Car Shipping: Alaska to Los Angeles

Whether you just purchased a vehicle in Alaska, are moving from the state, or are an auto dealer that needs car shipping services from Alaska to Los Angeles, you’ve come to the right place. At Ship Vehicles, we specialize in auto shipment from the state of Alaska to any of the lower 48 states, including California.

After all, when you need to ship a car from Alaska to Los Angeles, you need auto shipping experts that you can rely on. With our extensive network of over 14,000 open and enclosed auto carriers across the nation, we can offer a secure and dependable way to transport your vehicle from Alaska to Los Angeles. We pride ourselves in providing year-round professional car shipping services from Alaska to Los Angeles, with a strong emphasis on ensuring that our customers are satisfied from start to finish.

Car Shipping from the State of Alaska

Alaska has a very organized network of railways, roadways, and airways. In addition to this infrastructure, Alaska can also be accessed through waterways. The quickest, and most convenient way to ship to or from the state of Alaska is to ship the vehicle by boat via shipping ports. Transporting a car from Alaska to Los Angeles is considered port-to-door shipping. There are no ground shipping services in Alaska, meaning you will be responsible for getting your car to the dedicated port.

While Anchorage is considered to be the busiest and most popular auto shipping port in Alaska, ports in Fairbanks and Juneau are two other common options for shipping a vehicle out of Alaska. Once you deliver your car to the port in Alaska, it will be loaded on the ship and begin its overseas journey to Los Angeles. In regards to your overseas auto shipment from Alaska, you have the following options for shipping methods:

• Roll-on, Roll-off (RoRo) Shipping: The RoRo method is the cheapest way to ship your car from Alaska to the mainland. It involves the car being driven onto the ship, as if the deck was a massive parking lot. Your vehicle is then immobilized and secured to the deck using a combination of clamps, straps, and other fixing methods. With this shipping option, you are generally not permitted to have any extra items in the vehicle. While it is the cheapest option for shipping out of the state of Alaska, roll-on/roll-off transport leaves your car exposed to the weather and elements along its route.
• Container Shipping: Although container auto shipping is as common as RoRo, it is the ideal choice for those that want additional protection for their vehicle. During your car’s transport from Alaska, it will be 100% protected inside a metal container as it makes its journey across the ocean. Although container shipping costs much more than roll-on/roll-off, you can help cut down on the transpacific shipping costs by choosing a shared container with another vehicle, or multiple.

Car Shipping from Alaska to Los Angeles

When you’re shipping a car from Alaska to Los Angeles, your vehicle will first be shipped to either the port in Seattle or Tacoma, Washington. From there, your car will then be loaded onto a ground transport carrier and be shipped “to your door” in Los Angeles. We provide delivery to any business or residential location within the Greater Los Angeles area.

For the transport of your car from the port in Washington to the final destination in Los Angeles, you have the following options:

• Open-Air Transport: This is the most common method for domestic auto shipping, and also the most affordable. Similar to the RoRo method, your car is fully exposed to the elements during its journey from Washington State to Los Angeles. However, well-trained drivers take special care to ensure that the vehicle is securely strapped to the carrier. Vehicles are strapped in a way to reduce vibrations and mobility that is caused by the road during travel. While it is rare for your car to experience damage on an open-air trailer, it will be unprotected against rain, hail, sun, snow, salt, dust, insects, and even birds.
• Enclosed Shipping: Those with exotic, classic, or otherwise valuable cars, should consider auto transport in an enclosed trailer. Although this service comes at a premium price, the biggest advantage is the level of protection. Similar to overseas container shipping, enclosed transport means that your vehicle is entirely protected from the elements. Your car, along with up to five other automobiles, will be housed in a covered truck during the duration of its journey to Los Angeles.
• Standard/Economy Shipping: If you don’t need your vehicle delivered by a specific date or time, this is the most economical option. The cost is low, meaning that the transport could potentially take a few days, or several weeks depending on the distance.
• Full Service/Expedited Shipping: You can expect to pay more for this option, but your car will be guaranteed to arrive by your desired date. In most cases, if the transporter fails to deliver your vehicle on time, you may receive a rebate towards rental car fees for every day that it is late.

How Do I Prepare a Car to Ship from Alaska to Los Angeles?

Since your car will travel both overseas and on land during its journey from Alaska to Los Angeles, there are a few additional steps to ensure that it is ready for transport. These include:

1. Empty the vehicle of any personal belongings. These items are not insured and your auto shipping company may even incur a fee for transporting personal effects.
2. Make sure that the car has a minimum of 5” ground clearance.
3. Check the fluid levels for any leaks, and top them off where necessary.
4. Leave only a quarter gallon of fuel in the gas tank. Extra gasoline adds to the weight of the vehicle, drives up the price of shipping, and is a potential hazard during transport.
5. Verify that the battery is fully charged. This is especially important for electric vehicles.
6. Disconnect any alarm systems, or anti-theft devices prior to shipping.
7. Remove any loose exterior items such as antennas, bike racks, luggage racks, spoilers, or fog lights.
8. Clean the inside and outside of the vehicle. This will enable you to perform an accurate inspection of the car.
9. Thoroughly inspect the car. Make sure that you are fully aware of its condition before it is shipped. This means documenting any pre-existing damage and taking plenty of photos.
10. Provide an extra set of keys to your transporter, keeping one set with you. Your auto shipping company will need their own set in order to load and unload the car from during transport.
11. The vehicle must be fully operational, and be able to steer and stop. However, you can transport non-operational cars for an added cost.

Why Trust Ship Vehicles to Ship Your Car from Alaska to Los Angeles?

Ship Vehicles has been in the auto industry business for over 30 years, with frequent yearly trips between the state of Alaska and California. We have both the experience and the knowledge to make your auto shipping process an effortless and stress-free experience from start to finish.

If you’re ready to get the process started, fill out our online request form or contact us directly at (888) 231-0113. Our shipping experts are standing by to answer any questions you may have and provide you with a no-cost, no-obligation quote for shipping your car from Alaska to Los Angeles.