IAAI Car Total Cost in Hawaii (2026)

IAAI in Hawaii: four hammer prices

Hawaii tax is applied to the hammer price only. No storage days are assumed.

What the IAAI side of a Hawaii bill is made of

IAAI's side of the Hawaii bill is a tiered buyer fee, an internet bid fee, a $105 service fee (Copart's equivalent is a gate fee), a $15 environmental fee and a $20 title fee: $884 at a $7,500 hammer.

These Hawaii totals use IAAI's Standard (non-Public) registration schedule. IAAI has no Premier tier like Copart's; Public Auto Auction registration is the broad-access option, and some licensed dealers get discounted dealer fees. Full tier tables are in the IAAI fee calculator.

Hawaii tax and title on a IAAI buy

Hawaii General Excise Tax (GET) is 4% with up to 0.5% county surcharge. No trade-in credit — tax applies to full price.

• Rate applied to a IAAI hammer: 4% state rate.
• Local add-on: up to 0.50% more in some Hawaii jurisdictions, or $8 on a $1,500 IAAI bid, $20 on a $4,000 IAAI bid, $38 on a $7,500 IAAI bid, $60 on a $12,000 IAAI bid.
• Hawaii gives no trade-in credit, per our tax file.
• Hawaii title transfer: $5. Registration and plate fees are separate and set by your DMV.

Try other numbers in the Hawaii vehicle sales tax calculator.

Highest IAAI bid in Hawaii for a set budget

Working backwards from an all-in ceiling, using the IAAI fees and Hawaii tax and title above:

• $6,000 all-in: bid no more than $5,063 ($937 goes to IAAI fees, Hawaii tax and title).
• $12,000 all-in: bid no more than $10,508 ($1,492 goes to IAAI fees, Hawaii tax and title).
• $25,000 all-in: bid no more than $22,166 ($2,834 goes to IAAI fees, Hawaii tax and title).

For a bid based on what the car resells for, use the max bid calculator.

Buying IAAI cars in Hawaii with a dealer license

Hawaii dealer licenses come from Hawaii Motor Vehicle Industry Licensing Board (Dept. of Commerce and Consumer Affairs), under HRS Chapter 437. The state's own wording on when you count as a dealer: "sells three or more vehicles"

Hawaii law defines a used motor vehicle dealer as one who sells used vehicles at wholesale or retail, or both, under the same dealer license.

Before a dealer's license is issued, the applicant must submit a description of the licensed premises, office facilities, equipment and surrounding conditions, proof of a minimum one-year lease or rental agreement for the site, and photographs of the premises and facilities.

Every licensing fact with its source is on the Hawaii dealer license guide.

IAAI or Copart in Hawaii

Hawaii tax and title are the same at both venues, so only the fees differ. At a $4,000 hammer the Hawaii all-in is $4,799 on IAAI and $5,124 on Copart, a gap of $325. See the Copart total cost in Hawaii, or the three-hammer comparison on the Hawaii total cost guide.

FAQ