Shipping a Car to Alaska
Alaska moves almost entirely by water. Your car trucks to the Puget Sound ports in Washington State, sails north to Anchorage, and trucks onward if the destination is inland. We handle the whole chain, trucking under Royal Port and the ocean leg through our FMC licensed sister company.
The route
Sailings run from the Seattle-Tacoma area to Anchorage on a regular weekly rhythm, with ocean transit around a week. The overland alternative, trucking the Alcan Highway through Canada, exists on paper but involves an international border crossing and brutal miles, so commercial moves overwhelmingly sail. Destinations beyond Anchorage, Fairbanks, the Kenai, add a final truck leg on Alaska roads.
Season matters more here
Winter does not stop the sailings, but it slows everything around them: pickup trucking through northern states, port operations in storms, and the inland leg on winter roads. If you can choose, the late spring through early fall window is the smooth season. Either way, build a little slack into date-critical moves.
Port rules, same as the other islands that are not islands
Empty car, quarter tank or less, no personal items, honest condition inspection at the pier. The full routine is in our preparation guide. Trucks and lifted rigs, half of what Alaska drives, follow the same size rules as our pickup truck guide.
Pricing it
Price the truck leg to Washington instantly in our calculator, then email us the vehicle and Alaska destination for the complete number with the sailing included. Domestic move, no customs, you register with the Alaska DMV on arrival.
Alaska shipping questions
How much does it cost to ship a car to Alaska?
The truck leg to the Puget Sound ports plus the sailing to Anchorage set the total, so your starting point matters most. Price the truck leg in our calculator and email us for the complete number.
What is the cheapest way to ship a car to Alaska?
Get the car to the Seattle-Tacoma area as cheaply as possible, ideally with a flexible window, and sail from there. The ocean leg itself is the steady part of the price.
How long does it take to ship a car to Alaska?
Roughly a week on the water from Washington to Anchorage, plus the truck legs on each end. Door to door from the East Coast, plan two to three weeks.
Can you ship a car to Fairbanks or the Kenai Peninsula?
Yes, the car sails to Anchorage and trucks onward on Alaska roads. Tell us the final destination and the quote covers the whole chain.
Can I drive my car to Alaska instead of shipping?
You can, the Alcan is a legendary drive, but it is thousands of hard miles and an international border crossing each way. For a car that just needs to arrive, the sailing wins on cost, wear, and time.
Does winter stop car shipping to Alaska?
Sailings run year round, but winter slows the trucking around them and the inland legs. Late spring through early fall is the smooth window if your dates are flexible.
Can I pack my stuff in the car for the Alaska sailing?
No, the ocean carrier requires an empty vehicle and contents are not insured. Quarter tank or less of fuel, ship belongings separately.
Do I pay any import tax shipping a car to Alaska?
No, it is a domestic move with no customs. You register the vehicle with the Alaska DMV after arrival like any interstate relocation.
Can you ship trucks and lifted rigs to Alaska?
Yes, pickups are half of what Alaska drives. Standard trucks price normally, and serious lifts need the height declared at booking, details in our pickup truck guide.
Is my car insured on the way to Alaska?
The trucking legs carry carrier cargo insurance and the ocean leg has its own coverage terms provided at booking. Photograph the car before handoff.
Can I ship a car from Alaska back to the lower 48?
Yes, the same chain runs in reverse, Anchorage sailing to Washington and trucking onward to any state. Email us the route for the full number.