Looking to add a personal touch to your ride in the Aloha State? Whether you want a custom vanity plate, or want to support a local charity or honor military service, here is your quick, no-nonsense guide to getting a custom license plate in Hawaii.
Types of Hawaii Custom and Specialty License Plates
Hawaii offers a few different ways to customize your bumper:
- Personalized (Vanity) Plates: The classic rainbow design with your custom mix of letters and numbers.
- Organization & Specialty Plates: Pre-designed plates that support local causes (e.g., Hawaiian Humane Society, Haleakalā National Park, Hawaiʻi Firefighters). A portion of your renewal fee goes directly to the charity.
- Veteran Specialty Plates: Honors military service (Combat Veteran, Purple Heart, etc.). Requires proof of service, such as a DD Form 214.
How Much Do Custom License Plates Cost in Hawaii?
Custom plates require an upfront fee and an annual renewal fee, which are added to your standard vehicle registration.
- Vanity Plates: $60.00 to apply, and $60.00 to renew each year.
- Charity / Specialty Plates: Usually $30.50 to apply, and $25.00 to renew (with $20 going directly to the charity).
- The 2025 ʻOkina Update: As of 2025, all new plates spell the state name with the Hawaiian diacritical mark: HAWAIʻI. If you have an older plate, it is still perfectly legal. If you want to swap your old plate for the new culturally accurate design, the replacement fee is only $5.50.
How to Apply for a Vanity Plate in Hawaii (Step-by-Step)
It takes 60 to 90 days for your custom plates to be manufactured. Here is how to get the process started:
- Check Availability: Residents of Oahu can check plate availability and apply digitally via the City and County of Honolulu’s online portal. If you live on a neighbor island (Maui, Kauai, Hawaii Island), you can use the Oahu site to see if a phrase is available, but you must apply in person.
- Submit the Application: Fill out the Application for Special Number Plates (either online for Oahu or at your local Motor Vehicle & Licensing Office).
- Wait for the Mail: The DMV will mail you a notification letter once your physical plates have been manufactured and shipped to your local office.
- Pick Up and Swap: Bring your vehicle’s current Registration, a valid safety inspection certificate, and the letter you received to the DMV. Important: You must unscrew and surrender your current front and back license plates to the clerk to receive your new ones.
Hawaii Personalized Plate Rules and Character Limits
The DMV is strict about what you can and cannot put on a custom plate.
- 6 Characters Max: Letters, numbers, and spaces all count toward your 6-character limit.
- Punctuation: You are allowed exactly one hyphen. No other symbols or punctuation are allowed.
- Content Restrictions: All applications are reviewed by a human. Profane, sexual, vulgar, or misleading combinations will be rejected. You also cannot mimic standard state-issued plate formats.
What Happens If I Sell My Car?
Custom plates are registered to you, not your vehicle. If you sell your car, you can keep your plates and transfer them to your next vehicle. Just contact your local DMV call center for transfer instructions before you finalize the sale of your old car.
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