How to Transfer a Car Title in Hawaii

The title transfer process must be a secure and legal one, particularly in private car sales. This title transfer guide gives you everything you need to know to transfer a vehicle title in the state of Hawaii.

Car Title Transfer Process

A Hawaii car title transfer has two stages.

1. The two parties (buyer and seller) meet face to face. The seller receives payment from the buyer. Both parties are required to fill out and sign the physical certificate of title. The buyer is now the official and legal owner of the vehicle as of this moment.
2. The buyer completes the process of transferring the title of the vehicle with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) office in Hawaii. At the same time, the buyer registers the vehicle and applies for new license plates.
The first step (meeting between the seller and the buyer) is the most important. The second step is merely a formality.

As the seller, you’ll formalize the entire transaction when you transfer the ownership of the car by signing the title over to the buyer. You’ll remove the plates and be done with the vehicle.
As the buyer in a private party car sale, you become the legal owner of the car as soon as the seller transfers the title to your name. You’ll finalize with your local DMV office to get title and registration in your name. You’ll also get new license plates and car insurance.

Sign the Title Correctly

When signing the car title in Hawaii, always keep the following in mind.

Mistakes make the document invalid.
Do not erase anything or use white-out.
Only use black or blue ink. Any other color will void the title.
Write neatly.
Only use legal birth names.

Front of The Title

The back of the title has sections for the seller (red) and the notary (green). Here is the process for filling out the front of a Hawaii title.

Finalize Ownership Transfer with Hawaii DMV

You’ve done the deal and are the proud owner of a new-to-you vehicle. Your work is not yet done. There are still steps you need to take to finalize the title transfer with the state of Hawaii.

In the state of Hawaii, titling and registration are done at the same time. When purchasing a used car, you will need to provide your local Hawaii DMV office with additional paperwork, including:

You will need to submit the following to your local Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) office:

The vehicle title with your signature and driver’s license number
Completed Notice of Transfer form
Payment for the car title transfer fee of $5
Payment for Hawaii vehicle sales tax of 4% of the vehicle purchase price

When you purchase a car from a private party, you will be required to complete the title transfer within 30 business days. If you don’t meet that deadline, you will have to pay a fee of $50.

Provide Personal Documents

The buyer also needs to have a few personal documents on hand. Check that you have these before preparing for the transfer process:

Proof of Hawaii residency
Valid driver’s license
Proof of insurance

Your proof of insurance must meet Hawaii’s minimum insurance requirements. This means having a valid liability policy that includes bodily injury liability for $20,000 per person and $40,000 per accident, property damage liability for $10,000 per accident, and personal injury protection (PIP) for $10,000 per person.

These are the minimum requirements, but you can add more to your policy, like comprehensive and/or collision coverage, or increase your liability coverage.

Safety Testing

While Hawaii does not require emissions testing, to register a vehicle in Hawaii, you must first pass safety testing. Used vehicles must be inspected once a year, and new vehicles must be inspected twice a year after the initial safety inspection.

All vehicles in Hawaii are subject to regular safety inspections:

Annual inspection of used vehicles
New cars: two years after the initial inspection

To have a safety inspection performed on your vehicle, you must take it to an authorized service station, such as an auto repair shop or a dealership.

The following vehicle components will be examined for defects by a certified inspector:

Fuel system
Steering component
Headlamps
Mirrors
Speedometer
Doors
Seat belts

In addition to checking these mechanical components of your vehicle, the certified safety inspection will also confirm that you have:

A valid registration card
A valid no-fault Hawaii auto insurance policy
Valid license plates

In Hawaii, the minimum fee for a vehicle safety inspection certificate is $19.19.

Consider a Bill of Sale

A bill of sale isn’t required to sell or buy a car in Hawaii. It is recommended, however, as an official receipt of transfer. A bill of sale provides legal protection for both the buyer and the seller. It proves that the seller is no longer associated with the vehicle, and it proves the buyer’s ownership.

We provide an official Hawaii bill of sale as part of our in-app transaction process. Both buyer and seller will be prompted to e-sign the document at the appropriate stage of the transaction, right within the PrivateAuto app.

Here is some of the information the Hawaii bill of sale requires.

Buyer’s name, address, and signature
Seller’s name, address, and signature
Final sale price
Description of the vehicle
VIN
Odometer reading

This information proves that the seller did sell the vehicle and that the buyer is the new owner.

