Department of Customer Services

Once a vehicle is declared a total loss by an insurance company, or sold by an owner as salvage, it cannot be issued a standard title or registration in Hawaii.

An insurance company will generally take possession of the vehicle. The vehicle owner will need to sign over the vehicle title to the insurance company and submit the notice of transfer to a satellite city hall.

For the salvaged vehicle to  operate on public roadways again, it must be repaired at a certified Salvage Repair Dealer. The list of repair centers is available on the Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Motor Vehicle Repair Industry Board’s website at https://cca.hawaii.gov/pvl/boards/motorrepair/. Look for the Salvage Repair Dealer Listing.

After completing the work, the certified salvage repair facility will issue a certificate of repair. This certificate must be presented to the Motor Vehicle Control branch to perform a required VIN and safety inspection.

That VIN inspection is by appointment only. To schedule an appointment, contact the Motor Vehicle Control branch at (808) 768-2542.

The MVC will issue an additional certificate that will allow the vehicle to then be titled and registered as a rebuilt vehicle.

An AlohaQ appointment at a satellite city hall is required to obtain the new title and registration.