Hawaii driver's license
Get your first license in Hawaii after moving to the US.
The short answer
Hawaii issues a first driver's license after you pass the rules of the road test and then show a county examiner that you can drive.1, 2, 3 The fee depends on the county you apply in and on how long the license lasts.4, 5 If you fail the knowledge test in Honolulu, you wait seven days and pay another test fee of $12.6 A licensed driver must drive you to the testing station, and no passengers are allowed in the vehicle during the test.7 Documents you present must be valid originals or certified copies, and unexpired.8
How it goes
- 1You arriveYou have moved to Hawaii and you want to drive here.
- 2Your permitYou practice on the road with a learner permit.
- 3The written testYou take the written test.
- 4Behind the wheelYou take the drive test behind the wheel.
- 5Your licenseYou pass the tests, and the license is yours.
What it costs
| What you pay | Amount |
|---|---|
| A driver's license valid four years9 | $20.00 |
| In Maui County, a license priced by how many years it runs5 | $10.00 for 1 year up to $70.00 for 7 years |
Each county council sets an extra fee that is charged on top when the license is issued.4
If you just arrived in the US
Your immigration status
If the federal government has authorized you to be in the United States temporarily, you are issued a limited term driver's license or permit with a reduced expiration duration.10
If you cannot or choose not to give proof of authorized presence in the United States or a Social Security number, you are issued a limited purpose driver's license, limited purpose provisional license, or limited purpose instruction permit.11
If your license from another state has expired
An expired out-of-state license cannot be transferred; you must pass both the written test and the road test.12
If you have no license to transfer
If your out-of-state license is expired, or you no longer have the card itself, it cannot be transferred; you apply as a new applicant and must pass both the written knowledge test and a road test.12
If you do not qualify for the out-of-state license waiver, the examiner of drivers examines you the same as any other applicant.13
Documents you need
- Documents that are still validDocuments presented for proof must be valid originals or certified copies, and unexpired. Notarized copies or faxes are not acceptable as proof for certified copies.8
Your Social Security Number
Giving your number, and who may see it
If you cannot get a Social Security number, shown by official notification from the Social Security Administration, or you are unwilling to give one, the agency issues an assigned substitute number for your driver's license.14
Your application must state your Social Security number if you are eligible for one.15
Tests you take
Eye test
The driver examination includes a test of your eyesight and any further physical examination the examiner finds necessary to decide whether you can safely operate a motor vehicle.16
You must pass the preliminary examinations: a vision screening test and a rules of the road test.1
Drive test
You must demonstrate to the examiner of drivers that you can operate the category of motor vehicle you are applying for.2
Tries you get on the written test
In Honolulu, if you fail the online knowledge test, you must wait 7 days before retaking it, and each retake costs the full $12 test fee again.6
Practice questions for the written test
The Hawaii Driver's Manual, Motorcycle Manual, CDL Manual, and moped information are on the Motor Vehicle Safety Office website at http://hidot.hawaii.gov/highways/library/motor-vehicle-safety-office/.17
Practising with your permit
Who can sit with you while you practise
The driver with you must be at least 21 years old and licensed for the category of vehicle you are driving, and for anything other than a motorcycle or motor scooter must sit in the passenger seat beside you.18
Except when you are operating a motor scooter or motorcycle, you must be accompanied by a person who is twenty-one years of age or older and licensed to drive the category of vehicle you are driving.19
What to bring to the drive test
Who comes with you
A licensed driver must come with you to the testing station, and no passengers are allowed in the vehicle during the driving test.7
The car and its insurance
For an on-street test for a Category 3 license, you must provide a motor vehicle of that category in serviceable condition.20
You may drive an autocycle with a Category 3 driver's license, but you are not allowed to use an autocycle for the Category 3 performance test.21
You must show a valid motor vehicle or liability insurance identification card for the test vehicle; without it, the examiner will not issue a driver's license.22
The vehicle you bring for the road test must be in safe operating condition with all defects corrected, and must have a current registration, current safety inspection certificate, and insurance identification card.23
Where to go
Who gives the tests
The chief executive of each county names one or more resident motor vehicle operators as examiners of drivers, who check the qualifications and fitness of people applying for a license.3
Other states
U
Sources
Every numbered fact above is quoted from the page that publishes it, in the words it uses.
- 1
“• You must pass the preliminary examinations by taking a vision screening test and a rules of the road test.”
- 2
“Upon payment of the required fee and upon demonstrating the ability to operate a certain category or categories of motor vehicles to the satisfaction of the examiner of drivers, an applicant for a driver's license shall be issued a single license of a design approved by the director of transportation”
capitol.hawaii.gov/…/HRS_0286-0109.htmChecked August 4, 2026
- 3
“The chief executive of each county shall designate one or more persons, residing in the county, each of whom shall be a competent operator of motor vehicles, to be known as the examiner of drivers, and whose duty it shall be to examine into the qualifications and fitness of any person desiring to secure or to renew a license to operate a motor vehicle as provided in this part.”
capitol.hawaii.gov/…/HRS_0286-0101.htmChecked August 4, 2026
- 4
“An additional fee to be determined by the council of each county shall be charged and collected upon the issuance of a provisional license or driver's license.”
capitol.hawaii.gov/…/HRS_0286-0111.htmChecked August 4, 2026
- 5
“7 YEARS $70.00 6 YEARS $60.00 5 YEARS $50.00”
mauicounty.gov/DocumentCenter/View/80783Checked August 4, 2026
- 6
“Yes, but it will cost another full test fee of $12. Also, applicants who fail testing due to knowledge must wait seven (7) days before attempting to retake the test.”
honolulu.gov/csd/online-permit-testChecked August 19, 2026
- 7
“DRIVER PERFORMANCE TEST You must be accompanied to the testing station by a licensed driver and provide a vehicle in safe operating condition with a current registration, current safety inspection certificate and insurance identification card. ... Passengers are not permitted during the test.”
