A Hawaii motor vehicle bill of sale (form CS-L(MVR)40) is a document that records the transfer of vehicle ownership between a buyer and a seller. It affirms that the seller relinquishes control and possession of their vehicle to the buyer in exchange for payment of a designated purchase price. In the bill of sale, the seller provides a description of the motor vehicle, which consists of the make, model year, body type, and identification number. The seller must also enter an accurate mileage reading taken from the vehicle’s odometer. After preparing the form, the seller and co-seller (if applicable) must appear before a notary public and inscribe their signatures. The notary will then authenticate the document to finalize the transaction.

Hawaii Vehicle Registration

If buying a vehicle privately in Hawaii, the new owner will need to register the motor vehicle within thirty (30) days after the sale. Each island manages registration differently. Owners should contact their local registration office to determine the filing procedures for their county. In general, the process is as follows:

1. Visit the registration office or kiosk and submit the following:
   • Certificate of title that’s been transferred to the new owner;
   • Previously-issued certificate of registration;
   • Previously-issued Hawaii inspection certificate;
   • Proof of no-fault insurance;
   • Valid driver’s license.
2. Fill out the application provided by the registration office or kiosk. If registering on the island of Maui, the owner can use the Application for Registration of Motor Vehicle.
3. After submitting the required paperwork, the owner must pay the registration fee to complete the process (between $5 and $10).