2026 pricing
Cost to Ship a Car to Hawaii
Every Hawaii quote is really two moves stacked together — a truck to a West Coast port and an ocean sailing. Here is what each piece costs in 2026 and what moves the number.
Short answer
What most people pay in 2026
These are real all-in ranges for a running passenger vehicle to Honolulu, including the mainland ground leg and standard terminal fees. Neighbor islands add on top.
| Origin | Sedan / compact | SUV / truck | Door to door |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Coast — CA, OR, WA, NV, AZ | $1,500 – $2,200 | $1,800 – $2,700 | 2 – 3 weeks |
| Mountain & Midwest — CO, TX, IL, MN, MO | $2,000 – $2,900 | $2,300 – $3,300 | 3 – 4 weeks |
| Southeast & East Coast — FL, GA, NY, NC, MA | $2,500 – $3,300 | $2,800 – $3,700 | 3 – 5 weeks |
| Neighbor islands (Maui, Kauai, Big Island) add-on | +$400 – $900 | +$400 – $900 | +3 – 7 days |
Ranges are estimates for planning, not a quote. A licensed coordinator prices your exact lane, vehicle and sailing window and calls you with a real number before anything is booked. You are always in charge of the price.
Breakdown
The five pieces inside a Hawaii quote
When a company hands you one number with no explanation, this is what they are hiding. Every one of these lines exists on every Hawaii move.
1. Mainland ground leg
Your car has to get to a West Coast sailing port — usually Long Beach, Oakland, San Diego or Tacoma. This is a normal open or enclosed truck move and it is the piece that swings the most by geography. From Florida it can be more than the ocean freight itself.
2. Ocean freight
The roll-on/roll-off sailing to Honolulu is a published rate, not a negotiation. Sailings to Hilo, Kahului and Nawiliwili cost meaningfully more than Honolulu because the vessel makes an extra call or the unit is transshipped.
3. Port and terminal fees
Documentation, wharfage and terminal handling. Small individually, real in aggregate. We quote them in the number instead of surprising you at the counter.
4. Island delivery
Optional. Many customers save money by collecting the car themselves at the Hawaii terminal. If you want it brought to a residence, that is a separate island truck leg.
5. Brokerage fee
Our fee for sourcing and vetting the mainland carrier, booking the sailing and coordinating the paperwork. It is disclosed before you book, never buried. The deposit is charged at the time of booking.
Variables
What actually moves your price
- Vehicle size and height — a lifted truck or a cargo van is priced above a sedan
- Whether the car runs, steers and brakes (non-running units need a winch and cost more)
- Destination island — Honolulu is the cheapest port; Maui, Kauai and the Big Island cost more
- Season — May through August and the holidays are the tightest sailings of the year
- Open versus enclosed on the mainland leg (enclosed runs roughly 40–60% higher)
- How flexible your pickup date is — a hard date always costs more than a window
- Roof racks, lift kits, oversized tires and anything that changes the measured cube
- Electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles — some vessels restrict them, which limits sailing options
Savings
Legitimate ways to pay less
- Drop the car at the mainland port yourself if you live near one — it removes an entire ground leg
- Pick up at the Hawaii terminal instead of paying for island residential delivery
- Ship to Honolulu and barge to a neighbor island only if the math actually works — often it does not
- Give a 3–5 day pickup window instead of a single date
- Book three to six weeks ahead; last-minute sailings price at the top of the range
- Empty the car — most carriers restrict personal items and overweight units get reclassified
- Ask for the mainland leg on open equipment unless the vehicle genuinely needs enclosed
- Ask about the $50 Aloha Spirit web discount before your booking agreement is signed
Ocean booking details
Hawaii ocean service, documents and pricing
Book now to receive a $50 Aloha Spirit Web Discount
Applied to qualifying mainland-to-Hawaii and Hawaii-to-mainland bookings made online or by phone. Ask your coordinator to confirm the discount before your booking agreement is signed.
Direction
Mainland to Hawaii
Origin service
Drop off — Los Angeles, CA
Destination service
Pickup — Honolulu
Active military?
Ask about the active military member discount
Required documents — shipping to Hawaii
- Signed booking agreement
- Title OR bill of sale OR vehicle registration (must be current at the time of sailing)
- Military orders (if applicable)
- Registered owner must be present at drop off
- If the owner is not present, we require a notarized authorization letter or Power of Attorney
Someone else dropping the vehicle off?
Use our release / authorization letter. Print it, complete it, and have it notarized before drop off.
Get the release formShipping options
Standard service
Starts at $1,070
Standard vehicle transport between the California and Hawaii ocean terminals — San Diego, Los Angeles, the San Francisco Bay Area, Honolulu (Oahu), Hilo (Big Island) and Kahului (Maui). Autos, trucks, SUVs and minivans sail safely aboard fully covered roll-on/roll-off vessels.
Premium service
Starts at $3,800 per standard size unit
Sail on the voyage of your choice with guaranteed availability at destination — or 75% of the ocean shipping fees are refunded. Premium service must be booked over the phone, so call us and we will arrange it with the ocean carrier for you.
