Hawaii Car Sales Tax Calculator

What you pay in tax when you buy a vehicle in Hawaii, from the statute and the revenue department.

Verified September 21, 2026 · statute and revenue department cross-checked
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Buying the car is only half the cost. You still owe an annual registration fee.
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What to know about Hawaii

Hawaii has no sales tax. It has a General Excise Tax charged to the business, which dealers pass on. Because the pass-on is itself taxable, invoices commonly show 4.712 percent rather than 4.5. Trade-in treatment depends on which accounting method the dealer chooses, so ask. Private sales between individuals are not taxed. Shipping a car in triggers use tax on the landed value including freight.

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Sources

Statute: HRS § 237-13, § 237-8.6
Hawaii Department of Taxation, County Surcharge
“The Legislature authorized the counties to adopt a surcharge on the general excise tax (GET) and use tax by ordinance at a rate of no greater than 0.5%. ... City and County of Honolulu: 4.7120%”
Hawaii TIR 93-3, Use Tax on Imported Vehicles
“No depreciation is allowed for a motor vehicle brought into Hawaii within 90 days of its date of purchase.”


Last verified: September 21, 2026.
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Estimates only. Your dealer or the state issues the final bill, and exemptions can change what you owe. This page does not collect or store anything you enter.