Holy crap, this is insane! Called about seeing how much a new corvette would be… and the dealer told me they’re selling them for $20,000 above msrp!! That’s insane! Have any of y’all bought any cars recently and dealt with that madness? No way in hell I’d ever pay over msrp like that. Lol

Hawaii car dealers are the worst. If you want to buy outside the State of Hawaii and bring it in you are taxed. You can thank the local car dealer lobby.

I bought 1 car and 3 trucks over the years on the mainland and shipped them to Hawaii. These were not new vehicles and I never paid tax on any of them.

There's been a major backlog since COVID for parts from overseas, in particular computer chips.  That's created a backlog in auto production.

Smaller supply = higher price.

There are dealers on the mainland being sued for selling a car promised to one customer who paid a deposit only to be told to pay more or they will sell it to another buyer.

Legally, a dealer doesn't have to sell you the car if they jack up the price between placing the order and deliverey from the factory. Either you must pay the additional amount beyond what you originally agreed to, or walk away from that car.

However, if you used a purchase order -- like when a company orders supplies or computers -- it's like paying up front, and that contract is binding on the seller.

https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/car-pricing-negotiation/can-dealership-change-price-of-ordered-car-before-delivery-a7159840038/

I bought 1 car and 3 trucks over the years on the mainland and shipped them to Hawaii. These were not new vehicles and I never paid tax on any of them.

please detail your process. I was told that I'd have to pay an additional fee to register

please detail your process. I was told that I'd have to pay an additional fee to register

They only tax extra if it’s new

And yet I see people happily shelling out $12,000 for a 30 year old 4-cylinder microvan from Japan! I'd love an old Japanese fire truck, but man, not at those prices. Maybe as things get worse, they'll get cheaper!

I worked with a guy who always bought his cars in CA or surrounding area.  He had relatives in CA, so he'd use their address when doing the paperwork.  After the tags and title came, he'd ship it to Hawaii.  More than saved the shipping amount, and his trip was paid for by the reserves.   Not sure of the details, but he was owed a trip to his home of record annually as part of his reserve benefits, probably because he was not living & doing reserve duty at his home of record.

Anyway, since the car was already tagged and titled in another state -- albeit for about a month or so -- Hawaii treated it as a vehicle he already owned, so no excise tax.

His relative would drive it to the Matson pier for shipment when all the tag and title processing was finished.

I don't think that's a plan everyone can use unless they also have relatives near where they buy the car.  It'll have to have a place to sit until it ships.

A few years ago GT500's would be marked up by $20k
eventually someone would always buy it
There would only be a certain number of new GT500's on the island. Supply and demand

They only tax extra if it’s new

I think you are right as the vehicles I shipped were still in the previous owners name and address with a signed title.

CarGurus have a few new Z06 and LT2/3 models listed at MSRP. I entered a LAS zip code 89115.  New Z06 $147k and the LTs $97k.

Only a few companies here dont mark up the car.

Toyota and Tesla are 2 that i know of that go for MSRP.

Good luck with Toyota, theres a wait list if youre lucky to get on it. I have a friend who waited 2 years for his Tundra he got last month.

Mrs. Cmo wanted a toyota corolla cross and they not even taking orders or a wait list.



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I don't know how or what Servco has over the State of Hawaii on Toyotas

I believe servco was the first company to bring in Toyota brand into the US. That basically made them set on Toyota's in this state for good.

Fortunately I have a contact for Ford vehicles
But unfortunately I can't afford a GT500   

Only a few companies here dont mark up the car.

Toyota and Tesla are 2 that i know of that go for MSRP.

Good luck with Toyota, theres a wait list if youre lucky to get on it. I have a friend who waited 2 years for his Tundra he got last month.

Mrs. Cmo wanted a toyota corolla cross and they not even taking orders or a wait list.

I've had a 2001 Tundra, and we still have a 2011 Prius and a 2104 Tacoma -- all purchased on Oahu.

Each time, we got the vehicle with the options we wanted and a color we can live with and delivered within a week after dealer prep.

The last two times, as we were picking up our vehicles, the salesman told us we were lucky.  Almost everyone who bought after us were on a waitlist, and the list was growing.

The first time that happened, we picked up the Prius the same week gas prices skyrocketed.  Second was just 5 years after the housing crash and toward the tapering off of the Great Recession.  Every car maker saw a jump in sales in 2014, probably due in part to pent-up demand after being unable or unwilling to commit to a major purchase with an uncertain economy.  Super-low interest rates also helped increase demand.

