Driver's License Requirements
(New, Renewals and Duplicate Licenses and Instruction Permits)
- Required Documents
Applicants for initial or renewal of their driver’s license, permit, or state identification card are required to provide original or certified documents to prove legal presence, legal name, date of birth, social security number and, Hawaii principal residence. Please click here for a list of the acceptable documents to satisfy these requirements or click the interactive online document guide. (Note: Effective June 18, 2021, presenting Social Security Number (SSN) documentation is optional.) - Acceptable Signature Filing for Minors
- Both parents (married, separated or divorced with joint custody).
- Divorced parent with custody papers.
- One parent, spouse deceased.
- Legal guardian(s) with Court Documents.
- Foster parents with Court Documents.
- Responsible person(s), if parents deceased.
- Employer, if parents deceased and no responsible person(s).
Note: For minor applicants between the ages of 15 years and 6 months through 17, a certified copy of the minor’s birth certificate is required to establish proof of age and to determine who may sign the parental consent.
- Driver’s License, Provisional License and Instruction Permit and Related Fees
Road Test $8.00 Written Test $2.00 Oral Test (Available at Kapalama and Wahiawa) $10.00 Instruction Permit $5.00 Renewal $5.00 Duplicate (to replace lost, stolen or damaged) $6.00 Provisional License (ages 16 thru 18) $5.00 per year or fraction thereof Duplicate (to replace lost, stolen or damaged) $6.00 Driver’s License 2-Years (age 72 and older) $10.00 4-Years (ages 17 thru 24 or “kupuna” driver’s license eligible) $20.00 8-Years (ages 25 thru 71) $40.00 Duplicate (to replace lost, stolen or damaged) $6.00 Reactivation (renewing after 90-day grace period) $5.00 per 30-day period Reinstatement $20.00 Non-US Citizen required USCIS verification $1.50 Payments may be made by cash, check (drawn on U.S. Funds), money order, traveler’s or cashier’s check (returned checks incur a $25 service fee).
Visa, MasterCard, or Discover Credit Cards or Debit Cards are accepted with a service fee of 2.35% added to the transaction amount. - Number of Driver Licenses
You must surrender all valid driver’s licenses in your possession in order to obtain a state of Hawaii driver’s license. No driver is permitted to hold more than one valid driver’s license at any time.
- Ineligibility
You will not be issued a driver’s license, if:- your license has been suspended or revoked by a court of law;
- you have failed to pass the required driver’s examination;
- you have not deposited proof of financial responsibility (such as an auto liability
insurance policy, surety bond, etc.) if State law for this responsibility applies to you; - the examiner of drivers has good cause to believe that you would not be able to operate a motor vehicle safely upon the highways by reason of physical or mental disability;
- you are under the age of 16 years;
- you are 16 through 17 years of age, and do not have parental consent;
- you have a traffic violation which is unsatisfied or is pending a court hearing;
- you do not have an Instruction Permit or a valid driver’s license from another U.S. jurisdiction.
- there is a stopper on the Problem Driver Pointer System (PDPS).
- Visit our Driver’s License Procedures webpage.
Driver’s License Application Form (PDF)
Parental Consent Form (CS-L (DL) 239 (PDF)
For assistance with identifying acceptable supporting documents required to obtain a driver’s license, please consult our interactive Documents Guide or download this document.
State’s new Graduated Driver Licensing Program (GDL) provisions.
The City and County of Honolulu online driver’s license Appointment for Road Test System (ARTS) allows you to schedule a new or change an existing driver’s license road test appointment at one of the five driver license offices on Oʻahu. This online service is not currently available for motorcycle or commercial driver’s license road test appointments.
Eligibility Requirements
In order to make an online appointment you must meet the following requirements:
- Application for passenger vehicle Class 3.
- Application has a current Instruction Permit that has not expired.
- Application who are 16-17 years old must present:
- Learner’s Permit held for a period of at least 180 days
- Driver Education Student Completion Certificate (Form HDOT DE-20, 12-2000)
- Behind-the-Wheel Student Completion Certificate (Form HDOT DE-21, 12-2000)
Applicant Requirements
The following information is needed when making an online appointment:
- First Name
- Last Name
- Date of Birth
- Instruction Permit Number (i.e. Hxxxxxxxx)
Click here to view the complete Road Test Instructions and Requirements
Reschedule Your Appointment
An appointment can only be rescheduled online before 6:00 a.m. of the scheduled appointment date. If you are unable to keep your appointment and unable to access the Internet please notify the location where the appointment was scheduled at least one business day prior.
