Port-to-Port
Door-to-port is the fully managed option: a carrier picks up at your door and we handle the overland leg to the West Coast port. Port-to-port is the lowest-cost option: you drive the car to Long Beach or Oakland yourself and skip the overland fee. If you live near a West Coast port, port-to-port is a genuine financial decision worth thinking through before you book.
Door-to-Port
Most flexible option
What you do
Nothing - carrier picks up at your door
Overland managed by us
Yes, from your address
Deposit
$600 applied toward total
Starting total
$1,795+ (near the port)
Best for
Anyone who wants full end-to-end management
Port-to-Port
Lowest cost option
What you do
Drive your car to Oakland or Long Beach
Overland managed by us
No - you drive to the terminal
Deposit
$200 applied toward total
Total to Oahu (ocean only)
$1,730
Best for
Anyone near a West Coast port
Port-to-port makes sense if dropping the car at the port fits naturally into your move — before your flight or on your way out. For most customers farther from the West Coast, letting a carrier handle the overland leg is the better call.
Who Should seriously consider port-to-port. If you're within a short drive of Long Beach or Oakland and dropping off the car fits your move, port-to-port at $1,730 to Oahu saves you the entire overland fee and drops your deposit from $600 to $200. We walk through both options at booking and help you decide which fits your situation.
Transit Times
Transit Times to Hawaii
Your total timeline is the overland leg to the West Coast port plus ocean transit. Customers near Long Beach or Oakland who drop off at the port can have their car in Honolulu in as few as 13 to 14 days — essentially just ocean transit plus port processing. The farther you are from the port, the more overland days you add up front.
Booking lead time: Even with a same-day overland leg, Matson sailings are weekly. Missing the port cutoff by one day means waiting a full week for the next departure. Book at least 2 to 3 weeks before your target drop-off or pickup date. During peak summer months, 4 to 6 weeks is strongly recommended to secure your sailing slot.
Leg
Typical Timeline
Overland — West Coast origin (CA, OR, WA) to port
Same day to 2 days
Overland — Southwest / Mountain (AZ, NV, CO, UT)
2 to 4 days
Overland — Midwest / South (TX, IL, GA, FL)
4 to 7 days
Overland — East Coast (NY, VA, MA)
7 to 10 days
Port processing at Long Beach or Oakland
1 to 2 business days
Ocean transit to Honolulu (Oahu)
Approximately 12 to 14 days
Ocean transit to neighbor islands
Approximately 25 to 30 days
Total — near a West Coast port to Oahu
13 to 17 days
Total — East Coast to Oahu
20 to 26 days
Total — any origin to neighbor islands
26 to 40 days
How to Prepare Your Car Before Pickup or Drop-Off
These requirements apply whether you're dropping off at the West Coast port yourself or having a carrier pick up at your address. They're enforced at both the port terminal intake and at Hawaii's biosecurity inspection, run by the Hawaii Department of Agriculture. No documents are required at the port when shipping to Hawaii.
Required: Shipping TO Hawaii
Fuel at or below a quarter tank. Required fire safety regulation at Long Beach and Oakland - both enforce this at intake.
Remove all personal items from the interior. No luggage, household goods, or belongings permitted. Enforced at intake and Hawaii agricultural inspection.
Disable the alarm system before drop-off or carrier pickup. Active alarms at port intake cause processing delays.
Exterior and interior cleaned thoroughly. No mud, dirt, seeds, or debris. Hawaii USDA inspectors check wheel wells, undercarriage, and door jambs on arrival.
Vehicle fully operational - steering, braking, and rolling must be 100% functional.
No windshield chips or cracks.
If using Oakland: measure your vehicle's total assembled height and width including all roof racks, cargo carriers, and mirrors fully extended before you leave home. The limit is 76 inches in both dimensions. Vehicles over the limit are turned away at the gate with no same-day alternative.
Bring government-issued photo ID and vehicle registration for Hawaii terminal pickup.
Not Accepted - No Exceptions
Electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids are not accepted on any route, not accepted on any route to Hawaii. Standard non-plug-in hybrids are accepted
Non-running vehicles are not accepted. The vehicle must be fully operational at intake.
No documents needed to ship TO Hawaii
No title, registration, or authorization paperwork is required at the West Coast port when shipping to Hawaii. Documents are only required when shipping FROM Hawaii back to the mainland. Bring your government-issued photo ID and registration when picking up at the Hawaii terminal.
Photograph your vehicle thoroughly before drop-off- all four sides, the roof, and the interior. This documentation protects you in any claim situation.
Insurance Coverage
How Insurance Works on Hawaii Shipments
For port-to-port customers who drive themselves to the terminal, the overland insurance layer doesn't apply — your personal auto policy covers the drive to the port. For door-to-port customers, both layers are active from the moment the carrier picks up.
Layer 1 - Door-to-Port only
Overland Transport (to the port)
$100,000
The land carrier transporting your vehicle carries up to $100,000 in cargo insurance for the overland portion. For port-to-port customers who self-deliver, this layer is not in play - your personal auto policy covers the drive to Long Beach or Oakland.
💡
Our recommendation: Verify with your personal auto insurance carrier whether your policy covers ocean transport. Photograph your vehicle thoroughly before drop-off and again when you pick up in Hawaii. This documentation protects you in any claim situation regardless of service type.
Layer 2 - All customers
Ocean Transport (Matson Vessel)
$8,000
Matson's carrier liability is limited to actual damage sustained, up to approximately $8,000 for an average-sized vehicle. You can declare a higher vehicle value on the Dock Receipt and pay an additional freight rate to increase coverage to the full value of your vehicle.