The current backlog has been the worst i've seen.  COVID has caused ripple effects throughout the manufacturing and automotive parts sectors.  It seems to be easing a little, but I don't think it's going to be where it was before COVID anytime soon -- maybe another 2-4 years if nothing else catastrophic happens?

The US auto industry seems to have a very poor record in reacting quickly to changes and disruptions.

I believe servco was the first company to bring in Toyota brand into the US. That basically made them set on Toyota's in this state for good.

this^
i have heard servco allocations are separate from toyota usa allocations...

In 2002 bought my new 2002 tundra in Vegas,
I believe I had to register as part of purchase.
Drove it to daughters place in San Diego, shipped to Hawaii ($200-$300 iirc).
Between lower price, no Nevada state taxes
Saved beucoup $$ even with the drive, shipping and a brief stop at a casino ! 

On the news a few days ago....
Toyoita unveiled the new Tacoma trucks here in Hawaii because they sell so many here.
====
KONA, Hawaii, May 19, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The all-new 2024 Toyota Tacoma made its world premiere last night in Pauko, Hawaii,
 introducing the world to the fourth generation of the best-selling mid-size pickup of the last 18 years.
Toyota group vice president and general manager Dave Christ introduced the new truck alongside
Tacoma chief engineer Sheldon Brown and CALTY president Kevin Hunter. 
======================

It's simply supply and demand.
Two of my kids have Tacomas.
It just seems like the perfect size for Hawaii roads.
Personally, I don't think think Toyotas are as reliable as they are reputed to be.
I've owned 5 Toyotas over the last few decades and they all gave trouble, sometimes major troubles.

On the news a few days ago....
Toyoita unveiled the new Tacoma trucks here in Hawaii because they sell so many here.
====
KONA, Hawaii, May 19, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The all-new 2024 Toyota Tacoma made its world premiere last night in Pauko, Hawaii,
 introducing the world to the fourth generation of the best-selling mid-size pickup of the last 18 years.
Toyota group vice president and general manager Dave Christ introduced the new truck alongside
Tacoma chief engineer Sheldon Brown and CALTY president Kevin Hunter. 
======================

It's simply supply and demand.
Two of my kids have Tacomas.
It just seems like the perfect size for Hawaii roads.
Personally, I don't think think Toyotas are as reliable as they are reputed to be.
I've owned 5 Toyotas over the last few decades and they all gave trouble, sometimes major troubles.

wish they made smaller trks like the one Marty McFly drove. Perfect.

[snip]
It's simply supply and demand.
Two of my kids have Tacomas.
It just seems like the perfect size for Hawaii roads.
Personally, I don't think think Toyotas are as reliable as they are reputed to be.
I've owned 5 Toyotas over the last few decades and they all gave trouble, sometimes major troubles.

All 3 of my Toyotas ran fine.  The 2001 Tundra only had a little more than 60K miles on the odometer when it was totaled by a lady who rammed it from behind while parked on the street -- literally rammed  .... she was driving a Dodge Ram!     That was at the end of 2013.  I had another car to drive, so I waited for Feb 2014 to shop for a replacement.  Seems like February has been the best month for car shopping for me as i tend to find all kinds of "special pricing" going on.

The only real issue with the Tundra was the O2 sensors needing replacement much sooner than they should have needed.  It became a recall item, and Toyota extended their O2 sensor warranty through the 7th year of ownership.  I had mine swapped out twice in that time for free.  That's the only time the check engine light (aka "the money light") came on.

The Prius is over 12 years now and running strong on the original batteries.  Since my daughter drives it, i can't be 100% sure, but i've never heard her complain that anything died on it unexpectedly.  She and her boyfriend have put a ton of miles on it.

My 2014 Tacoma only has about 18,200 miles on it.  I had the radio replaced about a month after getting it -- the touch screen display went wonky.  Warranty covered it, and been perfect since.

So far, my most reliable new vehicles have been 3 Toyotas and 2 Hondas.  My Saturn, Mercedes C240, Chevy, Plymouth Voyager and Plymouth Sapporo all have had problems.

TBH, the Sapporo was a not-really-new car.  It was as dealer demo which the owners daughter had driven for a year and put 15K miles on.  Needed a new clutch (manual shift) 2 weeks after I got it.  Also, the Mercedes was used as a dealership loaner car, and it had 15K miles on it and sold as a certified used car with a one year warranty.  The transmission died the day the warranty lapsed.  I only count those two since they were sold with me as the first owner.