How long does a lender have to release a lien in Hawaii?

We could not verify a Hawaii statute that sets a release deadline. Ask the lender for its release date in writing, and check the state title record.

How much does a clear title cost in Hawaii?

$10 transfer fee in Honolulu; the duplicate title fee is also $10. Confirm the current fee with the Hawaii title agency before you apply.

Hawaii lien release

Paid off your car in Hawaii? How the lien comes off the title

In Honolulu, a vehicle with a lienholder is titled with the lienholder as legal owner, and the lienholder controls the Certificate of Title. When the loan is paid off the lienholder releases the certificate to the owner after completing Section B on the back, or gives a lien satisfaction letter in place of its endorsement; the owner then records the vehicle in his or her own name at a satellite city hall. If the title is electronic, the lienholder notifies the Motor Vehicle Registration Branch and the updated title is mailed to the owner at the address on file.

See the Hawaii steps Lender out of business?

Checked against official Hawaii sourcesLast reviewed Sep 28, 2026. Every fact below links to its source at the end of the page.

After the last payment

What happens to the title in Hawaii

Hawaii titles are handled by each county; the City and County of Honolulu FAQ covers both paper certificates and electronic titles, saying that once the lienholder tells the Motor Vehicle Registration Branch the lien is satisfied the electronic title is updated and mailed to the owner.

Your steps

Getting a clear Hawaii title

Fee: $10 transfer fee in Honolulu; the duplicate title fee is also $10.

Ask the lender for the Certificate of Title with Section B (release of lien) completed, or a lien satisfaction letter if it did not endorse the title.
If your title is electronic, ask the lender to notify the Motor Vehicle Registration Branch that the lien is satisfied; Honolulu says the title is then updated and mailed to the address on file.
Bring the properly endorsed Certificate of Title, your current Certificate of Registration and a current Hawaii Safety Inspection Certificate to a satellite city hall to record the vehicle in your name as registered owner and lienholder.
Pay the $10 transfer fee (renewal fees apply if registration expires within 45 days).
If the title is lost, only the lienholder can request a duplicate while a lien is on record; once the lien is released the owner can apply on Form CS-L(MVR)10 (fee $10; mail-in applications must be notarized).

If the lender is slow

How long the lender has

We did not find a Hawaii release deadline we could verify.

Ask the lender for the date it released the lien and how it was sent, then check the Hawaii title record before starting a new request.

Lender gone or unreachable

If the lienholder is out of business

Compare other states' procedures

Honolulu says a lien satisfaction letter may be submitted in place of the lienholder's endorsement on the title. It directs such questions to the Motor Vehicle Section at 808-768-4325 or mvinfo@honolulu.gov.

Optional paid help

Get the Hawaii lien release finished

Your loan is paid off but the title, the release, or the Hawaii record still isn't right. We check the path and do the paperwork with you.

We find the release path for your state and lender from official sources.
We prepare the lien release or clear-title request, and any state form, for you to sign and send.
We track the lender and the state until the record shows the lien released.

One-time $89 for a paid-off loan whose title still shows the lien. We show the work, terms, exclusions, and delivery date before payment.

Every guide and official link on this site stays free.

By lender

What your lender says about payoff

Each page covers what the lender publishes about releasing the lien, timing, and contacts.

Official sources

The Hawaii rules behind this page

Recheck the agency page before you apply. Statute copies from third-party sites are labelled.

Hawaii title after payoff questions

How long does a lender have to release a lien in Hawaii?: We could not verify a Hawaii statute that sets a release deadline. Ask the lender for its release date in writing, and check the state title record.
Will Hawaii mail me the title after I pay off the loan?: In Honolulu, a vehicle with a lienholder is titled with the lienholder as legal owner, and the lienholder controls the Certificate of Title. When the loan is paid off the lienholder releases the certificate to the owner after completing Section B on the back, or gives a lien satisfaction letter in place of its endorsement; the owner then records the vehicle in his or her own name at a satellite city hall. If the title is electronic, the lienholder notifies the Motor Vehicle Registration Branch and the updated title is mailed to the owner at the address on file. Hawaii titles are handled by each county; the City and County of Honolulu FAQ covers both paper certificates and electronic titles, saying that once the lienholder tells the Motor Vehicle Registration Branch the lien is satisfied the electronic title is updated and mailed to the owner.
What if my lender went out of business?: Honolulu says a lien satisfaction letter may be submitted in place of the lienholder's endorsement on the title. It directs such questions to the Motor Vehicle Section at 808-768-4325 or mvinfo@honolulu.gov.
How much does a clear title cost in Hawaii?: $10 transfer fee in Honolulu; the duplicate title fee is also $10. Confirm the current fee with the Hawaii title agency before you apply.