More than 43 million Americans move home each year, which represents around 16% of the population. While many Americans stay within their county or state boundaries during their move, others move to completely new parts of the country. Some, even, swap the continental United States for the island paradise that is Hawaii.
Of course, there are many great reasons to move to Hawaii and one of its several major islands. These include the beautiful climate, great scenery, outdoor lifestyle, cultural diversity, and safe living. However, moving to Hawaii is certainly more complicated than a state-wide move.
Many homeowners wonder how to ship a car to Hawaii and what the cost will be. In this blog post, we will take a closer look at car shipping to Hawaii and some of the primary factors that affect the cost. Let’s get started.
How Much Does It Cost to Ship a Car to Hawaii?
The straight answer here is that it depends on many different factors. The best way to get an accurate quote is to contact a vehicle transport company, such as Luxy Transport.
All you need to do is let us know where you plan to transport your vehicle from and exactly where you wish to transport it to, as well as whether you wish to transport the vehicle open or enclosed and some basic vehicle details. Our team will then let you know the total cost of the trip without any obligation to book.
Generally, the cost of transporting a vehicle from the continental United States to Hawaii is between $1,500 and $2,000. Therefore, it is considerably more affordable and logical to ship an existing vehicle to Hawaii than purchase a new vehicle there.
Factors That Affect The Car Shipping Cost
As noted, the cost of shipping a car will vary depending on a host of factors. Let’s highlight the main factors that determine cost here.
Total Shipping Distance
A basic factor when determining the cost of transporting a car is the total shipping distance. For example, it will cost more to transport a car to Hawaii from the eastern coastline than it will to transport it from the western coastline. Depending on the specific port, both in terms of departure and destination, the overall costs may also vary.
Vehicle Size
As with the above point, it stands to reason that the cost of shipping a car will vary on the size and weight. An SUV, for example, will cost more to transport than a compact car.
Generally, the age and specific model of the car don’t have an impact on the final shipping cost. However, in the case of collectible or luxury cars, extra safety precautions and insurance may be required.
Pick-Up or Drop-Off
There are two main choices when it comes to delivering your car ahead of a move. These are port-to-port and door-to-port.
In the case of the door-to-port option, your chosen transportation company will directly pick up your car from your home. This option typically costs more, given that the total shipping distance is greater than port-to-port. With the port-to-port option, you will first drop your car off at the mainland port and then pick it up at the destination port.
There is another option, which is door-to-door car shipping. It’s perfect for people who don’t have the time to collect their car from the destination port and want to have it dropped directly to their new home. This is the most expensive option, though it is also the most convenient.
Container Shipping or RoRo
When it comes to actually shipping the car, there are two options. The first is known as RoRo (roll on, roll off). It means that the car is secured to the ship deck and will sit alongside any other cars that are also being transported.
At the destination port, the car is then driven off the vessel. RoRo shipping is an affordable and common shipping option.
The other option is container shipping. This means that the car is stored inside a container which is then loaded onto the ship (there may be other cars within the car or just yours). This method is more expensive than RoRo shipping.
Tips For Shipping A Car To Hawaii
When handing your car over to the transportation company, you should ensure that there is one-quarter or less gas in the tank, per ship regulations. A quarter-full tank will still give the movers enough to work with.
Be sure to remove all personal belongings from the car and either remove or disable all car alarms. Due to Hawaii’s strict restrictions about what can be brought into the state, it is important to thoroughly clean and wash your vehicle before handing it over.
It is also essential that the car is completely operational and any issues, such as broken braking systems, cracked windshields, or poorly inflated tires, are addressed.
The Cost of Car Shipping to Hawaii
As this article highlights, the cost to ship a car to Hawaii depends on a range of factors and varies from case to case. The best and easiest way to calculate the cost of shipping a car to Hawaii is to contact the expert team at Luxy Transport.
We are committed to ensuring zero-stress vehicle transportation, even for long moves to Hawaii. When you put your car in our hands, you can focus on other parts of the exciting move. Click here to request a quote from our team and learn more about car shipping prices.