Hawaii · Handbook chapter 1 · 5 min read
Chapter 1: Licensing of drivers
How Hawaii licenses new drivers: the instruction permit at 15 and a half, the 30-question written test, the provisional license, the full license at 17, license classes, renewals and citations.
Why this chapter matters
Hawaii's written test can ask about the graduated licensing steps and the rules for each license type. The figures to learn are 15 and a half, 21, 180 days, 16, six months, 17, 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. and one passenger under 18.
Who issues licenses
Driver licensing is handled by each county (the City and County of Honolulu, Hawaii County, Maui County and Kauai County) under rules set by the State Department of Transportation, which coordinates the program and publishes the manual. You apply at a county driver licensing center, usually by appointment.
The written test
To get an instruction permit you take a vision test and a knowledge test on the rules of the road and traffic control devices.
- The test has 30 multiple-choice questions.
- The counties do not publish a pass mark on the pages we could read. Our practice sets use 24 of 30 (80 percent) as our own practice standard, not an official figure. Honolulu sets a seven-day wait before a retake after failing on knowledge.
- For a class 3 (car) permit you can take the test online with a webcam-equipped computer, with a one-hour limit, in English or Spanish. You then have 60 days to finish the permit at a licensing center.
- Oral tests can be arranged for applicants who cannot read English. Arrangements and fees are set by each county; in Honolulu the oral test is offered at the Kapalama and Wahiawa centers for $10.
The instruction permit
- Minimum age: 15 years and 6 months.
- You may drive only with a supervisor who is at least 21 and licensed for that type of vehicle. In every vehicle except a motorcycle, the supervisor sits in the right front seat.
- Between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m., a permit holder under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
- Everyone in the vehicle must wear a seat belt or be in a child restraint.
- Under 18, you need written consent from your parents or guardian, and you must hold the permit for 180 days before applying for a provisional license.
The provisional license (ages 16 and 17)
| Requirement or limit | Rule |
|---|---|
| Minimum age | 16 |
| Permit held | At least 180 days |
| Training | Classroom and behind-the-wheel certificates from a State certified driver education course |
| Test | A road test |
| Passengers | Only one person under 18 who is not a household member, unless your parent or guardian is with you |
| Late night | From 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. only with a licensed parent or guardian, except to or from work or a school-authorized activity |
Honolulu's graduated licensing page adds that a first violation of these limits brings a 3-month suspension, a second a 6-month revocation, and that the provisional license expires on your 19th birthday.
The full license
You can get a full class 3 license at 17, after holding the provisional license for six months.
License classes
| Class | Vehicles |
|---|---|
| 1 | Mopeds |
| 2 | Motorcycles and motor scooters |
| 3 | Single vehicles of 18,000 pounds GVWR or less designed for 15 or fewer passengers including the driver |
| 4 | Single vehicles of 18,001 to 26,000 pounds GVWR |
| A, B, C | Commercial driver's licenses |
You must be at least 21 to apply for any class larger than class 3. The 2023 manual says a moped needs a class 1 license.
The road test
Bring a licensed driver with you to the testing station and a vehicle in safe condition with current registration, a current safety inspection certificate and an insurance identification card. No passengers are allowed during the test, and an autocycle cannot be used. You will drive through a business district, parallel park, start on a slight grade without rolling back, and show proper signals, turns and stops.
Keeping your license
- Carry your license whenever you drive and show it to a police officer on demand.
- You may renew within six months before it expires. A license is void after its expiration date.
- A REAL ID license can be renewed by mail, but you must appear in person at least every 16 years for a new photo.
- Report a change of address in writing within 30 days; for a name change, appear in person within 30 days with proof.
- A limited purpose license is for driving only and is not accepted for federal purposes such as boarding a plane.
- Visitors with a compact foreign license and an International Driving Permit may drive for one year after arriving in the United States.
Who cannot be licensed
Among others: anyone whose license is suspended or revoked by a court, anyone for two years after a conviction for drunk driving while unlicensed, anyone who has not passed the required exam, anyone under 16, and anyone with outstanding traffic citations.
Traffic citations
A traffic infraction is the less serious type, handled as a civil matter with fines and license or registration stoppers; you may pay, write a statement or appear. A traffic crime may bring jail, so a court appearance is required.
Frequently asked questions
How many questions are on the Hawaii permit test?
Thirty multiple-choice questions. The counties do not publish a pass mark on the pages we could read; our practice sets use 24 of 30 (80 percent) as our own practice standard.
Can I take the Hawaii permit test online?
Yes, for a class 3 (car) permit, on a computer with a webcam, in English or Spanish, with one hour to finish.
How old do I have to be for a learner's permit in Hawaii?
At least 15 years and 6 months.
Who can ride with a provisional driver?
No more than one person under 18 who is not a household member, unless your parent or guardian is in the car.
When can I get a full license?
At 17, after six months on a provisional license.
Based on the Hawaii Driver's Manual (2023 edition), Chapter I: Licensing of Drivers, with test and graduated licensing details from the City and County of Honolulu and its online learner's permit test page.