Hawaii Title Transfer Guide

How To Transfer A Car Title In Hawaii

Are you buying or selling a car in the state of Hawaii?

Unless you are buying a car from a dealership and have them title the car for you, you will likely have some questions surrounding how to transfer the title, required fees and the best way to go about completing the process to ensure the vehicle title is seamlessly transferred to the new buyer’s name.

First, you will want to find the right office to facilitate the title transfer process.

Hawaii does not maintain a statewide database for vehicle titles and registration. You need to check out the regulations for your county or island.

There are four counties and steps or requirements may slightly vary depending on which is the county of your residence.

Websites for these counties are:

• City and County of Honolulu Department of Customer Services.
• County of Maui Motor Vehicle & Licensing.
• County of Kaua’i Drivers License Division.
• County of Hawaii Vehicle Registration and Licensing Division.

If you are buying or selling a car between the islands, you will be dealing with more than one county.

Local Title Transfer Requirements

What do I need to transfer my car title locally in the state of Hawaii?

If you are buying a car that was previously registered in your county, the title transfer process is fairly straightforward, assuming all necessary steps are followed. Completing the process is easiest if both the buyer and seller visit the nearest Hawaii DMV office together.

When going to transfer a car title in person, the following information is required:

• The old vehicle registration.
• The old car title filled out completely.
• A bill of sale.
• Fees for title and registration.
• Valid identification for both the buyer and seller.

How To Fill Out The Old Title For Transfer

To begin the title transfer process in the state of Hawaii, the original owner must first provide information by filling out the following areas on the original vehicle title:

• The seller must fill out the odometer reading and sign and date it.
• If there is more than one name listed on the title as owner, both people listed must sign and date under the ownership transfer section.
• List the selling price and date of sale.
• The buyer must also sign and date the title. All the dates for title transfer should match.

Out Of State Or Out Of County Title Transfer In Hawaii

Since it is unlikely that both the seller and buyer will be able to visit the Motor Vehicle office when buying from another island, it is imperative that the buyer collects all the needed paperwork.

Pay close attention to signatures, dates, and odometer readings. If any official certificate appears to have been tampered with it can nullify the sale and leave you without a car.

Besides the requirements for the in-county transfer, you will also the following title transfer documents which can be found on specific county websites listed above:

• The Application for Registration, Form DF-L(MVR) 1.
• A Bill of Lading or Out-of-State vehicle permit with the date of entry to the port clearly indicated.
• Have the vehicle inspected to receive a Vehicle Inspection Certificate.
• Produce a weight slip. This may require visiting a Certified Scale.

Where Do I File A Title Transfer In My County?

Honolulu DMV Address

Maui DMV Address

Hawaii DMV Address

Multiple DMV office locations are available. Click here.

Kauai DMV Address

Hawaii DMV Office Hours

The offices are open Monday through Friday 8 AM to 4 PM.

Hawaii Title Transfer Fees

How much does it cost to transfer a car title in the state of Hawaii?

Each county calculates the titling and registration fees according to the age, value, and weight of the vehicle. Check with your local county Motor Vehicle office for a thorough list of rates and fees.

All offices accept cash, checks and money orders. Check with your office whether a credit card will be accepted. Often, first-time registrations require a cashier’s check.

Title Transfer With A Lien On The Vehicle

If the title still has a lien listed on it, before you buy the car ask for a Certificate of Release of Lien from the seller. Otherwise, you are not buying a car with a clean title.

If you are using an auto loan to buy the car, you will need to provide a letter from your financial institution to the Motor Vehicle office indicating the loan account number and name and address of the lien holder.

You will not receive a paper title until you pay off the loan.

Should you have any further questions about completing a title transfer in Hawaii, contact your county Motor Vehicle office for assistance.

Hawaii DMV Contact Information

For more information on questions specific to your title transfer scenario, clarification on the title transfer process in the state of Hawaii, or for HI DMV hours and to find the DMV location nearest to you, visit the official Hawaii Department of Motor Vehicles website by clicking here.

Common Questions About Hawaii Title Transfer

Are there any questions about transferring a car title that we didn’t cover?

We are constantly updating our content and welcome your feedback. Leave us a comment and let us know any other questions you might have regarding how to transfer a car title in the state of Hawaii.