How To Transfer a Car Title to a Family Member in Hawaii in 2026

Across the State of Hawaiʻi, motor vehicle title transfers are administered not by a single centralized agency but by the director of finance in each of the state's four counties. Transfers structured as gifts, in which no monetary consideration passes between parties, carry distinct tax treatment from transfers completed at an agreed purchase price, and each must satisfy the procedural requirements established under state law before a new certificate of ownership is issued. Both the transferor and the transferee must complete their respective statutory obligations to ensure the change of ownership is fully recorded with the appropriate county authority.

What Does Transferring a Car Title to a Family Member in Hawaiʻi Mean?

A vehicle title transfer in Hawaiʻi is the legal process through which recorded ownership on a Certificate of Ownership — also referred to as the Certificate of Title — passes from one party to another under H.R.S. § 286-52. Until the county director of finance issues new Certificates of Registration and Ownership in the recipient's name, the transferor remains the owner of record and retains all associated legal liabilities. H.R.S. § 286-52(e) expressly states that delivery of the vehicle is deemed not to have occurred, and title is deemed not to have passed, until the county completes processing.

Unlike most states, Hawaiʻi does not operate a unified statewide Department of Motor Vehicles. Vehicle titling and registration are managed independently by each of the four county finance offices:

• City and County of Honolulu — serves the island of Oʻahu through the Department of Customer Services
• County of Hawaiʻi — serves the island of Hawaiʻi (the Big Island) through the Vehicle Registration and Licensing Division
• County of Maui — serves Maui, Lānaʻi, and Molokaʻi through the Motor Vehicle and Licensing Division
• County of Kauaʻi — serves the island of Kauaʻi through the Division of Motor Vehicles

The core transfer procedure is uniform across all counties under H.R.S. § 286-52, though title transfer fees, weight tax rates, and certain procedural requirements differ by county. Applications must be submitted to the county in which the vehicle was last registered.

The use tax implications of a vehicle transfer are governed by H.R.S. Chapter 238. A transfer executed as a genuine gift, where no consideration is exchanged, no debt is assumed, and no future payment is expected, qualifies for an exemption from use tax. A transfer completed as a sale at any agreed-upon price does not qualify for this exemption and may require documentation of use-tax compliance for newer vehicles.

Eligible Family Members for Title Transfers in Hawaiʻi

Hawaiʻi law does not define a separate category of "family member" for vehicle title transfer purposes, and no reduced transfer fee or dedicated family transfer program exists under state statute. The same transfer process applies regardless of the relationship between the transferor and the transferee.

The tax treatment of a transfer is determined entirely by the nature of the transaction:

• A transfer in which no monetary consideration is exchanged, no debt is assumed, and no future payment is expected qualifies as a gift under H.R.S. § 238-1 and is exempt from use tax upon proper documentation, regardless of the relationship between the parties.
• A transfer at any stated purchase price — including a reduced or nominal price — is treated as a sale and is subject to the standard transfer and registration process.

Because the gift tax exemption is transaction-based rather than relationship-based, any transfer involving even a nominal payment does not qualify for the use tax exemption, regardless of the familial relationship between the parties.

Note: If the vehicle being transferred has an active lien recorded on the title, the lienholder must release the lien before or at the time of the transfer. The presence of an assumed lien in connection with a transfer is treated as consideration and negates the transaction's gift status.

How To Transfer a Car Title as a Gift to a Family Member in Hawaiʻi

Step 1 — Confirm the title is free of recorded liens. Obtain the original Certificate of Ownership and review it for any recorded lienholder. If a lien is listed in Section B on the reverse, the lienholder must complete and sign the lien release section before the transfer proceeds. An assumed lien disqualifies the transaction from gift treatment for use tax purposes.

Step 2 — The transferor completes the seller's section of the Certificate of Ownership. The transferor (seller or donor) must complete the assignment section on the Certificate of Ownership in pen and ink. All registered owners must sign; if the vehicle is jointly titled, each owner must sign and date the release.

The section and location vary by county-issued title:

• Oʻahu, Maui, and Kauaʻi issued titles: The transferor completes Section A on the front of the certificate
• Hawaiʻi County issued titles: The transferor completes the appropriate seller's section; Hawaii County will verify that signatures match those on record, and cannot complete a transfer if they do not

Note: Hawaiʻi County recommends completing the seller's section in the presence of a notary public, or that both parties attend the transfer together at the county office, to ensure the signatures are verifiable.

Step 3 — The transferee completes the buyer's section of the Certificate of Ownership. The transferee (recipient) must print and sign on the reverse of the Certificate of Ownership in the designated buyer's section. If the vehicle is to be jointly registered, all incoming owners must sign. If a new lien is being recorded, the lienholder must also print and sign in the designated lienholder section.

Step 4 — The transferor files the Notice of Transfer. Under H.R.S. § 286-52(j), the transferor must submit a Notice of Transfer to the county director of finance within 10 days of the transfer date. The notice contains the date of transfer, the names and addresses of both parties, and a description of the vehicle. Filing the Notice of Transfer protects the transferor from civil and criminal liability arising from the vehicle's subsequent use.

