Information from NADA Title & Registration Textbook 2004

Hawaii Sales and Use Tax Applicable to Registration

Sales/Use tax is 4%. Credit is given for sales taxes paid in another state. If the sales tax is less than 4%, the difference is required to be paid to the State Department of Taxation. If the sales tax is more than 4%, no sales tax is required to be paid. This applies only to new vehicles purchased out-of-state and subsequently re-registered in Hawaii. Taxes are paid by the dealer and collected from the customer. Checks are made payable to the “Director of Finance” when a dealer is paying taxes collected. No credit for trade-ins.