Shipping a car to Hawaii is one of the most requested shipping services here at American Auto Transport, so we are quite experienced with the process. In fact, we transport so many vehicles into and out of Hawaii that our shipping partner, Matson Navigation, has given us a pro-rating for all Hawaii moves done under our umbrella. Come take advantage of our experience and our benefits — call American Auto Transport today at (866) 327-7863 for more information right away!

Overview

Because American Auto Transport has a streamlined process for moving vehicles to and from Hawaii, we can save you time — do you really want to be dealing with getting your car to the port, struggling with all of the paperwork, and then hoping for space on the transport ship? Or would you rather let someone else handle the hassles of booking and processing on your behalf? Yeah, the latter is the way to go.

We have two ports in California — the Port of Long Beach and the Port of Oakland — as well as one in Seattle, Washington (WA) and another in Portland, Oregon (OR). In Hawaii there are four ports which we use — the Ports of Honolulu, Nawiliwili, Kahului, and Hilo — and all vehicles are moved through Honolulu on their way into the state from the mainland or in from the outer islands.

At American Auto Transport, we have a dedicated fleet of transport vehicles for the mainland, and use Matson for the overseas shipping portion of the transport. Because we ship exclusively through Matson, we have been able to arrange lower rates, which are exclusive, for the vehicles moved by us. In other words, we can save you a considerable amount of money.

At American Auto Transport, we will take care of having your car transport to Hawaii using the right port, keeping the delivery on time. But you’ll need to prepare the vehicle for when we pick it up from you. You’ll need to be sure that the auto:

  • Has less than a ¼ of a tank of gas
  • Has a working emergency brake
  • Is in operable condition
  • Has intact — meaning no breaks or cracks — windows and windshield
  • Has been thoroughly cleaned, inside and out

Additionally, you’ll need to remove all personal items from the vehicle — all that are allowed to remain during transport are the spare tire, a tire jack, and the Owner’s Manual. If you have a subwoofer, it needs to be securely bolted to the vehicle; the same is true if you have a roof rack. Also, car seats for infants and children can be in the vehicle, so long as they are properly secured with seat belts. Propane tanks and fire extinguishers are not allowed.

Reservation Information for Matson

If you want to take advantage of our exclusive, deeply discounted shipping rates, we’re going to need the following information in order to secure a shipping / booking reservation number:

  • Name and Contact Phone Number(s) for the Owner or Person Dropping Off the Vehicle
  • License Plate Number
  • Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
  • Vehicle Year
  • Vehicle Make
  • Vehicle Model
  • Vehicle Color

Port Paperwork Requirements

The different ports (on the mainland and in Hawaii) have different paperwork requirements.

Leaving Hawaii

  • Matson Booking Number
  • Photo Identification
  • Title or Lien Letter from Bank
  • Current Registration (from any state)

It is essential that the person dropping off the vehicle at the port must be listed on the Matson Booking Number. As well, if the person dropping off the vehicle is not the registered owner / person whose name is on the title, then a notarized letter, from the owner and written to Matson, giving permission for the vehicle to be dropped off for shipment must be supplied. Additionally, anyone who has an interest in the vehicle — the owner, or the bank holding the lien, must give written authority for the vehicle to be shipped from Hawaii to the mainland.

Leaving the Mainland

  • Matson Booking Number
  • Photo Identification
  • Document showing the VIN of the vehicle, such as an Insurance Card, Title, or Registration

Please note that the person dropping off the vehicle must be on the Matson Booking Number — otherwise the vehicle will not be dropped off at the port. In addition, a notarized letter from the vehicle owner to Matson must be provided, giving permission for the vehicle to be dropped off and shipped, if the legal owner is not the person delivering the vehicle to the port.

At American Auto Transport American Auto Transport, we have shipped many vehicles between Hawaii and the mainland. We take care of all of the stresses related to such an undertaking and provide an easy, affordable method for moving vehicles to and from the islands. For more information about Hawaii auto transport, go ahead and call us today at (866) 327-7863