Highlights
- Private sales are legal in Hawaii and don’t need to be processed by a federally licensed dealer.
- Your buyer must have a valid permit to acquire guns.
- All guns must be registered with the Hawaii Police Department within five days of acquisition or purchase.
- Local regulations may apply in addition to state laws, so check your local government for municipal ordinances that may affect your gun sale.
- For a hassle-free selling experience, consider using Cash for Arms' services to sell your gun quickly and legally.
The Rules for Selling Guns Privately in Hawaii
Preemption Laws
Hawaii doesn’t have preemption laws, meaning local governments can enact their own gun regulations. As a seller, you must check with your local government whether there are additional regulations on top of the ones that will be mentioned here.
Private Sales and Background Check
Private gun sales are legal in Hawaii but are subject to strict regulations. Buyers need to acquire purchase permits and should go through background checks to get them.
The sale itself doesn’t have to go through a Federal Firearms Licensee or FFL dealer.
Age Restriction
Buyers must be 21 years old or older to buy any kind of gun in Hawaii.
Purchase Permits
A permit to acquire is mandatory for all gun purchases in Hawaii, including private sales. The permit is issued after a background check and is valid for 10 days for handguns and one year for long guns.
Buyers also need one permit per handgun purchase. However, they can use a single long gun purchase permit to buy multiple long guns.
If your buyer doesn’t know where to get his purchase permit, direct him to this page.
Gun Registry
All guns, whether serviceable or not, must be registered with the Hawaiʻi Police Department within five days of acquiring them. There’s a $43.25 registration fee. The registration is also valid until the gun is sold or disposed of.
As a seller, you’re transferring your gun registration to the buyer when selling a gun to him. This means that the buyer must re-register the gun within five days of buying it from you.
Reporting the Sale of a Gun
For handguns, get the buyer's permit, sign it with ink, and submit it to the Hawaiʻi Police Department within 48 hours of the sale. Use hand delivery or registered mail.
When transferring rifles or shotguns, file this specific form with Hawaiʻi Police within 48 hours of the sale. The seller must complete and ink-sign this form. After that, it must be submitted via hand delivery or registered mail.
Red Flag Laws
Hawaii has a red flag law that took effect in 2020. Sellers don’t have to worry about this since people with Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPO) won’t be issued a permit to acquire guns.
Waiting Period
There’s technically no waiting period to observe for someone selling guns in Hawaii. Once the buyer presents their permit to acquire, they can pay you and take the gun on the same day.
In actual practice, though, there’s often a waiting period involved in Hawaii gun sales. That’s because it takes anywhere from 14 to 40 days to get a gun purchase permit after applying for one.
Note that some people get their permits faster. Law enforcement officers and those with a license to carry may be issued a purchase permit earlier than 14 days.
Transaction Limits
There’s no specific amount of guns one can buy in Hawaii in a single purchase. However, each handgun needs a separate permit to acquire. Long guns only need one permit.
Assault Weapons Ban
Hawaii bans assault pistols. You can only sell assault pistols to licensed dealers or surrender them to the Hawai’i Police Department within 90 days if you acquired them through inheritance or bequest.
However, just this year, lawmakers passed bills that could further expand the ban to other assault weapons. The policy hearings for these bills have not yet been scheduled.
NFA Items
Machine guns, short-barreled shotguns, short-barreled rifles, and suppressors are prohibited in Hawaii.
Required IDs From the Buyer
Buyers must provide you with any valid ID and the permit to acquire a gun. This way, you can counter-check if the names and other details match across the documents.
Safety Device Requirement
You can sell a gun in Hawaii without adding a safety device to it. There’s no specific requirement for one to come with gun transfers in the state.
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Tips for Successfully Selling Your Gun Privately in Hawaii
Base Your Asking Price on Your Gun’s Market Value
Before selling a gun in Hawaii, take some time to find its present market value.