- 8
“Documents presented for proof must be valid originals or certified copies, and unexpired. (Notarized copies or faxes are not acceptable as proof for certified copies.)”
- 9
“You need to complete an application form (check the renewal box) and pass the eye test. The fee is $20.00 for a 4 year-license.”
honolulu.gov/csd/drivers-license-faqChecked August 1, 2026
- 10
“Persons who are authorized by the federal government to be present temporarily in the U.S. will be issued a limited term driver’s license or permit with a reduced expiration duration.”
hidot.hawaii.gov/driverslicenseChecked August 1, 2026
- 11
“Notwithstanding section 286-104(7) to the contrary, every person who submits an application for a driver’s license, provisional driver’s license, or instruction permit that satisfies the requirements of this chapter except for the applicant’s inability or refusal to provide satisfactory proof of authorized presence in the United States under federal law shall be issued a limited purpose driver’s license, a limited purpose provisional driver’s license, or a limited purpose instruction permit”
capitol.hawaii.gov/…/HRS_0286-0104_0005.htmChecked August 1, 2026
- 12
“An expired out-of-state license is not transferable and requires the successful completion of both written and road tests.”
honolulu.gov/csd/drivers-license-faqChecked August 2, 2026
- 13
“the examiner of drivers shall examine every applicant for a driver’s license, except as otherwise provided in this part”
capitol.hawaii.gov/…/HRS_0286-0108.htmChecked August 1, 2026
- 14
“I further acknowledge my social security number, or if I am unable to obtain a social security number as evidenced by official notification by the Social Security Administration to the county driver licensing office, or unwilling to provide a social security number, an assigned substitute number shall be issued by this agency for the sole purpose of providing me with a driver’s license.”
hidot.hawaii.gov/…/DL-Application-Form-Auto-VR-2023-03-15v1-fillable.pdfChecked August 4, 2026
- 15
“social security number if the applicant is eligible for a social security number, the residence address, and business address, if any, of the applicant”
capitol.hawaii.gov/…/HRS_0286-0111.htmChecked August 4, 2026
- 16
“The examination shall include a test of: (1) The applicant's eyesight and any further physical examination that the examiner of drivers finds necessary to determine the applicant's fitness to operate a motor vehicle safely upon the highways”
capitol.hawaii.gov/…/HRS_0286-0108.htmChecked August 15, 2026
- 17
“For Hawaii Driver’s Manual, Motorcycle Manual, CDL Manual or moped information, please visit the Motor Vehicle Safety Office website at http://hidot.hawaii.gov/highways/library/motor-vehicle-safety-office/ .”
honolulu.gov/csd/drivers-license-faqChecked August 1, 2026
- 18
“Except when operating a motor scooter or motorcycle, the holder of an instruction permit shall be accompanied by a person who is twenty-one years of age or older and licensed to operate the category of motor vehicles in which the motor vehicle that is being operated belongs. The licensed person shall occupy a passenger seat beside the permit holder while the motor vehicle is being operated”
capitol.hawaii.gov/…/HRS_0286-0110.htmChecked July 31, 2026
- 19
“Except when operating a motor scooter or motorcycle, the holder of an instruction permit shall be accompanied by a person who is twenty-one years of age or older and licensed to operate the category of motor vehicles in which the motor vehicle that is being operated belongs.”
capitol.hawaii.gov/…/HRS_0286-0110.htmChecked August 11, 2026
- 20
“When required by the examiner of drivers to take an on-street test, an applicant for a category 3 license shall: (1) Provide for the test a motor vehicle in serviceable condition of the category for”
hidot.hawaii.gov/…/19-122-Ramseyer-8-3-20-FB.pdfChecked August 9, 2026
- 21
“Although you may drive an autocycle with a category 3 driver’s license, you are not allowed to use an autocycle for the category 3 performance test.”
- 22
“As part of the examination required by this section, the applicant for a driver's license shall produce and display a valid motor vehicle or liability insurance identification card for the motor vehicle required by sections 431:10C-107 and 431:10G-106, when the applicant demonstrates the ability to operate a motor vehicle to the satisfaction of the examiner of drivers. If no valid motor vehicle or liability insurance identification card is displayed, the examiner of drivers shall not issue a driver's license to the applicant.”
capitol.hawaii.gov/…/HRS_0286-0108.htmChecked July 26, 2026
- 23
“You must be accompanied to the testing station by a licensed driver and provide a vehicle in safe operating condition with a current registration, current safety inspection certificate and insurance identification card. All vehicle safety defects must be corrected prior to taking the test. ... Although you may drive an autocycle with a category 3 driver’s license, you are not allowed to use an autocycle for the category 3 performance test.”
- 24
“County DMV Offices and Contact Information”
hidot.hawaii.gov/driverslicenseChecked August 1, 2026
- 25
“here -> https://www.honolulu.gov/csd/services-and-locations/”
honolulu.gov/csd/drivers-license-faqChecked August 1, 2026
Applying for a driver's license in Hawaii?
Answer a few questions and see the steps that apply to you.