Hawaii Auto Appraisers

5.0from 80+ client reviews

Automobile appraisals in Hawaii for donations, insurance claims, estate tax, and divorce, prepared in accordance with USPAP and IRS requirements. AppraiseItNow appraises classic cars, collector vehicles, daily drivers, motorcycles, and commercial vehicles across Hawaii, including Honolulu, Hilo, and Kailua.

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DEFENSIBLE, USPAP-COMPLIANT AUTO APPRAISAL REPORTS — QUALIFIED FOR THE IRS, HAWAII COURTS, LENDERS, INSURERS, AND MORE.

  • State Farm
  • Progressive Insurance
  • GEICO
  • Ally Financial
  • Hagerty
  • Allstate
  • Chase
  • Bank of Hawaii
  • IRS
  • Hawaii Courts

Credentialed Appraisers Serving Hawaii

Between them, our vehicle appraisers hold CAGA designations, and every report is written to USPAP for the IRS, Hawaii courts, lenders, insurers, and more.

Joe Kattan

Joe Kattan

Owner & CEO

Joe founded AppraiseItNow to make a certified, USPAP-compliant appraisal as simple to order as anything else online. A former Bain & Company strategy consultant, Joe leads the entire team and specializes in strategy, growth, and the firm's tech capabilities.

Jason Dolph

Jason Dolph

Machinery & Equipment Appraiser

Third-generation auctioneer and CAGA Certified Appraiser with more than 20 years valuing machinery, equipment, vehicles, business assets, and estates for banks, attorneys, and trustees across the Carolinas.

Marnie Erkelens

Marnie Erkelens

Vehicle Appraiser

CAGA Certified Appraiser since 2014, covering vehicles, boats, equipment, fine art, and collectibles. A classic-car restoration background informs her vehicle work, with reports prepared for insurance, divorce, and charitable contributions.

Aron Blue

Aron Blue

Client Success Manager

Manages each engagement from the first enquiry to the delivered report, and keeps you posted at every step along the way.

  • USPAPWritten to the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice
  • Certified Appraisers Guild of AmericaCertified Appraiser
  • The Appraisal FoundationAuthorized by Congress as the source of appraisal standards

About Automobile Appraisals in Hawaii

AppraiseItNow provides professional automobile appraisal services throughout Hawaii, supporting individuals, businesses, attorneys, and financial institutions with accurate, certified valuations for a wide range of purposes. Whether you need an appraisal for a charitable donation, an insurance claim, estate tax reporting, or a divorce proceeding, our IACP/BOCAA-certified and USPAP-compliant appraisers deliver results that meet IRS, court, and insurer requirements. From total loss disputes and diminished value claims to bonded title appraisals for the Hawaii DMV and Standard Presumptive Value determinations for vehicle registration, our team handles the full spectrum of automobile appraisal needs across the islands.

AppraiseItNow serves clients throughout Hawaii with both remote and onsite appraisal options, making professional vehicle valuations accessible whether you are on Oahu, Maui, the Big Island, or any of the neighbor islands. Our automobile appraisal process is designed to accommodate the unique demands of Hawaii's isolated island market, where shipping costs, limited inventory, and local registration requirements all influence vehicle value. We offer Fair Market Value (FMV), Replacement Value, Orderly Liquidation Value (OLV), Forced Liquidation Value (FLV), and Actual Cash Value (ACV) appraisals for various intended uses.

What Types of Automobile Do We Appraise in Hawaii?

AppraiseItNow appraises a broad range of vehicles across Hawaii, from everyday passenger cars to specialty and commercial assets. Our certified appraisers have experience valuing:

  • Passenger cars and sedans
  • Trucks and pickup trucks
  • SUVs and crossovers
  • Motorcycles and mopeds
  • Classic, antique, and collector vehicles
  • RVs and motorhomes
  • Trailers and utility vehicles
  • Commercial and fleet vehicles
  • Electric and hybrid vehicles
  • Heavy equipment and earthmoving machinery

Beyond standard vehicles, our appraisers also handle specialty assets common to Hawaii's agricultural and ranching sectors, including farm equipment and work trucks used across the Big Island and Maui. For clients with marine or aviation assets alongside their vehicles, AppraiseItNow can coordinate multi-asset appraisal engagements to streamline estate, insurance, or legal proceedings.

Who Does AppraiseItNow Serve in Hawaii?

AppraiseItNow serves a wide range of clients across Hawaii, including individual vehicle owners, estate executors, divorce attorneys, insurance adjusters, banks and credit unions, nonprofit organizations, auto dealers, fleet operators, and court-appointed experts seeking certified appraisals for legal and financial purposes.

What Hawaii clients say we are known for

Hawaii Appraisal Reviews: “These guys were phenomenal” and “We were completely satisfied with the experience”

  1. Answering fast, and staying reachable while the work runsMentioned in 9 reviews
  2. Showing the research and the comparables behind the number“it’s clear they did a significant amount of research” Kim R.Mentioned in 8 reviews
  3. Being the appraiser they come back to“I highly recommend their services” Kim R.Mentioned in 8 reviews
  4. Following the regulatory guidelines the IRS and the courts requireMentioned in 5 reviews
  5. Taking on items other appraisers had already turned downMentioned in 2 reviews

Across 22 published Hawaii appraisal reviews, every one from a client who paid AppraiseItNow for an appraisal, the three things they raise most often are how quickly we answer, how much research is visible in the report, and that they would hire us again.

