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We are temporarily living in Southern Cali and heading back to Puna ASAP (way too many cars, people and lack of Aloha spirit). Our current SUV is too problematic at this stage and not worth shipping. We are considering a used Toyota RAV 4. My inlaws have two and the roads and conditions where they live are similar to BI, and the RAV 4's have been very reliable.
Has anybody bought a used car in Cali and shipped to Hilo. I believe you can transfer the title to your name at Cali DMV before shipping. If we use a auto shipper to pick up car and bring to port in Long Beach you can avoid California Sales Tax since this is proof the car is being shipped out of state. Pasha HI offers a pickup service for a couple hundred dollars more than Matson shipping cost. But what about the car registration still in the former owner's name. Will the Hawaii DMV just register the car when you show the title in my name, and of course levy the HI GET, since it was not paid in Cali?
Mahalo
Robert
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Posts: 1,858
Threads: 46
Joined: Apr 2015
Safety inspection is just under $16 with tax. Registration is based upon weight. Our Honda CR-V was about $80. A full size, older Chevy Blazer was $118. Add in about $30 or so for fees to transfer title, etc.
When you get here, you have to do these things in order.
You have 30 days in which you can drive on your old plates, without a safety sticker. Keep the paperwork that proves arrival date for the vehicle with you. If you are pulled over, you will get a ticket without it.
Get insurance card. Get safety inspection. You will fail the safety due to not having valid registration. Don't worry about it. It is how it works. Take the failed safety inspection form to the tax office and get your registration transferred. Then, go back to the place you got the safety inspection at and show them your new registration. They will pass you and put the sticker on the vehicle.
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Get insurance card.
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Take note that your mainland insurance card is not accepted in Hawaii. You will need to get an official Hawaii insurance card.
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You can also have it shipped by Pasha Hawaii. They are in National City near San Diego. They do cars, motorcyles boats and containers. JUst watched one of their ships, the Jean Anna leave Hilo harbor yesterday.
https://www.pashahawaii.com/schedules/vessel-schedule
Jon in Keaau/HPP
Jon in Keaau/HPP
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I will add to beware of auto transport brokers. You might save $100 by using one, but it might take months to get your vehicle.
Deal direct with Pasha or Matson.
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You have 30 days in which you can drive on your old plates, without a safety sticker.
Your old plates are valid for up to a year if you get a "vehicle permit" sticker.
I thought it was just some obscure code section, but I have seen the permit stickers in the wild.
and of course levy the HI GET
GET follows standard "nexus rule" and so does not apply here (you didn't "buy the car" in Hawaii).
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Thanks Joe for the information on obtaining the safety inspection and the order. Jon, called Pasha and they have a drop off less than an hour from our home. However, the vehicle will not be insured for damage or theft until I drop it off at Pasha. Current auto's liability will cover me driving car, but I don't have collision or theft on current vehicle. Pasha said I did not need to change title to my name before shipping from California. However, I am wary of leaving the title in limbo and then shipping. I would rather have the car recorded in my name even if it is not registered. Pasha said the standard transit time is about 4 weeks.
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Current auto's liability will cover me driving car, but I don't have collision or theft on current vehicle.
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Get it covered for peace of mind.
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Pasha said I did not need to change title to my name before shipping from California...
If you show up in Hawaii with ownership papers signed off from seller but have not transferred title to yourself in the state in which the transaction occurred be sure that when the seller signed off on the title it was notarized. Without notary Hawaii will not transfer title.
Pasha said the standard transit time is about 4 weeks..
1 - 2 weeks on Matson depending on the day of the week you drop the vehicle off.
