Through our research, we found that Montway Auto Transport is the top Hawaii car shipping company. We’ve compiled a short list of all the best car shipping companies servicing Hawaii so you can confidently hire a provider that meets your unique needs.
On average, you can expect to pay around $3,000 to ship your car in Hawaii, but a number of factors make estimating pricing complex. Your car size and type, as well as shipping distance, time of year, and selected services, are among the biggest factors impacting cost.
Top Car Shipping Companies in Hawaii
We’ve identified 9 car shipping companies we’d recommend for car shipments in Hawaii:
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Our mission at FreightWaves is to provide readers with data-driven, unbiased car shipping information and company reviews.
Using our own unique rating system, we evaluated 2,400 car shipping companies nationwide based on key factors like pricing, services, availability, and customer satisfaction. We also dig deep into online consumer reviews to pinpoint what real people have to say about each company and identify recurring pain points and areas of praise.
Our in-house team of experts fully fact-checks all content to ensure our content is up-to-date, accurate, and relevant to what you want and need to know.
Car Shipping Costs in Hawaii
The average cost of shipping your car in Hawaii is $2,500, but we’ve noticed many companies charge significantly more. Shipping a car in Hawaii costs roughly $1,000 more than shipping a vehicle on the U.S. mainland, largely due to the distance between origin and destination locations. Origin and destination shipping ports make a big impact on your overall costs.
Remember that Hawaii is a collection of islands, and different locations will have different costs. It’s generally cheapest to ship from Honolulu on the Big Island, but we recommend requesting instant quotes for Maui and the other Hawaiian islands.
Here’s a quick glance at the average cost of shipping your vehicle from Hawaii to some major U.S. cities based on quotes we received from the providers on this list.
| Location | Estimated Cost |
|---|---|
| Los Angeles | $3,061 |
| Long Beach, California | $2,994 |
| Oakland, California | $3,506 |
| Seattle | $4,078 |
| Tacoma, Washington | $4,046 |
| New York City | $4,799 |
| Miami | $4,237 |
| Boston | $4,100 |
We used a 2016 Scion IM for these quotes, so keep in mind that your vehicle type and size may skew the estimates for your situation. Car shipping costs are highly personal and based on your specific needs, so we recommend requesting a free quote from several providers before setting your budget.
Factors That Affect Car Shipping Costs
Several factors affect car shipping costs, including:
Shipping Ports
Your selected shipping port – both origin and destination – will affect your shipping costs. Ports on the West Coast and the Big Island tend to be more affordable than other locations.
Port-to-Port vs. Door-to-Port
Your selected shipping option will also impact your costs. Port-to-port shipping, especially roll-on/roll-off, is more affordable than door-to-port or door-to-door services.
Insurance Coverage
Your level of insurance coverage will impact your rate. We recommend enough insurance to cover the full value of your vehicle for peace of mind.
Transit Time
The amount of time it takes to get your vehicle to its new location can affect the cost of your car shipment.
Time of Year
Auto transport companies often set their prices based on demand, so busier times of year such as during peak moving season (April–September) will cost more.
Vehicle Size
SUVs cost more to ship than sedans or motorcycles because car shipping companies often use size and weight to set their prices.
Selected Transport Services
Your desired car shipping services — like open vs. enclosed car shipping — will affect your costs. Many Hawaii car transport companies offer little flexibility here, but enclosed vehicle shipping generally costs more than open transport.
Our Reviews of the Top Hawaii Car Shipping Companies
Here’s a brief explanation of our best car shipping companies in Hawaii.
Montway Auto Transport
Montway Auto Transport is a nationwide broker with a network of more than 15,000 carriers in all 50 states. Compared to other car shipping companies, Montway offers more discounts, including those for snowbirds, students, military members, and seniors.
The company also provides guaranteed pickup and delivery dates for an additional fee if you have a rigid schedule. We like that Montway gives you GPS tracking while your vehicle is in transit for additional peace of mind.
Montway’s estimate to ship a 2016 sedan from Hawaii to California came in at $1,989 for door-to-port service and $1,549 for port-to-port service. That said, Montway has a hefty cancellation fee of almost $250 and its quotes aren’t binding. Similarly, its quotes expire after a week, so you may receive different estimates depending on when you book.
Pros:
- No deposit requirements
- Several insurance coverage options
- GPS shipment tracking
Cons:
- $249 cancellation fee
- Quotes expire after one week
Easy Auto Ship
Easy Auto Ship has a wide network of carriers — often available at short notice — and expedited shipping options to accommodate tight time frames.
Easy Auto Ship’s quote to ship a 2016 sedan from Honolulu to Long Beach, California, was $2,565 if you chose to pay online or a slightly lower $2,475 if you paid in cash. This price includes insurance coverage without a deductible while your vehicle is in the company’s possession.
Unfortunately, Easy Auto Ship doesn’t provide a guaranteed pickup or delivery window, so on either side of the car shipment you’ll be waiting between one and five days for a carrier to accommodate your reservation.
