Hawaii County: Vehicle Weight Tax and Registration Fee Exemption for Totally Disabled Veterans

A veteran totally disabled by injuries received on duty can have one noncommercial vehicle exempted from Hawaii County's motor vehicle weight tax, including the $12 minimum, and from the County's registration-related fees, on VA proof of total service-connected disability (County Code 24-17(d) and 24-19(k)).

Also called: vehicle registration, weight tax, motor vehicle tax, HCC 24-17, HCC 24-19, DMV, Hilo, Kona, Big Island, one vehicle.

For: Veteran or service member.

Where it applies

Written for the jurisdictions listed here.

Hawaii County, HICounty

Hawaii's counties register vehicles and set their own weight tax and fees under HRS chapter 249, so the County's exemption sits beside the State fee exemption in the Hawaii entry on vehicle registration. The weight tax. Hawaii County Code 24-17(d): "Any person who is totally disabled due to injuries received while on duty with the armed forces of the United States may apply for an exemption from the County motor vehicle weight tax, including minimum tax under section 24-18, for a single noncommercial vehicle, subject to proof of total service related disability from the Veterans Administration and approval by the director of finance." The minimum it waives is $12 (24-18(a)). The fees. Section 24-19(k) gives the same person, for a single noncommercial vehicle and on the same proof, an exemption from subsections (a), (b), (h), (i) and (j) of the registration fee section, which include the $12 vehicle disposal fee and the $12 annual County registration fee. How. Apply when registering, with the VA's letter showing a total service-connected disability; the director of finance approves it.

Thresholds

Thresholds for Hawaii County: Vehicle Weight Tax and Registration Fee Exemption for Totally Disabled Veterans
Gate	Rule
Total service-connected disability	The code asks for proof of total service-related disability from VA. A 100% rating, or TDIU paid at the 100 percent rate, is the usual proof; it is recorded rather than enforced.
Or TDIU	Individual unemployability paid at the 100 percent rate is VA's finding of total disability.

Sources

Hawaii County Code, chapter 24, Vehicles and Traffic, sections 24-17 to 24-19 (County of Hawaii; read through a Chrome window, the server answers 403 to plain requests)Official

Updated

Last updated 2026-10-09.

What changed then:

First published.

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Disclaimer

VetTOC is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or the Department of Defense. Information is for reference only and is not an eligibility determination. Verify with VA, the relevant state or territory, or an accredited VSO.