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HRS §290-5

When a vehicle can be sold without a public auction

This section says when the county can skip a public auction for a vehicle. It can do that if the vehicle is worth less than $1,000 (as the finance director decides) or if it is missing major parts or too damaged to run and its registration has expired. The vehicle must still be publicly advertised first, then sold like an auction with no bids.

everyone

The statute, as written — Waiver of public auction requirements

The requirements of public auction may be waived when the value of any vehicle is less than $1,000 as determined by the director of finance or authorized representative or the vehicle is: (1) Missing major components or so materially damaged as to render the vehicle inoperable; and (2) The registration period has expired for the vehicle. In that event, the vehicle, after public advertisement has been made pursuant to section 1-28.5, may be disposed of in the same manner as when a vehicle is put up for public auction and for which no bid is received.
Read the official text at capitol.hawaii.gov ↗as published Jan 6, 2026our copy taken Aug 20, 2026

Sections this one refers to

§1-28.5 How government agencies must publish public notices

LawTrove is not legal advice. The summary above is a computer-generated restatement — the authoritative text is the official version linked above.