Tips for Shipping Car from Hawaii to Mainland Military

Serving in the military often means constantly moving from one location to the next, especially since serving personnel can receive a PCS or OCONUS order anytime. Sometimes, these orders come at incredibly short notice, so you might need to decide on many things quickly.

An example of this would be deciding on the arrangements for shipping car from Hawaii to mainland military. Availing of car shipping services for your vehicle can be the best way to ensure its safe arrival at your destination.

However, there are several things you should know before hiring a car shipping service for your privately owned vehicle (POV). 

With that said, check out this guide to everything you need to know about shipping car from Hawaii to mainland – from the costs involved to helpful tips on how to go about it as a serving member of the military.

Like civilians, you will need to consider several things if you’re planning on shipping your car from Hawaii to the mainland and vice-versa. Some of the factors you need to consider are:

The cost involved in shipping your car from the mainland to Hawaii or vice-versa is one of the primary aspects you need to consider. Unlike civilians, some military personnel can have their POVs shipped to their new post, with the military covering the expenses.

However, this is only applicable to specific situations, such as in cases wherein the driver is medically unable to drive their vehicle to their new post or if they’re only shipping a single car.

 

On the other hand, if you need to pay the costs out-of-pocket, some car shipping services offer a military discount to ship car if you’re a serving member of the military. 

Availing of a military discount can be helpful because the average cost to ship car from Hawaii to mainland is approximately 1,500 USD, sometimes even more.

Because relocation orders can be given anytime, military personnel will need to consider how much time they have to arrange for car shipping services. 



Serving military personnel will also need to follow strict timelines, so it’s best to find a shipping company that won’t just offer cheap car shipping rates for military personnel but can also deliver your POV at your new post as soon as possible.

Your car’s weight is another factor to consider if you’re planning to ship a vehicle from Hawaii to the US mainland or vice-versa. This is because car shipping companies tend to have strict limitations for weight, and too-heavy POVs may not be accepted or can incur additional costs.



Size is another consideration when shipping a vehicle, too. Again, suppose the military is willing to cover the costs. In that case, you will still need to abide by the established size limitations. 

For example, the military might be willing to shoulder the costs to ship a family car, like a sedan, but might refuse to cover something larger or heavier, like an SUV.

Now you know the usual factors you need to consider, let’s dive into some of the useful tips you can employ when shipping car from Hawaii to mainland horizon.

As mentioned, there are certain cases wherein the military covers the cost of shipping reassigned personnel’s vehicles. So, if you received a PCS, try to find out if they can shoulder the costs involved. For this, you can contact your local property office for more guidance. 



If not, or if you choose to enter the PPM (Personally Procured Move) program, there are other ways you can cut on the costs of shipping your car and other belongings. For example, you can opt for an open carrier for your car shipment. 

Like civilians shipping their vehicles to the mainland, one of the most crucial aspects of shipping your POV from Hawaii to the mainland is finding the right car shipping company. For example, Car Shipping Hawaii is an excellent option for the job and the best company to ship car back to mainland from Hawaii.

Aside from regular car shipping, they also offer car shipping services for military personnel at affordable rates. This will allow you to bring your POV with you to your new post without breaking the bank. 

Apart from the reduced costs, you can also rely on them to deliver your vehicle to you with no issues or damages. So, if you’re looking for a company with cheap car shipping for military personnel, consider checking them out.

Suppose you’re arranging the shipment of your POV yourself. In that case, you will also need to choose from the different car shipping options available. There are several options available, such as enclosed and open-air shipping.

Open-air car shipping is one of the most common car shipping options available, with many going for this option. With open-air car shipping, your vehicle will be secured to the vessel without a container.

This car shipping option is ideal if you’re looking to save on costs, but there are some downsides to it. For example, it’s less secure than enclosed shipping because it doesn’t have the protection of a shipping container. Therefore, it’s exposed to the elements during transit.

On the other hand, if you’re worried about your vehicle being exposed to the elements, you can opt for enclosed car shipping. With this, your car will be safe and sound inside a shipping container. 



However, this can come at an additional cost and may be too expensive, even if you can avail of a military discount. 

If you want to ship your car in a container but are worried about the high cost, you can avail of consolidated car shipping. This is a less expensive option for enclosed shipping because your car will be shipped with other vehicles to maximize the costs of fuel.



However, availing of this might mean you will have to wait longer to receive your car at your new post. This is because they will need to wait until the container is full before shipping everything.

https://pxhere.com/en/photo/52226

Once you’ve decided on who to hire for your car shipment and the shipping method, the next thing to do would be to prepare the necessary documents and other paperwork.



The rules are a little different when you need to ship your car from Hawaii to the mainland, as you will need to prepare certain documents and clearances. Some of these documents are as follows:

• Your valid driver’s license and current car registration
• Bill of lading
• Proof of ownership (such as the bill of sale or title)
• Certification of safety inspection
• Details of who will be picking up your car at the destination

Additional documents may be needed in other cases, such as if you leased your vehicle. In this case, you will need to procure authorization from the lien holder, in addition to the other paperwork required.

Moreover, suppose you’re not the one who will pick up your car at the destination. Whoever will do so needs to present a form of authorization before the shipping company releases your vehicle to them.

One crucial requirement for car shipments, especially POVs, is that the vehicles must be fully operational. This means that your car should be functioning properly – from the windshield wipers to the emergency brake.



Your car should be in a good enough condition to be driven, and if it’s considered unsafe to drive, your chosen shipping company might refuse to accept the shipment. So, to avoid this, it’s best to double-check everything and ensure that everything is working and in good condition.

This means no fluid leaks or cracks on the windshield, among other potential issues. You should also note that car inspections might also be conducted at the port. This is to ensure that your car is overall clean, fully operational, and ready for shipment. 

It would be best to avoid leaving personal items in your car or removing them altogether, like regular car shipments. However, for some shipping options, such as open carriers, shipping companies will ask you to completely clear your car of personal belongings.



The reason for this is to keep your car as safe as possible during shipment, as any items you leave inside can move and shift during the move. Unfortunately, this can result in damages to your POV, which insurance is unlikely to cover.

When it comes to the time it will take to ship your car from Hawaii to the mainland, that will depend on several factors. 

Some of the factors that can affect the shipping time include your chosen shipping option, the distance from the harbor, and others.

For example, shipping your car from Honolulu to Miami can take around 13 to 20 days. Meanwhile, it can take approximately 9 to 16 days if you’re sending it to Houston. So, in general, you can expect the entire car shipping process of your POV to take at least two weeks to a month. 

Relocation is always a stressful time for anyone, but it’s often part of the job if you’re an active part of the military. Active military personnel can be given PCS or OCONUS orders at any time, often at short notice.

While they can bring their personal belongings, including their cars, there are several factors they need to consider. Hopefully, this guide was able to shed more light on the process of shipping car from Hawaii to mainland military.

Getting a quote will also help you understand what type of pricing you're going to be facing. For that, you can try out carshippinghawaii or a1autotransport.com and see what type of quote you can get today.