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April 28, 2022
Buying a new car, though undeniably exciting, comes with some hidden costs that you may not factor into your initial budget.
To help you prepare in advance for all of those extra fees and taxes, we put together this comprehensive list of all sales taxes and fees you’ll need to pay when you purchase a new car in Hawaii.
Table of Contents
The car sales tax in Hawaii is 4% of the purchase price.
Hawaii also applies a vehicle fee based on the weight of your vehicle:
This does not include any city, county, or municipality tax, which can bring the total tax rate to 4.5%.
Calculating your state sales tax on your new car in Hawaii is easy. Just follow this simple formula to find how much you will need to pay in sales tax and how much you’ll need to pay in total for that new vehicle.
Multiply the cost of the vehicle by 4% (or .04) to get the sales tax. You’ll also need to calculate the cost you’ll need to pay based on the weight of your vehicle and add that to get the total price you will need to pay.
For example, if you pay $35,000 for your new car, you’ll multiply that number by 4% to get $1,400. Add $1,400 to $35,000 to get your total purchase price of $36,400.
If the car weighs 5,000 lbs, you’ll need to multiply 5,000 x .02 to get $100, leaving the total cost of your new vehicle at $36,500.
Calculate Car Sales Tax in Hawaii Example:
- Sale Price 1: $8,000
- Car Weight: 5,000 lb
- Trade-in Amount: $2,000
- Incentives: $1,000
Sales Tax: $8,000 * .04 = $320
Excise Tax Based on Weight: 5,000 lb * .02 = $100
Total Tax: $420
Yes, you do need to pay 4% sales tax on a used car in Hawaii.
The highest tax is in Honolulu County (Oahu Island) with a 4.5% state sales tax rate on the purchase of all vehicles.
Multiple counties in Hawaii have only a 4% car sales tax.
Hawaii is one of seven states that applies the tax to your new car on the price before the trade-in is deducted. In other words, do not subtract the trade-in amount when calculating the sales tax.
For example, if you’re new car is $35,000, but your trade-in is valued at $7,000, you will still have to pay 4% of $35,000.
A private sale of a car in Hawaii is considered a “casual sale” and is not subject to sales tax.
Rebates and dealer incentives are taxable in the state of Hawaii. In other words, do not subtract any incentive amount from the car price before calculating the sales tax.
As an example, let's say you want to purchase a new truck for $25,000, and the dealer provides a $5,000 rebate. You still have to pay taxes on the full $25,000 sale price.
Aside from the state tax on your new or pre-owned vehicle, some other fees and taxes need to be factored into the final price.
The DMV and state fees that could be associated with the purchase of a new vehicle in Hawaii include:
The average amount of DMV fees on a car in Hawaii add up to around $108.
Dealership fees are also known as closing fees, “doc” (document), administrative, or processing fees. These are additional costs that dealerships charge for the paperwork-related tasks associated with selling vehicles to consumers.
In Hawaii, the average cost of dealership fees is $250, but there are no laws regulating how much dealerships can charge for these fees.
There are just a few reasons how you could get out of paying sales tax on your vehicle in Hawaii, including:
Hawaii offers some incentives to encourage more people to purchase electric vehicles in their state.
This includes a federal tax incentive of up to $7,500 as well as a possible discount on a smart charging station from Enel X for qualifying vehicles.
Tax information and rates are subject to change, please be sure to verify with your local DMV.
The sales tax on a car purchased in Hawaii is 4% statewide, with some counties charging higher percentages.
Yes, you have to pay 4% sales tax on a used car in Hawaii.
Most cities in Hawaii charge only the 4% car sales tax.
Honolulu County (Oahu Island) with 4.712% state sales tax rate on the purchase of all vehicles.
No, you do not have to pay sales tax on a gifted car in Hawaii.
Registration in Hawaii costs $5.
No, a trade-in does not reduce sales tax in Hawaii.
Veterans with disabilities are exempt from all car sales taxes and fees in Hawaii.
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Posted in Car Buying Tips |
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