The cheapest way to ship a Car to and from Hawaii is via Roll‑On/Roll‑Off (RoRo) ocean transport from a West Coast port, typically costing $1,000–$1,500 one-way. Door‑to‑port self‑dropoff saves the most money. Transit usually takes 7–14 days, depending on origin and destination ports.
Drive your car to Long Beach, Oakland, or Tacoma yourself, eliminating expensive inland transport.
Saves several hundred dollars versus door‑to‑door service
Air transport is rarely economical; container shipping is pricier—$1,500–$2,500 for added protection
| Route Type | Estimated Cost (One‑way) |
| West Coast RoRo | $1,000 – $1,500 |
| Mainland RoRo (including inland transport) | $1,500 – $2,500 |
| Container Shipping | $1,500 – $2,500 |
| Matson mainland → Hawaii | from $1,597 |
| Matson Hawaii → mainland | from $1,020 |
This means the average cost to ship a car to hawaii is around $1,200–$2,300
West Coast → Hawaii: ~7–14 days
Mainland → Hawaii (East/Midwest): 14–30+ days (includes land + sea)
Neighbor‑island barge transfers: +4–14 days
For example, Shipping A Car From Hawaii To Mainland takes 9–45 days depending on port schedules
Reach out to multiple carriers or brokers familiar with Hawaii Car Shipping Services.
Compare RoRo vs. container, door‑to‑port vs. door‑to‑door.
Select RoRo + Door‑to‑Port (self‑dropoff & pickup).
If convenient, Ship Your Car To or From Hawaii using Matson or Pasha for bulk pricing
Wash thoroughly (Hawaii requires cleaning to avoid pests)
Remove personal items (quarantine rules apply)
Keep gas
Document with photos
Gather documents: title, registration, Bill of Lading, import forms
Drive to the selected West Coast port or schedule an inland pickup (adds cost).
Sign the BOL before loading.
Relax: your car is on its way via RoRo.
Typically takes 7–14 days.
Inspect on delivery at your Hawaii port. Sign off critically.
Register your vehicle in Hawaii and pay any GET or import fees
DIY port dropoff/pickup saves hundreds
Avoid hidden port or quarantine fees—get a full quote breakdown
Use RoRo over a container unless your vehicle is high‑value or inoperable
Generally, $1,000–$2,500, depending on origin, route, and transport type
Yes—but you’ll need a lift or special equipment, which increases costs significantly.
Usually not. Hawaii limits shipping items inside cars due to quarantine rules.
RoRo is cheaper and works for drivable cars. Containers cost more by ~35‑40% but offer extra protection.
Neighbor‑island barge transfers add 4–14 days to the mainland transit
