Getting a newly purchased vehicle registered
Renewing your registration
Conclusion
Getting a newly purchased vehicle registered
If you buy a new car in Hawaii from a dealer, there is a very good chance that all of the work will be done, and that the car will already have the registration ready to go. If not, they will give you all the paperwork you need as well as any instructions you need in order to get your new car registered. You will need to do that within four weeks of the official purchase date.
If you buy your car from a private seller you will need to do all of the legwork for getting the title and registration transferred. So, you will need to take a trip to your local Hawaiian DMV and you will need to bring the previous registration (from the previous owner), the signed-over vehicle title, a filled out “application for registration” form, the safety inspection report and cash or credit card for payment of associated fees.
If you are getting a car registered that you shipped to Hawaii from another state you will need to go to the DMV and bring the following: the most up-to-date out of state registration, proof of vehicle weight, the vehicle title, a filled out “application for registration” form, the safety inspection report and cash or credit card for payment of associated fees. If you do not want to do this right away, you can also apply for an out of state permit as well. Whether you get your car registered or get the out of state permit, you will need to do both in person and within thirty days of arriving in Hawaii.
Renewing your registration
Thankfully, renewing your registration will be much easier. You will not even need to take a trip to the DMV to complete this as you will be able to do so online. In order to renew your vehicle’s registration in Hawaii, you will just need to find your specific counties’ registration website and go from there. There will be fees associated with the renewal which you can pay online with a credit card. You can also renew your registration by mail with a check. Another positive facet to renewing your registration in Hawaii will be that you will not even need to remember to renew your registration as the DMV will send you a reminder, by mail, about forty-five days before your current registration expires.
Conclusion
What you will need to do in order to get your car registered in Hawaii will depend on whether you are registering a car you just bought from a dealer, a car you just bought from a private seller, a car you shipped to Hawaii or you are renewing your current registration. If you are registering a car that you shipped here or bought from a private seller, there will be a bit more work to do in order to complete the registration process. Regardless, be sure you always get your registration in a timely manner in order to avoid a costly ticket.
