Alaska car shipping: the complete guide
Ports, ferry options, AlCan highway, winter restrictions, and cost. Everything you need for a mainland to Alaska shipment.
Three ways to get a car to Alaska
Alaska is the second most remote state to ship to (Hawaii is first). Unlike Hawaii, there is a road option: the AlCan highway through Canada. But ocean shipping is faster, more reliable, and usually cheaper once you account for fuel and time. Most customers pick ocean.
The three options: ocean via Tacoma or Seattle to Anchorage, Whittier, or Kodiak. Ferry via the Alaska Marine Highway System for coastal Alaska. Drive yourself up the AlCan, 2200 miles through British Columbia and the Yukon. Each has tradeoffs.
The 3 Alaska shipping options
Pick the one that fits your destination and timeline.
Ocean to Anchorage
The most common route. Tacoma or Seattle to Anchorage via TOTE Maritime or Matson. 7 to 10 day transit. Standard for most customers.
Ocean to Whittier or Kodiak
Direct service for coastal and southern Alaska. Less frequent sailings, slightly higher cost.
Alaska Marine Highway ferry
Bellingham, WA to Haines or Skagway. Ferry runs limited schedule, mostly seasonal. Adds 3 to 5 days to the route.
Ocean shipping vs AlCan highway drive
Most customers ship by ocean. Here is why.
Ocean shipping
- 7 to 14 days door to door from West Coast.
- $1800 to $3500 depending on destination and vehicle.
- Door to port pickup, port to door delivery (most routes).
- Cargo insurance during transit.
- Works year round (winter weather may shift schedules by a day).
AlCan highway drive
- 5 to 10 days driving 2200 miles through Canada and Alaska.
- $1500 to $2500 in fuel, hotels, food, and border fees.
- Wear and tear on the vehicle (gravel sections, weather).
- No insurance for transit damage, you carry the risk.
- Winter (October to April) is dangerous and not recommended.
How ocean shipping to Alaska works
From your mainland driveway to Anchorage or Whittier.
1. Mainland pickup
Carrier picks up your car at your driveway, drives it to Tacoma or Seattle port.
2. Port drop
Car is dropped at TOTE Maritime or Matson terminal. Inspection, paperwork, queued for sailing.
3. Ocean transit
Ship sails to Anchorage (most common), Whittier, or Kodiak. 4 to 7 days at sea.
4. Alaska pickup
You pick up the car at the Alaska port terminal with ID and BOL. Drive home.
Alaska shipping prep
Similar to Hawaii, slightly less strict on cleaning.
- 1Wash the exterior and clean the undercarriage.
- 2Vacuum the interior, no food or trash.
- 3Remove all personal items from the cabin and trunk.
- 4Most carriers prohibit personal items in vehicles for ocean shipping.
- 5Take fuel down to quarter tank.
- 6Disable alarms and toll tags.
- 7Top off battery and antifreeze (especially for winter shipments).
- 8Photograph every panel, time stamped.
- 9Bring title, registration, and ID to port drop.
- 10Sign the ocean carrier inspection form at port drop.
- 11Verify your destination port (Anchorage, Whittier, Kodiak) on the BOL.
Cost and transit time
A standard car from Seattle or Tacoma to Anchorage typically costs $1800 to $2800 all in. East Coast origin to Anchorage runs $2500 to $3500. Outer Alaska ports (Kodiak, Whittier, Bethel) add $300 to $700. Door to door transit is typically 10 to 21 days, with the mainland leg taking 2 to 7 days, port hold 1 to 3 days, ocean leg 4 to 7 days, and final pickup 1 day.
Winter shipments (October to April) cost slightly more because weather can delay sailings. Summer shipments (May to September) are cheapest and most predictable. If you have flexibility, ship in May or September for the best rates.
Alaska shipping pro tips
Ship to Anchorage even if you live elsewhere
Anchorage has the most frequent sailings. Many Fairbanks residents ship to Anchorage and drive the last 360 miles.
Avoid winter if possible
October to April adds weather delays and higher rates. May to September is the sweet spot for Alaska shipments.
Drain washer fluid for winter
If your car sits at port in winter, regular washer fluid freezes and cracks the reservoir. Drain or replace with winter blend.
