Ship Car from Iowa to Hawaii

You should consider hiring American Auto Transport to move your vehicle between Hawaii and Iowa; we’ll take care of getting your truck, car, or van to the right port at the right time, and driving it or transporting it to your chosen destination once the shipping is complete. At American Auto Transport, we take the hassle out of transporting vehicles, with a seamless, stress-less process.

We work exclusively with Matson to ship vehicles to and from Hawaii; Matson offers vehicle pick-up/delivery at two California ports: the Port of Long Beach and the Port of Oakland, and through four ports in Hawaii: the Ports of Honolulu, Nawiliwili, Kahului, and Hilo. Because we work only with Matson, and ship cars, trucks, and vans in large quantities, we are able to secure prices much lower than those available to the general public – one more reason to transport your vehicle with us!

American Auto Transport will arrange the needed transportation to get your vehicle safely to the designated port and will deliver the vehicle to your selected destination, securely and without a lot of needless hassle on your end.

Vehicle Preparation

To ship your vehicle via Matson, you will need to prepare your vehicle beforehand. Before American Auto Transport picks up your vehicle, you will need to make sure that your truck, car, or van:

• Is in operable condition
• Has a working emergency brake
• Has no cracks or breaks in the windshield and windows
• Has been thoroughly cleaned – inside and out
• Contains less than 1/4 of a tank of gas

You will need to remove any personal items from the vehicle, including the passenger compartment and the trunk. The only items that are allowed to remain in the car or truck are the spare tire, tire jack, and Owner’s Manual. Items like subwoofers, which are installed in the trunk, need to be securely bolted to the vehicle; the same goes for a roof rack. Infants and children’s car seats may also be left in the truck or car, but they must be properly secured/buckled into place. You cannot ship propane tanks or fire extinguishers.

Reservation Information for Matson

The following information is required for us to secure a shipping reservation number through Matson; there are no exceptions:

• Vehicle Year, Make, Model, and Color
• Vehicle Identification Number / VIN
• License Plate Number
• The Name and Contact Number(s) of the Owner and Person who will be dropping off the vehicle at the port

Port Requirements

There are different paperwork requirements for vehicles leaving the mainland and vehicles leaving Hawaii. Be sure to pay attention to which requirements apply to your situation.

Shipping from the Mainland

If you are shipping a vehicle from the mainland to Hawaii, the following information is required:

• The Matson Shipping / Booking Number
• Government-Issued Photo Identification
• Title, Registration, or Insurance Card showing the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) of the vehicle being shipped

The person listed on the Matson Shipping / Booking Number form must be the same person dropping off the vehicle at the port. Additionally, if the person dropping off the vehicle is not the vehicle’s legal owner / the person on the title document, they must provide Matson with a notarized letter from the owner permitting them to drop off the vehicle with Matson for shipping to Hawaii.

Shipping from Hawaii

If you are shipping a car, truck, or van from Hawaii to the mainland, and then onto Iowa, you will need to provide the following information when dropping off the vehicle at the port, or having an American Auto Transport representative drop it off on your behalf:

• The Matson Shipping / Booking Number
• Government-Issued Photo Identification
• Vehicle Title or a Lien Letter from the Lien-holder
• Current Registration Form (regardless of issuing state)

The person dropping off the vehicle at the port must be the person listed on the Matson Shipping / Booking Number form; if not, the vehicle will not be allowed on the ship. Also, if the vehicle’s legal owner is not the person dropping off the car or truck, the owner must provide Matson with a notarized letter permitting that individual to leave the vehicle at the port for shipping. Additionally, anyone who has a legal interest in the vehicle, including the institution that holds the lien on the title, must provide written permission to ship the car, truck, or van from Hawaii to the mainland.

Ports and Shipping Information

From Hawaii

• All vehicles being shipped from Hawaii to the mainland are transported by barge from the outer islands to the Port of Honolulu
• Shipping from the Port of Honolulu to the Port of Long Beach: The ship leaves every Saturday
• Shipping from the Port of Honolulu to the Port of Oakland: The ship leaves every Thursday
• The time of transit from Hawaii to the mainland is usually between 17 and 21 days
• Matson will notify American Auto Transport once the vehicle has arrived on the mainland; American Auto Transport will then arrange to have the vehicle picked up and transported to Iowa.

From the Mainland

• Shipping from the Port of Long Beach: The ship leaves every Saturday
• Shipping from the Port of Oakland: The ship leaves every Thursday
• The time of transit from the mainland to Hawaii is usually between 10 and 12 days
• Once the vehicle has arrived in Hawaii, at the destination port, an American Auto Transport representative will pick up and deliver the vehicle to the agreed-upon location.

At American Auto Transport, we are proud to have safely and securely transported many vehicles between Iowa and Hawaii; our transport service is easy to use, friendly, and professional, with many repeat customers. We offer free, no-obligation quotes on Hawaii to Iowa auto transport. Contact us today to get your INSTANT car shipping quote.