What Is the Beautification Fee in Hawaii?
Why does Hawaii have a Beautification Fee, and who pays it? Here’s what you need to know about the Beautification Fee in Hawaii.
Written by Jason Unrau
Reviewed by Carrie Adkins
Table of Contents
In a place like Hawaii, you expect ocean views and fancy beach resorts. You don’t expect derelict vehicles and junk. That's why the state of Hawaii charges a "Beautification Fee" to keep its streets clean and tidy.
So, who pays this for this service? Here’s what you need to know about the Beautification Fee in Hawaii, presented by
Jerry
.Let Jerry find your price in only 45 seconds
No spam · No long forms · No fees
Why a Beautification Fee is necessary
In Hawaii,
car registration
costs are among the highest in the nation. Safety inspection standards are rather stringent, and obtaining a car title can be a time-consuming process that many residents just don’t think is worth the trouble.For those reasons, there are thousands of unregistered cars in Hawaii. Even if you get pulled over, the cost of the ticket is less than the cost to register your car. And when you no longer want your car, it’s often easier and cheaper to abandon your car on the streets in Hawaii than to get the documents organized to
sell a vehicle
. Every island has an issue with
abandoned cars
as a result. In Kauai County, there were more than 900 reports of abandoned vehicles. Maui had almost twice as many. Honolulu removed more than 4,700 derelict or abandoned cars in 2019 alone.The cost to remove and dispose of the cars is expensive, so Hawaii counties charge a Beautification Fee.
How much is the Beautification Fee in Hawaii?
There isn’t a state ordinance that includes a Beautification Fee, so each of the four major counties in Hawaii have implemented their own. The costs vary from county to county.
Beautification fees in each Hawaii county
In
Hawaii County
, a $1 Beautification Fee is assessed on every car registration. In addition, Hawaii charges a $12 Vehicle Disposal Fee for every vehicle annually.In Maui, car registration fees have an additional Beautification Fee required annually of $10 that goes toward the Highway Beautification and Abandoned Vehicles Disposal Fund.
Kauai County
assesses each motor vehicle registration an annual Beautification Fee of $5. The county ordinance clarifies that $2 from each fee paid will go toward highway beautification and any additional increases will be directed to costs associated with the disposal of derelict or abandoned vehicles. According to Honolulu County’s motor vehicle registration calculator, their Highway Beautification Fee is $7 per year.
RECOMMENDED
Saved $725 annuallySaved $834 annuallySaved $668 annually
Haven’t shopped for insurance in the last six months? There might be hundreds $$$ in savings waiting for you.
Judith switched to Progressive
Saved $725 annually
Alexander switched to Travelers
Saved $834 annually
Annie switched to Nationwide
Saved $668 annuallyCheck if you are overpaying for car insurance.
No phone calls. No long forms. Quotes from 50+ insurance companies.
Find insurance savings
4.7/5 Rating on App Store
4.7
.jpg&w=64&q=75){kind=avatar}
