What is a Hawaii License Plate?
Hawaii registers vehicles at the county level rather than through a single state DMV. The director of finance for each county issues license plates, collects taxes, and maintains registration records according to HRS Chapter 249. Residents register at their county’s motor vehicle office or a satellite branch.
The current standard license plate uses a rainbow design introduced in 1991. Starting January 1, 2025, all new plates will spell the state name “HAWAIʻI” with an okina diacritical mark. Previously issued plates without the okina remain valid.
Types of License Plates in Hawaii
- Standard license plates are issued at registration and feature the rainbow design. Replacement plates and emblems cost $5.50.
- Organizational specialty plates support nonprofit organizations and institutions, with an additional annual fee of $25 charged at renewal. Available designs vary by county.
- Personalized plates cost $60 annually according to HRS § 249-9.1, applied at initial order and each renewal. Plate manufacturing takes 60 to 90 days.
- Military plates cover veterans, Purple Heart recipients, Pearl Harbor survivors, former POWs, combat veterans, and Gold Star family members, as well as conflict-specific designs for WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Gulf, Iraq, and Afghanistan veterans (HRS § 249-9.2). Disabled veterans with a permanent and total service-connected rating are exempt from all annual registration fees for two vehicles (HRS § 249-31.5).
The full selection can be viewed through each county’s motor vehicle office and county specialty plate pages.
What Vehicles Require License Plates in Hawaii?
All motor vehicles operated on public roads must be registered and taxed according to HRS Chapter 249. Vehicles from other states must obtain either a permit or full registration in Hawaii within 30 days of arrival. Fees combine a state registration fee, state weight tax, and county-imposed taxes that vary across the four counties.
- Passenger vehicles have two plates (front and rear). The state registration fee is $46 annually (HRS § 249-31), and the state weight tax is 1.75¢ per pound for vehicles up to 4,000 pounds, 2.00¢ for 4,001 to 7,000 pounds, and 2.25¢ for 7,001 to 10,000 pounds (HRS § 249-33). Additional county weight taxes and registration fees apply.
- Motorcycles receive one rear plate at the same state registration fee of $46, plus applicable county fees.
- One plate is mounted on trailers and semi-trailers, affixed at the rear. Weight-based taxes apply.
- Vehicles over 10,000 pounds pay a flat state weight tax of $300 instead of a per-pound rate.
- Electric vehicles pay an annual road usage fee of $50 (flat option) or $8 per 1,000 miles driven, capped at $50, under the Hawaii road usage charge program effective July 1, 2025.
License Plate Rules in Hawaii
- Two plates are required on passenger vehicles, one front and one rear, securely fastened to prevent swinging (HRS § 249-7(b)). Trailers, semi-trailers, and motorcycles have one rear plate.
- Plates must be fully visible and maintained in reasonably clean condition. No material may cover the plate unless it is colorless and transparent. Under the legibility rule described in the above fee schedule, the 2026 legislature passed HB 1510, amending HRS § 286-73, prohibiting all covers and shields over plates regardless of transparency, effective January 1, 2027.
Is Driving Around with No License Plate in Hawaii Illegal?
Yes. Operating an unregistered vehicle or a vehicle without valid plates on a public road violates HRS § 249-11. The statute also covers using a vehicle with expired taxes.
Fraudulent attachment of plates not issued for the vehicle or using plates intended for another vehicle falls under the same statute. A separate section, HRS § 249-7(a), makes unauthorized plate or emblem transfer punishable by a fine up to $50 per offense.
What is the Penalty for Driving Without a License Plate in Hawaii?
Hawaii’s penalty structure under Chapter 249 starts with moderate fines, but plate cover violations sharply increase under recent amendments.
- Operating without valid plates or with expired registration taxes is a traffic infraction under HRS § 249-11, carrying a fine up to $500.
- Late registration incurs a fixed annual penalty of 16forpassengervehicles(8 county plus $8 state) and $40 for commercial vehicles, charged at renewal.
- Fraudulent plates: attaching plates not issued for the vehicle or using plates issued for another vehicle is punishable under the same § 249-11 with a cap of $500.
- Obstructing a plate with any cover or shield is punishable by a fine of no less than $1,000 per offense under HRS § 286-73 (as amended by HB 1510, effective January 1, 2027). Each day of violation is considered a separate offense.
- Plate forgery (mutilation or alteration) is an offense under HRS § 291C-36, with a maximum fine of $100 or a short jail term.