Texas to Hawaii Car Shipping
Ship Your Car from Texas to Hawaii - Fully Managed, All-Inclusive Pricing
Texas sits closer to Long Beach than most other major states, which means shorter overland transit and competitive carrier rates. We handle everything from your Texas address to the Hawaii terminal - one coordinator, one All-Inclusive price, no surprises.
$2,200
Starting door-to-port
17-23
Days door-to-port (Oahu)
~1,400mi
Avg overland leg managed
4.9★
212 Google
reviews
INSTANT QUOTE
"Camilo walked us through the entire calendar — our car was waiting at the terminal the day after we landed. The only company we'd trust with a move like this."
Mike T. — Dallas, TX to Honolulu
"Camilo walked us through the entire calendar; our car was waiting at the terminal the day after we landed. The only company we'd trust with a move like this."
Mike T. - Dallas, TX 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 manage the entire process from pickup to port delivery.
Shipping from Colorado requires careful coordination between inland transport and ocean freight schedules. Our team dispatches fully vetted, licensed carriers to collect your vehicle from any location and ensure it arrives at the port within the correct receiving window for the assigned sailing. Every step is timed precisely to avoid delays and keep your shipment on schedule.
Simple. Transparent. Reliable.
How Texas to Hawaii Car Shipping Works
Texas has a real geographic advantage when it comes to shipping to Hawaii. From Dallas, the overland leg to Long Beach is roughly 1,400 miles. From Houston, it's around 1,500. Even from El Paso - the farthest point - you're still well under what East Coast customers deal with. That shorter distance means 3 to 5 days overland, lower carrier costs, and more flexibility in how we time the pickup to hit your target sailing.
That said, the sailing cutoff is still the critical variable. If the car arrives at Long Beach after the cutoff, it misses that week's departure and waits for the next available sailing - potentially adding two weeks or more to your timeline and costs you never planned for. We coordinate every Texas pickup specifically to prevent that.
Pickup anywhere in Texas
A licensed, insured carrier comes to your Texas address. A condition inspection and Bill of Lading are completed at pickup. Your $100,000 cargo insurance coverage is active from this moment forward.
Overland transport to Long Beach, CA
Your vehicle travels 1,350 to 1,600 miles to Long Beach depending on your Texas city. Our team times the departure to align with the port receiving window for your target Matson sailing. Dallas shipments typically reach Long Beach in 3 to 5 days. Houston runs 4 to 6 days.
Port processing & ocean freight
After port intake at Long Beach, your vehicle is secured inside the vessel hull and loaded aboard a Matson ship. No documents are required at the port for shipments going to Hawaii. Ocean transit to Honolulu is approximately 12 to 14 days.
Hawaii terminal pickup
You receive an arrival notification with terminal address, pickup hours, and what to bring. A final condition inspection is compared against your original Bill of Lading from Texas. Bring your government-issued photo ID and vehicle registration.
Texas Pickup Locations & Port Routing
We dispatch carriers to any Texas address, residential or commercial. Texas is one of the most carrier-dense states in the country - major interstates like I-10, I-20, and I-35 mean strong carrier availability from virtually every Texas city, which keeps overland rates competitive.
All Texas shipments route through Long Beach, CA. Long Beach is the correct port for Texas via the I-10 corridor - it has the most frequent Matson Hawaii sailings and is the natural routing for any vehicle coming from the South or Midwest.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Texas pickup cities | Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, Austin, Fort Worth, El Paso, Arlington, Corpus Christi, Plano, Lubbock, Laredo, Irving, Garland, Frisco, McKinney, Beaumont, Killeen, Waco, Midland, Odessa - and anywhere else in the state |
| West Coast departure port | Long Beach, CA - 7ft height clearance, 7ft 2in width clearance |
| Overland distance by city | Denver: ~1,020 miles · Colorado Springs: ~1,050 miles · Fort Collins: ~1,080 miles · Grand Junction: ~780 miles · Pueblo: ~1,060 miles |
| Primary overland route | I-10 westbound corridor from Houston/San Antonio · I-20 westbound from Dallas/Fort Worth |
| Hawaii arrival terminals | Honolulu / Sand Island (Oahu), Kahului (Maui), Hilo (Big Island), Nawiliwili (Kauai) |
Size clearance - Long Beach
Long Beach has a 7-foot height clearance and 7-foot 2-inch width clearance. If your vehicle - including lifted suspension, roof racks, or cargo carriers - exceeds these limits, we cannot ship it. Measure your vehicle's total height before booking. Texas trucks with lift kits are a common issue - always confirm dimensions.
