How It Works
How to Ship a Car to Hawaii, Step by Step
Shipping a car to Hawaii is simpler than most people expect when one coordinator manages every stage. Here is exactly what happens from your driveway to the island, with the timelines and details most companies never explain.
12-14
Days ocean transit
$1,530
Starting ocean rate
18 yrs
Coordinator experience
4.9★
Google rating
INSTANT QUOTE
"Camilo walked us through the entire process before we even paid the deposit. He matched our sailing to our flight date so the car was already at the port when we landed."
Mike T. — Dallas, TX to Honolulu
On this page
The 6-step process
Port routing and clearance
Preparing your vehicle
Door-to-port vs port-to-port
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost?
How long does it take?
Insurance: both layers
Why Car Shipping Hawaii
All-Inclusive Pricing
The 6-Step Process, Start to Finish
Most customers have never shipped a vehicle across an ocean before, and most brokers give you a vague overview and expect you to figure out the gaps yourself. Matson car shipping to Hawaii uses enclosed Roll-on/Roll-off vessels, a dedicated overland carrier network, and one coordinator who manages both legs. Below is exactly what happens at each stage, including the behind-the-scenes coordination work that keeps your shipment on schedule.
Last updated March 2026 - rates subject to peak season surcharges June–August.
Booking and Calendar Coordination
Day 1
When you call or submit a quote request, Camilo pulls up the Matson sailing schedule and works backward from your target delivery date. We match three dates together: your preferred pickup day, the next available Matson sailing from Long Beach or Oakland, and your arrival date in Hawaii.
A pickup scheduled too late means missing the vessel cutoff by a day, and a missed cutoff means waiting 7 days for the next sailing. During peak season (June through August), the next sailing may already be full, which can push the delay to 2 weeks or more. We start by getting the calendar right.
What Camilo does on this call
He checks vessel capacity for your target sailing (some sailings book out 3 to 4 weeks ahead in summer), confirms overland carrier availability from your zip code, and calculates total door-to-port transit. If you are shipping from a rural area off a major interstate corridor, he adds 1 to 3 extra days for carrier assignment and tells you that upfront, not after the booking.
Your deposit of $600 (door-to-port) or $200 (port-to-port) locks your all-inclusive rate and secures your vessel space. The deposit is applied toward your total, never added on top.
Carrier Dispatch and Mainland Pickup
1 to 10 days before sailing
For door-to-port shipments, we dispatch a fully licensed and insured carrier to pick up your vehicle from your address. The carrier contacts you directly with a pickup window, typically 1 to 2 days. You hand over the key and sign a Bill of Lading that documents the vehicle's condition at pickup.
Camilo assigns your carrier based on the specific route corridor, not from a generic nationwide dispatch board. A carrier who runs the Phoenix-to-Long Beach lane weekly has that route dialed. A carrier pulled from a random board might be running it for the first time. The difference shows up in pickup reliability and on-time port delivery.
Real scenario
A customer in a gated Scottsdale HOA found out the hard way that their community would not allow a car hauler through the gate. We coordinated a staging pickup at a nearby commercial lot and the vehicle made it to Long Beach on schedule. We build questions about gated communities, building management clearance, and loading zone restrictions into our booking checklist for exactly this reason.
For port-to-port customers, you drive your vehicle directly to the departure port (Long Beach or Oakland) and skip the overland carrier step entirely.
Port Intake and Vessel Loading
Port cutoff day
Your vehicle arrives at Long Beach or Oakland and goes through terminal intake. The port checks fuel level (quarter tank maximum), inspects for personal items (the vehicle must be completely empty), and verifies the vehicle is operational. Then it is driven aboard the Matson Roll-on/Roll-off vessel.
The vessel type matters more than most customers realize. Matson RoRo vessels are enclosed. Your vehicle is stored inside the ship, protected from saltwater, weather, and the elements for the entire Pacific crossing. This is not a container on an open deck. The vehicle drives on, parks inside, and drives off in Hawaii.
Port clearance dimensions
Long Beach allows vehicles up to 7 feet tall and 7 feet 2 inches wide. Oakland's clearance is tighter at 76 inches tall by 76 inches wide, measured with everything attached, including roof racks, cargo carriers, and extended mirrors. If your vehicle is close to those limits, measure before booking. We confirm clearance during your booking call.
Ocean Transit
12 to 14 days to Honolulu
The Matson vessel departs the West Coast and arrives at Honolulu's Sand Island terminal 12 to 14 days later. During this time, you can track the vessel position using Matson's live vessel tracking page.