PCS Moves
Military PCS Moves to Hawaii
We coordinate PCS vehicle shipments to Hawaii from installations across the country. If you're close to a West Coast port, port-to-port gives you precise scheduling around your reporting date; if you're farther out, our door-to-port service includes pickup at your base address anywhere in the country.
🎖️ Military discounts may apply depending on route and availability. If you can't drop off at a port yourself, our door-to-port service includes nationwide pickup at your base address. Call us to discuss which option fits your PCS orders.
What we offer military families
Available to eligible service members PCS'ing from any mainland installation to a Hawaii command.
Military pricing - discounts up to 20% for eligible service members (PCS orders required at booking)
Scheduling built around your reporting date, not a generic pickup window
Full documentation coordination - Bill of Lading, condition reports, insurance paperwork
Dedicated coordinator available by phone and email throughout the shipment
Experience handling compressed timelines and last-minute order changes
Mainland bases served: pickup available nationwide — Camp Pendleton, Naval Base San Diego, Fort Cavazos, Fort Liberty, Naval Station Norfolk, and any installation in the 48 states.
Hawaii commands served: Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Schofield Barracks, Wheeler Army Airfield, Kaneohe Bay MCAS, Tripler Army Medical Center, and others
Camilo Jaime - Lead Shipping Coordinator
Car Shipping Hawaii · Honolulu, HI · 18 Years Industry Experience
With 18 years in the vehicle shipping industry and thousands of Hawaii shipments coordinated, our team knows every port, every route, and every mile of your journey. We work with every customer personally from booking to delivery - you are never handed off to a dispatcher after you book. We go through the calendar with you, coordinate pickup timing to your exact sailing window, and stay reachable throughout the entire move.
Why Car Shipping Hawaii vs. Other Brokers
Hawaii car shipping draws a lot of brokers, which means a lot of competing quotes. The two most common problems we see from customers switching brokers: being quoted a price and then asked for more money after booking, and arriving at the port to find their vehicle is at the wrong terminal or over the clearance limit. We catch both at booking, before you commit.
| Feature | Car Shipping Hawaii | Typical Broker |
|---|---|---|
| All-Inclusive pricing, no post-booking changes | ✓ Locked at booking | ✗ Last-minute surcharges common |
| Named single coordinator | ✓ Direct, consistent contact | ✗ Call center, different agent each time |
| Matson exclusive specialist | ✓ Hawaii route experts | ✗ General auto transport broker |
| Calendar coordination at booking | ✓ Pickup timed to your sailing | ✗ Generic window, you figure it out |
| Overland + ocean managed together | ✓ One shipment, one contact | ✗ Two vendors, two contacts |
| Insurance explained at booking | ✓ Both layers explained clearly | ✗ Rarely discussed |
| Military PCS experience | ✓ Hundreds of PCS moves | Varies widely |
Booking lead time
Book at least 2 to 3 weeks before your target pickup date. During peak summer months, 4 to 6 weeks is strongly recommended. For East Coast origins, the overland leg runs 7 to 10 days, so it needs more lead time. A deposit locks your vessel space and your rate.
How much does it cost to ship a car to Hawaii?
Port-to-port ocean freight to Oahu starts at $1,730. Neighbor islands (Maui, the Big Island, and Kauai) start at $2,550 or more. If you want door pickup on the mainland, overland transport to the West Coast port is added by distance, from about $300 near the coast to $1,100 or more from the East Coast. Your deposit applies toward the total, never on top.
Is the price all-inclusive, or are there hidden fees?
Every quote is all-inclusive and locked at booking. Ocean freight, carrier coordination, vessel booking, and port processing are all included. The price on your first call is the price you pay, with no post-booking surcharges or fuel adjustments.
How is the total cost of shipping a car to Hawaii calculated?
Your total has two parts: a fixed ocean freight rate set by your destination island, plus overland transport priced by the distance from your address to the West Coast departure port. Service level (door-to-port or port-to-port) and vehicle size can also affect the rate.
How much is the deposit, and is it added on top of the price?
The deposit is $600 for door-to-port service and $200 for port-to-port. It is applied toward your total, not added on top.
Does it cost more to ship to a neighbor island?
Yes. Oahu, served directly through Honolulu, is the lowest. Maui, the Big Island, and Kauai add an inter-island barge leg, so ocean freight to those islands starts higher, around $2,550 or more.
Why do car shipping quotes to Hawaii vary so much?
Almost all the variation is the overland leg, the distance from your address to the West Coast port. Ocean freight is fixed, so a Los Angeles drop-off adds little while an East Coast origin adds the most. Watch for quotes that look low but are not all-inclusive.
Is it worth shipping a car to Hawaii?
For most people, yes. Shipping is usually cheaper than selling a paid-off car and rebuying in Hawaii, where vehicle prices run high. Port-to-port to Oahu starts at $1,730 all-inclusive. It makes the most sense for a reliable, low-mileage, or financed vehicle; for an older car near the end of its life, selling may be the better call. We give you an exact number so you can compare.
What is the cheapest way to ship a car to Hawaii?
Port-to-port from the West Coast to Oahu is the lowest-cost option. You drop the vehicle at the port (Long Beach or Oakland) and collect it in Honolulu, which avoids the overland fee and carries a lower deposit ($200 instead of $600).
Questions Answered
Frequently Asked Questions
We answer these every day. If yours isn't here, call us directly - we pick up during business hours, Monday–Friday 8 AM–6 PM HST.
Ready to Ship?
Ship Your Car to Hawaii with Confidence
One team. One all-inclusive price, locked at booking. We confirm your departure port, check your vehicle's clearances before you commit, and coordinate the calendar so your car is in Hawaii when you need it.
Island-Owned & Operated
Matson Exclusive Specialist
USDOT 3505506
4.9/5 Google Rated
All-Inclusive Pricing
