Every car that leaves the United States by sea starts with a truck ride to the port. Whether you are moving abroad, selling a car to a buyer overseas, or shipping an auction car to another country, NIKI Auto Transport picks up your vehicle anywhere in the continental U.S. and delivers it to the export terminal or your freight forwarder’s warehouse before the cutoff. We handle the domestic part, so your forwarder or ocean carrier can handle the sailing.
Request a free quote on our car shipping quote page, or call (818) 732-1805 with your pickup ZIP code and the port or warehouse address.
On this page
Major U.S. ports for car exports
The best port for your car depends on where it is going and which ocean services your forwarder uses. These are the main export gateways we deliver to:
| Port | Common destinations | Our port page |
|---|---|---|
| New York / New Jersey (Port Newark–Elizabeth) | Europe, the Middle East, West Africa, the Mediterranean | Port Newark car shipping |
| Baltimore, Maryland | Europe, West Africa, the Middle East | Port of Baltimore car shipping |
| Savannah and Brunswick, Georgia | West Africa, Europe, the Middle East, Latin America | Georgia port car shipping |
| Houston and the Texas Gulf Coast | Latin America, West Africa, the Middle East | Port of Houston car shipping |
| Los Angeles and Long Beach, California | Asia, Australia, New Zealand, the Pacific, the Middle East | LA and Long Beach car shipping |
| Jacksonville, Florida | Puerto Rico, the Caribbean, Central and South America | Puerto Rico car shipping |
Other ports, such as Charleston, Miami, Port Everglades, Seattle, Tacoma and Oakland, also handle vehicle exports. We deliver to any U.S. port or forwarder warehouse.
Cost to ship a car to a U.S. port
The price of the truck trip to the port depends mostly on distance. Typical 2026 prices for a standard running sedan on an open carrier:
| Distance to the port | Open carrier | Enclosed carrier | Typical transit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 500 miles | $500–$900 | $700–$1,300 | 1–3 days |
| 500–1,000 miles | $700–$1,100 | $1,000–$1,500 | 2–5 days |
| 1,000–1,500 miles | $900–$1,300 | $1,250–$1,850 | 3–6 days |
| 1,500–2,500 miles | $1,000–$1,600 | $1,400–$2,200 | 4–9 days |
| 2,500 miles and up | $1,400–$1,900 | $2,000–$2,600 | 7–14 days |
Estimates only. SUVs, trucks, inoperable vehicles and tight terminal deadlines cost more. Ocean freight, export filing and destination charges are separate. Your written quote is the final price.
How door-to-port car shipping works
- Book your ocean shipment with an FMC-licensed freight forwarder or NVOCC, or have your buyer’s forwarder send you the delivery instructions.
- Send us the delivery details: the terminal or warehouse address, booking or dock receipt number, cutoff date and receiving hours.
- We assign a licensed carrier whose route and timing fit your cutoff. For marine terminals, we look for drivers who can access the terminal, including a TWIC card where it is required.
- Pickup and inspection: the driver inspects the car with you and you both sign the bill of lading.
- Delivery to the port or warehouse: the car is checked in, and you or your forwarder receive the delivery receipt.
- Your forwarder files the export and loads the car on a roll-on/roll-off ship or in a container.
Export documents to have ready
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) requires export information for used vehicles to be filed electronically at least 72 hours before export, and the original title must be presented. Your forwarder usually handles the filing, but the car cannot leave without:
- The original title (or a salvage certificate or manufacturer’s certificate of origin for new vehicles)
- A lienholder letter authorizing export if the car is financed
- The bill of sale if the car was recently purchased
- The owner’s ID, and an EIN, or a passport number for foreign buyers who use a U.S. agent
- The booking details from your forwarder
Read our full guide on how to export a car from the USA.
Who uses door-to-port shipping?
- People moving abroad who want to take their car with them.
- Overseas buyers of cars from U.S. dealers, private sellers and online marketplaces.
- Auction buyers who purchase at Copart, IAA, Manheim and other auctions. See auction car shipping to export ports.
- Exporters and dealers shipping several vehicles a month to the same port.
- Military families shipping a second car overseas. See military car shipping.
What NIKI does and what your forwarder does
| Task | Who handles it |
|---|---|
| Truck transport from pickup to the port or warehouse | NIKI Auto Transport, with a licensed carrier |
| Booking space on the ship | FMC-licensed freight forwarder, NVOCC or ocean carrier |
| Export filing (EEI in AES) and title presentation to CBP | Your forwarder or exporter |
| Loading into a container or onto a RoRo ship | Forwarder, warehouse or terminal |
| Destination customs, duties and delivery | Destination agent or customs broker |
NIKI Auto Transport is a licensed and bonded auto transport broker (USDOT 4535689, MC-1799148) for transport within the United States. We do not book ocean freight. If you do not have a forwarder yet, start with our guide to international car shipping.
Tips for meeting your port cutoff
- Book the truck as soon as you have the sailing date. Port cutoffs are firm.
- Confirm the receiving hours and whether the terminal or warehouse needs an appointment.
- Make sure the original title is with your forwarder before the car arrives.
- Leave no more than a quarter tank of fuel and remove personal items unless your forwarder allows them in a container.
- Tell us if the car does not run, so we send a carrier with a winch.
Door-to-port car shipping FAQ
How much does it cost to ship a car to a port?
It depends on distance. Typical prices for a sedan on an open carrier run about $500 to $900 for trips under 500 miles and about $1,400 to $1,900 coast to coast. Ocean freight is separate.
Does NIKI ship cars overseas?
NIKI arranges the U.S. truck transport to the export port or your forwarder’s warehouse. The ocean shipment is booked with an FMC-licensed freight forwarder, NVOCC or ocean carrier.
Which U.S. port should I use to export my car?
It depends on the destination and your forwarder’s services. East Coast ports such as New York/New Jersey and Baltimore serve Europe and Africa, Houston serves Latin America and West Africa, and Los Angeles and Long Beach serve Asia and Australia.
Do I need the title before my car goes to the port?
Yes. CBP requires the original title or other proof of ownership for used vehicle exports, and forwarders usually need it before the car can be scheduled for loading.
Can you deliver to a freight forwarder’s warehouse instead of the port?
Yes. Many forwarders load containers at their own warehouses near the port. We deliver to either.