Why Long Beach, not Oakland?
Oakland routes vehicles from the Pacific Northwest, San Francisco, Sacramento, Portland, Seattle. Colorado routes through Long Beach because large auto transport haulers avoid Donner Pass in the Sierra Nevada mountains. The I-70 to I-15 corridor to Long Beach is faster, safer, and typically less expensive for Colorado shipments. Any broker routing your Colorado vehicle to Oakland is using the wrong port.
Texas to Hawaii Car Shipping Costs
Texas benefits from one of the busiest overland carrier corridors in the country. The I-10 and I-20 routes to Long Beach carry high carrier volume, which keeps overland pricing competitive. Below is an honest, itemized breakdown based on current carrier market rates from Texas cities.
| Cost Component | Typical Range |
|---|---|
| Overland pickup - Dallas, Fort Worth, Arlington to Long Beach | $550 – $800 |
| Overland pickup - Houston, Cypress, Beaumont to Long Beach | $500 – $800 |
| Overland pickup - San Antonio, Austin, Corpus Christi to Long Beach | $550 – $850 |
| Overland pickup - El Paso to Long Beach | $450 – $600 |
| Port handling & processing | Included in bundled quote |
| Ocean freight - Oahu (Honolulu) | 12–14 day transit · included in door-to-port quote |
| Total door-to-port to Oahu - most vehicles | $2,200 – $2,700 |
| Ocean freight - Maui, Big Island, or Kauai | 25–30 day transit · included in door-to-port quote |
| Total door-to-port to neighbor islands - most vehicles | $3,000 – $3,500+ |
| Port-to-Port - Oahu (you drive to Long Beach) | $1,580 |
| Port-to-Port - neighbor islands (you drive to Long Beach) | $2,400 |
Overland ranges based on current carrier market from Texas cities. Call for your exact all-in quote: (808) 378-7540
All-Inclusive Price
Starting Rates by Destination Island
Pricing Tip: Shipping to Oahu saves roughly $820 on ocean freight compared to neighbor islands. If you are weighing destinations, call us and we will walk through the real cost difference for your specific situation and vehicle.
Peak season pricing. Peak season surcharges apply during summer months (June through August) when demand is highest and vessels fill up fast. Book early and lock your rate - a deposit guarantees your quoted price regardless of what the market does after you book.
About deposits: A deposit is standard across all Hawaii auto transport. It secures your vessel space and locks your quoted rate. For Door-to-Port, the deposit is $600. For Port-to-Port, it is $200. The deposit is applied toward your total - not added on top. What we quote is what you pay, guaranteed.
🌺 Oahu (Honolulu)
$2,200+
Starting door-to-port
21 to 23 days total
🌿 Maui (Kahului)
$3,000+
Starting door-to-port
29 to 36 days total
🌋 Big Island (Hilo)
$3,000+
Starting door-to-port
29 to 36 days total
🌊 Kauai (Nawiliwili)
$3,000+
Starting door-to-port
29 to 36 days total
Ready to get your exact all-inclusive price from Texas?
All-Inclusive Price
Door-to-Port vs. Port-to-Port from Texas
Texas is one of the states where Port-to-Port is occasionally worth considering - specifically for El Paso, which is only about 800 miles from Long Beach. For Dallas, Houston, or San Antonio, the math usually doesn't work in your favor. Here's the honest comparison.
Door-to-Port
Pickup
Carrier to your TX address
Overland cost
Included in your quote
Your travel
None required
Best for
Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, most TX cities
Port-to-Port
Pickup
You drive to Long Beach
Deposit
$200 applied toward total
Your drive
~800–1,600 miles each way
Best for
El Paso or already driving to CA
Port-to-Port note
Port-to-Port starts at $1,580 to Oahu and $2,400 to neighbor islands. For El Paso customers, driving ~800 miles to Long Beach can make financial sense if you're already planning a California trip. For Dallas or Houston customers, a 1,400 to 1,550 mile drive each way rarely saves money once you account for fuel and hotels.
No documents needed to ship to Hawaii. No title, registration, or authorization paperwork is required at the port when shipping a vehicle 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.
Transit Times
Transit Times & the Matson Sailing Schedule
Texas has one of the best overland positions of any state outside California. Dallas to Long Beach runs 3 to 5 days. Houston to Long Beach is 4 to 6 days. That shorter overland window gives us more flexibility in timing the pickup to hit the right sailing - but it also means there's less room for delays on the carrier side. We time every Texas pickup with the port cutoff as the fixed deadline, working backward from there.
