Ownership Transfer - Registered in Hawai‘i County
Ownership Transfer (Buyer)
The buyer must accomplish the following:
The new registered owners must print and sign their names on the appropriate lines on the reverse side of the certificate of title. If the vehicle is to be jointly registered, both parties must sign. If the vehicle is being registered in the name of a business, you must have a letter of authorization on file authorizing you to buy vehicles on behalf of the business.
The new lienholder must print and sign their names on the appropriate lines on the reverse side of the certificate of title. Both parties must sign if the vehicle is jointly owned.
To complete the transfer, the properly endorsed certificate of title, the current certificate of registration, and current safety inspection certificate must be submitted within 30 days to the motor vehicle registration office. A transfer fee of $5.00 will be assessed. If the registration has expired or will expire within 45 days the cost of registration renewal will be calculated and collected by vehicle registration & licensing personnel.
Please note that a late transfer fee of $50.00 will be assessed if the documents are submitted after 30 days. In addition, you will be assessed delinquent taxes for prior years that the vehicle has not been registered.
Vehicle Registration & Licensing personnel will request a government issued identification at the time of registration.
Ownership Transfer (Seller)
The seller must accomplish the following:
If you possess the Oahu, Maui, or Kauai certificate of title, the registered owners must complete section A on the front of the title. Hawaii County will verify signatures of all sellers. We are unable to complete the transfer if the signature(s) do not match. If vehicle is jointly registered both signatures and date of release are required.
It is recommended that Section A (on your title) be completed in front of a Notary Public or that you accompany the buyer to complete the title transfer.
The lienholder must complete Section B on the reverse side of the title.
Complete the odometer reading in the spaces provided on the certificate of title.
Give the new owner the endorsed certificate of title, the current certificate of registration and certificate of safety inspection. Complete a notice of transfer form and mail it within 10 days to the county motor vehicle registration office where the vehicle was last registered.
If the vehicle is registered in the name of a business, a letter of authorization must be on file at the vehicle registration & licensing office naming you as an authorized person to sell vehicles on behalf of the business. If the business is a partnership, all partners must sign the letter of authorization; and if the business is a corporation, a corporate officer must sign the letter of authorization.