Cost to Register a Car After Moving to Hawaii
Moving to Hawaiimeans re-titling and re-registering your vehicle as a new resident. Here's what that actually costs, computed from the state's current fee schedule.
One-time costs when you arrive
Hawaii keeps one-time transfer costs minimal for a typical car.
Your ongoing annual cost
For a typical three-year-old gas vehicle, expect about $46.00 per year — driving an EV changes that to $96.00. Hawaii combines a $46 state registration fee (raised July 2025) with state weight taxes (1.75–2.25 cents per pound) and county weight taxes — Honolulu's is 7 cents per pound, so a 3,500-lb car on Oahu pays roughly $300+ more in weight taxes plus about $32 in other county fees. EVs pay a $50 state surcharge or can opt into the new per-mile road usage charge (capped at $50).
Before you budget
- Weight taxes typically add $100–$350 depending on island and vehicle weight — county-level rates coming to this calculator.
- EVs may choose a per-mile road usage charge ($8/1,000 miles, $50 cap) instead of the flat fee; it becomes mandatory for EVs in 2028.
Estimate your exact Hawaii cost
Your vehicle
- State registration fee$46.00
Estimate only — actual fees are set by your state and county at the time of registration. Data last reviewed 2026-07-16. This state's full local formula is not yet implemented; see the notes below the calculator.
All figures computed from official fee schedules — sources: https://law.justia.com/codes/hawaii/title-14/chapter-249/section-249-31/ · https://www.honolulu.gov/csd/fee-table/ — last reviewed 2026-07-16.