Missing the cutoff by even one day means waiting for the next available Matson departure. That adds a week to your timeline and typically means unexpected rental car costs and extended accommodations that nobody planned for. We coordinate every pickup to make sure that doesn't happen.
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. Vessels fill up during peak season - a deposit locks your spot and your rate regardless of what happens to pricing after you book.
Stage
Typical Timeline
Dallas / Fort Worth to Long Beach
3 to 5 business days
Houston / San Antonio to Long Beach
4 to 6 business days
South Texas (Corpus Christi, Brownsville) to Long Beach
5 to 7 business days
El Paso to Long Beach
2 to 3 business days
Port processing window
1 to 2 business days before vessel loading
Ocean transit to Honolulu (Oahu)
Approximately 12 to 14 days
Ocean transit to neighbor islands
Approximately 25 to 30 days
Total door-to-port, (Dallas/Houston)
17 to 23 days from Texas pickup
Total door-to-port, neighbor islands
29 to 36 days from Texas pickup
How to Prepare Your Car Before Pickup
Getting your vehicle ready before the carrier arrives prevents delays at the port. These requirements are enforced at Long Beach terminal intake and at Hawaii's agricultural 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 all maritime terminals.
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 pickup. Active alarms cause intake delays at port.
Exterior and interior cleaned thoroughly. No mud, dirt, seeds, or debris. Texas vehicles coming from ranch, farm, or off-road use are closely inspected - clean thoroughly before pickup.
Vehicle fully operational. Steering, braking, and rolling must be 100% functional.
No windshield chips or cracks.
Government-issued photo ID and vehicle registration ready for Hawaii terminal pickup.
Not Accepted - No Exceptions
Electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids are not accepted. We do not ship EVs or plug-in hybrids on any route.
Non-running vehicles are not accepted. The vehicle must be fully operational at pickup.
No documents needed to ship TO Hawaii
No title, registration, or authorization paperwork is required at the port when shipping a vehicle 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 the carrier arrives, all four sides, the roof, and the interior. This documentation protects you in any claim situation.
Insurance Coverage
How Insurance Works on Texas to Hawaii Shipments
Most brokers skip this conversation entirely. Here is how coverage actually works across both legs of your shipment, because the overland and ocean portions are covered differently, and knowing the difference matters before anything moves.
Layer 1 - Overland Transport
Overland Transport (Texas to Long Beach)
$100,000
The land carrier transporting your vehicle to the port carries up to $100,000 in cargo insurance. This covers your vehicle for the entire overland portion from your Colorado address to Long Beach.
💡
Our recommendation: Verify with your personal auto insurance carrier whether your policy covers ocean transport. Photograph your vehicle thoroughly before the carrier arrives in Colorado and again at pickup in Hawaii. This documentation is your protection in any claim situation.
Layer 2 - Ocean Transport
Ocean Transport (Matson Vessel)
$8,000
Matson's carrier liability is limited to the 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 this limit up to the full value of your vehicle.
PCS Moves
Military PCS Moves from Texas to Hawaii
Texas has more active military installations than any other state. If you are PCS'ing from Fort Cavazos (formerly Fort Hood), Fort Sam Houston, Lackland Air Force Base, Randolph Air Force Base, Naval Air Station Corpus Christi, Dyess Air Force Base, Sheppard Air Force Base, or any other Texas installation to Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Schofield Barracks, Kaneohe Bay, or Tripler Army Medical Center - we know this move and we have done it hundreds of times.
Texas has an advantage over most other states for military PCS moves to Hawaii: the shorter overland leg means more scheduling flexibility. A Dallas pickup can reach Long Beach in 3 to 5 days, which gives us more runway to hit the right sailing window without cutting it close. We work through the calendar personally with every military customer to make sure the dates line up with your reporting date.
What we offer military families
Available to eligible service members PCS'ing from Texas installations to any 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 calendar window
Full documentation coordination - Bill of Lading, condition reports, insurance paperwork
Dedicated coordinator available by phone and email for the entire shipment
Experience handling compressed timelines and last-minute order changes
Texas bases served: Fort Carson, Peterson SFB, Schriever SFB, Buckley SFB, USAFA, Cheyenne Mountain SFS, and others
Real Reviews from Real Virginia Customers
Camilo Jaime — Lead Shipping Coordinator
Car Shipping Hawaii · Honolulu, HI · 18 Years Industry Experience
Virginia — and the Hampton Roads area especially — is one of our most active PCS corridors. Naval Station Norfolk alone generates a significant volume of Hawaii-bound shipments every year. With 18 years coordinating thousands of Hawaii shipments, our team knows exactly how to time a Virginia pickup to hit the right sailing window. The overland leg from the East Coast requires more lead time than most people expect, and we build that into every booking.