  • My daughter had purchased a very collectible 2003 Mustang Cobra terminator just 3 months before her accident with 50,000 miles on it, for 30,000 dollars. We were experiencing some very heavy rains and she hydroplaned and smashed into a guard rail and totaled her car. The insurance company offered her $18,000, but we told them that was an insult to this car. We kept going round and round with them but they were not budging. Finally we googled an independent appraiser and found AppraiseItNow! Their appraised value was 26,462. They negotiated with the insurance for us and we ended up with 25,900. They were awesome and helped us get much closer to the appropriate value of the Cobra. Absolutely worth the price we paid. Highly recommended!
    Chriss P. ·

    Car Appraisal for Insurance Claim

  • My wife and I purchased a property that included a double-wide mobile home, which we decided to donate to a local charitable organization that provides housing for low-income families. This type of donation required a formal appraisal to qualify for an IRS tax deduction, so we reached out to Appraise It Now. From the start, they were able to clearly answer all of our questions about both the appraisal process and the tax deduction requirements. We provided photos and additional details, and within 10 days we received a thorough, well-prepared report that included all the necessary IRS forms. I’m giving Appraise It Now a five-star review because communication was excellent throughout the entire process. Everyone I spoke with was helpful, friendly, and professional, and emails were always answered quickly. We were completely satisfied with the experience. Thank you!
    Manuel P. ·

    Mobile Home Appraisal for Charitable Donation

  • These guys were phenomenal. Joe was very responsive and gave clear instructions on how to submit my information for the appraisal, which he completed in a very quick timeframe. The appraisal itself was extremely detailed and included a thorough explanation of how they arrived at the value. It came with extensive documentation, and it’s clear they did a significant amount of research. They were also very responsive through text and email and always available to answer any questions. I had them appraise my fifth-wheel RV for resale, and I highly recommend their services. I will definitely use them again.
    Kim R. ·

    Recreational Vehicle Appraisal for Insurance Coverage

  • They appraised an older trailer for me that required a bonded title. They were great with communication and it only took about 2 weeks to get a very nice detailed appraisal report, which finding comps for older trailers is not straight forward. Highly recommend!
    Andrew K. ·

    Trailer Appraisal for Title Bond

  • Friendly, speedy service with fair value.
    Christina W. ·

    Auto Appraisal for Probate

  • We were amazed at their professionalism in working with us and the quality of the final appraisal report. And all for thousands less than other appraisers.
    Gary T. ·

    Tractor Appraisal for Charitable Donation

AppraiseItNow prepares vehicle appraisal reports for donations, diminished value claims, divorce, and estate settlement

Given the USPAP-compliant nature of AppraiseItNow’s appraisal reports, we prepare our deliverables for major legal, tax, and financial reporting purposes for individual and commercial clients.

Popular uses of our appraisal reports include:‍

Transactions, Lending & Investment

  • Auto Loan Financing
  • Purchase price allocation & cost segregation
  • Mergers & Acquisitions (transactional due diligence)
  • Financial Reporting

Life Events & Special Circumstances

  • Divorce
  • Social Security reporting or Medicaid Application Filings
  • E-2 visa applications

Frequently Asked Questions on Hawaii Auto Appraisers

How do appraisers value classic and collector cars in Hawaii?

Primarily with the market approach: verifiable auction results, dealer listings, and comparable sales, adjusted for mileage, condition, options, originality, and location. For restored or modified vehicles with thin comparables, a cost approach overlay estimates replacement or reproduction cost less depreciation, though market data still anchors the final opinion.

What can be deducted when donating a vehicle in Hawaii?

Often only what the charity actually realizes. IRS vehicle donation rules limit the deduction unless the charity materially improves, significantly uses, or sells the vehicle with a written acknowledgment, and the charity reports on Form 1098-C. Claimed values over $5,000 generally require a qualified appraisal with the appraiser signing Form 8283.

Are vehicles included in a Hawaii probate inventory?

Yes. The personal representative must list estate vehicles at fair market value as of the date of death on the inventory due within three months of appointment under HRS § 560:3-706. Values should reflect the market on that date rather than current asking prices, and an appraisal resolves doubt for collectible or modified cars.

Does selling a car in Hawaii end the seller's responsibility for it?

Not automatically. HRS § 286-52 requires a notice of transfer within ten days, and Honolulu's form CS-L(MVR) 53 warns that the seller remains on DMV records until the buyer completes the title transfer with the endorsed certificate of ownership. For estates and divorces, that record trail also determines whose name a vehicle actually stands in when it is time to value and distribute it.

Why do heavy vehicles carry extra ownership cost in Hawaii?

Because of the state and county weight tax. State rates run from 1.75 to 2.25 cents per pound depending on weight class, with a flat $300 for vehicles over 10,000 pounds, and Honolulu adds roughly 7 cents per pound for passenger vehicles. Those recurring carrying costs are part of the economic picture our appraisers weigh when analyzing the Hawaii market for heavy trucks and oversized rigs.