TOTE names four size classes and three of them carry a fixed dollar figure, read 2026-08-21.
The Tacoma-to-Anchorage rate card
TOTE Maritime Alaska's own vehicle shipping page, read 2026-08-21, sorts a car into one of four size classes by height and length, measured with trailer hitches, antennas, mirrors and any modifications included. Three of the four classes carry a fixed rate; the fourth is quoted individually.
| Class | Height limit | Length limit | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small | Under 68 in (5'8") | Under 260 in (21'8") | 2541.25 USD |
| Medium | Under 84 in (7'0") | Under 260 in (21'8") | 3175.00 USD |
| Large | Under 102 in (8'6") | Under 275 in (22'11") | 4646.25 USD |
| Oversized | Over 102 in (8'6") | Over 275 in (22'11") | Custom quote |
TOTE states plainly what the three fixed rates cover: “The cost to ship a car includes the applicable Ocean Fuel Surcharge, Port Charge, Terminal Charge, and POA Modernization Charge.” That is unusually transparent for this trade — our own vehicle shipping guide covers why most auto-transport companies will only publish a per-mile estimate rather than a number like this one.
What the rate class does not cover
A hard cubic-foot cap
Every vehicle also has to measure under 900 cubic feet, per TOTE's page read 2026-08-21. That limit sits separately from the height and length figures in the table above, and it is measured the same way, with hitches, antennas and mirrors included.
Motorcycles, excluded outright
TOTE does not carry motorcycles on this service at all, per the same page, read 2026-08-21. A crated bike routes through general freight instead; our motorcycle shipping guide covers where that fits against a parcel screen.
EVs and plug-in hybrids, cut off in 2025
TOTE stopped taking electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles on August 1, 2025, citing the fire and safety risk of a battery pack at sea, per the same page read 2026-08-21. A mild hybrid that never draws electric power for propulsion is still accepted.
Belongings: pay TOTE's flat charge, or ship them yourself
TOTE will let personal effects ride inside the car for a flat add-on of 181 USD, per its page read 2026-08-21. That single fee covers whatever fits inside the car under TOTE's own loading rules. The alternative, for anyone who would rather not pay a flat per-vehicle charge or whose items do not fit the carrier's rules, is sending the same box up separately as a parcel. We ran an 18 × 14 × 12 in, 25 lb carton of clothing, tools and removed personal items from Seattle, WA 98101 to Anchorage, AK 99501 on 2026-08-21 to show what that leg actually costs.
| Carrier | Service | Price | Estimated transit |
|---|---|---|---|
| USPS | Ground Advantage | $68.73 | 11-12 business days |
| USPS | Priority Mail | $90.59 | 5-6 business days |
| UPS | Ground Saver | $108.82 | 6 business days |
| UPS | Ground | $126.93 | 6-7 business days |
| FedEx | 2Day | $139.29 | 3-4 business days |
USPS Ground Advantage at $68.73 undercuts TOTE's own 181 USD personal-effects charge on a single carton this size; a second or third carton narrows or erases that gap, so the honest answer depends on how much you are actually moving. Either path is legitimate — TOTE's fee buys convenience and one less box to track, the parcel route buys a lower price on a modest amount of stuff.
Terminals and the sailing calendar
TOTE runs the Tacoma-to-Anchorage lane year round with sailings twice a week, per its page read 2026-08-21, and states a transit of three days once the ship leaves the dock, with cargo available for pickup a day after that.
| Terminal | Address | Vehicle delivery hours |
|---|---|---|
| Tacoma, WA | 500 East Alexander Avenue, Tacoma, WA 98421 | 0800-1600 Mon/Tue/Thu; 0800-1500 Wed/Fri |
| Anchorage, AK | 2511 Tidewater Road, Anchorage, AK 99501 | 0800-1600 Monday-Friday |
TOTE's own page notes that drop-off cutoffs for a given sailing can shift and points shippers to its Alaska Vehicles Department to confirm the current cutoff before showing up at the gate. The three-day transit figure covers the water only; add whatever time it takes to get the car to Tacoma and whatever the terminal's release process takes on the Anchorage end.
What SMKlog does with a request like this
Our checkout sells United States domestic parcel labels, sized for a parcel network's own scale and conveyor, not a car on a ship's deck. Even TOTE's smallest class runs 21 feet 8 inches long, which is nowhere near a parcel ceiling — see our vehicle shipping guide for the exact line a parcel network draws. SMKlog sells parcel labels only and does not arrange pallet or freight shipments.
Where these figures come from
- TOTE Maritime Alaska, Ship Your Vehicle to Alaska — the size-class rate table, what the rates include, the 900 cubic foot cap, the motorcycle exclusion, the EV/PHEV notice, and the personal-effects charge. Read 2026-08-21.
- TOTE Maritime, Alaska Port Terminals — the Tacoma and Anchorage addresses and vehicle delivery gate hours. Read 2026-08-21.
- Prices: our own capture of one carton against production on 2026-08-21, Seattle, WA 98101 to Anchorage, AK 99501.
Ocean carriers revise rate cards, size classes and vehicle restrictions without notice. Treat the figures above as what TOTE published on the date shown, and confirm the current rate before booking.
Common questions
How much does it cost to ship a vehicle from Seattle to Alaska?
Unlike most vehicle moves, this lane has an actual posted rate card. TOTE Maritime Alaska, read 2026-08-21, prices its Tacoma-to-Anchorage run at 2541.25 USD for a small vehicle under 68 inches tall and 260 inches long, 3175.00 USD for a medium vehicle under 84 inches tall, and 4646.25 USD for a large vehicle under 102 inches tall and 275 inches long. Anything bigger gets a custom quote.
What does that rate actually include?
TOTE states plainly, read 2026-08-21: “The cost to ship a car includes the applicable Ocean Fuel Surcharge, Port Charge, Terminal Charge, and POA Modernization Charge.” Those four items are already folded into the four rates on the table above, not billed on top of them.
Can I pack the car with belongings before it ships?
Yes, for an additional flat charge. TOTE will let personal effects ride inside the car for a flat add-on of 181 USD, per its page read 2026-08-21. The alternative is shipping the same box separately as a parcel; our own capture priced an 18 x 14 x 12 in carton of removed items at $68.73 on USPS Ground Advantage, Seattle to Anchorage, quoted 2026-08-21.
Are electric vehicles accepted?
No. TOTE stopped taking electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles on August 1, 2025, citing the fire and safety risk of a battery pack at sea, per its page read 2026-08-21. Mild hybrids that do not need electric power in transit are still taken. Motorcycles are separately excluded, and every vehicle has to measure under 900 cubic feet.
Does SMKlog sell this label?
No. Our checkout sells United States domestic parcel labels, sized for a parcel network rather than a car on a ship's deck. SMKlog sells parcel labels only and does not arrange pallet or freight shipments. What we can price directly is the box of belongings that comes out of the car first, covered above.