Selling a car in Hawaii: the paperwork
| Hawaii seller rules at a glance | What applies |
|---|---|
| Notarized title signature | Not required |
| Report the sale | Notice of Transfer, form CS-L(MVR)53, within 10 days |
| Duplicate title | CS-L(MVR)10 (Application for Duplicate Motor Vehicle Certificate of Title); $10 (Honolulu) |
| Junk without a title | Title required (County statement of facts relating to junking of vehicles) |
Title questions, duplicate titles and release of liability forms are handled by the your county's motor vehicle office (Honolulu, Hawaii, Maui or Kauai County). Compare these rules with other states on our seller rules by state page. After the sale, cancel your insurance once the car is gone. Our after-sale checklist covers each step.
No obligation.
Where we pick up in Hawaii
We buy cars in Honolulu, Hilo, Kailua, Kahului and Kapolei, and in every other town in Hawaii a tow truck can reach. Pickup is free wherever the car is, from a city driveway to a farm lot, and you're paid before it's loaded.
How it works in Hawaii
Get your offer
Tell us the year, make, model and condition, or start with your VIN. Your cash offer is good for 7 days.
Pick a pickup time
Choose when and where. Towing is free anywhere in Hawaii, and pickup is usually within 24 to 48 hours.
Get paid on the spot
The driver checks the car and pays you. Then you sign the title, hand over the keys and the car is loaded.
Hawaii car selling questions
Do I need a title to sell my car in Hawaii?
For a titled vehicle, yes: the title is how ownership passes to the buyer. To replace a lost Hawaii title, apply to the your county's motor vehicle office (Honolulu, Hawaii, Maui or Kauai County) with CS-L(MVR)10 (Application for Duplicate Motor Vehicle Certificate of Title). The fee is $10 (Honolulu).
Can I junk a car without a title in Hawaii?
No. To junk a vehicle, the owner must give the county director of finance a signed statement of the junking and the signed certificate of title (HRS 286-51.5). To replace a lost Hawaii title, apply to the your county's motor vehicle office (Honolulu, Hawaii, Maui or Kauai County) with CS-L(MVR)10 (Application for Duplicate Motor Vehicle Certificate of Title). The fee is $10 (Honolulu).
Does the title need to be notarized in Hawaii?
No. Hawaii doesn't require the seller's signature on the title to be notarized. Sign the seller section exactly as your name appears on the front of the title, and add the odometer reading and sale date where the title asks for them.
How do I tell the Hawaii DMV that I sold my car?
File the Notice of Transfer, form CS-L(MVR)53, with the state within 10 days of the sale. It records that the car is no longer yours. Filing it protects you from tickets, tolls and liability for anything that happens after the car leaves.
Is pickup really free everywhere in Hawaii?
Yes. Towing is free anywhere in Hawaii a tow truck can reach, and nothing is deducted from your offer for it.
Sources
- City and County of Honolulu: Vehicle Ownership Transfer
- City and County of Honolulu: Application for Duplicate Motor Vehicle Certificate of Title (form)
- City and County of Honolulu: Vehicle Transfer with Personalized Plates
- HRS 286-51.5, Junking of nonrepairable vehicle (Hawaii State Legislature)
- County of Kauai, Permanently Junking a Vehicle
Checked against these sources on November 6, 2026.
Last updated November 6, 2026.