Last checked Nov 10, 2026
Buying a car in Hawaii
The tax you will pay, whether your trade-in lowers it, what the dealer may charge for paperwork, and where to title and register. Taken from official Hawaii sources.
- State tax on vehicles
- 4%
- Trade-in lowers tax
- Check with the state
- Doc fee limit
- Check with the state
- Deadline to title or register
- 30 days
general excise tax
details below
Sales tax on a car in Hawaii
Hawaii charges a state general excise tax of 4% on vehicle purchases.
All four counties add a 0.5% county surcharge to the general excise tax through December 31, 2030.
Hawaii has no sales tax; the general excise tax is owed by the seller, who may pass it on to the buyer at a maximum rate of 4.712% including the county surcharge. A vehicle imported for your own use from a seller that did not pay general excise tax is subject to 4.5% use tax on its landed value.
Does a trade-in lower the tax?
We could not confirm this from an official source. Ask the state revenue agency or the dealer to show you the rule.
Dealer doc fees in Hawaii
We could not confirm from an official source whether the state limits the documentation fee. Ask the dealer for the fee in writing and compare it with other dealers.
Whatever the rule, the fee is part of your out-the-door price. Ask for it in the written quote and negotiate the total, not the line. See dealer fees explained.
Title and registration
Titles and registrations are handled by the County motor vehicle registration offices (county director of finance). The buyer must forward the endorsed certificate of ownership to the county within 30 calendar days of the transfer. Registration is handled by each county, and the linked page is the County of Hawaii's.
Also worth knowing
- In the County of Hawaii, a current safety inspection certificate must be submitted with the transfer, and a $50 late fee applies if documents are submitted after 30 days.
- A use tax credit is allowed for sales tax paid to another state on the same vehicle, up to the amount of Hawaii use tax due.
Sources
- Hawaii Department of Taxation: General Excise Tax (GET) Information (tax.hawaii.gov)
- Hawaii Department of Taxation: Tax Facts 95-1, Use Tax (revised April 2025) (files.hawaii.gov)
- Hawaii Revised Statutes 286-52: Procedure when title or interest of vehicle transferred (capitol.hawaii.gov)
- County of Hawaii Vehicle Registration and Licensing: Ownership Transfer (vrl.hawaiicounty.gov)
Last checked Nov 10, 2026; next review by Feb 10, 2027. This page explains how the rules generally work and is not tax or legal advice. Rules change, so confirm with the state. Report an error.
Concierge
Rather not do this part yourself?
Tell us the car you want. A person finds it, checks it, negotiates the out-the-door price in writing, and lines up the paperwork. You approve every step.