Hawaii Motor Vehicle Power of Attorney Form

What Is a Hawaii Motor Vehicle Power of Attorney?

A motor vehicle power of attorney in Hawaii hands your title and registration paperwork to someone you trust. You describe the vehicle on the form and name one person to act for you. The powers printed on the FormsPal template include:

• Registering it.
• Licensing it.
• Selling it.
• Transferring ownership.
• Repairing and maintaining it.
• Retitling it.

The template also has a spot for a successor attorney-in-fact, a backup you can name.

Notarization and What the Document Includes

The principal must sign the vehicle power of attorney in the presence of a notary public. The notarized POA form must include the principal’s full legal name, the agent’s full legal name, and a detailed description of the vehicle involved, including its make, model, and vehicle identification number (VIN). Additionally, the document should specify the exact powers granted to the agent, such as the authority to register the vehicle, sell the vehicle, or handle transactions.

Gather the title or registration and the photo IDs of both people before you meet the notary. Check that the names on the form match the names on the IDs.

Hawaii Law Behind the Motor Vehicle POA

All Hawaii POAs, including those concerning vehicles, must adhere to the principles outlined in Chapter 551E, which covers general provisions about powers of attorney. HRS Chapter 286 covers laws about the registration, operation, and sale of motor vehicles, which are pertinent to an agent’s actions under a power of attorney.

Layout and Format of the Hawaii Motor Vehicle Power of Attorney Form

The template runs three pages. Page 1 names the principal and the agent and lists the details of the item. Page 2 adds a successor agent, the signing date, the signature and the printed name, and page 3 is an acknowledgment page for the notary. You can download it from the top of this page.

Form DMVL-596 is a legal document used in Hawaii to authorize an individual to handle motor vehicle-related affairs on behalf of the vehicle owner. This form is crucial for transactions such as registration, titling, and other Department of Finance interactions when the principal cannot be present.

How to Complete the Hawaii Motor Vehicle Power of Attorney Form

Work through the FormsPal template from page 1 to page 3, in the order of the steps. Use the same spelling that appears on your ID and on the title or registration paperwork, and keep the screenshots beside you to see where each answer goes.

The screenshots under each step show the FormsPal Hawaii Hawaii Motor Vehicle Power of Attorney template filled with sample entries in blue, so you can see where each answer goes. The names, addresses, dates and amounts are examples only.

1. Principal and agent. In the opening paragraph on page 1, write your name and address as the principal. Then write your agent's name and address on the next lines of the same sentence. Your agent, also called the attorney-in-fact, is the person who acts for you. This person should be someone you trust, as they will have the authority to handle your motor vehicle affairs.

   

2. Vehicle description. Enter the Make, Model, Year, VIN Number and Odometer reading. Use the Other Identifying Characteristics line for anything else that points to it, such as its color. These details must be accurate to ensure the document applies to the correct vehicle.

   

3. Social Security Number/Tax ID Number and date of birth. Below the powers paragraph, enter the principal's Social Security Number or Tax ID Number and date of birth. The EFFECTIVE DATE statement under them is already printed, so there is nothing to enter there.

   

4. Successor Attorney-in-Fact. At the top of page 2, repeat your agent's name. Then enter the alternate agent's name and address. The alternate agent is the backup person named in case your first choice is unable or unwilling to serve.

   

5. Signing line: date, signature and printed name. Enter the day, month and year on the Signed this line. Then sign above (signature) and write your name above (printed name). Check that the date you enter is the day you sign.

   

6. Acknowledgment: State of Hawaii. The notary or another officer completes this block with you on page 3. It has places for the county, the date, the officer's name and title, and the name of the person who appeared. STATE OF HAWAII is already printed.

   

7. Officer signature and seal. The officer who completes the acknowledgment signs on the Signature line and applies the seal at the bottom of page 3. Leave this line empty while you complete the template.

   

Example of a Completed Hawaii Motor Vehicle POA

A short example shows how the entries fit together. Say Leilani Kahale owns a 2018 Toyota Tacoma and wants her brother, Keanu Kahale, to handle the paperwork for her. The names and numbers below are made up for illustration.

• Principal: Leilani Kahale, with her home address.
• Attorney-in-fact: Keanu Kahale, with his home address.
• Truck details: Make Toyota, Model Tacoma, Year 2018, plus the VIN and odometer reading from the title.
• Successor: another relative, or the lines stay empty if she wants no backup.
• Last steps: Leilani signs and prints her name on page 2, then meets the officer for page 3.

How to Sign and Use the Hawaii Motor Vehicle Power of Attorney

Once the template is complete, the signing process comes next. Plan it with a notary public so the signature, the acknowledgment and the seal all happen at the same meeting. Afterwards, keep the finished paperwork with your title papers.

1. Sign the document. The principal must sign the document in the space provided. It’s important to do this in front of a notary. Ensure the date next to the signature matches the date you signed the form.
2. Have the form notarized. Once the principal signs, the form needs to be notarized. This step involves a notary public who will witness the signing, verify the signers’ identities, and place an official seal on the document. The notary will also fill in the date of notarization and the state where the notarization took place.
3. Put the document to use. After the form is completed and notarized, it is ready for use. The attorney-in-fact can now perform tasks such as registering the vehicle, applying for a certificate of title, and other actions specified in the form under the authority granted by the principal.
4. Keep a signed copy. Store a copy of the signed and notarized paperwork with your title and registration, and give your agent a copy too.

Common Mistakes to Avoid With the Hawaii Motor Vehicle POA

Most problems on this paperwork come from small slips rather than big ones. Take care with the details below, and read each page once more before you meet the notary so you can spot a slip while it is still easy to fix.

• Names that differ from the IDs. Use the same spelling on the form and on both IDs.
• A typo in the VIN. Compare each character with the number printed on the title.
• An empty line that needed an answer. Look over every page and confirm each line meant for you has an entry.
• Writing on the officer's lines. Leave the signature and seal area on page 3 for the officer.

Frequently Asked Questions

A vehicle POA names two people, the principal who owns it and the agent who acts for the owner. Most questions come up while people complete the template and download it.

What is the difference between the principal and the agent?

The principal is the owner who names a helper. The agent, also called the attorney-in-fact, is that helper. On this template, the principal's details come first and the helper's details follow right after.

What information do I need to complete the template?

Have these personal details ready before you start:

• The full names and addresses of the principal and the agent.
• The make, model, year, VIN and odometer reading from the title or registration.
• The principal's Social Security Number or Tax ID Number and date of birth.
• The name and address of a backup agent, if you want to name one.

The sample entries in the screenshots show where each detail goes.

Can I complete the template on my computer?

Yes. Download the PDF, then fill in, edit and sign it with the FormsPal PDF editor, or print it and write in the details by hand.

Where does the backup agent go on the form?

The successor attorney-in-fact block is at the top of page 2. It names a backup agent and gives that person's address.

How many pages does the template have?

The template has three pages. Page 1 holds the people and the vehicle, page 2 holds the backup agent and the signing line, and page 3 is the notary's acknowledgment.

General information, not legal or tax advice.

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Mara Erlach

Writer & Attorney

Mara has been practicing estate planning and trust law in California since 2003, taking pride in helping clients of all backgrounds and asset profiles form a complete and customized estate plan. Her specialties are: estate planning, wills and trusts, trust and probate administration.