The Cheapest Way to Ship a Car to Hawaii

If you’re planning an extended trip to the Aloha state of Hawaii or want to move to the islands for the long term, it’s an excellent idea to ship your car before when you move. Having your own vehicle out on the islands makes travel much more convenient and affordable than buying something new upon arrival. The trick is finding an affordable shipping method or transport type to get your vehicle out to Hawaii. Here are some steps to follow to save on shipping costs.

Choose Between a Large Carrier or a Small Private Boat

There are generally two ways to send a car from the mainland or the West Coast over to Hawaii. The first is by placing it on a large cargo ship along with many other cars and sending it over. The second is trusting a smaller car shipping company with a more limited ship that’s carrying just a few cars. Both options work well if you take care to choose a reliable auto transport company, but generally the large ship is much more affordable.

Why Moving Using a Large Carrier

A large carrier ship will position your vehicle so that it’s not exposed to the elements, especially when the car is in a container, and you’ll receive a more discounted rate since many other vehicles are making the journey at the same time. Generally, you’ll need to travel to California to send the vehicle out, or you’ll need to arrange for your vehicle to be shifted to a port in California. It’s cheapest to drive the vehicle to the port yourself and then have it shipped from there, though.

Roll on and Roll off, Hauling

If you decide to go with a large ship, make sure that you rely on a RORO ship or roll-on roll-off the ship if possible. With this type of shipping, your car must be drivable, and it will be driven onto the ship or pulled onto it using a special winch and then rolled back off at the end of the trip. This is far more affordable than shipping that crane loads cars into position.

If you’re trying to figure out how to get your vehicle over to Hawaii as cheaply as possible, there are many factors to consider. However, it’s best to do all the driving that you can and only pay for transport across the ocean itself. Go with a large company that uses a boat to move many cars simultaneously. You may have to be more patient when dealing with a larger company because they typically only head out once a week to travel across the ocean. That means you’ll want to schedule your transport date and make sure your car is there in time to be shipped out.

Shipping a car this way is surprisingly affordable and the best method out of other shipping options to go with if you want your vehicle on the island with you. Stick with a large roll on and roll off the ship, and you’ll enjoy some of the lowest rates available.

When you need reliable Hawaii car shipping services, A-1 AT is here to help with more than 20 years of Hawaii transport experience, assisting customers in handling and shipping their vehicles (cars, sedans, SUVs, and trucks). We will help you ship on budget, conserve your resources, and monitor everything for you from the origin port to the destination port. We have cargo insurance coverage, so you can rest assured that your items are safe with us. You can contact us at (888) 230-9116 for fast car shipping quotes, and answers to your Hawaii car shifting questions.

Relevant Statistics

• Shipping a car to Hawaii via shared container transport can save up to $900 compared to exclusive container shipping.
• Approximately 85% of car shipments to Hawaii use roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) vessels.
• The average cost of shipping a standard-sized vehicle from the West Coast to Hawaii is around $1,400.
• By choosing a reputable car shipping company, customers can benefit from an average 10% discount on shipping rates.
• Utilizing an open-air rather than an enclosed carrier can save up to 30% when shipping a car to Hawaii.

General Facts

• The cheapest way to ship a car to Hawaii is typically through roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) service.
• RoRo service involves driving the car onto a specialized ship that transports vehicles.
• Another affordable option is sharing a shipping container with other vehicles in a consolidated shipment.
• Prices may vary based on factors such as the size and weight of the car, departure port, and time of year.
• It is recommended to compare quotes from different shipping companies to find the most cost-effective option.