Planning a Move? Start With This Car Shipping Guide

Shipping a car involves more moving parts than most people realize—especially on a route that crosses open ocean. This vehicle transport guide covers how the process works, what to expect on a Hawaii shipment, and how to prepare your car before it’s loaded.

How Car Shipping Works

The process for shipping your car looks different depending on your route.

For mainland moves, carriers typically offer two options: open transport, where vehicles ride on an open carrier, or enclosed transport, where cars are loaded into a covered carrier for added protection—a popular choice for higher-value vehicles.

Hawaii moves follow a different process entirely. Vehicles are loaded into containers, shipped to island terminals, and held for mandatory agricultural inspection before they can be released to you.

Car Shipping Costs

Route, vehicle size, and shipping method are the three biggest factors in your final price. Hawaii moves carry additional costs that overland routes don’t—port fees, container handling charges, and fuel surcharges all factor into your total.

Before committing to a car shipping company, get quotes from at least three, so you understand what’s driving your number. For Hawaii shipments specifically, expect your quote to reflect container loading and securing fees, vessel scheduling (Hawaii sailings run on fixed windows, which affects both timing and price), port handling fees at both origin and destination, and the mandatory agricultural inspection on arrival, which adds both fees and time to your delivery window.

Hawaii Car Shipping Timeline

A Hawaii car shipment runs on a timeline that’s largely dictated by vessel sailing windows, not just distance. From the time your vehicle is inspected and loaded at the origin port, transit to the islands typically takes one to three weeks, depending on the destination island, with agricultural clearance adding additional time before the vehicle is released. GPS tracking during the ocean leg keeps you updated in real time, so you don’t have to guess when your car will be ready for pickup.

Preparing Your Car Before the Auto Transport Company Arrives

Getting your carport-ready before the transport company arrives prevents delays at check-in and creates a clear record of your vehicle’s condition before it’s loaded. Run through these steps before drop-off:

• Clear the Interior and Trunk: Remove all personal belongings and loose items before drop-off—anything left inside is not covered under carrier liability.
• Set Fuel to a Quarter Tank: A quarter tank is enough for loading and inspection without adding unnecessary weight to the shipment.
• Document Existing Damage: Photograph any existing dents, scratches, or paint issues with timestamped photos before handing over the keys.
• Remove Transponders and Passes: Take out toll transponders, parking passes, and any other electronic tags before the vehicle is loaded.
• Confirm the Vehicle Is Operational: The car should start, drive, and brake without problems before it reaches the port for loading.

Car Shipping Insurance and What It Covers

Standard carrier liability covers damage that happens during loading and transit, but the payout is based on depreciated value—not what it costs to replace your car. Get the specifics of your coverage in writing before the vehicle is loaded, and walk the inspection report at both pickup and delivery so you have a signed record at each end if anything goes wrong.

Frequently Asked Questions