How shipping a car to Alaska works
Part road, part sea, one booking. Here is each leg of the trip, what you do, and what we handle.
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- Pickup at your addressAnywhere in the lower 48, or on the road system in Alaska.
- Truck and ship in one bookingWe arrange every leg and the handoff at the port.
- Port pickup or deliveryCollect in Anchorage, or have it trucked to you.
The route north, in six steps
Each step shows who does the work. Most of it is on our side.
- Step 1You
Get your price
Enter your pickup and delivery ZIP codes, your vehicle, and when you want it picked up. The quote is free and commits you to nothing.
- Step 2You and us
Book and set your pickup window
When you are ready, book from your quote or by phone. We confirm your pickup window and tell you what paperwork your sailing needs.
- Step 3You and the driver
Pickup at your address
A licensed, insured carrier comes to you. You and the driver walk around the vehicle and note its condition before it is loaded.
- Step 4We handle it
Truck to the port
The carrier hauls the vehicle to port on Puget Sound, usually Tacoma. For most customers this is the longest leg, and it depends on where the vehicle starts.
- Step 5We handle it
Sail to Anchorage
The vehicle goes north by ship. The sailing itself is the short part: a few days on the water.
- Step 6You
Delivery in Alaska
Collect the vehicle at the port in Anchorage, or have it trucked on to Fairbanks, the Mat-Su Valley or the Kenai Peninsula. Check it against the pickup notes before you sign for it.
Two legs by road, one by sea
No truck drives the whole way. The vehicle changes hands at the port, and that handoff is the part we plan most carefully.
- Your address to Puget SoundA car carrier collects the vehicle and hauls it to the dock, usually in Tacoma.
- Puget Sound to AnchorageIt sails across the Gulf of Alaska and up Cook Inlet. Vehicles for Juneau take a separate route through the Inside Passage.
Leaving Alaska? It is the same route in reverse. Put your Alaska ZIP code in the pickup box of the quote form and the destination ZIP in the delivery box.
Getting your vehicle ready
Eight small jobs that prevent delays at pickup and at the port.
Empty it out
Ocean carriers restrict personal items, and anything left inside is not covered by cargo insurance.
A quarter tank of fuel
Enough to drive on and off the truck and the ship, and not much more.
Wash it, then photograph it
A clean vehicle makes its condition easy to record at pickup and at delivery.
A working key, alarm off
Hand over one key that works and switch off any alarm before the driver arrives.
Secure loose accessories
Remove or tie down racks, covers, antennas and anything else that could work loose.
Tell us what is non-standard
A lift kit, oversized tires or a vehicle that does not run all change how it is handled and priced.
Check the battery and tires
The vehicle is driven on and off at each stage, so it needs to start and roll.
ID and registration
Keep your photo ID and the registration or title handy. We tell you exactly what your sailing requires.
What decides the timing
We give you an estimated window when you book and keep you updated along the way.
Distance to the port
A vehicle starting near Seattle has a short drive to the dock. One starting in Florida has the whole country to cross first.
The sailing schedule
Ships leave on set days, so the vehicle waits at the port for the next sailing with space.
Where it is going
Anchorage is quickest because the ship lands there. Fairbanks, the Mat-Su and the Kenai add a road leg.
How soon you book
The more notice we have, the easier it is to line the truck up with the sailing you want.
Ready to see your price?
It takes about 30 seconds, and it is free.
Common questions about the process
How long does the whole trip take?
The sailing takes a few days. Most of the time goes to trucking the vehicle to port and catching the next sailing, so the total depends mainly on how far it starts from Washington.
Do I have to be there at pickup and delivery?
You or someone you trust should be there both times, to hand over the key and to check the vehicle against the condition notes.
Can I leave things in the vehicle?
Plan on shipping it empty. Ocean carriers restrict personal items, and anything left inside is not covered by cargo insurance.
Shipping to or from Alaska? See your price first.
A free quote takes about 30 seconds. Or call and talk the route through with a specialist.