Car ownership costs in Hawaii
What it costs to own a car in Hawaii beyond the sticker price - sales tax, annual registration, vehicle property tax, inspection requirements, and title fee.
- Vehicle sales tax
- 4.5%
- Hawaii has no conventional sales tax; instead a General Excise Tax (GET) of 4.0% plus a 0.5% county surcharge (e.g., City & County of Honolulu) applies to vehicle purchases from dealers/businesses, totaling 4.5% in surcharge counties (4.0% on Maui prior to 2024, all four counties now at 0.5%). No trade-in credit is provided since GET is a gross-receipts tax on the seller, typically passed to the buyer on the full price. Use tax applies to vehicles imported from out of state: 0.5% for individuals importing for personal (non-business) use, and 4%/4.5% for business/resale use.
Sales tax: source checked · 2026-Q2 Official source
- Annual registration fee
- ~$74/yr
- Annual renewal. Flat charges per the official Honolulu county DMV page: State registration fee $46 + County registration fee $20 + Highway beautification fee $7 + annual emblem $0.50 = $73.50 in flat fees, PLUS a weight tax that varies by vehicle weight (State: 1.75 cents/lb up to 4,000 lbs, 2.0 cents/lb 4,000-7,000 lbs, 2.25 cents/lb 7,000-10,000 lbs; Honolulu County passenger: 7.0 cents/lb, $12 minimum). For a typical ~3,300 lb passenger car, Honolulu's official example totals about $364/year including weight tax. The $73.50 figure represents the flat (non-weight) portion; total varies by county and vehicle weight.
Registration fee: source checked · 2026-Q2 Official source
- Vehicle property tax
- No vehicle property tax
- Hawaii does not levy an annual ad valorem personal-property tax on vehicles; the annual cost is the weight-based registration/weight tax, not a value-based property tax.
Vehicle property tax: source checked · 2026-Q2 Official source
- State inspection
- Required
- Hawaii requires an annual statewide Periodic Motor Vehicle Inspection (PMVI) for safety; it is a safety inspection only (no emissions testing in Hawaii), and new vehicles get a 2-year initial inspection.
Inspection rule: source checked · 2026-Q2 Official source
- Title fee
- ~$5
- One-time fee at purchase. Amount may vary.
- Example: $35,000 vehicle
- Sales tax: $1,575
- + $74/yr registration + no property tax
How state fees affect your car's true cost in Hawaii
When you buy a vehicle in Hawaii, the first state cost you'll face is the sales tax of 4.5%. On a $35,000 vehicle, that's roughly $1,575 due at the time of purchase — in addition to the dealer's price.
After the purchase, Hawaii charges an estimated $74 per year to register the vehicle. Annual renewal. Flat charges per the official Honolulu county DMV page: State registration fee $46 + County registration fee $20 + Highway beautification fee $7 + annual emblem $0.50 = $73.50 in flat fees, PLUS a weight tax that varies by vehicle weight (State: 1.75 cents/lb up to 4,000 lbs, 2.0 cents/lb 4,000-7,000 lbs, 2.25 cents/lb 7,000-10,000 lbs; Honolulu County passenger: 7.0 cents/lb, $12 minimum). For a typical ~3,300 lb passenger car, Honolulu's official example totals about $364/year including weight tax. The $73.50 figure represents the flat (non-weight) portion; total varies by county and vehicle weight.
Hawaii does not impose a personal property tax on vehicles — which is a meaningful advantage over states that do, where owners can pay 0.5%–2% of the vehicle's value annually.
Hawaii requires periodic vehicle inspections. Hawaii requires an annual statewide Periodic Motor Vehicle Inspection (PMVI) for safety; it is a safety inspection only (no emissions testing in Hawaii), and new vehicles get a 2-year initial inspection. Inspection fees are typically $20–$70 depending on the station and vehicle type.
Calculate your full 5-year ownership cost in Hawaii
The TCO calculator pre-fills Hawaii's sales tax and registration fee. Add your purchase price, loan terms, fuel type, and insurance to see the complete picture.
Open TCO calculatorFrequently asked questions
What is the car sales tax in Hawaii?
The vehicle sales tax rate in Hawaii is 4.5%. On a $35,000 vehicle that works out to roughly $1,575 at the time of purchase. Hawaii has no conventional sales tax; instead a General Excise Tax (GET) of 4.0% plus a 0.5% county surcharge (e.g., City & County of Honolulu) applies to vehicle purchases from dealers/businesses, totaling 4.5% in surcharge counties (4.0% on Maui prior to 2024, all four counties now at 0.5%). No trade-in credit is provided since GET is a gross-receipts tax on the seller, typically passed to the buyer on the full price. Use tax applies to vehicles imported from out of state: 0.5% for individuals importing for personal (non-business) use, and 4%/4.5% for business/resale use.
How much is vehicle registration in Hawaii?
The estimated annual vehicle registration fee in Hawaii is around $74 per year. Annual renewal. Flat charges per the official Honolulu county DMV page: State registration fee $46 + County registration fee $20 + Highway beautification fee $7 + annual emblem $0.50 = $73.50 in flat fees, PLUS a weight tax that varies by vehicle weight (State: 1.75 cents/lb up to 4,000 lbs, 2.0 cents/lb 4,000-7,000 lbs, 2.25 cents/lb 7,000-10,000 lbs; Honolulu County passenger: 7.0 cents/lb, $12 minimum). For a typical ~3,300 lb passenger car, Honolulu's official example totals about $364/year including weight tax. The $73.50 figure represents the flat (non-weight) portion; total varies by county and vehicle weight.
Does Hawaii have a vehicle property tax?
No. Hawaii does not impose an annual personal property tax on vehicles. Hawaii does not levy an annual ad valorem personal-property tax on vehicles; the annual cost is the weight-based registration/weight tax, not a value-based property tax.
Is a vehicle inspection required in Hawaii?
Yes. Hawaii requires periodic vehicle safety (and in some areas emissions) inspections. Hawaii requires an annual statewide Periodic Motor Vehicle Inspection (PMVI) for safety; it is a safety inspection only (no emissions testing in Hawaii), and new vehicles get a 2-year initial inspection.
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