California pickup & delivery
Flat rate
An easy flat-rate residential pickup and delivery service for California customers. We arrange pickup or delivery at your California residence to or from the closest ocean terminal.
Active military member discount
Available
Active duty service members shipping a POV qualify for a military discount. Have your orders ready and let your coordinator know when you request the quote.
Cancellation policy
We understand circumstances may arise that change your travel plans. For this reason an existing reservation can always be rolled to a future voyage without penalty. If you wish to cancel the entire ocean reservation, a $75 processing fee is deducted prior to your refund.
Next steps
Before you book anything
A Hawaii move has a paperwork gate that a mainland move does not. Handle these three things early and the rest is routine.
Documents
Title, bill of sale or current registration, plus photo ID. Lienholder authorization if the car is financed — that letter takes the longest to get.
Authorization form
If you cannot be at the terminal yourself, print our Vehicle Release & Authorization form and have it notarized before drop off.
Photo evidence
Photograph the truck, plate, driver's CDL and every panel of the car, plus a walk-around video, at both the mainland pickup and the terminal. Photos taken beforehand are not accepted by insurers.
By island
2026 cost ranges for every Hawaiian island
Standard running sedan, open mainland carrier plus the ocean leg. Open an island page for harbor details, delivery towns and local lead times.
Oahu
Honolulu Harbor
- West Coast
- $1,500 – $2,100
- Midwest
- $2,200 – $2,800
- East Coast
- $2,600 – $3,300
Maui
Kahului Harbor
- West Coast
- $1,700 – $2,300
- Midwest
- $2,400 – $3,000
- East Coast
- $2,800 – $3,500
Hawaii Island
Hilo Harbor and Kawaihae Harbor
- West Coast
- $1,750 – $2,400
- Midwest
- $2,450 – $3,050
- East Coast
- $2,850 – $3,600
Kauai
Nawiliwili Harbor
- West Coast
- $1,800 – $2,450
- Midwest
- $2,500 – $3,100
- East Coast
- $2,900 – $3,650
Molokai
Kaunakakai Harbor
- West Coast
- $2,000 – $2,700
- Midwest
- $2,700 – $3,350
- East Coast
- $3,100 – $3,900
Lanai
Kaumalapau Harbor
- West Coast
- $2,050 – $2,750
- Midwest
- $2,750 – $3,400
- East Coast
- $3,150 – $3,950
FAQ
Hawaii shipping cost questions
How much does it cost to ship a car to Hawaii in 2026?
Most 2026 moves land between $1,500 and $3,300 all in. From the West Coast a standard sedan is commonly $1,500 to $2,200 to Honolulu. From the East Coast, where the car has to cross the country before it ever sees a boat, $2,500 to $3,300 is the realistic band. SUVs and trucks add roughly $300 to $600.
Why is shipping to Maui, Kauai or the Big Island more expensive than Honolulu?
Honolulu is the primary port of call. Kahului, Nawiliwili and Hilo either require an additional vessel call or an inter-island transfer after the car lands on Oahu. Expect roughly $400 to $900 above the Honolulu number and a few extra days.
Is it cheaper to ship the car or buy one in Hawaii?
If the car is paid off, reliable and worth more than about $8,000, shipping almost always wins — island used-car prices carry a premium and the inventory is thin. If it is an older commuter with high miles, selling on the mainland and buying on-island can pencil out better.
Can I pack belongings in the car?
Generally no. Ocean carriers restrict personal items and the vehicle is inspected at the terminal. Anything loose can be refused, and nothing left in the car is insured. Ship household goods separately.
How long does it take?
From the West Coast, plan on two to three weeks door to door. From the middle of the country, three to four. From the East Coast, three to five. The ocean sailing itself is only about five to nine days — the rest is the ground leg, the terminal cutoff and the sailing schedule.
What paperwork do I need?
A signed booking agreement, plus the title, bill of sale or current vehicle registration. Military orders if applicable. The registered owner must be present at drop off, or you need a notarized authorization letter or power of attorney — we publish a printable one you can bring with you.
Is the car insured on the water?
The mainland trucking leg carries carrier cargo coverage — $250,000 cargo coverage on open carriers on open equipment and $1,000,000 cargo coverage on enclosed carriers on enclosed. The ocean leg is covered under the vessel operator's terms, which are separate and more limited. We will walk you through both before you book, and claims are filed with the party that had the vehicle, not with Enterprise.
Do I need to prep the car differently for an ocean sailing?
Yes. Terminals typically want a quarter tank of fuel or less, no alarms that can drain the battery, no loose exterior accessories, and the car washed so the inspection photographs cleanly. Remove toll transponders and parking passes — we are not responsible for tolls or fees incurred in transit.
Get a number
Price your Hawaii move
Tell us the vehicle, the mainland address and the island. We price the ground leg and the sailing together so you see one honest total.
Also see our full how to ship a car to Hawaii guide.
Ready to price your Hawaii move?
Open and enclosed semi-truck carriers, door-to-door delivery and a coordinator who answers the phone.