Florida to Hawaii Motorcycle Shipping

Florida to Hawaii Motorcycle Shipping Rates by Bike Type

Ocean freight to the islands is not priced by the mile, so the table lists broker ranges and says to ask wherever no solid figure turned up. One broker page gives about $900 to $1,800 for Hawaii overall, around $1,000 to $1,500 for Honolulu, $700 to $1,500 for Hilo and $800 to $2,200 for Maui. A large ocean carrier lists motorcycles starting at $660, with $100 more if the bike needs a shipping skid.

These figures come from different kinds of service, so they will not line up exactly. Port to port means you deliver the bike to one terminal and pick it up at the other. Door service adds a truck at your address. From Florida the drive to a California port is long, and a port-to-port price does not cover it. Ask every carrier what is included.

Hard cases and a trunk on a heavy bike usually mean $50 to $100 more. A bike with a sidecar, or a trike, tends to add $150 to $300. Let the carrier know before booking if the bike will not start.

Going on to a neighbor island adds another sailing and more fees. Check the quote to see who takes care of that final hop. Our shipping rates page and our money-saving tips article cover ways to lower the total.

Truck to California, Then the Pacific

Think of this move in three stages. A truck collects the bike in Florida and drives it to a California port, which is by far the longest part of the trip. A ship then crosses the Pacific to Honolulu, Kahului or Hilo. Last, the bike is picked up at the island terminal, or brought to your door if you paid for door service. The sailing is quick at about 5 to 7 days, but terminal handling, the wait for a departure and unloading push the sea and port time to the 10 to 21 days broker pages mention.

Not every ship line takes motorcycles, and that affects the plan. Matson states on its FAQ page that it does not ship motorcycles and refers riders to a freight forwarder. Pasha Hawaii does accept them, though its terminal page listed San Diego as the only terminal taking motorcycles, not Los Angeles or Oakland. Carriers in our network know which terminal and sailing fit your bike, so check with them before you pick a drop-off.

Drop-off at the terminal is by appointment. The line expects a clean bike, with attention to the engine, tires, fender wells and underside, and one line warns it will refuse a bike that does not pass USDA cleaning standards. Sand and grime from Florida roads are a common problem, so give yourself a day or two to wash it well.

You register the bike once it lands. Hawaii handles registration through its counties rather than a state DMV. For a bike from another state, Hawaii County asks for a current Hawaii safety inspection, the most recent out-of-state registration and a bill of lading or shipping receipt, along with Form G-27 for newer model years. Keep every shipping document, and check the county links at the bottom of this page.

How Your Motorcycle Is Loaded and Secured for the Trip

A good driver loads a motorcycle upright. The front wheel goes into a chock so it can't move, and soft straps go around solid points like the frame or the lower triple clamp. The straps are tightened enough to hold the bike but not so much that they bottom out the forks. Hooks stay off your bars, levers and paint.

An island-bound bike spends days on a truck and more days at sea, so the way it is tied down matters. Open and skid-mounted service are the usual choices, and a crate costs more but protects against rough handling. Keep an eye on the loading process and write down the odometer reading on the form. Hold on to the report and photos until the bike is safely parked in Hawaii.