Outstanding Violations Note: Applicants’ records are electronically checked against the State Traffic Violations Bureau (TVB) file to ensure compliance. All outstanding violations must be cleared with the State Traffic Violations Bureau before you can obtain a driver’s license. Failure to obtain either a clearance letter from the TVB (covering the proper violation period) or having TVB clear your violation record on the electronic files within 30 days of passing the road test will result in your having to retake the road test.
State Traffic Violations Bureau 1111 Alakea Street, Second Floor (808) 538-5500
- Minor (ages 15 years and 6 months through 17) Applicants
- Permit applications by minors must be signed by both parents or, when applicable, by the certified custodial parent, certified custodial guardian, or certified foster parents. (Only certified copies of court documents are acceptable.) If both parents are not able to accompany you to sign the parental consent form and unable to sign and have notarized the reverse side of the application form, the absent parent(s) may sign and have notarized a separate Parental Consent Affidavit form: csldl239.pdf
- The spouse (who is an adult) of a minor applicant may sign the license application with proof of age and certified copy of the marriage certificate.
- Minors who are legally emancipated may sign license applications upon presentation of the certified court document which granted emancipation.
- Provisional licenses will expire on your 19th birthday.
- The minimum age to acquire a permit is 15 years and 6 months and the minimum age to acquire a provisional license is 16. Minors between the ages of 16 through 17 must pass and present certificates of completion of mandatory driver education and behind the wheel training from a DOT authorized instructor, before securing a Road Test.
- MINOR APPLICANTS UNDER THE AGE OF 18 – A provisional or full license will not be issued to persons under the age of 18 who have pending violations or proceedings that might result in the suspension or revocation of the provisional license, and any pending adjudication of an offense relating to the operation of a motor vehicle.
An electronic interface between the City & County of Honolulu driver record system and Judiciary’s Information Management System (JIMS) will flag the driver record of a minor with any pending violations or proceedings that might result in the suspension or revocation of the provisional license, or any pending adjudication of an offense relating to the operation of a motor vehicle.
In certain situations, a minor may be provided a Referral Slip, form CS-L(DL) 237 and referred to the District Court to obtain a status letter. The status letter is valid for 30 days from the date of issuance and must indicate that the minor has no pending violations, proceedings, or adjudications within the jurisdiction of the District Court of the State of Hawaii. The letter must be presented to the Motor Vehicle, Licensing and Permits Division before receiving a driver’s license.
- For issuance of a provisional license, the minor must return to the driver licensing center within 30 days of passing the road test with the status letter, or the test results will be invalidated.
- For issuance of a full license, the applicant must return to the driver licensing center with the status letter.
- Adult (ages 25 through 71) Applicants
- New licenses and renewals will expire on your eighth birthday following the date of issue.
- Senior (ages 72 or older) Applicants
- A four-year “kupuna” driver’s license is available to residents aged 72 to 80 and free of conditions that could impair their driving ability.
- Drivers age 72 and older with conditions that could impair their driving ability may be eligible for a two-year driver’s license (must submit a Medical Report, Form DOT-H2058).
Drivers age 80 and older may be eligible for two-year driver’s licenses, which expire on the second birthday following the date of issue.
- Instruction Permit Applicants
- You may apply for a temporary instruction permit if, except for a lack on instruction in operating a motor vehicle, you would otherwise be qualified to obtain a driver’s license.
- You must obtain an Instruction Permit as a first step to qualify for a new driver license.
- The examiner of drivers shall test your:
- eyesight and determine if you possess the physical and mental capabilities to safely operate a motor vehicle;
- understanding of highway signs regulating, warning and directing traffic;
- knowledge of traffic laws, ordinances, or regulations of the State and City and County of Honolulu.
- If the examiner of drivers is satisfied that you are qualified to receive an instruction permit, the examiner of drivers shall issue the permit to you. The permit is valid for a period of one year. Permits may NOT be renewed by mail.
- Except when operating a motorcycle or moped, you shall be accompanied by a licensed driver 21 years of age or older. The licensed person shall occupy a seat as near to you as is practical while the motor vehicle is being operated.
- The temporary instruction permit does not allow you to operate a motorcycle or moped during the hours of darkness or carry any passenger.
- Your temporary instruction permit for the operation of a motorcycle or moped may not be renewed nor shall you be issued another temporary instruction permit until you attempt the motorcycle skills exam.