Car Title Transfer After Divorce in Hawaii

The 10-Day Clock Starts Immediately

When your Hawaii divorce decree awards a vehicle to one spouse, the other spouse must transfer the title — and the timeline is tight. Under Hawaii law, the person transferring ownership of a vehicle must file a Notice of Transfer with the county DMV within 10 calendar days of the transfer date. Separately, the new owner must complete the title transfer within 30 days of the date of release on the title — miss that deadline and an automatic $50.00 late penalty applies.

More importantly, until that Notice of Transfer is filed, the person whose name is on the registration remains legally liable for the vehicle. If your ex-spouse causes an accident, gets a parking citation, or abandons the car, you're on the hook for it until you've formally notified the DMV that the vehicle has been transferred.

What the Transferring Spouse Needs to Do

Step 1: Endorse the Certificate of Title. Sign Section A on the front of the Hawaii Certificate of Title. This is the seller/transferor section — you're endorsing the title over to the receiving spouse. Both spouses' signatures may be required depending on how the title is currently held.

Step 2: Deliver the documents. Hand over the endorsed Certificate of Title, the current Certificate of Registration, and a valid Hawaii Safety Inspection Certificate to the spouse receiving the vehicle.

Step 3: File the Notice of Transfer. Complete and submit the Notice of Transfer form to the county DMV within 10 calendar days. This is the critical step that releases your liability. The form is available at any county DMV office.

What the Receiving Spouse Needs to Do

Step 1: Get a valid safety inspection. Hawaii requires a current Safety Inspection Certificate for any title transfer. If the vehicle's inspection has expired, take it to a licensed safety inspection station before going to the DMV. The inspection fee varies by station but is typically around $20 to $30.

Step 2: Visit the county DMV. Bring:

• The endorsed Certificate of Title
• The current Certificate of Registration
• A valid Safety Inspection Certificate
• Your certified divorce decree (showing the vehicle was awarded to you)
• A valid photo ID

Step 3: Pay the transfer fee. The title transfer fee is $5.00 to $10.00 depending on the county. If you're also updating the registration to your name only, registration fees apply based on the vehicle's weight.

County DMV locations:

• Oahu: Department of Customer Services, Satellite City Hall locations (Kapolei, Pearlridge, Windward)
• Maui County: Division of Motor Vehicles & Licensing, 110 Alaʻihi Street, Kahului
• Hawaii County: DMV offices in Hilo and Kona
• Kauai County: Division of Motor Vehicles, 4444 Rice Street, Lihue

Auto Insurance Updates

Contact your auto insurance carrier as soon as the decree is signed — don't wait for the DMV transfer to go through. You need to:

• Remove your ex-spouse from your policy if they were a listed driver
• Remove any vehicles that were awarded to your ex-spouse from your coverage
• Update your address if you've moved
• Adjust your coverage — your premium will change based on the number of drivers and vehicles on the policy

If you were on your ex-spouse's policy and need to obtain your own coverage, do this before driving the vehicle. Hawaii is a no-fault insurance state and requires minimum Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage.

What If Your Ex Won't Sign Over the Title?

If the divorce decree orders your ex-spouse to transfer the vehicle and they refuse to endorse the title, you have the same remedy available as with real property. File a Motion for Post-Decree Relief with the Family Court, citing the specific decree provision and your ex-spouse's noncompliance. Under HFCR Rule 70(a), the court can direct the Chief Clerk to execute the transfer documents on behalf of the non-compliant party.

You can also seek a finding of contempt, which carries additional penalties including potential attorney's fees.

Loan Payoff Complications

If there's an outstanding auto loan on the vehicle, the lienholder's name appears on the title. You can't transfer a clear title until the loan is paid off or refinanced. Options:

• Refinance the loan in the receiving spouse's name alone — this removes the other spouse from the loan obligation and eventually produces a clean title
• Pay off the loan from marital funds or as allocated in the decree, then transfer the title
• Continue paying under the existing loan with a written agreement, then transfer the title once the loan is satisfied

The lender is not bound by your divorce decree. Even if the decree assigns the car payment to your ex-spouse, the lender can pursue you if your name is on the loan and your ex stops paying.

The Hawaii After-Divorce Checklist includes a vehicle transfer worksheet that covers the Notice of Transfer timeline, inspection requirements, and loan payoff coordination.

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