• City and County of Honolulu: Use Form CS-LMVR 53, the detachable notice perforated at the top of the Certificate of Ownership, or submit directly at a Satellite City Hall
• County of Maui: Detach the Notice of Transfer form perforated at the top of the Certificate of Ownership and mail it to the Maui Motor Vehicle and Licensing office; if that section was previously removed, a separate form is available at the county office
• County of Hawaiʻi and County of Kauaʻi: Use the notice form attached to the title or request a replacement form from the county motor vehicle office

Step 5 — Prepare a bill of sale documenting the gift. Although not required by statute for gift transfers, a signed bill of sale or written gift declaration documenting the VIN, year, make, model, names and addresses of both parties, the transfer date, and a stated value of "$0" or "Gift" provides evidentiary support for the no-consideration nature of the transaction.

Step 6 — Complete Form G-27 and attach Form G-27A for the use tax gift exemption. For vehicles being registered for the first time in Hawaiʻi, or for vehicles within approximately three model years where use tax certification is required, the transferee must complete Form G-27 (Motor Vehicle Use Tax Certification). To claim the gift exemption, Form G-27A (Affidavit in Support of a Claim for Exemption from Use Tax for a Motor Vehicle Transferred as a Gift) must be completed and attached. Both the transferor and transferee must sign Form G-27A, certifying that:

• No payment in any form was made or received
• No promise of future payment exists
• No debt was assumed in connection with the transfer

A copy of the executed Certificate of Ownership (title) must be attached to Form G-27A. Contact the county motor vehicle office or the Hawaiʻi Department of Taxation District Tax Office to confirm whether Form G-27 is required for the specific vehicle being transferred.

Step 7 — Submit the complete package at the county motor vehicle office. The transferee submits all requirements to the motor vehicle division in the county where the vehicle was last registered, within 30 days of the transfer date.

Step 8 — Receive the new Certificate of Ownership and Certificate of Registration. Upon reviewing and accepting the documents, the county motor vehicle office processes the transfer and issues new certificates in the transferee's name.

How To Transfer a Car Title as a Sale to a Family Member in Hawaiʻi

Step 1 — Establish the purchase price and confirm lien status. The transferor and transferee agree on a purchase price in writing. If a lien is recorded on the title, the lienholder must complete the lien release section before the certificate can be reassigned.

Step 2 — The transferor completes the seller's section of the Certificate of Ownership. Using the same procedures described for gift transfers, the transferor completes the appropriate seller's section on the Certificate of Ownership with the actual purchase price, the transferee's full legal name and address, the transfer date, and the odometer reading. All registered owners must sign in the presence of a notary public, as recommended by the applicable county.

Step 3 — The transferee completes the buyer's section. The transferee prints and signs in the buyer's section on the reverse of the Certificate of Ownership. Joint purchasers must each sign. If applicable, a new lienholder completes the lienholder section.

Step 4 — Prepare a bill of sale. A bill of sale is required for the transfer of sales. The document must include:

• Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
• Year, make, and model of the vehicle
• Full legal names and addresses of both parties
• Agreed purchase price
• Date of the sale
• Signatures of both the transferor and the transferee

Step 5 — The transferor files the Notice of Transfer within 10 days. The same Notice of Transfer obligation described in the gift transfer steps applies to sale transfers. The transferor must file within 10 days of the transfer date using the form provided on the Certificate of Ownership or available at the applicable county motor vehicle office.

Step 6 — Determine use tax obligations for newer vehicles. For vehicles registered in Hawaiʻi for the first time, or for newer vehicles subject to use tax, Form G-27 must be completed and submitted with the county application. Consult the county motor vehicle office or the Hawaiʻi Department of Taxation to confirm applicability. Casual sales of vehicles already registered in Hawaiʻi do not generally trigger a new use tax obligation, as the tax applies to the importation of vehicles into the state.

Step 7 — Submit the complete package at the county motor vehicle office. The transferee submits the following within 30 days of the transfer date:

• Original Certificate of Ownership (endorsed by both parties)
• Current Certificate of Registration
• Current State of Hawaiʻi Safety Inspection Certificate
• Bill of sale
• Form G-27 (if applicable)
• Valid government-issued photo identification
• Payment of the applicable title transfer fee and registration fees

Step 8 — Receive the new Certificate of Ownership and Certificate of Registration. The county motor vehicle office processes the application and issues updated certificates in the transferee's name.

What Documents Are Needed To Transfer a Car Title to a Family Member in Hawaiʻi

Required for All Transfers

• Original Certificate of Ownership — The existing title, with the seller's assignment section completed and signed by all registered owners on the transferor side, and the buyer's section signed by all incoming owners on the transferee side. All recorded lien releases must be completed before submission.
• Current Certificate of Registration — The most recently issued registration certificate for the vehicle.
• Current State of Hawaiʻi Safety Inspection Certificate — A valid safety inspection certificate from a licensed Hawaiʻi inspection station, required by all four counties as a condition of title transfer processing.
• Valid government-issued photo identification — Required by all county motor vehicle offices at the time of submission.
• Payment of transfer fee and registration fees — County-specific transfer fee plus all applicable state and county registration and weight tax fees.