Hawaii License Plates

Some states allow the license plates to remain with the car when sold. Unfortunately, Hawaii requires the seller to remove the plates from the car. As the buyer, you’ll apply to your local Hawaii DMV office for new license plates and pay the $45 Hawaii license plate fee.

See our state-by-state guide to license plate requirements if you’re considering buying or selling a car in another state.

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Hawaii Title Transfer FAQ

How to register a car in Hawaii?

To apply for a Hawaii license plate, you must have a valid Hawaii car registration card from the Hawaii DMV. Hawaii requires in-person registration for your vehicle. To make things more efficient, your vehicle’s title and registration are done simultaneously.

You will need to submit the following documents to your local DMV office:

– The vehicle’s title
– The Hawaii vehicle registration from the previous owner
– A completed application.pdf) for registration of a motor vehicle
– A current Hawaii safety inspection certificate
– Payment for the vehicle registration transfer fee of $5

Here are the standard Hawaii vehicle registration fees:

– State fee: $45
– County fee: $12
– Transfer fee: $5
– State weight tax:
– 0 to 4,000 lbs.: 1.75 cents per lb
– 4,001 to 7,000 lbs.: 2 cents per lb
– 7,001 to 10,000 lbs.: 2.25 cents per lb
– Over 10,001 lbs.: $300 flat rate
– County weight tax:
– Passenger vehicles & trucks up to 6,500 lbs pay 1.25 cents per lb
– All vehicles over 6,500 lbs pay 2.5 cents per lb
– Beautification fee: $1
– Electric, plug-in hybrid, alternative fuel, or hybrid vehicles fee: $15
– Sticker renewal/replacement: $0.50
– Plate replacement: $5
– Duplicate registration: $5

To avoid paying a late fee or penalties, make sure you register the car right after transferring the title.

How much does it cost to register out-of-state vehicles in Hawaii?

To register an out-of-state car in Hawaii, bring the following to your local Hawaii DMV office:

– A completed application for registration of motor vehicle
– The most recent out-of-state certificate of vehicle registration
– The out-of-state title
– A shipping receipt or bill of lading documenting the date of the vehicle’s arrival
– A Hawaii certificate of safety inspection
– Proof of the vehicle’s weight by the manufacturer
– A motor vehicle use tax certification (Form G-27)
– Payment for all registration fees is determined by the registration office
– Out-of-state Hawaii permit

Read our guide to purchasing a vehicle long-distance if you’re thinking about buying a car out-of-state.

What are the names of the DMV offices in Hawaii’s main counties?

Depending on the county, the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) offices are known as Motor Vehicle Registration (MVR) or Division of Motor Vehicles and Licensing (DMVL) offices.

Here’s a list of the main offices in each county:

1. Hawaii County (Big Island). The offices in this county fall under the Vehicle Registration & Licensing Division.
2. Honolulu County (Oahu): The county registration office in Satellite City Hall.
3. Kauai County (Kauai and Niihau). The Motor Vehicle Registration office for Kauai County is situated in Lihue.
4. Maui County (Maui, Lanai, Molokai, and Kahoolawe). Maui County’s Division of Motor Vehicles and Licensing has multiple locations across the islands, including Kahului, Kihei, Lahaina, Pukalani, Hana, Molokai, and Lanai.
5. Kalawao County (Kalaupapa Peninsula, Molokai). Residents of Kalawao County would most likely need to visit the nearby Division of Motor Vehicles and Licensing office on the island of Molokai for their vehicle registration and licensing needs due to the county’s small population and unique situation.

How much are license plate replacement fees?

If your license plate was stolen, damaged, or lost, you have to get a replacement.

To get a replacement, you need to:

– Complete and sign an application for replacement plate or emblem form.
– Submit your current certificate of registration
– If your license plates have been mutilated or defaced, you must surrender both your front and back plates
– If only one plate has been lost or stolen, you must bring in your one remaining plate.

To replace your license plate or emblem in the state of Hawaii, you will need a safety inspection certificate that is both current and valid.

The fee to replace both the license plates and emblem is $5.50. The fee to replace only an emblem is 50 cents.

How much is the Hawaii DMV registration renewal fee?

