Moving to Hawaii: Should I Ship My Car or Buy a New One?
When you first tell people that you’re moving to Hawaii, most people will congratulate you on your new island lifestyle. Some aspects of the move are pretty obvious. You are going to have to pack up and ship your belongings to the island. However, some items aren’t as clear cut. What should you do about your car? Is it worth shipping it over, or should you buy a new one?
The average cost to ship a car from the mainland to Hawaii costs is $1,497. If your car is worth less than $1,400, it’s not worthwhile to ship it as the cost of shipping will be greater. However, if your car is worth at least $10,000 and you are staying in Hawaii long-term, shipping it makes sense.
Before you write off the idea of taking your car with you, it’s best to learn what your options are.
Is Your Car In Good Condition?
Moving to a new place is exciting, and so is buying a new car. However, it often doesn’t make sense to sell your car if you have one that’s reliable. A car that needs a lot of repairs will continue to make trouble when it gets to Hawaii.
Take stock of your car’s current look. Does it look like its ball joints are about to snap? Is its transmission okay? What about its motor and emissions system? If you have major repairs to do, it may not make sense to ship it. Cars can get exposed to sea air if you do containerless shipping. This can worsen your problems.
How Long Are You Staying In Hawaii?
The length of your stay also can make for a major factor. If you are going to be moving elsewhere after three to six months, it makes more sense to take a break from driving and just store your car on the mainland. Otherwise, you may be out of thousands of dollars.
In an ideal world, the best solution is to ship your car to Hawaii because you intend to stay several years. If you want to pare it down to a daily cost, divide the price quote by the number of days that you’re staying on the islands. It can help you figure out if it’s cheaper and sensible for your wallet.
How Much Does It Cost To Ship A Car To Hawaii?
The price to ship a car to Hawaii can vary greatly depending on the time that you ship it as well as the original location of the car. On average, you should expect to pay at least $1,400 per car that you want to have shipped.
If you live on the coast near a major port, you may be able to pay less. However, the price of shipping can fluctuate greatly depending on the car carrier’s cost. It’s best to get car shipping quotes to gauge the cost first. With that said, there are certain factors that can greatly reduce your shipping charges.
These include:
- Booking your shipping ahead of time. The earlier you book your shipment, the better it is to lock stuff down at a discount. We suggest booking at least a month ahead of time.
- Driving your car to a major port city. For example, driving to Miami or a port in SoCal can help reduce costs. Even living in these cities can reduce your price by a significant amount.
- Booking during a slow time of the year. Winter tends to be a slower time for moves, so services often end up at a discount.
- Choosing a shipping process that tends to be cheaper. Container shipping is the cheapest option. Another option is to get it shipped on a car carrier that takes multiple cars to Hawaii on the same open carrier.
What’s The Process Of Shipping A Car To Hawaii?
Admittedly, shipping a car to Hawaii isn’t that big of a process. Most car shipping companies make a point of reducing the headaches that could come with it.
There are several ways to do it:
- Pickup/Drop Off. You can hire a car shipping company to pick up your car from your location of choice. From there, they will drive it to the shipping center, load it on a boat via a crane, and send it to the islands.
- RORO. This stands for Roll-On, Roll-Off. With this option, you’ll have to send your car to a port where workers will roll it onto the ramp where your shipper needs it to be on the deck. Once you drop off your car, it’ll be shipped to Hawaii. Shippers will be the ones to roll it off, too. You just have to pick the car up from the port—and that’s if the service doesn’t drive it to your location.
- Container Shipping. This involves driving a car into a storage container with your other stuff, then shipping it via a boat. Container shipping is better for your car since it protects it against the elements.Â
When you choose a car shipping company, they will help walk you through the process. This includes telling you what paperwork to bring with you, what you need to pick up the car, and how to pick it up once it actually reaches Hawaii.
How Much Is Your Car Worth?
One thing that can tell you volumes about whether it’s worth shipping a car is the value. It makes no sense to ship a car that costs less than your shipping price. On average, that means that you shouldn’t ship a car that’s under $1,500.
Most cars are worth more than that. So generally speaking, you probably should consider shipping as a viable option. If you are ready to sell your car for one reason or another, it’s best done stateside. This prevents you from losing money on shipping a car, and helps maximize the profit from your sale.
Should You Lease Your Car Before Moving to Hawaii?
Leasing a car is the best decision for most people who have a short-term stay, but you don’t want to do this before you move to another state. In many cases, the lease agreement won’t allow you to move the car out of state—at least, not without an amendment or hefty fees.
If you want to lease your next car, wait until after you reach Hawaii to check out dealership lots. Your wallet and sanity will thank you.
Should You Buy a New Car Before Moving to Hawaii?
Much like when you lease a car, buying a new car before you move to Hawaii can bring its own headaches to the table. With that said, some companies will be able to pull strings and get you to pick up the car from another dealership that’s in Hawaii—but only if the car itself is new.
On a similar note, you may have to tell your lender if you have to move out of state after signing a new car loan. This ensures that you will be able to keep records up to date.
Buying a New Car vs. Buying a Used Car
Believe it or not, we live in strange times. Buying a new car is often cheaper than buying a used car. Here’s what you need to take into account if you want to buy a car in Hawaii:
- Prices may be vastly different than what you are used to. Used cars are hard to come by in Hawaii, primarily due to the shipping charges. You may find that it’s easier to buy new simply because of the discounts that come with it.
- The prices of used cars have become higher since the pandemic. Bargain hunters have started to buy used cars because they have a repuation for being cheaper. Dealers have now started to jack up prices to get a payraise.
- The loan terms are often more forgiving with new cars. You can usually get similar loan payments to used cars.
Documents Required When Buying A Car In Hawaii
If you want to buy a car in Hawaii, then you are going to have to realize that it’s not just about plunking cash on the counter and asking for a car. You need documentation. Here’s what to bring:
- Your driver’s license
- Your car insurance (if you have insurance on your old car still)
Your car dealer will provide the following:
- The Bill of Sale
- The Title
- Updated Safety Inspection
- A Registration Stopper Check
What Should You Know About Buying A Car In Hawaii?
Buying a car in Hawaii also requires the buyer to go to the DMV to register their car. This ensures that you get the title and registration properly cleared. A good dealer will also help you with this aspect.
Conclusion: Should You Ship Your Car to Hawaii?
In most cases, shipping a car to Hawaii is a matter that seems expensive at first, but really isn’t actually that bad. In the vast majority of cases, people actually save lots of money by shipping their cars to Hawaii. Unless you are only moving there for a month or a similarly short period of time, it makes sense to ship your car over.
Besides, the change of scenery can be a bit shocking for new Hawaiians. Having stuff that reminds you of the mainland can make the transition to islander a lot easier.
Ossiana Tepfenhart is an expert writer, focusing on interior design and general home tips. Writing is her life, and it's what she does best. Her interests include art and real estate investments.
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