"
PCS from Naval Station Norfolk to Pearl Harbor. I had a hard reporting date and our team was upfront about exactly how much lead time the Virginia-to-Hawaii shipment needed. The car was at Sand Island Terminal two days before I landed. That is the kind of coordination you need on a military move — nothing left to chance.
Petty Officer 2nd Class M. Chen — Norfolk, VA to Pearl Harbor-Hickam
Virginia Beach to Maui — our team was clear from the start that a neighbor island shipment from the East Coast takes 32 to 40 days. We planned around it and there were zero surprises.
Tom & Angela B. — Virginia Beach, VA to Kahului, Maui
Relocating from Richmond to Honolulu for work. I got quotes from four companies — only Car Shipping Hawaii explained the two-part cost structure honestly. One price, locked. No calls asking for more money before pickup.
Sarah W. — Richmond, VA to Honolulu, Oahu
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
Most companies quoting Texas-to-Hawaii car shipping are general mainland brokers who treat it like any other cross-country move. They do not specialize in the Hawaii ocean freight piece, they do not coordinate the overland timing to hit the Matson sailing, and they are not the ones you call when something goes wrong. Before booking anyone, ask for All-Inclusive pricing in writing. The most common thing we hear from customers who switch to us: they were asked for more money after booking, usually right before pickup.
| 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 |
How much does it cost to ship a car from Texas to Hawaii?
Total door-to-port cost from Texas to Oahu (Honolulu) typically runs $2,200 to $2,700 for most vehicles. This includes overland transport from Texas to Long Beach plus ocean freight. Neighbor island destinations - Maui, Big Island, Kauai - typically run $3,000 to $3,500 or more. Port-to-Port (you drive to Long Beach) starts at $1,580 to Oahu and $2,400 to neighbor islands. The $600 deposit is applied toward your total, not added on top. Call for an exact all-in quote for your city and vehicle.
How long does it take to ship a car from Texas to Hawaii?
Total door-to-port time from Texas to Honolulu is typically 17 to 23 days. Dallas shipments reach Long Beach in 3 to 5 days. Houston runs 4 to 6 days. Add 1 to 2 days port processing and approximately 12 to 14 days ocean transit. Neighbor islands add approximately 13 to 16 more ocean days, putting the total at 29 to 36 days from Texas pickup.
Does my car ship directly from Texas to Hawaii?
No. There is no direct Matson sailing from Texas. Your vehicle is transported overland approximately 1,350 to 1,600 miles to Long Beach, CA - the Matson departure port for Hawaii-bound vessels. We manage the entire overland leg as part of your shipment.
Do I need any documents to ship my car to Hawaii from Colorado?
No documents are required at the port when shipping a vehicle to Hawaii. Bring your government-issued photo ID and vehicle registration when picking up at the Hawaii terminal. If your vehicle has an active lien, lienholder authorization is only required when shipping FROM Hawaii - not when shipping to Hawaii.
How far in advance should I book from Texas?
At least 2 to 3 weeks before your target pickup date. The overland leg must be timed to align with a specific Matson sailing window. During peak summer months, 4 to 6 weeks is strongly recommended. Missing the sailing cutoff means waiting for the next available departure - potentially adding two weeks and unexpected costs to your move.
Can I ship a lifted truck or large SUV from Texas?
Only if it fits within Long Beach port clearance limits: 7-foot height and 7-foot 2-inch width. Texas trucks with lift kits, aftermarket suspension, or roof racks often exceed the height limit. Measure your vehicle's total height including any modifications before booking. If it exceeds the clearance, we cannot ship it.
Do you ship electric vehicles from Texas to Hawaii?
No. We do not ship electric vehicles or plug-in hybrids on any route, including Texas to Hawaii.
Can I ship my car from Hawaii back to Texas?
Yes. We coordinate Port-to-Door shipping from all Hawaii terminals back to Texas. Ocean freight from Honolulu runs $900 to $1,200 with a 12 to 14 day transit, plus the mainland delivery leg to your Texas address. When shipping FROM Hawaii, documents are required including your title, current Hawaii registration, and Hawaii Safety Inspection Certificate. Same All-Inclusive pricing, same dedicated coordinator.
Questions Answered
Common 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 from Texas to Hawaii with Confidence
One team. One All-Inclusive Price. No hand-offs to unknown brokers. We work with you personally from booking to delivery, go through the calendar with you, and make sure your dates work - 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
