For a convenience fee of $2.50, plus 2.25 percent of the registration cost, Hawaii County drivers can now renew their motor vehicle registration online.
Available 24/7 through the state's official website, the registration renewal service is another tool "designed to help make county government more accessible and more efficient," said Mayor Billy Kenoi.
Citizens can access the online system at the website by providing the last four digits of their vehicle identification number (VIN) and their license plate number. Then they simply follow the steps to go through the entire payment process.
"For Hawaii County motor vehicle owners, we've essentially taken a 'waiting in line' service online," said Lee Lord, manager of the Hawaii Vehicle Licensing and Registration Division.
The system, he added, is maintained on secure servers and uses the latest encryption technology to ensure privacy, security and data integrity.
Unlike most states, Hawaii doesn't have a state motor vehicles department. Instead, registration is handled by the county government where the driver lives. Maui, Oahu and Kaua'i counties already provide an online renewal service.
Hawaii County's motor vehicle registration renewal system is the latest addition to online services at eHawaii.gov. In May, eHawaii.gov unveiled a first-of-its-kind online service that provides a weekly report to subscribers, identifying vehicles that have had violations during the past 31 days, to help rental car companies pay off citations faster and avoid penalties. The county also offers online real property tax payments and online camping permits.
The convenience fee and additional charge can be paid via credit card, including Visa, MasterCard, American Express or Discover. Upon confirmation of payment, drivers will receive a receipt via e-mail, which can be printed for recordkeeping. The new registration certificate and emblem will be mailed to the customer.
Hawaii joins a growing number of states that now offer an online payment option for motor vehicle registration.