Look for price ranges of guns like yours on websites like GunBroker. Base your value estimate on what prices people are getting for guns like yours there.
Once you have an estimate, work on your gun’s presentation so you can justify the price. The next tips will actually cover what you can do for that.
Clean and Prep Your Gun Thoroughly
Give your gun a thorough cleaning before letting buyers see it. Pay special attention to hard-to-reach areas and ensure all mechanisms are properly working.
If there are minor issues, also consider having them repaired by a professional gunsmith before listing the gun.
Gather All Original Documentation for Your Gun
Find all documents of your gun, including the manual, warranty information, and receipts for modifications or upgrades. These documents can significantly increase a buyer's interest when included in a listing.
This is because they offer a clear record of ownership and history. You can even potentially justify a higher asking price with some buyers when you have these.
But remember that modifications don’t necessarily bump your gun’s worth upward. Some buyers don’t want modifications and will even make lower offers for modified guns.
Take High-Quality Photos of the Gun
Take high-quality photos of your gun to showcase its condition and features. Use good lighting and a neutral background to capture clear, detailed images from multiple angles.
Also include close-ups of unique markings, serial numbers, and any accessories or modifications.
Post Your Gun on Multiple Online Platforms
To maximize your chances of finding a buyer, leverage various online platforms to advertise your gun. Start by listing on reputable gun-specific websites or forums, like 2ahawaii.com.
When creating your listings, provide detailed and accurate information about the gun's make, model, caliber, and condition. Be transparent about any wear and tear or modifications.
The key is to show your gun in the best light possible. Don’t lie, but draw attention to its best features. If you’ve rarely used it, for example, make that clear to buyers.
Finally, remember to emphasize that all transactions will comply with Hawaii's gun laws and regulations.
Other Methods of Selling Your Gun in Hawaii
If you decide not to sell your gun in a private sale, you can just sell it to an FFL dealer in Hawaii. Let’s talk about the options for doing so in detail.
Selling It to Cash for Arms
Cash for Arms offers a convenient and reliable option for selling your gun in Hawaii. As experts in gun transactions, we understand the complexities of Hawaii's gun laws. We ensure all legal requirements are met in sales.
Our team offers competitive prices and handles all the paperwork, making the selling process quick and hassle-free. We provide a streamlined process that meets all legal requirements while giving you the best value for your gun.
Here’s our three easy-step process of selling your gun:
- Fill out the web form on our website with your gun details.
- Accept our offer and ship your gun to us with our free shipping label.
- Get paid on the same day your gun passes our inspection.
Pro Tip: Send us multiple high-quality photos of your gun so we can give you an accurate offer!
Selling It to Hawaii Gun Stores
Licensed gun stores in Hawaii can be another good option for selling your gun. They have to follow the law, so they’ll handle all of the paperwork. Many stores also offer consignment services, giving you an alternative way of reaching private buyers (but the stores take a cut).
However, remember that gun stores often have low offers. They can further low-ball you, especially if they see you’re not knowledgeable enough about the value of your gun.
Still, this option provides peace of mind, knowing that professionals meet all legal requirements. Here are some popular gun stores in Hawaii in no particular order:
- Young Guns
- BNR Tactical Guns and Ammo Store
- Firearms International, LLC
- Maui Ammo and Gun Supply
If these gun shops are far from your area, try searching for some near you.
Pro Tip: Not all gun stores in Hawaii buy used guns. Try to call stores in advance to inquire if they buy used guns.
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Conclusion
Selling a gun in Hawaii is doable if you follow the key points in this blog. Yes, the laws are strict, but you can still work within them to turn a gun into cash.
Always remember that laws change too. Local rules might even add more steps for private sales, depending on where you live in Hawaii. So, you may have to ask a lawyer or use a service that knows the ropes when in doubt.
Lucky for you, Cash for Arms can help! We’ll handle all of that while giving you some of the best prices possible if you choose to sell to us. You can reach us at (904) 977-5477!