Hawaii routes

Hawaii car shipping: the complete guide

Ports, ocean carriers, prep rules, transit time, and cost. Everything you need for a mainland to Hawaii shipment.

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Hawaii shipping is a two leg process

Shipping a car to Hawaii means combining two transport modes. First a carrier hauls your car from your driveway to a mainland port (Long Beach, Oakland, or Tacoma). Then an ocean carrier (Matson or Pasha Hawaii) loads the car onto a roll on roll off ship to Honolulu, Hilo, Kahului, or Nawiliwili.

The mainland leg works like any auto transport shipment. The ocean leg has its own rules: cleaning standards, port drop off, and specific prep requirements set by the shipping line and USDA agricultural inspection.

The 4 main Hawaii ports

Each Hawaii island has its own port. Pick by where you live.

1

Honolulu (Oahu)

The main port for Hawaii. Highest volume, most frequent ship arrivals (twice weekly from Long Beach and Oakland).

2

Hilo (Big Island, east side)

Direct service for Big Island residents on the east side. Lower frequency than Honolulu, weekly arrivals.

3

Kahului (Maui)

Maui's main port. Weekly arrivals from the West Coast through Matson.

4

Nawiliwili (Kauai)

Kauai's port for vehicle imports. Weekly arrivals, smaller throughput than Honolulu.

Matson vs Pasha Hawaii

The two main ocean carriers for vehicles. Both reliable, slightly different routes.

Matson

  • Sails from Oakland, Long Beach, and Tacoma to all four Hawaii ports.
  • Multiple sailings per week from each West Coast port.
  • Largest US carrier in the Hawaii vehicle market.
  • Standard transit 4 to 7 days port to port.
  • Roll on roll off (RORO) service for personal vehicles.

Pasha Hawaii

  • Sails from San Diego and Long Beach to Honolulu primarily.
  • Weekly sailings from West Coast.
  • Smaller fleet than Matson but competitive rates.
  • Standard transit 5 to 7 days port to port.
  • RORO service plus container options for higher value cars.

How Hawaii shipping works

From your driveway to the island, step by step.

1

1. Mainland pickup

Carrier picks up your car at your driveway, drives it to the West Coast port (Long Beach, Oakland, or Tacoma).

2

2. Port drop and inspection

Car is dropped at the ocean carrier's port terminal. USDA inspection for agricultural pests, then queued for loading.

3

3. Ocean transit

Matson or Pasha ship sails to your destination Hawaii port. 4 to 7 days on the water.

4

4. Island pickup

You pick up the car at the Hawaii port terminal with ID and BOL. Drive home, you are done.

Hawaii specific prep requirements

Stricter than mainland because of USDA inspection and ocean shipping rules.

  • 1Wash the car (mandatory for USDA agricultural inspection).
  • 2Steam clean the undercarriage to remove all dirt, mud, and plant matter.
  • 3Vacuum the interior, no food crumbs, no plant matter.
  • 4Remove all personal items from the cabin and trunk.
  • 5No personal items can travel with the vehicle (carrier rule, no exceptions).
  • 6Take fuel down to quarter tank or less.
  • 7Disable alarms and toll tags.
  • 8Hand over one key, keep a spare.
  • 9Bring title, registration, and ID to port drop.
  • 10Sign the ocean carrier inspection form at port drop.

Cost and transit time

A standard car (sedan or compact SUV) from the West Coast to Honolulu typically costs $1500 to $2500 all in. This includes the mainland leg, the ocean leg, port fees, and our broker fee. Larger vehicles (full size SUV, pickup truck, 3 row SUV) run higher, sometimes $2500 to $3500. East Coast to Hawaii adds $500 to $900 for the longer mainland leg.

Total transit from your mainland driveway to your Hawaii driveway is typically 8 to 14 days. The mainland leg is 2 to 7 days depending on origin, the port hold is 1 to 3 days, the ocean leg is 4 to 7 days, and Hawaii port pickup is 1 day.

Hawaii shipping pro tips

Steam clean before port drop

USDA will reject vehicles with dirt or plant matter. A $30 steam clean prevents a 1 week delay at port.

Empty completely

Ocean carriers will not load vehicles with personal items inside. Even a phone charger can hold the shipment.

Use Honolulu as the hub

Honolulu has the most frequent sailings. Even Maui or Big Island residents sometimes ship to Honolulu and ferry from there.

Book 2 to 4 weeks ahead

Hawaii sailings fill up. Booking ahead means you get the sailing date you want.

Title and registration matter

Bring your title and current registration to port drop. Some Hawaii destinations require both for release.

Plan for Hawaii registration

Hawaii requires registering your car within 30 days of arrival. Bring out of state title and inspection certificate.

Hawaii shipping rate estimates

All in cost (mainland leg plus ocean leg plus fees). Standard cars only, larger vehicles higher.

DistanceOpen TransportEnclosed TransportTransit Days
West Coast to Honolulu$1500 to $2000$2200 to $30008 to 12 days
West Coast to Maui/Kauai/Hilo$1700 to $2300$2400 to $320010 to 14 days
Midwest to Hawaii$1900 to $2500$2700 to $350012 to 18 days
East Coast to Hawaii$2200 to $2900$3100 to $390014 to 21 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 Hawaii?

Standard cars from the West Coast to Honolulu run $1500 to $2500 all in. East Coast origin and other Hawaii ports add $300 to $900.

How long does Hawaii shipping take?

8 to 14 days door to door from the West Coast. East Coast and outer islands take 14 to 21 days.

Which port should I use?

Long Beach, Oakland, and Tacoma are the main West Coast ports. We book whichever sails to your Hawaii destination soonest.

Matson or Pasha Hawaii?

Both are reliable. We pick based on sailing schedule and your destination island.

Why does the car need to be steam cleaned?

USDA agricultural inspection at port. Hawaii is strict on invasive species, dirt and plant matter on undercarriages can introduce pests.

Can I ship personal items in the car?

No, Matson and Pasha both prohibit personal items in vehicles. The car must be empty for ocean shipping.

Do I need title and registration?

Yes, bring both to port drop. Hawaii also requires registering your car within 30 days of arrival.

What if my car does not run?

Inop vehicles can ship but the carrier needs a winch and steering must work. Tell us at quote time so we book the right port slot.

Can I track my car during ocean transit?

We share the ocean carrier's booking number so you can track the ship. Live GPS does not work over the ocean.

Does Whipshipper handle the ocean leg?

Yes, we book both the mainland carrier and the ocean carrier. One contract, one price, one point of contact.

What if the ship is delayed?

Ocean transit can shift by a day or two for weather. We track the sailing and update you when arrival changes.

Can I ship a motorcycle?

Yes, motorcycles ship by the same ocean carriers. We book it the same way.

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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

By vehicle

By who is shipping

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

Pacific

Browse every city we coverPopular lanes and live ratesHow state to state shipping worksCross country moves

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.

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