Pros:
- Provides a rental car if your vehicle doesn’t arrive within 14 days of your expected delivery date
- Discounts when you pay in cash
- Can get expedited shipping for an additional fee
Cons:
- No guaranteed pickup or delivery dates
- GPS tracking not available
Ship A Car Direct
Ship A Car Direct stands out for its Damage-Free Guarantee and competitive pricing. While you can purchase additional insurance coverage, the company’s guarantee provides some no-cost peace of mind by paying up to $500 toward your insurance deductible if your vehicle arrives damaged.
To ensure consistent service quality, it has a thorough vetting process for all carriers, including verifying licenses and passing background checks.
However, Ship A Car’s quote process is clunkier than its competitors. Instead of returning an instant quote, you’ll submit a quote request and later receive an email with an estimated range.
The company’s quote to ship a 2016 sedan from Honolulu to Long Beach, California, ranges from $1,925 to $2,125, which is on the lower side of all the companies on this list.
Pros:
- Typically lower prices than competitors according to customer reviews
- $500 Damage-Free Guarantee
- Screens and background-checks all carriers
Cons:
- No online quotes
- Website is clunky and difficult to navigate
American Auto Shipping
Like Ship A Car Direct, American Auto Shipping offers reimbursement toward your insurance deductible if your car is damaged by its carrier. But American goes one step further by reimbursing you for a car wash if your vehicle arrives dirty.
Founded in 1999, American Auto Shipping is one of the more experienced car shipping providers on this page. Its quotes are binding from the moment you make your reservation, so you don’t have to worry about price fluctuations or hidden fees.
American’s quote was $2,119 for customers willing to pay their entire shipping rate from Hawaii to California upfront and $2,139 for customers who preferred to put down a $299 deposit to secure their booking.
Pros:
- Reimburses for a car wash after delivery if your car arrives dirty
- Binding pricing with no hidden fees
- Pays up to $500 toward your insurance deductible if your vehicle is damaged in transit
Cons:
- Requires a deposit or full payment at booking
- Doesn’t offer guaranteed pickup or delivery dates
uShip
uShip operates differently than other providers on this list. Rather than contract independent carriers, its service model requires customers to post a job listing for independent businesses to bid on.
It’s also not explicitly car transport, so you may be able to send along some personal items with this option. With uShip, you reserve extra space on a shipper’s existing route.
uShip’s service model allows you to receive very competitive pricing — but at the risk that you’ll have to build your reservation around the shipper’s schedule. You’ll also need to individually vet providers. The company’s existing vetting process isn’t the most intensive, according to customer reviews.
Because the marketplace requires companies to bid on your reservation, there isn’t a seamless quote process in which you can simply request an estimate. For this reason, we don’t have a price range for uShip’s services, but its reviews indicate previous customers were able to find the best value for their desired services through the marketplace.
Pros:
- Significantly lower prices than other auto transport options
- Can also book shipping for personal items and furniture
- Complete control over the carrier that handles your car
Cons:
- Service quality and delivery time depend on driver’s availability, truck space, and existing route
- Doesn’t offer instant quotes
SGT Auto Transport
SGT Auto Transport offers straightforward pricing with no hidden fees. It also matches price if you can find a lower quote for the same services from another provider.
When we requested a quote to ship a sedan Honolulu to Long Beach, California, SGT estimated our costs at $2,975. You can book immediately, and you won’t need to leave a deposit.
Pros:
- Exact pickup dates
- Offers instant quotes online
- Glowing customer reviews
Cons:
- No shipment tracking
- Doesn’t ship RVs or heavy equipment
Royal Hawaiian Movers
Royal Hawaiian Movers is a full-service moving and storage company that’s local to Hawaii. Its parent company, Dewitt Services, affords Royal Hawaiian opportunities to service commercial shipping needs including — but not limited to — supply chain management, freight shipping, and warehouse distribution support.
The company provides auto transport services to and from the mainland and between the Hawaiian Islands. Unfortunately, it doesn’t provide online quotes, so you’ll need to request a personalized estimate. According to the website, they’ll report back within 24 hours, but we had difficulty contacting them.
We’d recommend them to customers looking to support local Hawaiians with decades of experience, but they might not be the best fit for customers looking for a company that offers the convenience of doing most of the booking process online.
Pros:
- Can support commercial shipping needs
- Local to Hawaii
- Focuses on car shipments between islands and to the mainland
Cons:
- Doesn’t offer shipment tracking
- No online quotes
Hawaii Express Corporation
Hawaii Express Corporation is a native Hawaiian-run business located on Oahu. It has a bare-bones website advertising auto shipping, freight shipping, and special cargo transport.
Like Royal Hawaiian Movers, this company prefers to do most of its business by phone, so it doesn’t offer online quotes.
To start the booking process, you’ll need to submit your contact information to Hawaii Express’ form, which you can find on every page of the company’s website. From there, a representative will reach out with more details and pricing information.
