You cannot drive here, every car travels by ocean freight, so the process and pricing are unlike any mainland state.
How pricing works
Because every car reaches Hawaii by sea, pricing works in two parts. The ocean leg from a West Coast port (Los Angeles/Long Beach, Oakland, Seattle or Tacoma) to Honolulu commonly runs about $1,000 to $1,800, and on top of that you add any mainland transport needed to get your car to that departure port. Neighbor-island delivery (Maui, Kauai, the Big Island) adds an inter-island fee. Always get a port-to-port quote from a Hawaii-experienced shipper and price the mainland leg separately.
Shipping a car to Hawaii is completely different from the mainland: there is no driving there, so every vehicle travels by ocean freight. The process, cost and timeline all work differently, and knowing how helps you avoid surprises.
It is a two-leg move. First your car travels (by you or by a mainland carrier) to a West Coast port. From there it goes on a roll-on/roll-off ocean vessel — the main carriers are Matson and Pasha — to Honolulu or a neighbor-island port. Most shippers book the ocean leg port-to-port and arrange the mainland leg separately.
Honolulu on Oahu is the main port and the cheapest, most frequent destination. Neighbor islands are served via Kahului (Maui), Hilo and Kona (the Big Island) and Nawiliwili (Kauai), usually with an inter-island leg that adds cost and a few days. Confirm which port serves your island before booking.
Hawaii has strict requirements: your fuel tank should be no more than about one quarter full, the car must be cleaned (an agricultural inspection checks for soil, seeds and pests), and all personal items must be removed. Have your title, registration and ID ready, and note any existing damage before drop-off.
The West Coast to Honolulu sailing itself is roughly 5 days, but add the mainland leg to the port, booking and scheduling, and port processing on both ends. Plan for about 1 to 3 weeks door to door, longer for a neighbor island.
Use a company that routinely books Matson or Pasha and understands the agricultural inspection and port paperwork. Confirm exactly what is included — many quotes are port-to-port only, so clarify whether the mainland leg and any inter-island delivery are part of the price.
Who can ship it
ELKTON, MD
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WESTPORT, MA
LAKE ELMO, MN
VESTAL, NY
FORT LAUDERDALE, FL
Good to know
No. Hawaii is an island state, so every vehicle travels by ocean freight from a West Coast port. There is no drive-on route.
The ocean leg from the West Coast to Honolulu commonly runs about $1,000 to $1,800, plus any mainland transport to the departure port and any neighbor-island delivery. Get a port-to-port quote and add the mainland leg.
The sailing is about 5 days, but with the mainland leg, scheduling and port processing, plan for roughly 1 to 3 weeks door to door, a bit longer for a neighbor island.
Reduce fuel to about a quarter tank, clean the car thoroughly for the agricultural inspection, remove all personal belongings, and bring your title, registration and ID.
