RV / Motorhome registration
RV / Motorhome registration in Hawaii: the agency, the required documents, and the exact steps, sourced from City and County of Honolulu, Department of Customer Services (Division of Motor Vehicle, Licensing and Permits).
Who to contact
City and County of Honolulu, Department of Customer Services (Division of Motor Vehicle, Licensing and Permits)
Visit the official Hawaii pageStep by step
Complete Application for Registration Form CS-L(MVR)1 (signed by owner; dealer-countersigned for dealer purchases)
Obtain a current Hawaii Vehicle Inspection (safety) Certificate
For out-of-state units, provide prior title/registration and required import/weight documentation
Submit at a DMV self-service kiosk, online, at a satellite city hall, or by mail with payment (weight-based fees)
What to bring
Fees & renewal
Fees
Not published on the official page as of September 2, 2026 — confirm the exact fee with City and County of Honolulu, Department of Customer Services (Division of Motor Vehicle, Licensing and Permits).
Renewal
Renews annual.
Good to know
A self-propelled motorhome/RV registers as a standard motor vehicle — the page states 'All vehicles in Hawaii must be registered.' RVs are not itemized separately. COUNTY-administered; registration is annual (deadline = last working day of the expiration month). Total fee is weight-based (state + county registration fees, state + county weight tax, $10 highway beautification, $0.50 emblem), so no single flat figure applies (fees=null).
More for Hawaii
General guidance
A motorized RV registers like any other motor vehicle in almost every state, but towable RVs (travel trailers, fifth wheels) sometimes fall under trailer rules instead. Pick your state below for the exact process and agency.
Because it has its own engine and VIN, a motorhome generally goes through the same title-and-register process as any passenger vehicle at your state’s motor vehicle agency, just at a higher fee tier reflecting its weight and value.
Because of their size and age range, some states require an additional safety, weight, or emissions inspection for motorhomes that a passenger car would not need. Check the state guide below for whether that applies.
A travel trailer or fifth wheel with no engine of its own is registered as a trailer in most states — sometimes under the same rules as any other trailer, sometimes under a dedicated RV weight class. The state guide below notes which applies.
Common questions
Yes — Hawaii requires registration for this vehicle type. City and County of Honolulu, Department of Customer Services (Division of Motor Vehicle, Licensing and Permits) handles it; see the steps above.
Hawaii lists a annual renewal cadence for this vehicle type.
A motorized RV generally follows the same title-and-registration process as a car or truck, just at a higher fee tier for its weight and value. A towable RV with no engine often registers as a trailer instead. Check the state guide below for the specifics.
Some states require a safety, weight, or emissions inspection for a motorhome that a passenger car would not need. Whether that applies to your state is noted on the state guide below.