What is a License Plate Replacement in Hawaii?
Each of Hawaii’s four counties issues and replaces license plates independently; there is no centralized DMV in the state. Replacement involves reissuing the plate(s) and registration emblem outside the regular renewal cycle due to loss, theft, damage, defacement, destruction, or illegibility (HRS § 249-8).
- Replacement has its own fee, separate from the annual registration tax. If registration expires within 45 days, the county collects both fees in one transaction.
- A new number is assigned. Plate replacement involves a new registration number. Any toll accounts, parking permits, or insurance records associated with the old number must be updated.
- Hawaii requires two plates on most vehicles, one in the front and one in the rear (HRS § 249-7). Motorcycles, trailers, and semi-trailers have one rear plate.
- Loss of one plate means surrendering the other. The county confiscates the remaining plate and reissues both as a pair.
When Do You Need to Replace Your Hawaii License Plate?
Owners must apply for replacement when a plate is missing, physically damaged, or worn to illegibility. HRS § 249-8 covers loss, defacement, destruction, and any condition that renders the plate illegible or difficult to read.
- Lost or stolen plates require a police report in the City and County of Honolulu before a replacement application is accepted (Honolulu License Plate Page). Outer island counties require a written statement of the reason for loss on the application form itself.
- Damaged or faded plates still in your possession must be surrendered at the counter. The statute does not set a specific deadline for replacing a worn plate, but HRS § 249-7(b) requires plates to remain “entirely unobscured” and “reasonably clean” at all times.
- Vehicles arriving from out of state must be registered within 30 days of first operation in Hawaii (HRS § 286-54). Out-of-state plates remain on the vehicle until the county issues new Hawaii plates.
How to Get a Replacement License Plate in Hawaii
Plate replacement is conducted in person only in all four counties. No county currently accepts the transaction online or by mail.
- Gather your current registration certificate and valid photo ID before visiting. Honolulu residents who reported a lost or stolen plate will need the police report mentioned in the trigger conditions section above.
- On Oahu, replacement is a window express transaction at any satellite city hall. No appointment is needed. Nine locations serve the island. The replacement application in Honolulu is form CS-L(MVR)3.
- Hawaii County uses form VRL-MVR554, available at the Hawaii County Vehicle Registration and Licensing Office in Hilo or Kona. Maui County and Kauai County have their own replacement applications.
- Hawaii and Kauai counties require a valid safety certificate at the time of replacement. Bring damaged or defaced plates for surrender; if one plate is missing, bring the remaining one.
- New plates are typically issued at the counter. Payment methods include cash, check, and money order; credit and debit cards are accepted with a 2.35% service fee.
Can You Replace a Hawaii License Plate Online?
No. Hawaii does not offer online plate replacement through any county. The statewide Hawaii Vehicle Registration Renewal Portal only handles renewal transactions. The Honolulu Online Services Page confirms that registration renewals, duplicate driver’s licenses, and personalized plate applications are available online, but plate replacement is not.
Oahu residents use the window express at any satellite city hall. Outer island residents visit their county vehicle office in Hilo, Kona, Kahului, or Lihue.
Honolulu accepts mail-in requests for a duplicate registration certificate (not plates) using form CS-L(MVR)5, sent to P.O. Box 30330, Honolulu, HI 96820. This channel does not extend to plate replacement.
Plan an in-person visit to the county office for any plate reissuance.
How Much is License Plate Replacement in Hawaii?
The replacement fee is set by the director of finance for each county, so the total depends on where the vehicle is registered. The base fee covers the production of two plates plus the registration emblem; the 45-day renewal rule described in the trigger section can significantly increase the bill.
- Honolulu: $5.00 for plates, $0.50 for the emblem, $5.50 total (Honolulu License Plate Page). Card payments add a 2.35% service fee.
- Hawaii County matches $5.50 for plates and emblem together, with the emblem separately at $0.50 (Hawaii County Replacement Page). A 2.35% processing fee applies to card transactions.
- Maui County has a higher fee: $7.25 for plates and emblem, $6.75 for plates only, $0.50 for emblem only (Maui County Replacement Page).
- Kauai splits the fee differently, $5.00 for plates, $1.00 for the emblem, and $6.00 together. A duplicate registration certificate on Kauai costs $10.00 (Kauai Replacement Page).
- Personalized plates have a separate annual fee of $60.00 according to HRS § 249-9.1, which is charged in addition to the plate replacement fee.