Registration FAQs

I am moving from Oahu to the Big Island. Do I need to make any changes to my car registration?

Yes. Because each county in Hawaii handles its own motor vehicle registration, you will need to transfer your registration to the new county.

If my tags expire in March, do I have until the end of April to renew them?

No. Hawaii does not have any type of grace period, unless your tags expire on a weekend. In that case, you will have to renew on the next business day. Otherwise, when the tags expire you open yourself getting pulled over and being issued a citation.

Do I really need a vehicle inspection every time I renew my registration?

Yes. In order to renew your registration, you are required to have a safety inspection. That means an inspection is due on an annual basis. You will receive an inspection sticker that you affix to the back bumper of your vehicle.

My vehicle is non-operable. Can I get a special registration for it?

Yes, you can get a storage registration for it. See our Car Registration article for details.

What happens if my inspection sticker falls off? Do I have to get another inspection done?

If you lose the sticker or it falls off, simply return to the place you had the vehicle inspected and show them your paperwork. They will give you a new sticker at no charge, and you will not need to undergo another inspection.

How much does an inspection cost?

Considering that inspections are administered by various private companies, the fees vary. But you should not pay more than $15.

How do I get a duplicate title?

To get a duplicate title, submit the appropriate form to your local county office (this form is for Honolulu County, but all county forms are similar). There is a $10 fee for the service.

How do I get a duplicate registration?

Submit the appropriate form to your local county office (this form is for Honolulu County, but all county forms are similar). Include the vehicle's license plate number, the vehicle's make, and the reason for the request.

What happens if I fail my inspection?

In order to register your vehicle, it must pass inspection. Thus, you will need to repair any issues that caused your vehicle to fail the inspection. However, you are not required to have the repair job conducted at the same place where the inspection was done. You have the option of shopping around, if you choose.

If I have tort insurance when I move to Hawaii, will I be able to register my car?

No. You must switch to no-fault insurance coverage. If you are with a major insurance company and they also do business in Hawaii, this should be no problem. If you are currently with a company that does not do business in Hawaii, you will need to cancel your policy and shop around for a local carrier. In the interim, you will not be able to register your car in Hawaii.

How do I replace a lost license plate or emblem?

If you have lost or damaged a license plate beyond recognition, then you need to replace both the front and back plates. If only one is damaged or missing, you must bring the other into a local county office.

There, fill out and sign form MVR14, which is available at all local county offices. Take along your current vehicle registration certificate, because you will most likely receive a new version with the updated information.

The replacement fee for the plates is $4; the replacement fee for an emblem is 50 cents.

Why do I have to have my car weighed in order to register it?

If you are new to the islands and do not have the weight of your vehicle listed somewhere on one of the many documents you have from the dealer, then you will need to take the car to a state-certified weigh station. The weight of the vehicle is used to set your annual registration taxes.

I’ve heard the IRS honors a tax deduction that has to do with my vehicle registration fees. Is this true?

Yes. The scoop is that the IRS counts a vehicle registration fee that's based on your vehicle's value as a personal property tax, which is deductible. This is true even if your state calls the fee a "registration fee" or a "vehicle use fee." Check out page 146 of the IRS's Publication 17 for more details.

But before you start entering your registration fees on line 7 of the 1040A form, double check to make sure your state calculates the car registration fee based on the car's value. For example, if your state charges you 1% of the car's value each year as a vehicle fee, and you pay $100 based on your car's value ($10,000), then you can deduct $100. If your state charges you for 1% of the car's value, plus a bunch of other miscellaneous fees, then you can still only deduct the $100. The fees might be itemized on your vehicle registration card or registration renewal form.

Other states ignore the car's value and charge only based on the vehicle weight; in those cases, you can't take the deduction.

If you aren't sure about whether the state charges this fee or you can't find the fee, contact your local motor-vehicle office. If you have questions about taking the deduction, call a tax professional or the IRS.