Does Wave deliver exporters' vehicles to the Port of San Diego?
Yes. Wave delivers exporters' vehicles to the Port of San Diego in California, after arranging pickup from individual sellers, dealers and auctions.
Wave also handles the paperwork exporters need for export. Wave's own transport is within the continental United States and ends at the port or at a third-party logistics (3PL) shipping company's yard. It does not include ocean shipping. The Port of San Diego's terminals page describes the National City Marine Terminal this way: "Owned by the Port of San Diego, and operated by Pasha Automotive Services". The same page calls it the "most advanced vehicle import/export facility on the West Coast", in the Port's own words. The terminal is at 1400 West 32nd Street, National City, CA 91950, according to the Pasha Hawaii terminal page, and the Port's page adds that it is "also referred to as the 24th St. Marine Terminal".
Businesses that buy vehicles in the United States to sell outside it and need them delivered to the Port of San Diego.
How is delivery to the Port of San Diego priced?
Each vehicle delivered to the Port of San Diego gets its own live quote, and exporters can receive a value-based discount and a volume-based discount.
This page lists no prices, discount amounts or thresholds. Billing is the customer's choice: one consolidated invoice, or separate invoices.
How does Wave get a vehicle to the Port of San Diego, step by step?
Wave picks the vehicle up from the seller, dealer or auction, checks the carrier's equipment and registrations, delivers the vehicle to the Port of San Diego or your 3PL's yard, and handles the paperwork you need for export.
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What does a truck need to enter the National City Marine Terminal?
The Port of San Diego says anyone entering a secure terminal, truck drivers included, needs a business purpose, a TWIC and the Port's approval, or must be escorted.
The Port's terminals page names the National City Marine Terminal among its secure terminals and says individuals requesting entry "must have a bona fide business purpose for entry to the terminal, a Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) issued by the U.S. Transportation and Security Administration (TSA), AND receive approval from the Port for terminal access." It lists truck drivers among the people who follow its steps. For people without a TWIC, it says: "Personnel without a TWIC must be escorted by a qualified escort while at the terminal." Escort cards are issued to TWIC holders by appointment only. The Port's page also carries a notice that "Freight trucks and transport refrigeration units visiting Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal and National City Marine Terminal must be in compliance with new state regulations" from the California Air Resources Board. Gate hours come from a different page. Pasha Hawaii, a Hawaii shipping service, publishes a San Diego terminal page for the same address, and the table gives its figures as that company's. That page does not say whether its cutoff covers export cargo.
| Terminal | Operator listed | What the published page says a delivering truck needs |
|---|---|---|
| National City Marine Terminal, 1400 West 32nd Street, National City, CA 91950 (Port of San Diego's page) | Pasha Automotive Services; owned by the Port of San Diego | A bona fide business purpose, a TWIC and the Port's approval, or an escort by a qualified TWIC holder. Appointments and paperwork: not stated on the terminal's page. |
| National City Marine Terminal (Pasha Hawaii's San Diego page, a Hawaii-service site) | Pasha Hawaii's page, for the same address | Gate hours Monday to Friday, 8:00 am to 11:30 am and 1:00 pm to 4:30 pm, closed Saturday and Sunday. The page's note: "To allow for proper inspection and processing, all cargo must be delivered to the pier by 3:30 pm. No appointment necessary." Terminal phone on that page: (619) 474-0333. Whether this applies to export cargo: not stated on the terminal's page. |
| Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal | Port of San Diego | Not stated on the terminal's page. The Port's page lists its principal inbound cargos as perishables and refrigerated commodities, fertilizer, cement and breakbulk commodities, not vehicles. |
When Wave's delivery to the Port of San Diego is NOT the right choice
If you need the vehicle carried across the ocean, Wave is not the right choice, because Wave's transport is within the continental United States and ends at the port or the 3PL yard.
If you buy vehicles on behalf of several dealers rather than for export, wholesale vehicle transport is the closer match. A dealer moving its own stock belongs on the dealer page.
What Wave does for exporters at the Port of San Diego, and what the federal export rule requires
Wave arranges and delivers exporters' vehicles to the Port of San Diego and/or a 3PL shipping company's yard, and handles the paperwork exporters need for export.
The federal export rules are the same at San Diego as at any U.S. port. CBP's page on exporting used self-propelled vehicles, last modified Jan 07, 2026, says each such vehicle needs its Electronic Export Information filed in the Automated Export System 72 hours before export, whatever the destination, value or condition; this is a Census Bureau requirement. 19 CFR 192.2 (eCFR text checked October 2026) requires the owner of a U.S.-titled vehicle to present the original title or a certified copy, plus two complete copies, to Customs. Where the vehicle is leased or has a recorded lien, a separate signed writing from the third party permitting export is also required. CBP's used-vehicle FAQ, dated May 13, 2016, adds that civil penalties may follow a failure to file, a late filing, or a false or misleading filing.
Port of San Diego vehicle delivery FAQs
- Does Wave deliver vehicles to the Port of San Diego?
Yes. Wave delivers exporters' vehicles to the Port of San Diego and/or to a third-party logistics (3PL) shipping company's yard, after arranging pickup from individual sellers, dealers and auctions. Wave also handles the paperwork exporters need for export.
- Which terminal at the Port of San Diego handles vehicles?
The National City Marine Terminal. The Port of San Diego's page calls it the "most advanced vehicle import/export facility on the West Coast" and says it is owned by the Port and operated by Pasha Automotive Services. The Port's other cargo terminal, Tenth Avenue, is described there with non-vehicle cargos.
- Is a TWIC required to enter the National City Marine Terminal?
Yes, or an escort. The Port of San Diego says individuals entering a secure terminal need a bona fide business purpose, a TWIC and the Port's approval, and that "Personnel without a TWIC must be escorted by a qualified escort while at the terminal." The Port's page lists truck drivers among those covered.
- What are the gate hours at the National City Marine Terminal?
Pasha Hawaii's San Diego terminal page lists Monday to Friday, 8:00 am to 11:30 am and 1:00 pm to 4:30 pm, closed Saturday and Sunday. That is a Hawaii-service company's page for the same address, and it does not say whether the hours apply to export cargo.
- Is there a cutoff time for delivering a vehicle to the National City Marine Terminal?
Pasha Hawaii's page for the terminal says: "all cargo must be delivered to the pier by 3:30 pm. No appointment necessary." The page is for a Hawaii shipping service and does not state that the cutoff covers export cargo, so confirm with the terminal operator.
- Do I need to file anything before a used vehicle leaves for export?
Yes. CBP says Electronic Export Information for a used self-propelled vehicle must be filed in the Automated Export System 72 hours before export, and 19 CFR 192.2 requires ownership documents. Wave handles the paperwork exporters need for export.
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- Do you ship vehicles overseas from San Diego?
No. Wave's transport is within the continental United States and ends at the port or the 3PL yard.
- Do you offer discounts for exporters shipping to the Port of San Diego?
Yes. Wave offers a value-based discount and a volume-based discount, and this page lists no amounts or thresholds.
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