Hawaii permit test
Test requirements, handbook sources, and practice for Hawaii.
Test and permit facts
Read the scope and exceptions alongside each fact. Requirements still awaiting review are omitted; their absence does not mean the agency has no rule.
| Fact | Hawaii | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Agency | State of Hawaii Department of Transportation, Motor Vehicle Safety Office | Official source · PDF page 4 |
| Test name | written test | |
| Test format details | The statewide online learner permit test has 25 questions, a 60-minute maximum, and English or Spanish versions. These published parameters apply to the online option; they do not establish all county in-person test formats. | |
| Test format scope | For original Category 3 licensing, the administrative rule specifies a minimum of 25 general questions; it does not fix a single exact count. The separately published online option specifies 25 questions. The HDOT language announcement concerns knowledge testing generally; the online option has its own shorter language list. | Official source · PDF page 22 |
| Online test format | Questions: 25 Passing percentage: 80% Time limit (minutes): 60 Languages: English, Spanish | |
| Passing percentage | 80 | Official source · PDF page 23 |
| Online testing | Online testing is available in all counties; applicants still visit a licensing center to complete the process. | |
| Minimum permit age | 15 years and 6 months | Official source · PDF page 13 |
| Permit fee | Online written-test fees vary by county. After passing, applicants also pay for the instruction permit at a driver licensing center; HDOT does not publish a single statewide amount on this page. | |
| Driver’s education | At the provisional-license stage, complete state-certified driver education and obtain both classroom and behind-the-wheel certificates. This follows the instruction-permit stage. | Official source · PDF page 13 |
| Retest rules | After failing a knowledge or practical test, the mandatory wait before retesting is at least one week and no more than 30 days. Confirm the applicable interval with the county licensing office. | Official source · PDF page 18 |
| Test languages | English, Hawaiian, Spanish, Marshallese, Chuukese, Japanese, Korean, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Samoan, Tongan, Vietnamese, Tagalog, Ilocano | |
| Handbook | Hawaii Driver’s Manual | Official source · PDF page 7 |
| Handbook edition | HMG 5/2023 | Official source · PDF page 2 |
| Online testing requirements | Use an internet-connected desktop or laptop with a keyboard, mouse or mouse-pad cursor, and working webcam. Phones, tablets and touchscreen devices cannot be used. Applicants must remain on the test screen without looking aside. Applicants younger than 18 need an adult older than 18 during registration; the adult remains outside the webcam view during testing. | |
| Requirements for applicants under 18 | Applicants younger than 18 need consent from every living parent or legal guardian unless married or emancipated, plus vision and road-rules tests. Permit driving requires a licensed adult age 21 or older; from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. the accompanying adult must be a parent or guardian. A provisional license requires 180 days with a valid permit, age 16 or older, state-certified driver education with both certificates, and a road test. | Official source · PDF page 13 |
| Documents to bring | For a first REAL ID compliant instruction permit, bring original or certified evidence of legal name, birth date, lawful presence and Social Security number, plus two proofs of your principal Hawaii address. If names differ, also bring a document connecting them. These are REAL ID requirements; limited-purpose credentials have a separate process. | Official source · PDF page 11 |
| Agency offices and appointments | Driver licensing locations and contacts are organized by county: City and County of Honolulu, Maui County, Hawaii County and Kauai County. Use the HDOT county-office directory to choose the relevant county and confirm its available services and appointments. |
Start with the handbook
Official source · PDF page 1
Study the federal road-sign catalog.
Free permit practice
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