Empty the car completely
Ocean carriers prohibit personal items in vehicles for Alaska shipping just like Hawaii.
Verify destination port
Confirm Anchorage vs Whittier vs Kodiak on the BOL. They are all different terminals and pickup locations.
Plan registration in Alaska
Alaska requires registering your car within 10 days of establishing residence. Bring out of state title and insurance.
Winter shipping considerations
Alaska winters are no joke. From October through April, weather affects every leg of the shipment. Mainland carriers may face snow delays on I-5 or I-90 to the ports. Ocean sailings sometimes shift by a day for North Pacific storms. Port pickups in Anchorage can be cold enough that batteries do not start without a jump.
If you must ship in winter, prep accordingly. Replace washer fluid with winter blend. Top off antifreeze. Make sure the battery is healthy. Bring jumper cables when you pick up the car at port. Most importantly, build in 3 to 5 extra days of buffer in case weather shifts the schedule.
Alaska shipping rate estimates
All in cost (mainland leg plus ocean leg plus fees). Standard cars only.
| Distance | Open Transport | Enclosed Transport | Transit Days |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle/Tacoma to Anchorage | $1800 to $2500 | $2500 to $3300 | 10 to 14 days |
| Midwest to Anchorage | $2200 to $3000 | $3000 to $3800 | 14 to 18 days |
| East Coast to Anchorage | $2500 to $3500 | $3300 to $4300 | 16 to 21 days |
| West Coast to Whittier/Kodiak | $2100 to $2900 | $2900 to $3700 | 12 to 16 days |
Estimates only, your exact rate comes from the live carrier load board. Get an instant quote at the top of the page for real numbers.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to ship a car to Alaska?
How long does Alaska shipping take?
Which port should I use?
Is it cheaper to drive the AlCan highway?
Can I ship in winter?
Can I ship personal items in the car?
Do I need title and registration?
What about the Alaska Marine Highway?
Can I track my shipment?
What is the cheapest time to ship?
Does Whipshipper handle the ocean leg?
Can I ship to Fairbanks directly?
Ready to ship?
Pick the path that fits how you want to move.
Every auto transport service we run
Auto transport is not one product. A dealer moving forty units off an auction lane, a collector shipping a numbers matching car across the country, and a family sending one sedan ahead of a move are three different jobs that happen to use the same highways. They need different trailers, different insurance limits, different loading equipment, and different scheduling. Quoting all three the same way is how customers end up with a truck that cannot legally carry their vehicle. Pick the line below that matches what you are actually moving, and the quote comes back against the right equipment the first time.
By transport type
Open Car TransportThe standard multi car carrier and the cheapest way to move a daily driver. Same trailers that deliver new inventory to dealers.Learn more →
Enclosed Auto TransportA sealed trailer, soft tie downs, and no road spray for classics, exotics, and anything you would not park outside.Learn more →
Door to Door TransportPickup and delivery at the addresses you give us. No terminal drop offs and no driving across town to meet a truck.Learn more →
Expedited Car ShippingNext day or two day pickup when the closing date moved or the buyer will not wait. Priority position in the dispatch queue.Learn more →- Budget Car ShippingFlexible dates and a wider pickup window traded for a lower rate. The honest version of a cheap quote.Learn more →
State to State ShippingInterstate moves with one carrier from origin to destination, no reloading and no handoffs between trucks.Learn more →
Cross Country ShippingCoast to coast runs past two thousand miles, priced on lane density rather than a flat per mile guess.Learn more →- International ShippingOcean freight by container or roll on roll off, with the port paperwork and customs filing handled for you.Learn more →
Online Purchase DeliveryBought from a marketplace, an out of state dealer, or a private seller. We collect it and bring it to your driveway.Learn more →- Auto Train AlternativeA door to door option for the Virginia to Florida run when the train is sold out or the schedule does not fit.Learn more →
- Inoperable Vehicle TransportWinch equipped carriers for cars that will not start, will not steer, or will not roll. Project cars included.Learn more →
Oversized TransportLifted trucks, duallies, and anything over standard deck height on trailers built for the clearance.Learn more →
By vehicle
Motorcycle ShippingCruisers, sport bikes, touring rigs, and trikes on soft straps and wheel chocks rather than a bare ratchet.Learn more →
