In Hawaii, car registration is expensive. Trucks, 4x4s especially, are more expensive than used cars and SUVs. Buy a used truck in California and ship it over to save money. The late fee for car registration is $16 for cars and $40 for commercial vehicles. Car insurance in Hawaii averages $42 per month or $501 per year.
Registration Process
To register a car, a safety inspection, title and registration application, and fee payment are required. Renewing registration is typically less expensive than initial registration. A 3,000 pound car’s registration fee in Honolulu County is $45.50 plus a $27.50 weight tax. Check the Hawaii DMV website for current fees.
Cost Factors and Renewals
Gas prices make owning a car expensive in Hawaii. Registration is $45 plus 1.75 cents per pound up to 4,000 pounds. The fee per pound increases for heavier vehicles. In 2018 the average car weighed over 4,000 pounds. There is a county weight fee too.
Rental car demand exceeds supply in Hawaii. The rental car fleet decreased over 40% during the pandemic. This created higher rental prices.
At $1,066 per year, Hawaii’s car insurance is below the $1,424 national average. But no-fault policies and higher highway density, population density, and theft rates can raise prices.
Online Registration
To renew registration online, use Honolulu’s system. Only cards are accepted. Starting Monday, Honolulu licensing centers and satellite city halls will no longer take walk-ins for license and ID renewals.
Failure to register vehicles by the expiration date will result in a late penalty. You must have insurance to register a vehicle in Hawaii.
On Monday, Honolulu licensing centers and satellite city halls will no longer take walk-ins for license and ID renewals. To renew online, use Honolulu’s system. Only cards are accepted.