Here are the registration renewal fees in Hawaii:

– City and County of Honolulu: $4 per renewed vehicle + 2.5% credit card fee
– Hawaii county: $4 per renewed vehicle + 2.5% credit card fee
– Kauai county: $4 per renewed vehicle + 2.5% credit card fee
– Maui county: No fee per renewed vehicle + 2.3% credit card fee at DMV locations or 2.5% fee at non-DMV locations in Hawaii, you should renew your registration every year before the due date. You’ll get a renewal notice at least 45 days in advance. You should bring your ID, checks, and all necessary documents with you whenever you apply.

If you haven’t managed to renew your registration, you may face late fees and penalties of $16. If you have failed to register your vehicle on time, you’ll owe a late payment of $40.

You can renew your registration online. You can still renew at the kiosks or online, even if you did not receive your renewal application in the mail. Just follow the on-screen instructions and enter your license plate and VIN. If you have unpaid traffic citations, you may be required to submit a clearance letter.

How to transfer ownership if the owner is deceased?

If you want to keep a car once the car owner passes away and you’re the surviving spouse or personal representative, you need to transfer the vehicle’s title.

You will need the following documentation in order to transfer the vehicle title of a deceased individual in Hawaii:

– Original title certificate
– Order from Probate Court for title transfers in hawaii
– Odometer information sheet
– Death certificate (proof of death)
– Payment for the title transfer fees

See our article about transferring the title of a car after the owner has passed if you still have some questions.

How do you get a title replacement in Hawaii?

The steps for replacing a lost title in Hawaii differ depending on the county in which you live.

**County of Honolulu**

If you live in Honolulu, you must fill out an Application for Duplicate Motor Vehicle Certificate of Title (Form CS-L MVR10). Prepare a $5 duplicate title fee check or money order and mail or deliver the form and payment to your local DMV office.

**Maui County**

Residents in Maui must complete an Application for Duplicate Motor Vehicle Certificate of Title (Form DMVL580), which must be notarized before being submitted to the local DMV. Include a $10 check or money order for the duplicate title fee. Once you’ve gathered all of the necessary paperwork, take it to your local DMV.

**Kauai County**

Residents of Kauai County must complete the process in person. Visit your local DMV office to get the necessary form for a duplicate vehicle title, complete the paperwork, and pay any applicable fees.

**Hawaii County**

Residents of Hawaii County should fill out an Application for Duplicate Motor Vehicle Certificate of Title (Form) and include a $10 duplicate title fee in the form of a check or money order. Then, take the required documents to the nearest DMV office.

What are the most important facts I should know about Hawaii vehicle registration and title transfers?

Here are the most important things you should know about registering and titling a vehicle in Hawaii:

– Title transfers in Hawaii are an essential part of the transfer of ownership after buying used cars from private parties.
– You owe a title transfer fee when transferring the title of a vehicle.
– Joint owner scenarios involve additional paperwork, and all of the owners’ signatures.
– Your local county office handles vehicle registration and title transfers.
– A Hawaii vehicle title proves you with proof of vehicle ownership.
– It is always advisable that you date the title during transfer for accurate record-keeping.
– A registration certificate must be kept in your vehicle at all times.
– Sign and date documents to avoid any issues during the transfer process.
– You must transfer the title to complete ownership change.
– Hawaii’s motor vehicle fee inquiry site offers fee information, if you are not sure what the applicable fees are.
– The vehicle owner is responsible for maintaining registration. If your registration expires, you will have to pay additional fees.
– Motor vehicle use tax may apply during the registration process.
– Register the vehicle at a local county office on time to avoid any fees.
– The Honolulu Motor Vehicle Fee Inquiry website provides fee details for Honolulu residents.
– A certificate of registration is issued after you register your vehicle.
– The registered owner must keep their information updated, available and present it to the authorities if requested.
– Transfer Hawaii vehicle ownership properly to avoid any issues.
– Official vehicle registration ensures compliance with local laws.
– The ownership transfer process involves submitting paperwork and paying all applicable fees to the Hawaii DMV.

Landon Epperly

Contributing Author

Landon Epperly is the Product Manager at PrivateAuto, where he thrives on turning innovative ideas into reality. With a deep passion for cars and boats, Landon combines his love for vehicles with his expertise in product development to enhance the online marketplace experience….