Hawaii Tax, Title and License Calculator

Hawaii has no sales tax, but car dealers add the general excise tax (GET) to your bill. On Oahu that is usually 4.5% to 4.712%. A private sale has no GET. Every car also pays a yearly registration that includes a weight tax. A 3,320 lb car costs $367 to register on Oahu.

Use this Hawaii tax, title and license calculator to estimate your costs. Below you'll find the GET rules, the tax on shipped cars, weight tax tiers, EV fees and three worked examples.

Checked against the Hawaii Department of Taxation, the State of Hawaii statutes and the City and County of Honolulu on October 22, 2026. Examples use Oahu. Other counties set their own county fees. This is an independent estimate.

Hawaii Car Costs at a Glance (Oahu)

Does Hawaii Charge Sales Tax on Cars?

Not exactly. Hawaii taxes the business, not the buyer. The tax is the general excise tax. The state rate is 4%. Honolulu adds a 0.5% county surcharge, which makes it 4.5%. Dealers can add it to your bill as a separate line.

Why 4.712% and not 4.5%? A dealer must pay GET on the money it collects, including the GET it passes on. Dividing 4.5% by 95.5% gives about 4.712%. Arizona's transaction privilege tax is also a business tax that sellers usually pass on.

GET passed on = price × 4.712% (Oahu dealer, usual maximum)

Private Sales and Trade-Ins in Hawaii

GET is a business tax, so a sale between two individuals isn't subject to it. You still pay the $10 title transfer, and you must register the car and pass a safety inspection.

State law taxes a dealer's gross proceeds from a sale, with no deduction for expenses. This page figures GET on the full price. Your invoice shows the GET line.

Shipping a Car to Hawaii: Use Tax

A car you buy from a dealer on the mainland and ship to Hawaii is subject to use tax. The rate is 4%, or 4.5% with the county surcharge. It applies to the landed value: the price, plus freight, insurance and customs duty, minus plate fees paid elsewhere.

You get a credit for sales or use tax you already paid to another state, up to the Hawaii rate. Bring proof of payment when you register. Without it, the county can't finish your registration.

What about a used car from a person?

If you bought it from an individual's personal car, no use tax is due. This is called a casual sale. You must sign Form G-27, Motor Vehicle Use Tax Certification, and give it to the county registration office.

Hawaii Registration: State, County and Weight Tax

Hawaii registration is yearly. It has four parts: a state fee, a county fee, a state weight tax and a county weight tax. About 70% of the total goes to the county, and 30% to the state.

How is the Hawaii weight tax figured?

The state tax depends on the car's net weight. The county tax is set by each county. Honolulu's official sample shows 7 cents per lb for a passenger car.

The City Council was considering Bill 47 in July 2026, which would cut Honolulu's county weight tax. The city's page still showed the old numbers when checked. Use the city's online fee tool for your exact total.

Honolulu example: a 3,320 lb car

New plates add $5. A late renewal adds a $16 penalty for a passenger car. Every car needs a safety inspection once a year before registration.

How Much Is Car Tax in Hawaii?

Example 1: New car from an Oahu dealer

Assumptions: $35,000 price, GET passed on at 4.712%, 3,320 lbs, new plates, $10 title.

Example 2: Private sale on Oahu

Assumptions: $12,000 price, 3,320 lbs, existing plates, registration due.

Example 3: Dealer car shipped from the mainland

Assumptions: $30,000 price, no tax paid elsewhere, $1,800 shipping, no insurance or duty, 3,320 lbs, new plates.

Shipping costs and the safety inspection fee are on top. An electric version of this car adds the EV fee.

Title Transfer and the 30-Day Rule

A new owner must transfer the title and registration within 30 days of the seller's date on the title. The fee is $10. After 30 days, a $50 penalty is added. A fine of up to $100 can apply.

A current safety inspection is required. Title transfers can only be completed when registration and inspection are current. An out-of-state car must get a Hawaii registration or an out-of-state permit within 30 days of arriving on Oahu.

Electric Vehicles in Hawaii

Electric vehicles pay a $50 yearly surcharge on top of normal registration. Since July 2025, owners can choose a road usage charge of $8 per 1,000 miles, capped at $50, instead. From July 1, 2028, the per-mile charge is planned to become mandatory.

