Selling or junking a car in Hawaii, step by step
- Find your title (or replace it). If the title is lost or damaged, request a duplicate from the your county Motor Vehicle office (Hawaii) using Application for a Duplicate Title.
- Pay off any loan. If a lender is listed on the title, it must release the lien before the car can change hands. See our guide to junking a car with a lien.
- Sign the title over at pickup. The seller fills in the odometer reading (for vehicles 20 years old or newer), dates, prints and signs the front of the certificate of title, and any lienholder signs the back or gives a lien release letter. The seller gives the buyer the signed title, the latest registration certificate and the safety inspection certificate. Notarizing the seller's signature is optional but recommended.
- Deal with your plates. Ask the your county Motor Vehicle office (Hawaii) whether you keep, transfer or return your plates.
- File the Notice of Transfer. The seller detaches the Notice of Transfer from the top of the title, or downloads the form, and files it within 10 days with the county where the vehicle was last registered. It cannot be filed online, and failing to file can bring a fine.
How to sign over a title in Hawaii
The seller fills in the odometer reading (for vehicles 20 years old or newer), dates, prints and signs the front of the certificate of title, and any lienholder signs the back or gives a lien release letter. The seller gives the buyer the signed title, the latest registration certificate and the safety inspection certificate. Notarizing the seller's signature is optional but recommended.
Official page: honolulu.gov. For general tips on avoiding mistakes, see how to sign over a car title.
Lost title? Getting a duplicate in Hawaii
Honolulu provides a downloadable application for a duplicate certificate of title. Its FAQ says to email the Motor Vehicle Registration Branch to check on the status of a duplicate title.
- Form: Application for a Duplicate Title — download
- Official page: honolulu.gov
More background: how to get a duplicate title before junking.
Notice of Transfer
The seller detaches the Notice of Transfer from the top of the title, or downloads the form, and files it within 10 days with the county where the vehicle was last registered. It cannot be filed online, and failing to file can bring a fine.
- Form: CS-L(MVR)53
- Can be filed online: no
- Official page: honolulu.gov
Why it matters: release of liability when selling a car.
License plates after you sell
We couldn't confirm Hawaii's plate rule on an official page. Ask the your county Motor Vehicle office (Hawaii) before pickup, and see plates and insurance when junking a car.
Junk and salvage titles in Hawaii
Honolulu runs a free Junk Vehicle Program that tows away an eligible vehicle. The owner completes a statement of facts about junking the vehicle, removes and turns in the plates, and brings the title papers to a satellite city hall appointment.
Official page: honolulu.gov. Background: salvage vs. rebuilt vs. junk titles.
Selling a car without a title in Hawaii
We didn't find an official Hawaii page describing a no-title option, so the safest route is to request a duplicate first. Our guide to junking a car without a title covers the general options buyers may accept.
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Hawaii title questions
How do I replace a lost car title in Hawaii?
Honolulu provides a downloadable application for a duplicate certificate of title. Its FAQ says to email the Motor Vehicle Registration Branch to check on the status of a duplicate title. The form is Application for a Duplicate Title.
Do I need to notify Hawaii when I sell or junk my car?
Hawaii uses the Notice of Transfer. The seller detaches the Notice of Transfer from the top of the title, or downloads the form, and files it within 10 days with the county where the vehicle was last registered. It cannot be filed online, and failing to file can bring a fine.
What happens to my license plates when I sell a car in Hawaii?
Check with the your county Motor Vehicle office (Hawaii); plate rules vary by state.
Can I junk a car without a title in Hawaii?
It depends on the car and the buyer. The simplest route is usually to request a duplicate title first. Our guide to junking a car without a title explains the general options.
Official sources
- your county Motor Vehicle office (Hawaii) — homehonolulu.gov
- Selling or transferring a vehicle titlehonolulu.gov
- Application for a Duplicate Title formwww4.honolulu.gov
- Junk and salvage vehicleshonolulu.gov
Summarized from official Hawaii government websites in October 2026. Fees and procedures change; always confirm with the your county Motor Vehicle office (Hawaii) before you sell. This guide is general information, not legal advice.