Hawaii title guide

Selling a junk car without a title in Hawaii

The short answer

In Hawaii, you'll usually need the title to sell or scrap a car. If it's lost, apply for a duplicate from your county's motor vehicle office before you book a pickup.

First published November 4, 2026. Rules checked against official Hawaii sources on November 5, 2026 and reviewed by Paola Reniery, Operations Manager (see the sources).

What does Hawaii ask of sellers?

In Hawaii, a replacement title (form CS-L(MVR)10) costs $10.00, you file the Notice of Transfer (form CS-L(MVR)53, also on top of the title) within 10 days, and the title doesn't need a notary. Each card links to the official page it came from.

Replacing a lost title: Form CS-L(MVR)10, Application for Duplicate Motor Vehicle Certificate of Title. Fee: $10.00.; Official source
After the sale: Notice of Transfer (form CS-L(MVR)53, also on top of the title), within 10 days.; Official source
Notary: The title doesn't need to be notarized.; Official source

Hawaii's official guide to selling a vehicle

What do you do if you have the title?

Sign and print your name where the seller signs, fill in the odometer reading if there's a space for it, and leave the buyer section blank. If your title has a notary section, the signatures have to be notarized. If it doesn't, you sign in front of the driver at pickup. Don't sign the title until the driver is there and you've agreed the price.

What if the title is lost or damaged?

Hawaii replacement titles come from your county's motor vehicle office, using form CS-L(MVR)10 (Application for Duplicate Motor Vehicle Certificate of Title), for a fee of $10.00. You'll need the VIN, which is on the dashboard by the windshield, on the driver's door jamb and on your registration. If you're in a hurry, tell our buyer partner when it contacts you: it can buy some cars without a title, so ask whether that works for your car in Hawaii.

Where to find a car's VIN: (1) on the dashboard on the driver's side, read through the windshield, (2) on the label on the driver's door jamb, and (3) on the title, registration or insurance card — The 17-character VIN appears in the same places on almost every car made since 1981: (1) on the dashboard, read through the windshield on the driver's side, (2) on the label on the driver's door jamb, and (3) on the title, registration and insurance card.

For the full walkthrough, including the states that exempt older cars and what to avoid, read how to sell a junk car without a title.

What if there's a loan, or the owner has died?

If a lender is still listed on the title, you'll need its lien release, or the loan gets paid off as part of the sale. If the owner has died, only someone with legal authority, usually the executor, can sell the car, and your county's motor vehicle office can tell you which estate papers Hawaii accepts.

What do you do after the sale?

Report the sale to Hawaii (Notice of Transfer (form CS-L(MVR)53, also on top of the title), within 10 days), so tickets and tolls for the car stop coming to you.
Keep a photo of the signed title, and cancel the insurance once the car has been picked up.

Title rules change, so confirm them with your county's motor vehicle office before you sell; this page is general information, not legal advice.

Can you junk a car without a title in Hawaii?

Usually not. In Hawaii you'll normally need the title or a duplicate from your county's motor vehicle office. Our buyer partner can buy some cars without a title, so ask whether that works for yours in Hawaii when you get your offer.

How do I get a duplicate title in Hawaii?

Apply to your county's motor vehicle office with form CS-L(MVR)10 (Application for Duplicate Motor Vehicle Certificate of Title), and have a photo ID and the VIN ready. The fee is $10.00, according to the agency.

Can I sell a car in Hawaii with just a bill of sale?

A bill of sale on its own usually isn't proof of ownership for a titled vehicle. It's a useful record of the sale, but buyers will normally want the title or a duplicate.