Truck ShippingHalf tons through duallies, with the bed and tow package measured before we quote so the deck actually fits.Learn more →
RV and Motorhome TransportTowed, hauled, or driven by a bonded CDL driver depending on length, height, and whether it is roadworthy.Learn more →
Luxury Car ShippingEnclosed by default, lift gate loading, and a driver who has moved this class of car before.Learn more →
Classic Car ShippingVintage and restoration cars handled with soft ties, no wheel straps on original chrome, and full photo documentation.Learn more →
By who is shipping
Dealer ShippingAuction runs, dealer trades, and port to lot moves on volume pricing with one invoice across every unit.Learn more →- Fleet ShippingMulti unit relocations and seasonal rebalancing with contracted rates that hold through surge weeks.Learn more →
- For Online BuyersIndependent condition photos at pickup so you see the car before it leaves the seller, not after it arrives.Learn more →
- Auction ShippingPickup coordinated against auction release, gate pass, and storage deadlines so you are not paying late fees.Learn more →
- OEM LogisticsPlant to dealer and plant to port movement with reporting that matches manufacturer compliance requirements.Learn more →
- Rental Fleet RelocationSeasonal fleet balancing between markets, priced by the batch rather than one unit at a time.Learn more →
- Military Car ShippingPCS moves timed to report dates, with pickup that works around base access and a deploying schedule.Learn more →
- Student Car ShippingMove in and move out windows around the academic calendar, when every family in town needs the same week.Learn more →
Snowbird ShippingNorth in spring, south in fall, booked both directions at once so the return leg is locked before rates climb.Learn more →- Corporate RelocationEmployee moves billed to the company with the documentation a relocation package and an expense team need.Learn more →
Not sure which one fits? Call (888) 780-6207 and describe the vehicle and the route. A dispatcher will tell you which equipment it needs and what the lane is running, or start with an instant quote and adjust from there.
Auto transport coast to coast, state to state
We move vehicles in all fifty states, and the network is deepest where the freight already runs. Each state page below carries its own lane table, transit windows, and the local conditions that actually change a rate.
Northeast
Mid-Atlantic
Southeast
South
Midwest
Mountain
Read before you book
Most complaints in this industry trace back to something the customer was never told: that the first quote was a placeholder, that the broker on the phone is not the company driving the truck, or that personal items in the trunk are not covered by cargo insurance. None of that is complicated once somebody explains it. These are the explainers we send customers before they book, written to be useful whether or not you ship with us.
- How to Ship a CarThe whole process from first quote to signed delivery receipt, in the order it actually happens.Read the guide →
- How Auto Transport WorksWhat happens between your booking and a truck showing up, including who dispatches the load and why timing moves.Read the guide →
- Brokers vs CarriersThe difference nobody explains, why it changes who is liable for your car, and which one you are actually talking to.Read the guide →
- Spotting Transport FraudHow to check authority and insurance yourself, and the quote patterns that mean a company is about to raise the price.Read the guide →
- TruePrice GuaranteeWhy our quote is the price, and what the industry practice of quoting low and renegotiating at pickup costs you.Read the guide →
- Pre Shipping ChecklistWhat to clean, remove, photograph, and document before the driver arrives so a damage claim never becomes your word against theirs.Read the guide →
- Cheapest Ways to ShipThe levers that genuinely lower a rate, and the ones that only look cheap until pickup day.Read the guide →
- Hawaii Car ShippingPort schedules, island by island delivery, and what the ocean leg adds to a mainland quote.Read the guide →
- Alaska Car ShippingBarge versus the Alaska Highway, seasonal closures, and why a winter quote is not a summer quote.Read the guide →
- Why WhipshipperWhat we do differently on carrier vetting, rate locking, and tracking, stated plainly enough to check.Read the guide →
- Full FAQEvery question we get on pricing, timing, insurance, and paperwork, answered in one place.Read the guide →
- Customer ReviewsHow we handle feedback, what we do when a shipment goes sideways, and how to read transport reviews generally.Read the guide →
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