We send you a confirmation when the vessel departs the mainland port. There is nothing for you to do during the crossing. The next communication you receive from us is when the vessel arrives in Honolulu and your vehicle is cleared for pickup or forwarded to a neighbor island.
Hawaii Port Arrival and Agricultural Inspection
1 to 2 business days after vessel docking
When the vessel docks at Sand Island in Honolulu, your vehicle is unloaded and goes through the Hawaii Department of Agriculture biosecurity inspection. Inspectors check for insects, soil, seeds, mud on the undercarriage, and any organic material that could introduce invasive species to the islands.
The detail most people miss
Mud on the undercarriage is the number one reason vehicles get flagged at Hawaii agricultural inspection. Not the interior, not the trunk. Undercarriage soil from anywhere in the mainland, especially agricultural regions in the Central Valley, Pacific Northwest, or rural Midwest, triggers a mandatory hold. A $30 undercarriage wash before shipping saves a $200 to $400 port cleaning fee and a multi-day delay.
Once cleared, your vehicle is available for pickup at Sand Island (Oahu) or loaded onto a Young Brothers barge for neighbor island delivery.
Island Delivery or Pickup
Same day (Oahu) or +10 to 14 days (neighbor islands)
For Oahu deliveries, you pick up your vehicle at the Honolulu Sand Island terminal at 1411 Sand Island Parkway. Terminal hours are Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 4 PM. Bring your government-issued photo ID and your booking confirmation.
For Maui, Big Island, or Kauai deliveries, your vehicle transfers from Honolulu to your destination island via Young Brothers barge. This inter-island leg adds 10 to 14 days. The Young Brothers barge is open and exposed, unlike the enclosed Matson vessel on the mainland crossing. We explain this distinction at booking so there are no surprises.
Neighbor island terminal locations
Kahului (Maui), Pier 1, Kahului Harbor, Mon-Fri 7 AM to 3:30 PM. Hilo (Big Island), 55 Kahanu St, Mon-Fri 7 AM to 3:30 PM. Nawiliwili (Kauai), Pier 2, Lihue, Mon-Fri 7 AM to 3:30 PM. See our Hawaii Port Guide for full terminal details.
Ready to get started?
Talk to Camilo directly. He will walk through the calendar, confirm your route, and lock your all-inclusive rate.
Pricing at a Glance
How Much Does It Cost to Ship a Car to Hawaii?
The total cost to ship a car to Hawaii depends on two things: the ocean freight rate and the overland transport distance from your address to the departure port. Ocean freight is fixed. Overland varies by origin city.
| Service | Ocean Freight | Deposit |
|---|---|---|
| Port-to-Port to Oahu | $1,530 | $200, applied toward total |
| Port-to-Port to Maui / Big Island / Kauai | $2,350+ | $200, applied toward total |
| Door-to-Port to Oahu | $1,530 + overland | $600, applied toward total |
| Door-to-Port to Neighbor Islands | $2,350+ + overland | $600, applied toward total |
| Return: Honolulu to Mainland | $1,122+ | Contact for details |
| Return: Neighbor Islands to Mainland | $2,140+ | Contact for details |
Overland transport ranges from $300 for nearby West Coast pickups to $1,100 or more from the East Coast. Every quote we provide is all-inclusive. Your deposit locks the rate and secures your vessel space. No post-booking surcharges.
What all-inclusive means
The price Camilo quotes on your first call is the price you pay. Ocean freight, carrier coordination, vessel booking, and port processing are included. The $600 deposit (door-to-port) or $200 deposit (port-to-port) is applied toward your total, never added on top. For a detailed cost breakdown by state, see our full pricing page.
All-Inclusive Pricing
Port Routing and Clearance Specs
Every vehicle shipping to Hawaii departs from one of two mainland ports. Which port your vehicle uses depends on your pickup location, and we confirm this during your booking call.
Long Beach, CA
Primary Port
Height clearance
7 feet (84 inches)
Width clearance
7 feet 2 inches (86 inches)
Gate hours
Mon–Fri, 7 AM – 3 PM
Routes through Long Beach
Southern CA
Las Vegas
Phoenix
Denver
All Midwest
All South
All East Coast
Denver routes through Long Beach - not Oakland. Donner Pass is not reliable for large auto haulers.
Oakland, CA
Pacific Northwest & Northern California gateway
Height clearance
76 inches (6 ft 4 in)
Width clearance
76 inches including mirrors
Gate hours
Mon–Fri, 8 AM – 4 PM
Routes through Oakland
San Francisco
Sacramento
Northern CA
Portland
Seattle
The 76-inch limit applies to total vehicle height including any aftermarket roof racks, cargo carriers, or accessories. Measure before booking.