The odometer reading at your yearly inspection sets the miles. Low-mileage drivers may pay less. EVs still pay the weight tax. In the same way, Oregon bases part of its car costs on fuel economy, so it's worth comparing if you're moving.

Military, Veterans and Special Cases

• Non-resident active duty members use Form CS-L (MVR) 50 for each registration, renewal or transfer.
• Hawaii residents on active duty, and Guard or Reserve members assigned to Hawaii units, are exempt from weight taxes for one vehicle. They use Form CS-L (MVR) 50A.
• Veterans age 65 and older who were not dishonorably discharged can skip the $20 Honolulu registration fee for one vehicle a year, starting July 1, 2026.
• Moving between counties. A car must be registered in the county where it is driven.

How to Calculate Hawaii Costs by Hand

• For a dealer sale, multiply the price by the GET rate on your bill (up to 4.712% on Oahu). A private sale has none.
• For a car shipped from a dealer, add freight, insurance and duty to the price and multiply by 4% (4.5% with the county surcharge). Subtract any tax paid elsewhere.
• Weight tax: state 1.75 cents per lb up to 4,000 lbs, plus your county's rate per lb.
• Add the state fee ($46), county fee ($20 in Honolulu), beautification fee ($10) and emblem ($0.50).
• Add $5 for new plates and $10 for the title.
• Add $50 if the car is electric, unless you choose the per-mile option.
• Budget for the yearly safety inspection.

What This Estimate Includes

• GET on dealer sales
• Use tax on shipped cars
• State and county registration fees
• State weight tax
• Title transfer
• Electric vehicle fee

What This Estimate Does Not Include

• County weight tax outside Honolulu
• Shipping costs
• Safety inspection fees
• Card service fees (2.35% in person, 2.5% at kiosks)
• Insurance, loan interest and dealer fees

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Calling GET a sales tax. It is a tax on the dealer that is passed on.
• Expecting GET on a private sale. It doesn't apply.
• Skipping use tax on a shipped car. You need proof of payment, or Form G-27, to register.
• Using the wrong county. Weight tax and county fees differ.
• Forgetting the 30-day transfer deadline. The penalty is $50.
• Skipping the safety inspection. You can't register without it.
• Assuming the EV fee is only $50. EVs pay weight tax too.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Hawaii have sales tax on cars?

No. Dealers pay general excise tax and usually add it to your bill at up to 4.712% on Oahu.

What does a Hawaii tax, title and license calculator include?

It covers GET or use tax, registration, weight tax, title transfer and EV fees.

How much is tax on a $30,000 car in Hawaii?

About $1,414 at 4.712% on an Oahu dealer sale. A private sale has no GET.

How much does it cost to register a car on Oahu?

A 3,320 lb car costs $367 for the year, plus $5 for new plates.

How much is the title transfer?

$10 within 30 days. A $50 penalty is added after that.

Is GET charged on the full price?

Yes. State law taxes a dealer's gross proceeds from a sale, with no deduction for expenses. Your invoice shows the GET line.

Do I owe tax if I ship a car from the mainland?

Yes, if you bought it from a dealer. The use tax is 4% (4.5% with the county surcharge) of landed value, less tax paid elsewhere.

What do EVs pay in Hawaii?

A $50 yearly surcharge, or $8 per 1,000 miles capped at $50, plus normal registration.

Do military members get a break?

Hawaii-based military members are exempt from weight taxes for one vehicle. Non-residents use a non-resident certificate.

Official Sources

• City and County of Honolulu: Motor Vehicle Registration
• City and County of Honolulu: Fee Table
• City and County of Honolulu: Vehicle Ownership Transfer
• City and County of Honolulu: Electric Vehicles
• Hawaii Department of Taxation: General Excise Tax
• Hawaii Department of Taxation: An Introduction to the Use Tax
• Hawaii Tax Information Release 93-3: Use tax on motor vehicles
• Hawaii Revised Statutes 249-33: State vehicle weight tax
• Hawaii Department of Transportation: Road Usage Charge Program
• City and County of Honolulu: HiRUC Program
• Hawaii Revised Statutes chapter 237: General Excise Tax Law

This page is an independent estimate tool and guide. It isn't affiliated with the State of Hawaii or any Hawaii county. Rates and fees can change, so confirm your total before you pay.