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Hawaii car sales tax at a glance
| Hawaii | |
|---|---|
| Tax | general excise tax (GET) |
| State rate | 4% |
| Average with local taxes (2026 (Tax Foundation midyear, July 1)) | 4.5% |
| Counties and cities add tax | Yes |
| Trade-in lowers the tax | No, tax is on the full price |
| Leases | Tax on each monthly payment |
Checked on the state's official sources on 2026-11-02. Rates change; the state's revenue department has the last word.
How to work out Hawaii sales tax on a car
Multiply the taxable price by the rate. Hawaii taxes the full price, even with a trade-in.
A $30,000 car with a $5,000 trade: $30,000 x 4% = $1,200 at the state rate, plus any county or city tax where you register the car.
GET is a tax on the dealer's gross receipts (4% state; county surcharges of up to 0.5% apply on all islands), which dealers usually pass on as a visible charge (a bit higher than the rate because the pass-on is itself taxable). Private (casual) sales are not subject to GET.
Trade-ins
HRS 237-3(b): the dealer's gross proceeds must include the full sale price of the new article; the value of an article accepted as part payment is simply not taxed again, so a trade-in does not lower the GET base.
Leasing a car in Hawaii
Tax on each monthly payment. Hawaii: GET applies to the lessor's gross rental income, so it is normally passed on with each lease payment. The lease calculator uses Hawaii's method when you pick the state.
Dealer doc fees
No state cap found.