Quick Answer: Shipping a car to or from Alaska typically costs $1,400-$3,200, depending on the route, vehicle, and season. Shipments from Washington to Alaska often cost $1,400-$2,400, while longer routes may cost more. Most deliveries take 7-20 days, with remote locations requiring additional time. Because Alaska shipments often combine overland and ocean transport, they can take longer than mainland routes.
ALASKA AT A GLANCE
Why Alaska Ships the Way It Does
Alaska vehicle shipping works differently from most mainland routes, and it’s important to understand how the process works before booking. There is no continuous interstate highway connecting Alaska to the rest of the country – the only road link is the Alaska Highway, a roughly 1,520-mile route through Canada connecting Dawson Creek, British Columbia to Delta Junction, Alaska. Because of that, most vehicle shipments to or from Alaska move by a combination of truck and ship rather than truck alone.
The standard route runs between Tacoma, Washington and Anchorage, Alaska, with vessels sailing twice weekly. Your vehicle is trucked to the Tacoma port (or you can drop it off there yourself for the lowest cost), loaded onto the vessel, and picked up at the Anchorage port on arrival – this is called port-to-port service. If you’d rather not handle the drop-off yourself, door-to-port service picks up your vehicle at your address within the contiguous United States and delivers it to the Alaska port of your choosing.
POPULAR ROUTES
Car Shipping Routes From Alaska
AutoHaul Direct customer reviews
Key Takeaways for Alaska Car Shipping
REAL ROUTE PRICING
Alaska Car Shipping Costs - Both Directions
These are common car shipping routes to and from Alaska.. Ranges reflect current market rates for open transport – your exact price depends on your specific pickup and delivery ZIP codes, vehicle, and timing.
WHY CHOOSE AUTOHAUL DIRECT
The AutoHaul Direct Difference
AutoHaul Direct picks up your vehicle at your address anywhere in the lower 48, trucks it to the Tacoma port, and it sails from there. Total cost includes both the inland trucking leg and the sailing itself – the farther your starting point is from Washington, the more the inland portion adds to the total.
Verified Carrier Screening
Before your car is assigned, we screen the carrier’s FMCSA authority and insurance certificate.
Clear Pricing
Your quote is free with no obligation. Charges begin only after you approve your carrier and sign your agreement.
One Contact From Quote to Delivery
The same person handles your quote, checks pickup arrangements and follows your shipment through delivery.
PRICING FACTORS
What Actually Moves Your Price
Distance is the baseline, but it’s not the whole story. Two Alaska shipments of similar distance can price differently based on:
Port-to-port vs. door-to-port
Transport type for the inland leg
Starting location
Vehicle size
Sailing schedule
Ways to Save on Alaska Car Shipping
CHOOSING YOUR TRANSPORT TYPE
Open or Enclosed for Your Shipment?
Open transport makes sense if:
you’re shipping a standard sedan, SUV, MPV, pickup, or motorcycle; you want the lower-cost option; and your vehicle does not need extra protection from weather, road debris, or outside exposure.
Enclosed transport makes sense if:
you’re shipping a classic, exotic, luxury, collector, custom, or high-value vehicle; the vehicle has low clearance, special paint, or restoration work; or protection matters more than cost.
Instant Quote within 20 Seconds
COMMON SITUATIONS
Who's Shipping To and From Alaska
People Relocating
Online Vehicle Buyers
Auto Auction Buyers
Car Dealerships
College Students
Military Families
How car shipping works
How to Ship a car
Request Your Quote
Share your pickup and delivery locations, vehicle details, and first available pickup date.
Confirm the Best Option
Select open or enclosed transport based on your vehicle and shipping needs.
Carrier Assigned and Dispatched
We verify the carrier’s FMCSA authority and insurance certificate, then confirm your pickup window.
Pickup and Bill of Lading
At pickup, the carrier inspects your vehicle and records its condition on the Bill of Lading before loading.
Delivery Inspection
At delivery, inspect your vehicle again and compare its condition with the Bill of Lading before signing.
Preparing Your Vehicle for Pickup
AFTER YOUR VEHICLE ARRIVES
Registering a Vehicle in Alaska
A few things worth knowing if your shipped vehicle needs Alaska registration:
SEASONAL CONSIDERATIONS
Alaska's Climate and Timing Your Shipment
Alaska’s climate can affect both the shipping process and long-term vehicle care:
Winter driving season (October through April) calls for studded tires or a 4WD vehicle on much of Alaska’s road network – a real, practical requirement once your vehicle arrives, not just a recommendation.
Frost heaves are a genuine road hazard on Alaska’s highways, caused by permafrost and seasonal freeze-thaw cycles – worth knowing if you’ll be driving your vehicle any distance after it arrives.
Limited road network: Alaska has roughly 15,000+ miles of public roads total, and significant stretches are unpaved – a vehicle shipped to a remote community may need additional local transport beyond the Anchorage port.
CITIES WE SERVE
Alaska Auto Transport Across Major Cities
AutoHaul Direct arranges vehicle shipping in major Alaska cities, suburbs, and surrounding areas. Exact pickup and delivery options depend on safe carrier access, route availability, vehicle type, and transport timing.
FAQ
Alaska Car Shipping FAQs
Typically $2,000 to $3,000 for the Washington-to-Alaska sailing, depending on where your vehicle starts and whether you choose port-to-port or door-to-port service.