Hawaii Driver's License
Hawaii Knowledge Test — 30 questions, 24 (80%) to pass
📋 What to Bring
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Proof of identity, SSN & Hawaii residency
Bring one proof of legal name/date of birth, proof of your Social Security number, and two documents proving Hawaii residency. A federally compliant REAL ID (gold-star) license requires these same documents.
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Application & fee
Apply at your county driver licensing office (Honolulu, Hawaii, Maui, or Kauai) and pay the applicable fee; fees and exact procedures are set by each county.
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Parent/guardian consent (if under 18)
Applicants under 18 go through Hawaii's Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) program and need a parent or legal guardian to sign for the instruction permit and provisional license.
📅 How to Schedule
- 1
Study the manual and practice
Read the Hawaii Driver's Manual and take practice tests covering signs, traffic laws, no-fault insurance, alcohol and drug rules, and safe driving.
- 2
Visit your county driver licensing office
Hawaii driver licensing is county-administered. Go to the office for the City & County of Honolulu, Hawaii County, Maui County, or Kauai County with your documents and fee. Hours, appointment rules, and retake policy are set by each county.
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Pass the vision and knowledge tests
Pass a vision screening and the 30-question knowledge test (24 correct, 80%, to pass). Then hold your instruction permit, complete the required practice, and pass the road skills test to be licensed.
💡 Test Day Tips
- •The Hawaii knowledge test has 30 questions; you must answer 24 correctly (80%) to pass.
- •The legal blood alcohol limit is 0.08 for drivers 21 and over, 0.02 for drivers under 21 (zero tolerance), and 0.04 for commercial (CDL) drivers. Hawaii uses an implied-consent law — refusing the chemical test brings its own license revocation.
- •Hawaii is a no-fault insurance state. You must carry proof of insurance (a no-fault insurance card) in the vehicle at all times and show it when stopped — driving without it is a serious offense.
- •For a federally compliant REAL ID (gold-star) license you must present proof of legal name and date of birth, proof of your Social Security number, and two documents proving your Hawaii residential address.
- •When passing a bicyclist, Hawaii law requires you to give at least three feet of clearance between your vehicle and the bicycle.
📚 Driver Handbook
All practice questions are based on the chapters below. Click any chapter to read it on the official DMV website.
Licensing of Drivers
Vehicle Equipment and Inspection
Vehicle Registration
The Driver
Traffic Laws and Rules of the Road
Signals, Signs and Lane Markings
Crash Procedures
No-Fault Insurance
Alcohol and Other Drugs
Safe Driving Techniques
Trucks, Buses and Motorcycles
Pedestrian Safety
Bicycle Safety
🎯 Practice by Topic
Licensing of Drivers
Who must be licensed and who is exempt, license categories, REAL ID and required identity documents, instruction and provisional permits, renewals, and the organ-donor designation.
Vehicle Equipment and Inspection
Required and prohibited vehicle equipment, lights, brakes, tires, window tint, and the safety inspection.
Vehicle Registration
Vehicle registration requirements and deadlines, the safety inspection, license plates, and changes of address or ownership.
The Driver
Driver fitness to drive, including vision, fatigue, medical conditions, emotions, and distractions.
Traffic Laws, Ordinances, Rules and Regulations
Speed limits, right-of-way, turning, passing, parking, and the school-bus and seat-belt/child-restraint laws.
Signals, Signs and Lane Markings
Traffic signals, sign shapes/colors and their meanings, railroad crossings, and pavement and lane markings.
Crash Procedures
What to do after a crash: stop, render aid, exchange information, and report the crash.
No Fault Insurance—Financial Responsibility
Mandatory no-fault insurance, minimum coverage, proof of insurance, and the penalties for driving uninsured.
Alcohol and Other Drugs
Blood-alcohol limits, implied consent, OVUII/DUI penalties, and how alcohol and other drugs impair driving.
Safe Driving Techniques
Scanning and attentiveness, following and stopping distances, driving at night and in rain or fog, handling skids, freeway driving, and defensive driving.
Trucks, Buses and Motorcycles
Sharing the road with large trucks and buses (blind spots, stopping distance, wide turns) and with motorcycles.
Pedestrian Safety
Pedestrian right-of-way, crosswalks, yielding, and a driver's duties around pedestrians.
Bicycle Safety
Sharing the road with bicyclists, the 3-foot passing rule, bike lanes, and watching for cyclists.
🔗 Official Resources
🛑 New to US road signs? See all road signs and their meanings →
❓ Frequently asked questions
How many questions are on the Hawaii Driver's License test, and how many do I need to pass?
The Hawaii Driver's License knowledge test has 30 questions. You must answer 24 correctly (80%) to pass.
How many questions can you miss on the Hawaii Driver's License test?
You can miss up to 6 of the 30 questions and still pass.
What is the minimum age to take the Hawaii Driver's License test?
Minimum age: 15½ (permit) / 15½（学习许可）/ 15½ (permiso).
What should I bring to the Hawaii Driver's License test?
Proof of identity, SSN & Hawaii residency — Bring one proof of legal name/date of birth, proof of your Social Security number, and two documents proving Hawaii residency. A federally compliant REAL ID (gold-star) license requires these same documents. Application & fee — Apply at your county driver licensing office (Honolulu, Hawaii, Maui, or Kauai) and pay the applicable fee; fees and exact procedures are set by each county. Parent/guardian consent (if under 18) — Applicants under 18 go through Hawaii's Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) program and need a parent or legal guardian to sign for the instruction permit and provisional license.
How do I schedule and take the Hawaii Driver's License test?
1. Study the manual and practice: Read the Hawaii Driver's Manual and take practice tests covering signs, traffic laws, no-fault insurance, alcohol and drug rules, and safe driving. 2. Visit your county driver licensing office: Hawaii driver licensing is county-administered. Go to the office for the City & County of Honolulu, Hawaii County, Maui County, or Kauai County with your documents and fee. Hours, appointment rules, and retake policy are set by each county. 3. Pass the vision and knowledge tests: Pass a vision screening and the 30-question knowledge test (24 correct, 80%, to pass). Then hold your instruction permit, complete the required practice, and pass the road skills test to be licensed.