How to Ship a Car to Alaska (2026 Guide)

• March 6, 2026

Last updated on March 7, 2026

Alaska is one of the trickiest vehicle shipping destinations in the US. Your car can’t just ride a carrier truck up there — at some point it has to go on a ship, a train, or both. Here’s what the process actually looks like and what it costs.

How Car Shipping to Alaska Works

There are two ways to get a vehicle to Alaska:

Option 1: Ocean freight (most common)

Your vehicle ships by sea from a West Coast port (usually Tacoma, WA) to an Alaska port (Anchorage, Fairbanks via rail from Whittier, or Juneau). This is how most vehicles get to Alaska.

Option 2: Drive-away through Canada

Some people drive the Alaska Highway (ALCAN) through British Columbia and Yukon Territory. It’s 2,200+ miles from Seattle to Anchorage. If you’re paying someone to drive it, the cost is similar to shipping — and your car gets 2,200 miles of wear on it.

For most people, ocean freight is the better option. Less risk, less wear, and your vehicle arrives the same way it left.

What It Costs

Ocean freight pricing (standard sedan, 2026):

Route	Estimated Cost	Transit Time
Tacoma → Anchorage	$1,200 – $1,600	5-7 days
Tacoma → Fairbanks (via Whittier + rail)	$1,400 – $1,800	7-10 days
Tacoma → Juneau	$1,300 – $1,700	3-5 days
East Coast → Alaska (ground + ocean)	$2,000 – $2,800	12-18 days total
Midwest → Alaska (ground + ocean)	$1,800 – $2,400	10-15 days total

What affects the price:

• Vehicle size (trucks and SUVs cost more than sedans)
• Origin location (if you’re not near Tacoma, ground transport to the port adds cost)
• Destination in Alaska (Anchorage is cheapest; remote locations add last-mile transport)
• Season (summer is peak — military PCS + tourists)

The Process, Step by Step

1. Get a Quote and Book

Contact us with your vehicle details, pickup location, and Alaska destination. We’ll quote both legs: ground transport to Tacoma (if needed) and ocean freight to Alaska.

2. Ground Transport to Tacoma (if applicable)

If you’re not in the Pacific Northwest, we arrange a carrier to pick up your vehicle and bring it to the Tacoma port. This is standard open or enclosed auto transport — same as any domestic move.

3. Port Processing

Your vehicle arrives at the Tacoma terminal, is checked in, and staged for loading onto the vessel. The main carriers for Alaska auto shipping are Matson and TOTE Maritime.

4. Ocean Transit

Your vehicle is loaded onto a vessel and shipped to your destination port. Transit times:

• Anchorage: 5-7 days
• Juneau: 3-5 days
• Whittier (gateway to Fairbanks): 5-7 days

5. Alaska Arrival

At the destination port, your vehicle is unloaded and available for pickup. For Fairbanks-bound vehicles arriving in Whittier, there’s an additional Alaska Railroad transport leg to Fairbanks (1-2 additional days).

6. Last-Mile Delivery (optional)

If you can’t pick up at the port, we can arrange local transport from the port to your door in Alaska. This adds cost but saves you a trip to the terminal.

Military PCS to Alaska

A significant portion of our Alaska shipments are military PCS moves. Major installations include:

• Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER) — Anchorage area (Air Force/Army)
• Fort Wainwright — Fairbanks (Army)
• Eielson Air Force Base — Fairbanks area
• Coast Guard stations — Juneau, Kodiak

Your first POV: Covered under your PCS contract. Go through your TMO/transportation office.

Your second vehicle, motorcycle, or boat: That’s a private shipment. Same ocean freight process, but you’re paying out of pocket.

PCS timing tip: Alaska PCS moves peak June through August. Vessel space fills up fast. Book your second vehicle as soon as you get orders — don’t wait until the last month. During peak season, you might wait 2-3 weeks for the next available sailing if you book late.

Alaska-Specific Challenges

Weather Delays

Alaska shipping is weather-dependent, especially in winter. The Gulf of Alaska is one of the roughest stretches of ocean in the North Pacific. Storms can delay vessel arrivals by 1-3 days. Build buffer time into your plans.

Limited Sailing Schedules

Unlike the lower 48, where carriers run daily, Alaska ocean freight operates on weekly (or less frequent) schedules. Miss a sailing and you’re waiting for the next one. This is why booking early matters more for Alaska than for any other destination.

Remote Destinations

If you’re headed somewhere beyond Anchorage, Fairbanks, or Juneau — say Kodiak, Bethel, or Nome — getting your vehicle there adds complexity. Some locations are accessible only by air or seasonal barge. We’ll work with you on the logistics, but expect longer timelines and higher costs for truly remote Alaska destinations.

Winter Prep

If your vehicle is shipping to Alaska in fall/winter, make sure it’s winter-ready before it goes:

• Antifreeze rated for -40°F or below
• Battery in good condition (cold kills weak batteries)
• Appropriate tires (some carriers won’t transport vehicles with summer-only tires to Alaska in winter)

Vehicle Prep Checklist

Same as any vehicle shipment, with Alaska-specific additions:

1. Remove personal items — ocean carriers are strict about this
2. Fuel at 1/4 tank — carrier requirement
3. Document condition — photos of all sides, roof, undercarriage, odometer
4. Disable aftermarket alarms
5. No hazardous materials or propane (this applies to RV shipments too)
6. Winter tires/chains — if shipping in winter, confirm with us whether to install before shipping or ship them separately
7. Battery tender or disconnect — if your vehicle will sit at a terminal waiting for a vessel, a weak battery can die in cold temps

Shipping FROM Alaska to the Lower 48

Leaving Alaska? The process reverses:

1. Drop your vehicle at the Alaska port terminal (Anchorage, Whittier, or Juneau)
2. Ocean transit to Tacoma (3-7 days)
3. Ground transport from Tacoma to your final destination (varies by location)

Military outbound PCS: Same rules — first POV through TMO, extra vehicles through us.

FAQ

How long does it take to ship a car to Alaska?

5-18 days total depending on your starting point. If you’re in the Pacific Northwest, 5-10 days. From the East Coast, 12-18 days (includes ground transport to Tacoma).

Can I ship a truck, SUV, or RV to Alaska?

Yes. Trucks and SUVs are the most common vehicles we ship to Alaska (it’s Alaska — makes sense). RVs and motorhomes can go too, though they’re priced by size and may require flat-rack ocean freight for oversize units.

Is there a weight limit?

Standard ocean vessel vehicle decks handle most passenger vehicles. Oversized vehicles (lifted trucks, heavy-duty equipment) may need special arrangements. Let us know the specifics upfront.

Can I pack items inside my car?

Ocean carriers generally don’t allow personal items inside vehicles. This is stricter than domestic ground transport. Remove everything before drop-off.

What about motorcycles?

Motorcycles ship to Alaska via crate or pallet on the same ocean vessels. Cost is typically $600 – $1,000 from Tacoma. Add ground transport to Tacoma if you’re not local.

Do I need to be present at pickup and delivery?

Not necessarily. Someone needs to drop the vehicle at the departure terminal and pick it up at the arrival terminal (or arrange last-mile delivery). This can be you, a friend, or a representative with proper authorization.

Get Your Alaska Quote

→ Get a Free Quote — enter your pickup location and Alaska destination for instant pricing.

Or call (682) 252-4654 — we ship to Alaska year-round and know the seasonal quirks.

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