Car Shipping: What to Expect?

Shipping car from Hawaii to mainland or vice versa may sound like a daunting task. However, it is not an impossible feat, and there are several things that you can do to make things more convenient for you.

To know about what to expect and what to do when shipping car from Hawaii to mainland, continue reading below.

What to Expect?

Hawaii is composed of several islands detached from the mainland United States. This makes the idea of a ship car to Hawaii a little more complicated. To make things easier, you must educate yourself with the right knowledge regarding what to expect during the process.

Here are the important things that you should know about when shipping your car to/or from Hawaii:

• Booking Your Shipment

The first step in shipping your car is to figure out the transport company to work with and make a booking. When making your booking, you need to provide the company with basic info about your car. These include the brand, model, year, and other relevant modifications about it.

You will also need to provide information about when the vehicle will be collected and what type of transport service you will use. You can choose from services such as door-to-port, port-to-door, or port-to-port.

The information that will be collected depends on the car transport company of your choice. However, it is important to make sure to provide accurate information from the get-go. This will enable you to request accurate quotes that will give you a better idea about the overall cost of the car shipping for your unit.

• Car Preparation

Once you have chosen a car transport service company and confirmed a booking, the next thing that you have to do is prepare your vehicle for transport. You need to clean your car. Make sure that there are no personal belongings left inside. The Department of Transport will be inspecting each car properly, so it is best to prepare well to avoid delays later on.

You also need to prepare the documents that will prove that you are the vehicle’s owner. This will include the car registration under your name or deeds of sale. You can check with the car moving company for the complete list of documentation you need to provide ahead of time.

• Collection & Transportation

Your vehicle will be picked up on the agreed-upon date and once you have provided all the required documentation. The collection will either be done by the representative of the company who will go to your location. You can also opt to drop it off at their office.

During the collection, expect that your car will be thoroughly assessed. The company will detail the condition of the car and provide you with a copy of the inspection report. You will also receive a bill of lading during this period, which will serve as a receipt and the service’s terms & conditions.

After you are provided with the details mentioned above, your car will be shipped to its destination. It is entirely normal not to hear anything from the company during the transportation process. However, if they encounter difficulties or problems with your car, you will surely be contacted immediately.

You will be able to track the location of your vehicle using the bill of lading number. You can ask the company to track it for you while other companies have automated trackers that will allow you to view the transportation progress in real-time, similar to other parcels on delivery.

• Delivery Duration

Car shipping to Hawaii takes more time compared to other parts of the United States. This is because the distance is farther and the vehicle requires to be transported using multiple modes of transportation. Due to this, the total delivery duration might take around 1 to 3 weeks, depending on the pick-up point.

Port-to-port shipping is typically the quickest car shipping option. However, the delivery duration is also subject to the car shipping company’s availability that you will choose.

• Cost

There are several factors that will affect your car shipping to Hawaii. The most common factors include the pick-up point and the type of delivery service that you wish to avail.

Your car’s size will also be a vital determining factor for the overall cost. The larger it is, the more expensive it will be. Plus, if you opt to avail of an enclosed car carrier, expect that you will also be paying for more.

Final Words

Now that you know what to expect in the whole process of shipping your car, you will be able to make better decisions. This will help you find the best car shipping company and ensure that your vehicle is delivered correctly and on time.