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Hawaii Car Sales Tax Calculator

Hawaii does not have a traditional sales tax. Instead, a dealer's General Excise Tax (GET) is typically passed on to the buyer, plus a county surcharge, applied to the price after your trade-in allowance. Enter your numbers to see the estimate.

Last reviewed: September 25, 2026Reviewed by Michael Steve

Calculate Your Hawaii Car Sales Tax

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The selling price on your buyer’s order.

What the dealer credits you.

State
HawaiiChange state

All four Hawaii counties currently add a 0.5% surcharge on top of the state's 4% GET, authorized through 2030. Enter 0.5% unless your county has changed it: Hawaii General Excise Tax

Condition

GET is customarily applied to the full price the dealer charges, which includes dealer fees.

Advanced options

Enter your own amounts where you know them. They replace our estimates.

Replaces the state estimate.

Replaces the state estimate.

Plates, inspections, add-ons.

Estimate only

Estimated out-the-door price

$0.00

Enter a vehicle price to see your estimate.

Vehicle price
$0.00
Trade-in
—
Taxable amount
$0.00
General Excise Tax (GET) (4%)
$0.00
Local sales tax
$0.00
Title fee
$0.00
Registration fee
$0.00
Dealer / documentation fee
—
Estimated total
$0.00
How this estimate was calculated

    Estimates are for informational purposes only. Actual taxes and fees may vary based on your location, vehicle, transaction and current state rules.

    Estimated Hawaii Car Sales Tax

    General Excise Tax (GET)4%
    Local taxVaries by location
    Trade-inLowers taxable price
    Dealer feeTaxed with the price; limit not confirmed

    Hawaii's General Excise Tax (GET) is technically a tax on the dealer's gross business income rather than a sales tax on you, but it is customarily passed through to the buyer the same way a sales tax would be. The state rate is 4%, which comes to $1,000.00 on a $25,000 purchase with no trade-in.

    All four Hawaii counties (Honolulu, Hawaiʻi, Kauaʻi and Maui) currently add their own 0.5% GET surcharge, authorized through 2030, so most buyers effectively pay a combined 4.5%.

    Because GET is charged on the dealer's gross receipts from the sale, it is customarily calculated on the price after a trade-in allowance is subtracted, the same way sales tax works in most other states.

    Hawaii Car Title and Registration Fees

    Hawaii's title transfer fee is set by county: $10 in Honolulu and Kauaʻi, $5 in Hawaiʻi County, and $20 in Maui County. Registration combines a flat $46 state fee with a county fee and a weight-based tax that both vary by county, so those two parts are left out unless you enter them under Advanced options.

    FeeAmountNotes
    Title feeTitleVariesSet by county: $10 in Honolulu and Kauaʻi, $5 in Hawaiʻi County, $20 in Maui County. Enter your amount under Advanced options.
    State registration feeRegistration$46.00The uniform annual state registration fee under HRS Chapter 249.
    County fee and weight taxRegistrationVariesA county registration fee (e.g. $20 in Honolulu) plus a weight tax that both vary by county. Enter your amount under Advanced options.
    Dealer documentation feeSet by the dealerVariesWe have not confirmed a specific Hawaii dollar limit on the dealer documentation fee.

    How Hawaii Car Sales Tax Is Calculated

    1. Start with the purchase price.
    2. Subtract your trade-in allowance.
    3. Multiply the result by the combined GET rate of 4% (4% state plus your county's surcharge).
    4. Add your title fee and combined state, county and weight-based registration fees to reach your out-the-door price.

    Electric and alternative-fuel vehicles pay an additional annual registration surcharge on top of the standard state, county and weight-based fees.

    Because GET surcharges are set to expire in 2030 unless a county renews them, check the Hawaii Department of Taxation's GET page for the current rate in your county. Read how a trade-in affects sales tax to see how Hawaii's excise-tax approach compares with other states.

    Example Hawaii Car Sales Tax Calculation

    This example assumes the standard 0.5% county GET surcharge charged in all four Hawaii counties.

    Vehicle price$25,000.00
    Trade-in−$5,000.00
    Taxable amount$20,000.00
    General Excise Tax (GET) (4%)$800.00
    Local tax (0.5%)$100.00
    Title feeNot included
    Registration fee (partial)$46.00
    Estimated total$20,946.00

    This is an illustration, not a quote.

    Frequently Asked Questions About Hawaii Car Sales Tax

    Does Hawaii charge sales tax on a car?

    Not a traditional sales tax. Hawaii's General Excise Tax (GET) is legally a tax on the dealer's gross receipts, but it is customarily passed on to the buyer the same way a sales tax would be. Right now that is 4% state plus a 0.5% county surcharge in all four counties.

    Does a trade-in reduce Hawaii's GET?

    Customarily, yes. GET is calculated on the price after a trade-in allowance is subtracted, the same way sales tax works in most other states.

    Is the county surcharge the same everywhere in Hawaii?

    Currently, yes. All four counties (Honolulu, Hawaiʻi, Kauaʻi and Maui) charge the same 0.5% surcharge, authorized through 2030.

    How much is vehicle registration in Hawaii?

    It combines a flat $46 state fee with a county fee and a weight-based tax that both vary by county. Check with your county for the current total on top of the $46.

    How much is the title fee in Hawaii?

    It's set by county: $10 in Honolulu and Kauaʻi, $5 in Hawaiʻi County, and $20 in Maui County.

    Sources

    Taxes and fees change, so confirm exact amounts with the agencies above.

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