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Honolulu
Sand Island Terminal · Oahu
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Kahului
Maui
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Hilo
Big Island
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Nawiliwili
Kauai
How long does it take to ship a car to Hawaii?
Ocean transit from the West Coast to Honolulu takes 12 to 14 days aboard an enclosed Matson vessel. Total door-to-port time depends on your mainland pickup location. West Coast origins add 1 to 3 days for overland transport. Midwest origins add 5 to 7 days. East Coast origins add 7 to 14 days. Neighbor island delivery (Maui, Big Island, Kauai) adds 10 to 14 additional days because the vehicle transfers to a Young Brothers barge in Honolulu.
How much does it cost to ship a car to Hawaii?
Port-to-port ocean freight to Oahu starts at $1,530. Neighbor island ocean freight (Maui, Big Island, Kauai) starts at $2,350 or more. Overland transport from your address to the departure port is added based on distance, ranging from $300 for nearby West Coast pickups to $1,100 or more for East Coast origins. Your $600 deposit is applied toward the total, not added on top.
Can I ship personal items inside my car to Hawaii?
No. Vehicles must be completely empty for Hawaii shipments. This is enforced at the mainland port terminal and again during Hawaii agricultural inspection. Any personal items found during inspection will be removed and may delay your vehicle's release.
What documents do I need to ship a car to Hawaii?
When shipping to Hawaii, no documents are required at the port. You need your vehicle, your key, and fuel at or below one quarter tank. When shipping from Hawaii to the mainland, you need your vehicle title (front and back copies), current Hawaii registration, Hawaii safety inspection certificate, and a government-issued photo ID. If your vehicle is financed, you also need a lien holder authorization letter. Lien holder authorization is only required when shipping from Hawaii, never when shipping to Hawaii.
Does Car Shipping Hawaii ship electric vehicles or EVs?
No. Electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids are not accepted on any route. This is a firm policy with no exceptions.
What happens if my car misses the sailing?
If your vehicle does not arrive at the port before the cutoff for your scheduled sailing, it waits for the next available departure. Matson sails weekly from Long Beach and Oakland, so a missed sailing typically means a 7-day delay at minimum. During peak season (June through August), the next sailing may already be at capacity, which can push the delay to 2 weeks or more.
Is my car insured during shipping?
Yes. Insurance is provided in two layers. The overland carrier carries up to $100,000 in cargo insurance for the land transport leg. The ocean carrier (Matson) provides limited liability coverage of approximately $8,000 for an average-sized vehicle. You can declare a higher vehicle value on the Dock Receipt for additional coverage. We always recommend verifying with your personal auto insurance whether your policy covers ocean transport.
What is the difference between door-to-port and port-to-port?
Door-to-port means we pick up your vehicle from your address and deliver it to the departure port for ocean transit. The $600 deposit covers your vessel booking and overland carrier coordination. Port-to-port means you drive the vehicle to the departure port (Long Beach or Oakland) yourself. The deposit is $200. Port-to-port makes sense if you live near a West Coast port. For most customers east of California, door-to-port saves time and avoids the complication of getting to the port yourself.
Can I ship my car from Hawaii back to the mainland?
Yes. Shipping a car from Hawaii to the mainland starts at $1,122 from Honolulu and $2,140 from neighbor islands. The process is similar but the document requirements are different. When shipping from Hawaii, you must email copies of your vehicle title (front and back), current Hawaii registration, Hawaii safety inspection certificate, and government-issued photo ID to the port at least 24 hours before drop-off. If the vehicle is financed, you also need a lien holder authorization letter. Lien holder authorization is only required when shipping from Hawaii, never when shipping to Hawaii.
Does Car Shipping Hawaii use Matson or Pasha vessels?
We ship exclusively via Matson Navigation Company vessels on the mainland-to-Hawaii route. Matson operates enclosed Roll-on/Roll-off vessels, which means your vehicle is driven aboard and stored inside the ship, fully protected from saltwater and weather for the entire Pacific crossing. Pasha Hawaii is a separate ocean carrier that also services the Hawaii route. We chose to specialize in Matson routing because of their sailing frequency, terminal locations, and our 18 years of experience coordinating shipments through their system. Car Shipping Hawaii is an independent licensed freight broker and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Matson Navigation Company.
Ready to Ship?
Ship Your Car to Hawaii
with Confidence
One coordinator. All-inclusive pricing. No surprises between your driveway and the island.
4.9 / 5 Stars - 212 Reviews
Island-Owned & Operated
Matson Route Specialist
USDOT 3505506 · MC 1158539
1110 Nuuanu Ave #305, Honolulu, HI 96817
Monday – Friday, 8 AM – 6 PM HST