Required for Sale Transfers

• Bill of sale — A signed document containing the VIN, year, make, model, full names and addresses of both parties, purchase price, date of sale, and signatures of both parties.
• Form G-27 — Motor Vehicle Use Tax Certification, required for vehicles being registered in Hawaiʻi for the first time or for newer vehicles as directed by the county or the Hawaiʻi Department of Taxation.

Required for Gift Transfers

• Form G-27 — Motor Vehicle Use Tax Certification (where applicable), with the gift exemption box selected.
• Form G-27A — Affidavit in Support of a Claim for Exemption from Use Tax for a Motor Vehicle Transferred as a Gift. Both parties must sign, certifying that no consideration was passed in any form. A copy of the executed title must be attached.

Additional Documents That May Be Required

• Lien release documentation — If the title reflects an active lienholder, written evidence of the lien release signed by the lienholder is required before the transfer can be completed.
• Non-Commercial Vehicle Certification — Required in Maui County for vehicles classified as pick-up trucks or cargo vans to certify the vehicle is used for non-commercial purposes.
• Letter of Authorization — Required when a vehicle is registered in a business name; must be on file with the county motor vehicle office authorizing a named individual to conduct motor vehicle transactions on the business's behalf.
• Power of Attorney — Required when a party cannot appear in person; must be notarized and specifically authorize vehicle title transfer transactions.

Note: Original documents are required at submission. Photocopies of the Certificate of Ownership are not accepted for processing ownership transfers. Honolulu County advises that signatures on the Vehicle Title Application form must be notarized; Hawaiʻi County recommends completing the seller's section of the title in the presence of a notary public. The federal odometer disclosure requirement applies to vehicles that are under 10 model years old and under 16,000 lbs. GVWR.

How To Transfer a Car Title to a Family Member Online in Hawaiʻi

Title transfers to family members cannot be completed entirely online in any of Hawaiʻi's four counties. Instead, new owners must appear in person at the appropriate county motor vehicle office to submit the transfer documents and pay all applicable fees.

What's the Cost To Transfer a Car Title to a Family Member in Hawaiʻi?

Title Transfer Fees by County

Hawaiʻi does not impose a uniform statewide title transfer fee. Each county sets its own transfer fee:

Annual Registration Fees (Statewide Components)

The following fees are uniform across all four counties:

Vehicle Weight Tax

The weight tax is the largest variable component of Hawaiʻi registration costs and is assessed annually. It consists of a state layer and an additional county layer, each calculated separately based on the vehicle's net weight.

State Weight Tax (H.R.S. § 249-33)

County Weight Tax — Passenger Vehicles

Note: Commercial vehicles are assessed at higher per-pound rates in each county. Maui County also imposes an annual highway improvement surcharge of $100.00 on electric vehicles and $50.00 on hybrid electric vehicles. For a precise total registration cost based on vehicle weight and county of registration, contact the applicable county motor vehicle office directly.

Use Tax on Gift and Sale Transfers

Hawaiʻi imposes a use tax under H.R.S. Chapter 238 on the importation of motor vehicles into the state. The standard use tax rate on motor vehicles is 4% of the landed value of the vehicle. A county surcharge of up to 0.5% may also apply in designated counties.

A transfer structured as a genuine gift — with no monetary consideration, no debt assumed, and no promise of future payment — is exempt from use tax under the definition of "use" in H.R.S. § 238-1. The exemption is claimed by completing Form G-27A and attaching it to Form G-27 at the time of registration. Both parties must certify that the transaction is a gift.

A transfer at any agreed purchase price does not qualify for the gift exemption. For casual sales of vehicles already titled and registered in Hawaiʻi, the use tax obligation generally applies at the time of initial importation and registration, not at each subsequent in-state transfer. Parties uncertain about their use tax obligations for a specific transaction should contact the Hawaiʻi Department of Taxation.

Contact Information

City and County of Honolulu — Department of Customer Services
925 Dillingham Boulevard, Suite 257, Honolulu, HI 96817
Phone: (808) 768-4325
Official Website: Honolulu Department of Customer Services

County of Hawaiʻi — Vehicle Registration and Licensing Division
101 Pauahi Street, Suite 5, Hilo, HI 96720
Phone: (808) 961-8351
Official Website: Hawaiʻi County Vehicle Registration and Licensing

County of Maui — Motor Vehicle and Licensing Division
200 S. High Street, Kalana O Maui Building, Wailuku, HI 96793
Phone: (808) 270-7363
Official Website: Maui County Motor Vehicle and Licensing

County of Kauaʻi — Division of Motor Vehicles
4444 Rice Street, Suite A480, Līhuʻe, HI 96766
Phone: (808) 241-4242
Official Website: Kauaʻi County Division of Motor Vehicles