Hawaii Drivers License Instructions

DOT got you confused? Check out our easy instructions for getting your Hawaii drivers license.

1. Study for the Hawaii learners permit / instruction permit written test

2. Apply for the Hawaii learners permit / instruction permit

3. Practice driving under supervision and take Hawaii drivers education

4. Take the driving test for the Hawaii drivers license

Step 1
Step 2
Step 3
Step 4

1. Study for the HI learners permit / instruction permit written test

In order to get the instruction permit and eventually the Hawaii drivers license, everyone regardless of age must pass a written test on traffic laws and signs. Most people fail this test on their first try.

Pass the first time when you learn the rules of the road with DriversEd.com and prepare for the instruction permit test with our Hawaii DOT practice permit tests. Our online practice permit tests can be purchased alone or are free when you purchase our online Hawaii drivers education course.*

*This course will not satisfy the Hawaii drivers education requirement for new drivers under 18.

2. Apply for the Hawaii learners permit / instruction permit

Hawaii does not have a statewide Department of Drivers Licensing. Drivers licensing is managed by each county government. For information please find a Driver Licensing Station in your county to make an appointment to take the written test. In some places, appointment may not be necessary.

In order to be eligible for the instruction permit, you must:

Be at least 15½ years old.
Present proof of name and date of birth. Photocopied documents are not acceptable.
Present social security card.
Permit applications by minors must be signed by both parents or, when applicable, by the certified custodial parent or certified custodial guardian. (Only certified copies of court documents are acceptable.)
The adult spouse of a minor applicant may sign the license application with proof of age and a certified copy of the marriage certificate.
Pass a vision exam.
Pass a written exam.

Once you pass the written test, you will be issued an instruction permit with the following restrictions:

The permit holder must always be seated next to a person who is at least 21 years of age and licensed to operate the same type of motor vehicle. However, between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 5:00a.m., the supervising parent or guardian must be seated next to the minor driver.
All occupants wear their seat belts and children under 4 years of age be properly restrained within a child safety seat in compliance with Hawaii State law.

The permit is valid for one (1) year from the date of issuance; and may be renewed for another one-year period no sooner than 30 days before the expiration date of the permit and no later than 90 days after the expiration date of the permit. Failure to renew the instructional permit within 30 days after the expiration date will result in waiting 180 days before being eligible for a road test.

3. Practice driving under supervision and take Hawaii drivers ed

If you are under 18, you must hold your learners permit for at least 180 days while you practice driving under supervision.

DriversEd.com can help make this supervised driving period less stressful. Our Behind-the-Wheel Training Guide teaches important concepts and guides parents step-by-step through the process of teaching their teen to drive. It also comes with a FREE Passenger Side Rear-View Mirror which allows you to see exactly what your teen sees when behind the wheel.

If you are under 18, you must also complete a state-approved Hawaii drivers education course that includes 30 hrs of classroom instruction and 6 hrs of in-car training. Online drivers education courses DO NOT satisfy this requirement.

4. Take the driving test for the Hawaii drivers license

Driving tests are conducted by county examiners. The City and County of Honolulu and the Counties of Kauai and Hawaii may use third party examiners certified by the Department of Transportation to conduct the driving tests.

To be eligible for the Hawaii drivers license, you must:

Be at least 16 years old.
Complete 30 hours of drivers education instruction and 6 hours of behind-the-wheel training if you are under 18.
Have held your instruction / learners permit for at least 180 days if you are under 18.
Have no pending violation that might result in the revocation or suspension of your instruction permit.
Have your parent’s or guardian’s consent.
Pass a driving test.

Once you pass the driving test, you will be issued a drivers license. If you are under 18, you will be issued a provisional license.

Provisional License Restrictions

Provisional licensees must have in their immediate possession their provisional drivers license.
All occupants must wear their seat belts and children under 4 years of age be properly restrained within a child safety seat in compliance with Hawaii State law;
The provisional licensee driver SHALL NOT TRANSPORT more than one person below the age of eighteen (18), without being accompanied by a licensed driver that is the provisional licensee’s parent or guardian, unless that person is a household member.
The provisional licensee driver SHALL NOT DRIVE between 11:00 p.m. and 5:00a.m., unless accompanied by either a parent or guardian that is licensed to drive the same type of motor vehicle and is seated in the passenger seat beside the licensee.
The person granted a provisional drivers license may drive between 11:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. without a licensed parent or guardian in the motor vehicle only under the following conditions:

Traveling to or from the licensee’s place of employment, where the operation of a motor vehicle is necessary for that purpose.
The provisional licensee shall keep in his or her possession a signed statement from the employer containing the employer’s:
• Name
• Address
• Telephone number
• Verification of employment & work hours.
Traveling to or from a school-authorized activity, where the operation of a motor vehicle is necessary for that purpose, and the provisional licensee shall keep in his or her possession a signed statement from a parent or guardian containing the parent’s or guardian’s:
a. Name, Address, Telephone number, and
b. Verification that the operation of the motor vehicle by the licensee is necessary to travel to or from the school-authorized activity; provided that under A. and B. above, the provisional licensee shall not transport more than one person under the age of eighteen (18) between 11:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. without being accompanied by the licensed parent or guardian of the provisional licensee.

The provisional license shall expire on the provisional licensee’s nineteenth (19th) birthday.

Full Drivers License

A provisional licensee may be issued a full drivers license if the provisional licensee:

Has satisfactorily held the provisional license for at least six (6) months;
Has no pending violation that might result in a suspension or revocation;
Is at least seventeen (17) years old; and has satisfactorily complied with all the requirements of Chapter 286, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

DriversEd.com is a privately held company and is in no way associated with the Department of Motor Vehicles or any other government agency. DriversEd.com does not claim any responsibility for the accuracy of the drivers license information posted within or for the business practices associated with any other schools listed on the DriversEd.com site. For up-to-date information, please consult your local Department of Motor Vehicles or vehicle registration agency. Also, DriversEd.com is not liable for any information or claims posted within third party links.