What is the Cheapest Way to Ship my Car to Hawaii?

When you have your own vehicle on the islands, traveling is much more convenient and affordable than buying a new vehicle upon arrival. The trick is finding an affordable shipping method to get your vehicle out to Hawaii.

The following article offers all the advice you need, breaks down your options, and describes the cheapest way to ship a car to Hawaii.

The Cheapest Way to Ship a Car to Hawaii

Driving a car to a port on the West Coast and having it transported by a RORO (roll-on, roll-off) ship is the cheapest way to ship a car to Hawaii.

Let’s explore some of the different options for car shipping and see which best matches your preferences.

1. Drive Your Car to any Port and Pick the Car Up Yourself in Hawaii

This is exactly what it sounds like: you drop your car at the port, your car is rolled onto a ship and secured for marine transport, then the car is rolled off and parked at the ship’s destination port for pick up.

It’s the cheapest way to ship a car to Hawaii., but only if you live near one of the main ports in Long Beach, California, Oakland, California, or Tacoma, Washington. However, if you do not live near one of these ports, You can hire a company like Autostar Transport Express to transport your car to the port.

2. Hiring Someone to Transport Your Car to a Port

Although the DIY option might seem cheaper, your actual costs may increase significantly and often exceed most benefits after factoring in the cost of your time, gas, hotel, and return flight. This is especially true if you live on the East Coast of the United States.

Did you know that some auto transport companies like Autostar Transport Express include this door-to-port service in their quotes for moving your car to Hawaii? Be sure to clarify with any vendors you speak with.

In this case, your car is driven to a port city on the West Coast and loaded onto a ship. Customize your transport to arrange a home or business delivery instead of having to pick the car up a the destination port.

You can find out the cost of shipping a car to Hawaii or from Hawaii by using our online quote calculator or by calling 888-802-8250 and speaking with our shipping advisors.

3. Small Private Boat vs Large Carrier

To send a car from the mainland to Hawaii, you generally have two options. One method is to place it on a large cargo ship with many other cars and send it over. A second method requires the utilization of a smaller company with limited ship capacity that carries just a few cars.

When you choose a reliable company, both options can work well. However, a larger ship is usually more affordable. If you use a large carrier ship, your vehicle will likely be more secure during transit, and you’ll likely receive a slightly discounted rate since many other vehicles are also traveling at the same time.

4. Ship a Car to Hawaii in a Container

Special items need special handling. When you have a high-value car – measured in dollars or in sentimental value – you need to make sure it’s protected properly with a container.

While many RORO ships are specifically designed for cars and won’t expose your car to Pacific sea spray, a container will offer the most protection.

You’ll also need a container if you’re doing a restoration job that doesn’t drive or has a tricky starter motor.

Even though that is the right decision for many people, there are a couple of things you should consider before you make that decision.

This can affect the overall price of your move

Your car must be packed carefully into the container. The container, which sits four feet off the ground, must be braced and blocked during transit.  This can add to the overall cost to ship a car to Hawaii.

Exclusive vs. Shared container

If you choose container shipping, the cost of shipping your vehicle overseas will depend on whether you select an exclusive or shared container. An exclusive container is more expensive than a shared container. Furthermore, it is the most expensive shipping method, compared to Roll-on/Roll-off shipping.

When you need reliable car shipping services in Hawaii, Autostar Transport Express is here to help you. For a quick quote and information about Hawaii car transport from us, call 888-802-8250. We have more than 20 years of experience transporting cars to Hawaii.

Should You Ship Your Car To Hawaii?

Taking a car to Hawaii can be expensive, so carefully consider whether it is worth the expense. If you have an older car that you plan to replace soon, consider selling your car and purchasing a new car in Hawaii. Shipping your car to Hawaii may cost more than its value, depending on its age and mileage.

If you plan to live in a city with public transportation, you should also research these options. For instance, Oahu has some of the best public transportation in the U.S., so driving is not even necessary.

It is a good idea to know the affordable and best places to live in Hawaii before moving there

Useful Resources About Hawaii Car Shipping

• How much does it cost to ship a car to Hawaii?
• Rules for shipping a car to Hawaii
• How to register a car in Hawaii
• How long does Hawaii car shipping take?
• Best Places to live in Hawaii
• Inter-Island Car Shipping Hawaii
• Buying a Car in Hawaii

Edward Larrivee

Introducing Edward - the beach-loving car carrier guru at AutoStar Transport Express! With his expertise, Edward helps clients surf through the car shipping process with ease. And when he's not working, he's making waves on the sand court as an avid beach volleyball player. With Edward on your team, your car will arrive safely and on time, and you might even catch a tan!

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