(a) A registered owner shall not sell or transfer title to, or ownership interest in, a motor vehicle during the time period the motor vehicle’s registration has been ordered revoked and number plates surrendered or during the time the motor vehicle bears the special series number plates pursuant to section 249-9.4, unless the registered owner applies to the administrative director of the courts, or the administrative director’s appointee pursuant to section 291E-1, for consent to transfer title to the motor vehicle. If the director is satisfied that:

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Terms Used In Hawaii Revised Statutes 291E-49

  • Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
  • county: includes the city and county of Honolulu. See Hawaii Revised Statutes 1-22
  • Director: means the administrative director of the courts or any other person within the judiciary appointed by the director to conduct administrative reviews or hearings or carry out other functions relating to administrative revocation under part III. See Hawaii Revised Statutes 291E-1
  • Foreclosure: A legal process in which property that is collateral or security for a loan may be sold to help repay the loan when the loan is in default. Source: OCC
  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • Mortgage: The written agreement pledging property to a creditor as collateral for a loan.
  • Number plates: refer to the number plates or special number plates, which are commonly known as license plates, that are issued under sections 249-9, 249-9. See Hawaii Revised Statutes 291E-1
  • Vehicle: includes a:

    (1) Motor vehicle;
    (2) Moped; and
    (3) Vessel. See Hawaii Revised Statutes 291E-1
(1) The proposed sale is in good faith and for valid consideration;
(2) The registered owner will be deprived of the custody and control of the motor vehicle; and
(3) The sale is not for the purpose of circumventing this part, the director may consent to the sale or transfer. If the director consents, the director shall issue a certified copy of the written consent to the registered owner and forward a copy to the appropriate county director of finance.
(b) The county director of finance, upon proper application and the presentation to the director of finance of a certified copy of the director’s written consent to the sale or transfer of a motor vehicle, shall transfer the certificate of title and ownership to the new owner pursuant to chapter 286 and shall issue new number plates to the new registered owner pursuant to chapter 249.
(c) Notwithstanding subsections (a) and (b), if the title to the motor vehicle is transferred by foreclosure of a chattel mortgage, cancellation of a conditional sales contract, a sale upon execution, or decree or order of a court of competent jurisdiction, after the motor vehicle registration has been revoked under this part, the county director of finance shall transfer the certificate of title and ownership to the new owner pursuant to chapter 286 and shall issue new number plates to the new registered owner pursuant to chapter 249.