An estimated 4.5% of Hawaii’s population relocated from the mainland at one point or another. With such a welcoming culture and beautiful beaches, it’s no wonder that so many people want to move to Hawaii.
The only conundrum? Unlike moving from one state in the mainland to another, you can’t very well pack up your car and drive. You’ll have to make plans to have everything shipped to Hawaii, and that includes your car.
How can you find car shipping services that will ship your car to Hawaii? What should you expect from the process?
Read on to learn everything you need to know about shipping your car when you move to Hawaii.
Should I Bring My Car to Hawaii?
First, let’s talk about an important question. Should you bring your car to Hawaii, leave it on the mainland, or sell it before moving? This is a tough decision to make, but there are a few questions you should answer that will make the decision easier.
Does It Meet the Rules and Regulations?
Oftentimes, people who are moving to Hawaii forget to consider the state’s specific rules and regulations regarding motor vehicles. It’s possible that your car passes regulations on the mainland but won’t in Hawaii.
For example, if you’ve modified your car’s sound system so that the sound can be audibly heard from 30 feet away, your car won’t meet the state’s regulations. This is also the case if you’ve swapped out the manufacturer’s muffler with a louder one. The good news is that some of these modifications can be adjusted to meet Hawaii’s regulations, but you will need to take care of this before shipping your car.
Is It Suitable for Your New Home?
How do you intend to use your car in Hawaii? What kind of terrain will you be driving through and what are the roadways like in your new neighborhood?
Some Hawaiian cities and neighborhoods are quite walkable while others require a motor vehicle to get from place to place. Make sure that your car is suitable for your intended uses and won’t be too big or too small to handle the road.
How Do I Find the Right Car Shipping Service?
If you decide to ship your car to Hawaii, you’ll need to find the right car shipping service. Not all car shipping services are alike, and you’ll need to know what to look for. Let’s take a look at some of the factors to consider when selecting the right car shipping service for your needs.
Know What Your Needs Are
Do you want to provide your car with the utmost protection by opting for enclosed vehicle transport or save a bit of money by opting for open vehicle transport? Are you willing to drive your car to a California-based port or would you prefer that your shipping service pick it up from your home several states away? Knowing what specific services you want will help you to find the car shipping service that is right for you.
Verify Mainland to Hawaii Shipping
There are a lot of car shipping services out there that claim to ship cars all over the United States when they really mean the lower 48 (aka the mainland). Save yourself the time and effort of looking at specific services, reviews, and more by making sure that your service does, in fact, ship cars from the mainland to Hawaii.
FAQs About Shipping Cars to Hawaii
Understandably, most people have several questions about shipping a car to Hawaii, as they’ve never done it before! As car shipping experts, we’re here to put your mind at ease. Let’s take a look at some FAQs regarding shipping cars to Hawaii.
What Paperwork Will I Need?
The paperwork required to ship your car to Hawaii is fairly straightforward. All you will need is:
- your current title
- your current registration
- a notarized letter of authorization from anyone listed on the title who isn’t present, like a lien holder or spouse
Shipping a car back to the mainland from Hawaii is a bit more involved. In addition to the paperwork listed above, you would also need:
- the confirmation number for your car shipping service
- a government-issued ID (with photo)
- the keys for the vehicle as well as the remote for the alarm system
You should have these documents on hand when your car shipping service picks up your car from your home or from one of the California-based ports.
How Long Will It Take?
Understandably, you’ll want to know when your car will arrive in Hawaii, especially if you’re moving soon after the car shipping process begins. Your car shipping service will always give you a window or estimate, rather than a specific date, to account for potential weather events or other delays.
The shipping time will vary based on how far your car currently is from a port, as the relocation from your state to California could take anywhere from one day to two weeks. As for the time your car will spend on a cargo ship, this tends to last between one and two weeks.
How Much Will It Cost?
In order to get a sense of what you will pay, you will need to request a quote from your car shipping service. Fees vary based on the services you choose (ie enclosed vehicle transportation vs open) and whether or not you require mainland vehicle transportation. To determine what fits in your budget, contact your car shipping service and tell them more about what you’d like from them.
Bring Your Car When You Move to Hawaii
When you move to Hawaii, getting your car to your new home is a bit more complicated. However, with the right car shipping services, you’ll barely notice the difference!
Luxy Transport is proud to offer car shipping services all throughout the United States, including Hawaii and Alaska. Contact us to request your free quote today.