Hawaii car sales tax: 4.712% and what it applies to

• Hawaii charges 4.712%, and that rate is the same everywhere in the state — no county or city adds to it on a vehicle purchase.

• Taxed on top of the vehicle price: the dealer doc fee, dealer-installed accessories and extended warranties and service contracts.
• Your trade-in comes off before tax is calculated.

• Hawaii has no sales tax. The dealer owes the general excise tax (GET): 4% state plus a 0.5% county surcharge, 4.5% in all. The dealer may pass it on to you at up to 4.712%, because the tax is also charged on the amount passed on. All four counties are the same, through December 31, 2030.
• The dealer has to tell you it will pass the tax on, and may not claim the price has no tax in it. The pass-on is a contract term, so it is shown on the sales contract as its own line.
• A trade-in lowers the amount taxed only when you buy a new car. On a used car the whole price is taxed, even with a trade-in.
• A manufacturer rebate does not lower the tax: the dealer owes GET on the full price because the manufacturer pays the difference. A dealer's own discount does lower it.
• Registration: on a new car the dealer usually registers it for you. You pay the state registration fee, a state weight tax and a county weight tax set by the car's weight, a county fee, a beautification fee and plates. This estimate assumes a 3,750-pound car unless you enter a weight. Honolulu's weight tax is 7 cents a pound, Maui's 3.5, Kauai's 2 and Hawaii County's 1.25.
• Hawaii County's own fee page no longer lists amounts, so its fees are estimates. Ask the dealer or the county office for the exact figure.

Source: Hawaii Department of Taxation - County Surcharge on General Excise and Use Tax · rules last verified Oct 11, 2026. Methodology.