Car shipping in Wasilla, Alaska

• Shipping to
• Shipping from
• Cost
• Timing
• Who we help
• Areas served
• Buying out of state
• Commuters
• Open or enclosed
• Vehicle prep
• After arrival
• FAQ

Route

Truck to Puget Sound, ship to Anchorage, truck to the Valley

Last leg

About 45 miles by road

Collecting your vehicle

Delivered, or picked up at the port

Local line

(564) 222-4199

The Matanuska-Susitna Valley is the fastest-growing part of Alaska, and Wasilla is its largest city. Thousands of people here commute to Anchorage, and a pickup is the vehicle of choice. If you are moving to the Valley, heading out, or bringing home a truck you found in the lower 48, here is how car shipping to Wasilla works.

Shipping a car to Wasilla

A vehicle bound for Wasilla follows the same route as one bound for Anchorage, with a short drive added at the end. A licensed, insured carrier collects it at your address in the lower 48 and trucks it to port on Puget Sound, usually Tacoma. It sails to Anchorage, which takes a few days.

From the port, a carrier takes it north on the Glenn Highway and then the Parks Highway into the Valley. The drive is about 45 miles and usually takes under an hour when the roads are clear. The driver delivers to your address, and you look the vehicle over together before you sign for it.

Some Valley customers prefer to collect the vehicle at the port in Anchorage and drive it home themselves. That works too. Tell us which you want when you book, or ask us to price both.

Shipping a car from Wasilla to the lower 48

Going the other way, a carrier picks the vehicle up at your address in the Valley and takes it to the port in Anchorage. It sails to Washington, and a second carrier trucks it from the dock to any address in the lower 48.

If you are selling a vehicle to an out-of-state buyer, we can collect it from you and deliver it to them. Give us both addresses and a phone number for the buyer, and we coordinate the delivery at the far end.

What it costs to ship a car to or from Wasilla

A Wasilla quote is close to an Anchorage quote, with the Valley leg added. Here is what moves the price:

• Distance to the port in the lower 48. The road leg to Puget Sound is the part that varies most. A vehicle from Idaho costs less to get to the dock than one from Tennessee.
• Vehicle size. The ocean leg is priced by size. Crew-cab trucks, long beds and duallies cost more than cars, and lift kits or oversized tires change the measurements.
• Door delivery or port pickup. Delivery to the Valley adds a short road leg. Collecting the vehicle in Anchorage yourself removes it.
• Open or enclosed transport. Open carriers are the standard choice on the road. Enclosed trailers cost more and suit collector and high-value vehicles.
• Timing. A flexible pickup window is easier to match with a carrier and a sailing than a single date.

The quote form on this page gives you one all-in price for the whole route, including the Valley leg. It is free, and nothing is added at delivery.

How long Wasilla car shipping takes

Timing for Wasilla is almost the same as for Anchorage. The total is the drive to Puget Sound, the wait for the next sailing, a few days at sea, and the short run up to the Valley after the ship lands.

For most customers the first leg is the long one. A vehicle from the West Coast reaches the dock quickly. One from the Southeast has the whole country to cross. We give you an estimated delivery window when you book and keep you posted as the vehicle moves. If you need it by a certain date, tell us at the start.

Who ships with us in Wasilla

• Families moving to the ValleyMore house and more land for the money bring people to Wasilla and Palmer every year.
• Truck ownersPickups are most of what we move here. Call us about anything lifted, dually or extra long.
• Out-of-state buyersFound the right truck at a dealer or auction in the lower 48? We collect it and bring it to your driveway.
• Military familiesSome families assigned to JBER choose to live in the Valley. We plan shipments around report dates.

Areas we serve around Wasilla

From our Wasilla location on West Trevett Circle we arrange pickups and deliveries across the Mat-Su Borough:

• Wasilla
• Palmer
• Knik-Fairview
• Meadow Lakes
• Big Lake
• Houston
• Willow
• Butte
• Sutton
• Lazy Mountain

A lot of Valley homes sit at the end of gravel roads or long private driveways. A loaded car carrier needs a firm surface and room to turn, so on some deliveries the driver will ask to meet you at the nearest paved road or parking lot. During spring breakup, when side roads go soft, that is more common. We tell you in advance when we expect it.

Talkeetna and the upper Susitna Valley are farther up the Parks Highway. Call the Wasilla line and we will quote them. For deliveries in town, see our Anchorage location.

Buying a truck in the lower 48 and shipping it to the Valley

Plenty of Valley residents find the truck they want outside Alaska, where there are more to choose from. Shipping it home is straightforward once the sale is agreed. Send us the seller’s address and phone number, whether that is a dealership, a private owner or an auction yard, and we arrange the pickup with them directly. You do not have to fly down and drive it back.

Two things make it go smoothly. First, give us the exact configuration: cab, bed length, and any lift or oversized tires, because the ocean leg is priced by size. Second, ask the seller to send the title and bill of sale to you separately rather than leaving them in the glovebox. You will need them to register the truck in Alaska.

Planning around your commute

Many Valley households depend on a vehicle every day to get to work in Anchorage. If you are shipping your only car or truck, tell us. We schedule the pickup as late as your move allows and give you a delivery window you can plan a rental or a ride around, so you are without a vehicle for as short a time as possible.

Open or enclosed transport for Wasilla

Open carriers move most of what we ship to the Valley, and they are the right choice for work trucks, family SUVs and daily drivers. Enclosed trailers cost more and make sense for a show truck, a classic, or a new vehicle you want delivered spotless. The choice applies to the road legs, and you can price both options in the quote form.

Getting your vehicle ready for Wasilla

Send the vehicle empty, with about a quarter tank of fuel, a working key and the alarm off. Wash it and take dated photos first. Ocean carriers restrict personal items, and anything left inside is not covered by cargo insurance. The complete list is in our preparation checklist.

Winters in the Valley often run colder than in Anchorage, and the Palmer side is known for strong winds. If your vehicle arrives between fall and spring, have winter tires ready. Studded tires are legal in the Mat-Su from September 16 through April 30. A block heater is worth fitting for the cold snaps, and a vehicle from a warm state should have its coolant and battery checked before its first hard freeze.

After your vehicle arrives

Once the vehicle is here, registration comes next. Anyone establishing residency or taking a job in Alaska has to apply to the Division of Motor Vehicles within 10 days. Visitors may drive on a current out-of-state registration for up to 60 days, and active-duty military stationed in Alaska can keep their home-state registration while it stays valid. Take your current registration and, if you have it, the title. Rules change, so confirm the details with the Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles before you go.

Wasilla car shipping FAQ