Selling a dead or junk car in Hilo

What state law says about a dead car

Neither Hilo nor Hawaii County had a junk-vehicle ordinance we could find online. The rules below are state law, and the county may add its own.

• Abandoned. HRS 290-1 lets the county write the definition. Absent one, a car is "abandoned" when nobody has attended it for over 24 hours and it is parked illegally on public land, or on the setback, shoulder or easement of a public highway. Custody must follow within ten business days.
• Derelict. HRS 290-8 gives the head of the county agency power to label a car "derelict" if a part is missing or damage has left it unable to run, provided one of the conditions spelled out in that section is also met.
• The letter. Once Hawaii County removes a Hilo car, HRS 290-2 says it writes to the legal and registered owner by certified or registered mail. Ten days after that mailing, an unclaimed car may be disposed of. Owners with an out-of-state address get 20 business days. The law counts the letter as received five days after it went out.

A car the county already hauled off has its own guide: towed or impounded.

Retiring the car for good

Hawaii County offers an "Application for JUNK Status" for a vehicle you are retiring permanently. Along with the form, the county wants the original title, signed off by every registered owner, and the license plates.

Where Hilo titles are handled

Hilo cars are titled by Hawaii County's VRL at vrl.hawaiicounty.gov. Our list holds one title office address for this page, and it is in Honolulu: Suite A at 1041 Nuuanu Ave., (808) 768-4325. In a straight line, it sits roughly 212 miles northwest of downtown Hilo, on another island. Check with the county VRL before you plan a trip anywhere.

The paperwork when you sell

Hawaii County uses the same 10-day transfer rule as Honolulu, Maui and Kauai. In order:

1. The seller's block on the title's face is Section A. For a 2011 or newer car, write in the mileage (2010 and older leave it blank). Then add the date, print your name and sign. Any co-owner signs as well. A lender on the title signs off in Section B.
2. A notary is optional, though recommended.
3. The buyer leaves with three papers: the signed title, the most recent registration certificate and a current Hawaii safety inspection certificate. Hawaii skips emissions testing but requires a safety check every year.
4. In Hilo, tear form CS-L(MVR)53, the "Notice of Transfer", off the title's top edge and mail it within 10 days to the county office where the car was last registered. The fine for skipping it tops out at $100. Once it is on file, you are shielded if the buyer later drives, misuses or abandons the car.

Lost the title? The county issues a duplicate only to the registered owner, or to the lender when a lien is on record, and each county sets its own fee. See junk car with no title.

Nearby towns

The closest pages we have are on Maui: Kihei, about 115.0 miles away, and Kahului, about 121.1 miles. For rules that hold on every island, see Hawaii.

Getting an offer

Selling a car in Hilo? Call (877) 421-6008 or send the offer form. Anywhere around Hilo, our truck meets it in a carport or at a mechanic's lot.