Pros:
- Can ship personal items via ocean freight in some cases
- Ships vehicle parts (in addition to cars)
- Door-to-port transport services available
Cons:
- Website lacks information
- Doesn’t have strong customer reviews
Aloha Marine Lines
Aloha Marine Lines is the Hawaii auto transport division of Seattle-based company Lynden. Its service model guarantees bi-weekly service between Seattle and Hawaii, streamlining its pricing and booking process. All shipments will arrive in Hawaii or Seattle within 12 to 14 days of leaving the port, which means you won’t be left guessing at any point in the process.
Because Aloha Marine Lines only ships cars on its predetermined schedule, it’s not the best fit for customers looking for a personalized experience. However, it can be ideal for customers who don’t want to coordinate complex logistics and can pick their car up from Lynden’s Seattle port.
Pros:
- Online shipment tracking
- Will transport from the smaller islands for an extra fee
- Vehicles arrive within 12-14 days
Cons:
- No personalized reservations (shipments are on a set schedule)
- Not accredited by the Better Business Bureau (BBB)
How We Chose the Best Car Shipping Companies
We requested quotes from dozens of car shipping companies, read thousands of customer reviews, evaluated service offerings, and more before we landed on the best car shipping companies to get your vehicle from Hawaii.
Here’s a quick breakdown of what we did:
- Vetted licenses: We evaluated each company to ensure they had valid USDOT numbers and all FMCSA licenses.
- Investigated customer satisfaction: We read customer reviews across several review sites and assessed Better Business Bureau ratings to more fully understand each company’s reputation in the auto transport industry.
- Compared shipping options: We looked at how many shipping services each company offered and how easy it was to customize your package.
- Analyzed pricing: We requested quotes, assessed each company’s price transparency, and compared it to other Hawaii car shipping companies.
What To Consider When Choosing a Hawaii Car Shipping Company
We suggest you consider the following before choosing a company to ship your car to Hawaii:
- Years of experience: We recommend working with a company that has demonstrated experience safely getting vehicles from Hawaii.
- Reputation: Look into a company’s reputation by consulting TrustPilot, the BBB, and other review sites to see what real-life customers say about their experience.
- Communication during the shipping process: Choose an auto transport company that readily provides contact information for the carrier used for your car shipment.
- Pickup and drop-off: Make sure you understand exactly where you have to pick up and drop off your vehicle to avoid confusion. Door-to-door service is much less common for Hawaii auto transport companies and you’re much more likely to encounter port-to-port services.
- Transit time: Choose a Hawaii auto transport company that’s honest about its expected transit time. If they can’t guarantee a delivery date, ensure they’re willing to provide updates throughout the process or a rental car if your car shipment is delayed.
- Binding shipping quotes: Companies that offer binding shipping quotes guarantee that your costs won’t change throughout the shipping process. If you can’t find a binding quote, look for transparent pricing that excludes hidden fees.
- Ease of booking process: Consider whether your chosen company offers multiple booking methods — ideally online and by phone — and how easy it is to confirm your reservation, pay deposits, and sign documents.
- Tracking options: Companies that offer real-time tracking updates offer more resources to plan for your vehicle’s arrival, especially when you don’t have a guaranteed delivery date.
Our Take
Shipping a car from Hawaii is substantially more expensive than in the U.S. mainland, so we only recommend it if your vehicle has sentimental value, it’s difficult to replace, or it would be more expensive to purchase a vehicle once you arrive.
If you determine that it makes financial sense to ship your vehicle, we recommend you start with Easy Auto Ship, and Montway Auto Transport.
Easy Auto Ship often returns lower-than-average pricing and can accommodate last-minute bookings in many cases. Montway Auto Transport remains competitive through its various discount options and GPS tracking for peace of mind.
FAQ
What is the best company to ship vehicles in Hawaii?
The best company to ship vehicle in Hawaii is Easy Auto Ship, but we also highly recommend Montway Auto Transport. Both companies are generally among our picks for top car shippers. We like their transparent pricing, ease of getting a quote online, and robust service offerings that allow you to personalize your booking to your shipping needs.
How long does it take to ship a car in Hawaii?
It takes eight to 20 days to ship a car in Hawaii, but car shipping timelines can depend on the time of year, original port, and destination. Weather conditions and desired shipping methods will also impact shipping time.
How much does it cost to have a car shipped from Hawaii?
It costs between $1,500 and $3,500 to have a car shipped from Hawaii. However, your car shipping costs can vary based on your selected shipping method, time of year, insurance coverage, and type of vehicle.
What is the cheapest way to ship a car in Hawaii?
The cheapest way to ship a car in Hawaii is to drive it to a city on the Big Island and use a roll-on/roll-off (RORO) auto shipper. Our car shipping calculator page has more tips for cheap car transport options and determining pricing.
Can I put personal items in my vehicle?
No, you can’t put personal items in your vehicle when you ship it from Hawaii to the U.S. mainland. State and maritime laws explicitly forbid moving personal items during vehicle transport.
