Residents of Hawaii must register their vehicles with their county’s DMV. All vehicles are required to have a registration sticker, which must be renewed before it expires.
Applications for license plates in Hawaii can be made in person at one of the Hawaiian Department of Motor Vehicles branch offices.
The registration process varies across Hawaii, so you’ll have to contact the DMV in your county to obtain the exact documents you need.
In general, you should bring with you:
When you purchase a vehicle at a dealership, the dealer will help you with the registration of your vehicle. They often provide temporary plates and can submit your registration forms on your behalf. You can drive off the lot and wait for your license plates to arrive.
If your vehicle is from out of state, you have 30 days from your arrival in Hawaii to register your vehicle.
You might be familiar with Hawaii’s plate design, which has a rainbow on a white background with black characters. This is the standard license plate issued when you register your vehicle.
It is possible to select a customized license plate that represents an organization, occupation, charitable cause, or something else.
You may also be eligible for disability placards and plates if you have a temporary or permanent disability.
There is even the option to personalize the characters on your license plates. These are called vanity plates. You can search for possible plate numbers by performing a free online search.
Here’s a list of some of the specialty license plates available in Hawaii:
There are different plates and decals available in each county throughout Hawaii. Contact your nearest DMV to get an updated list of available specialty license plates.
Remember, specialty plates have different fees and renewal rates than the standard Hawaiian license plates.
Your license plates are only valid until the date printed on your decals. You should renew your registration before the expiration date:
You will likely receive a notification before your plates expire. Expect to wait a week or more for your new decals to arrive in the mail. When you receive them, you can place the new stickers directly over the old ones.
You will be able to keep your license plates and transfer them to a new vehicle. There are fees for transferring plates to a new vehicle. Please see fees for licenses plates for more information about transfer fees.
If you intend to sell, trade, or donate your vehicle and you won’t be purchasing a new vehicle, you are expected to surrender your Hawaiian license plates.
Upgrading your license plate (i.e., personalizing it or getting a specialized style) or moving to a new state are also reasons to surrender your license plate.
If you’re unsure whether you should surrender your license plates, contact the DMV and tell them your situation.
If you believe your license plates have been stolen, you are obligated to notify the police and create a report. This police report is required for the replacement of your stolen plates.
If your plates are damaged, you do not have to report this. Instead, you can bring in your damaged plates, fill out some forms, and get them replaced.
Please bring the following with you to the DMV:
Getting your license plates replaced differs significantly in each county in the state of Hawaii. You should contact the DMV for up-to-date details.
As mentioned, the fees vary throughout the state of Hawaii. To give you a general idea of the costs and fees of registering your vehicle, here are the fees from Hawaii county:
You should contact your DMV to get an accurate quote for your vehicle’s registration.
If you want to find out more information about a vehicle, you can look up license plates online. This search tool allows you to find detailed information about a vehicle’s history. You can also use it to search for available license plate numbers.
Here is a step-by-step guide on how to look up Hawaii License Plates and report bad drivers:
