Getting your Hawaii learner permit

By the end of this topic you can

• You can check whether you are old enough to apply.
• You can gather the identity and residence documents your county asks for.
• You can explain how parental consent works for applicants under 18.
• You can describe the tests and steps at the licensing office.
• You can follow the rules that apply once you hold the permit.

What you need to know and understand

• The minimum age for an instruction permit is 15 years and 6 months.
• You must pass a vision screening and a written rules of the road test.
• Applicants under 18 need consent from each living parent or legal guardian, unless married or emancipated.
• Each county runs its own offices and booking system. On Oahu, appointments are made through AlohaQ.
• The permit is valid for one year and can be renewed from 30 days before to 90 days after it expires.
• If you cannot or choose not to give a Social Security number, you may qualify for a limited purpose permit, which is for driving only.

Documents to collect before your appointment

Bring originals or certified copies. Photocopies, faxes and emailed forms are refused. The list below is based on the City and County of Honolulu; other counties ask for similar items, so check your own county's page.

• A completed Driver's License Application Form.
• A certified birth certificate or other proof of legal name, date of birth and legal presence.
• Your Social Security number.
• Two documents proving your Hawaii home address. Under 18s who do not have two may use a parent's.
• Under 18: the parental consent form. In Honolulu both parents named on the birth certificate must sign, in person or on a notarized form.
• The certificate of completion, if you passed the knowledge test online.

What happens at the licensing office

1. Book an appointment with your county licensing center.
2. Hand in your application and documents for checking.
3. Take the eye test.
4. Take the written test if you have not passed it online.
5. Have your photo and fingerprints taken and pay the fees.
6. Leave with a temporary permit. In Honolulu the plastic card is mailed later, usually in six to eight weeks.

Fees vary by county

In Honolulu, the instruction permit costs $5 and the in-person written test costs $2. Taking the test online costs more because a transaction fee is added. Hawaii County, Maui County and Kauai County set their own fees, so check your county before you go.

Rules once the permit is in your hand

Carry the permit every time you drive. A licensed driver aged 21 or older, licensed for that vehicle type, must sit in the front passenger seat. From 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. that person must be your parent or guardian. Everyone in the car must be belted or in the right child restraint. Drivers under 18 may not use any phone or mobile device while driving, not even hands-free, except to call 911.

Common mistakes

• Bringing photocopies of a birth certificate. Only originals or certified copies are accepted.
• Arriving with only one parent when both must consent. Bring a notarized form for a parent who cannot attend.
• Booking at the wrong county. Use the licensing office in the county where you live.
• Letting the permit lapse for more than 90 days. Honolulu then requires you to retake the written test.

Test yourself: Getting your Hawaii learner permit

Answer each question, then read the explanation. Questions come in a random order each time.

Go deeper

• Hawaii Permit Test
• Hawaii Permit Practice Test
• Learning to Drive in Hawaii