Hawaii charges general excise tax (get) with county surcharge of 4% at the state level, and local jurisdictions add their own, which brings a typical vehicle to about 4.5%. A trade-in does not reduce the taxable price here.
All four counties (Honolulu, Maui, Hawaii, Kauai) currently impose the 0.5% county surcharge through 2030, so the effective rate is 4.5% (4.712% when passed on) everywhere.
The GET is a tax on the seller's gross income, so manufacturer rebates and other consideration are included in the taxable base.
Registration is annual and mostly weight-based; the county weight tax dominates on Oahu.
The $10 title figure is the Honolulu certificate of ownership/transfer fee; new-vehicle titling in other counties is similar but set by each county.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Title | $10.00 |
| Registration (weight-based) | ~$360 |
| Plates | $5.00 |
| State EV/alternative fuel surcharge (annual, electric and alternative fuel vehicles) | $50.00 |
Lease tax applies to each monthly payment rather than to the full price of the car, so you pay it as you go.
Pick your city for the exact combined rate where you register, plus what title and registration run there.
Hawaii charges 4% at the state level and local jurisdictions add more, so a typical combined rate on a vehicle is about 4.5% and can reach 4.5% at the high end. The rate is set by the dealership location, so pick your city above for the exact figure.
GET applies to the dealer's gross proceeds; Hawaii does not exclude the trade-in allowance from the taxable amount (secondary sources; not confirmed from a Department of Taxation page in this run).
Title is $10.00. Honolulu example (3,320 lb car): state registration $46 + county registration $20 + state weight tax $58.10 (1.75 cents/lb up to 4,000 lbs) + county weight tax $232.40 (7 cents/lb) + highway beautification $10 + emblem $0.50 = $367. Other counties set their own county weight tax and county registration fee.
No. Hawaii sets no statutory cap, and dealers typically charge around $395. No statutory cap. Typical from CarEdge 2026 (secondary).
Tax applies to each monthly payment rather than the whole price of the car, so the tax is spread across the lease.
Rates, fees, and rules change. These figures are estimates for planning, not tax advice; confirm the final numbers with the dealer and your state's motor vehicle agency before you buy.