FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Council Chair Tommy Waters Puts Working Families First with Vehicle Tax Cut
HONOLULU — Honolulu City Council Chair Tommy Waters has introduced Bill 47 (2026), a cost-of-living measure that would reduce the City’s motor vehicle weight-tax rates beginning July 1, 2027.
The proposal targets a recurring expense for Oʻahu residents who rely on their vehicles to get to work, take their children to school, care for aging family members and manage the responsibilities of daily life.
“For most families on Oʻahu, a car or truck is not a luxury. It is how they get to work, take care of their families and remain connected to their communities,” Waters said. “When nearly every household expense is rising, government has a responsibility to examine the costs it controls and provide relief where it responsibly can.”
The measure would have broad reach. In 2024, the City and County of Honolulu had 780,978 registered motor vehicles, representing nearly 62% of all registered motor vehicles statewide. That included 652,268 passenger vehicles and 98,782 trucks. State data also identified 714,260 taxable vehicles registered in Honolulu County.
Bill 47 would:
Reduce the rate for passenger vehicles from 7 cents to 5.5 cents per pound, a reduction of more than 21 percent.
Reduce the rate for non-commercial trucks weighing 6,500 pounds or less from 7 cents to 5.5 cents per pound.
Reduce the rate for commercial trucks and other vehicles used to carry property from 7.5 cents to 6 cents per pound, a reduction of more than 20 percent.
Maintain the existing $12 minimum tax.
For a 3,320-pound vehicle as an example of a typical registration calculation. At the existing rate, the county weight-tax portion for that vehicle is $232.40. Under Bill 47, the amount would decrease to $182.60, resulting in annual savings of $49.80. A household with two similarly weighted vehicles would save $99.60 each year on the county weight-tax portion of its registration costs.
“A similar measure to reduce vehicle registration costs received strong community and legislative support this past session,” Waters said. “After a careful review of the City’s budget and special funds, I believe we can use resources already collected and set aside to provide meaningful relief without compromising essential public services.”
Vehicle registration is an annual obligation, and the weight tax is only one part of the total registration bill. State registration and weight taxes, county fees and other charges would not be reduced by Bill 47.
The proposal also reflects the scale of the contribution Oʻahu drivers already make. The City reported approximately $194 million in motor vehicle weight-tax revenue during fiscal year 2025. Those revenues are deposited into the Highway Fund and restricted for highway and related purposes.
Bill 47 complements Bills 45 and 46, introduced by Waters to increase real property tax exemptions for owner-occupied homes and kūpuna homeowners. Together, the measures address two significant household expenses, housing and transportation, through targeted reductions in City-controlled taxes.
“Leadership means doing the work, weighing the consequences, and delivering a responsible solution,” Waters said. “We can lower the cost of living while protecting the essential services residents depend on. The people of Oʻahu deserve both.”
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Video Asset: Bill 47 Soundbite & Video
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