HCC §24-19
Vehicle registration and plate fees
Read the official text at hawaiicounty.gov ↗This section lists the fees you pay for vehicle plates, tags, certificates, and registrations. It also sets annual fees for beautification and abandoned vehicle disposal. Some disabled veterans and government vehicles may be exempt.
attorneysbeneficiariesborrowersbusinessesbuyerschildrencondominium associationscondominium ownerscontractorscountiescourtscreditorsdebtorsdevelopersdomestic partnersemployeesemployersfinancial institutionsguardiansheirshome sellershomebuyershomeownerslandlordslandownersmortgage lendersnotariesparentspersonal representativesreal estate agentsspousesstate agenciessurveyorstenantstrusteesvulnerable adultswards
The ordinance, as written (Hawaiʻi County) — Vehicle registration fees
A copy, taken August 21, 2026. The version published by Hawaiʻi County is the one that governs, and it may have changed since. Check it before relying on anything here.
(a) The fee for issuance for a new series of number plates for vehicles shall be $5. (b) The fee for issuance of a tag or emblem for a vehicle, upon payment of the applicable tax, in any year shall be 50 cents. 24-13 SUPP. 17 (1-2025) (c) The fee for replacement of a lost or mutilated number plate or plates, tag, or emblem, shall be as follows: (1) Number plates, $5. (2) Tag or emblem, 50 cents. (d) The transfer of ownership fee for issuance of a new certificate of ownership shall be $5. (e) The transfer fee for issuance of a new certificate of registration on a trailer shall be $5. (f) The fee for dealer correction for each instance of correction of the registration record shall be $5. (g) The fee for duplicate certificate of registration or certificate of ownership shall be $5. (h) A fee of $1 per certificate of registration shall be assessed and collected annually together with other applicable vehicle taxes and fees, to be used for highway beautification and disposal of abandoned vehicles. (i) An annual fee of $12 per vehicle shall be charged for each vehicle registration, which shall be paid at the same time as the motor vehicle tax paid pursuant to section 24-17 of this chapter. The proceeds from this fee shall be allocated to establish a fund for the towing, removal, disposal and recycling of abandoned or discarded automobiles and automobile parts, and such fund entitled “vehicle disposal fund” is hereby established. (j) An annual County registration fee of $12 per vehicle shall be charged for each vehicle registration, which shall be paid at the same time as the motor vehicle tax paid pursuant to section 24-17 of this chapter. (k) Any person who is totally disabled due to injuries received while on duty with the armed forces of the United States may apply for an exemption from subsections (a), (b), (h), (i), and (j) of this section, for a single noncommercial vehicle, subject to proof of total service related disability from the Veterans Administration and approval by the director of finance. (l) All motor vehicles owned or leased for twelve months or longer by the State or County and all County-subsidized motor vehicles owned or leased for twelve months or longer by police officers that are used for travel by the owner or lessee for official County business shall be exempt from subsections (b), (h), (i), and (j) of this section. SUPP. 17 (1-2025) 24-13.1 VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC This page intentionally left blank. 24-13.2 SUPP. 17 (1-2025)
Published by the County of Hawaiʻi Office of the County Clerk.
LawTrove is not legal advice. The summary above is a computer-generated restatement — the authoritative text is the official version linked above.