I'm a new resident in Hawaii: what do I do with my license?

Compare with the state you moved from

Choose the state you came from to see the main differences from Hawaii. Every value comes from that state's official manual (with the page number) or from its license guide. Where a manual does not state a rule, we say so instead of guessing.

Key rules in Hawaii

Each rule comes from the Hawaii driver manual or from the license guide, with its source.

Licensing and paperwork

• Tests when you transfer a license

  Valid other-state license (classes 1-3): knowledge and road tests may be waived; Honolulu: eye test and fingerprints.

  What the manual says

  • The knowledge and road tests may be waived for class 1 through 3 applicants who have a provisional license or a valid license issued by another state of the United States (or another listed jurisdiction).

  • Transferring an out-of-state license

    The county pages describe how to transfer a license from another state:

    • Honolulu’s page says valid out-of-state licenses can be transferred from U.S. states, U.S. territories and Canada, and that you must be 18 or older.
    • Hawaii County’s page says to present your valid, unexpired out-of-state license, and that you are required to turn it in.
    • Honolulu’s page says you take an eye test and are fingerprinted, and after passing the vision test you are issued a comparable non-CDL Hawaii license. It also says the road test may be waived.
    • Honolulu’s and Hawaii County’s pages say an expired out-of-state license cannot be transferred: you apply as a new applicant and take a written test and a road test.
    • Kauai’s page says that if you do not have the plastic out-of-state license, you may have to apply as a new applicant and pass the 30-question multiple-choice test and a road test.

  Source: Hawaii Driver's Manual (2023), page 12

  Source: [1] [2] [3] [4]

• Liability insurance

  Every owner of a car, bus or truck must have motor vehicle insurance to register or operate it.

  What the manual says

  • Every owner of a car, bus or truck must have motor vehicle insurance to register or operate a vehicle in the State.

  Source: Hawaii Driver's Manual (2023), page 54

• Change of address

  Notify the county examiner of drivers in writing within 30 days of changing your residence address.

  What the manual says

  • Whenever you change your residence address you must, within 30 days, notify the county examiner of drivers in writing.

  Source: Hawaii Driver's Manual (2023), page 16

• How long the license lasts

  Honolulu: ages 25-71 expire on the eighth birthday after issue; ages 17-24 get a four-year license.

  What the manual says

  • How long a license lasts

    Honolulu’s page says new licenses and renewals for ages 25 through 71 expire on your eighth birthday after the date of issue. Honolulu’s road test page lists a four-year license for ages 17 through 24.

  Source: [5] [6]

Road rules

• Teen driving hours

  Provisional: 11 p.m.-5 a.m. only with a licensed parent or guardian, except to/from work or school-authorized activities.

  What the manual says

  • The exceptions are driving to and from employment or to and from the driver’s school-authorized activity.
  • The exceptions are driving to and from employment or to and from the driver’s school-authorized activity.

  Source: Hawaii Driver's Manual (2023), page 14

• Passengers for teen drivers

  Provisional license: only one passenger under 18 who is not a household member.

  What the manual says

  • A provisional license allows you to transport only one person under age 18 who is not a household member.

  Source: Hawaii Driver's Manual (2023), page 13

• Alcohol limit under 21

  Zero tolerance: drivers under 21 may not drive with a blood alcohol content of .02 or more.

  What the manual says

  • Drivers under 21 may not operate a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol content of .02 or more.

  Source: Hawaii Driver's Manual (2023), page 56

• Refusing a chemical test

  Refusing: license taken with 30-day temporary permit; revocation 1, 2 or 4 years, depending on prior alcohol contacts.

  What the manual says

  • The license is taken away and the driver is given a 30-day temporary driving permit.
  • Refusal may result in revocation for one year, two years or four years, depending on prior alcohol enforcement contacts.

  Source: Hawaii Driver's Manual (2023), page 55, 56

• Seat belts

  All front and back seat occupants must use seat belts, at all times when driving or riding.

  What the manual says

  • All front and back seat occupants are required by law to use seat belts.
  • The manual says safety belts must be worn at all times when driving or riding in a vehicle.

  Source: Hawaii Driver's Manual (2023), page 20, 61

• Child safety seats

  Under 4: child restraint. Under 8: booster seat if under four feet and less than forty pounds.

  What the manual says

  • The manual says children under age 4 must be in a child restraint.
  • A child under age 8 must be belted on a booster seat if under four feet and less than forty pounds.

  Source: Hawaii Driver's Manual (2023), page 20

• School buses

  Bus's lane and adjacent lanes must stop when its red lamps flash; opposite direction on a divided highway need not.

  What the manual says

  • The law requires drivers in the bus's lane and all adjacent lanes to stop before reaching the school bus.
  • Vehicles proceeding in the opposite direction on a divided highway are not required to stop.

  Source: Hawaii Driver's Manual (2023), page 96

• Move Over law

  Slow down or stop and move away to leave an empty lane, if possible and safe.

  What the manual says

  • You should slow down or stop as appropriate and move away so an empty traffic lane separates you from the emergency vehicle, if possible and safe to do so.

  Source: Hawaii Driver's Manual (2023), page 29

• Headlights

  The manual says use low-beam headlamps in heavy rain, in fog, and shortly before sunrise and after sunset.

  What the manual says

  • The manual says to reduce your speed and turn on your head lamps (low beam) so that others may see you.
  • The manual says to sharply reduce speed and turn on low beam head lamps, and never to use the high beam in fog.
  • The manual says to turn the head lamps on low beam during this time so others can see you.

  Source: Hawaii Driver's Manual (2023), page 76, 77

• Right turn on red

  Right on red after stopping unless a sign prohibits it; yield to all pedestrians and vehicles.

  What the manual says

  • After stopping, you may turn right except when a sign prohibits such movement.
  • You must yield to all pedestrians and all vehicles when making a right turn on red.

  Source: Hawaii Driver's Manual (2023), page 39

• Left lane and keeping right

  Slower traffic: far-right lane; two lanes your way: left lane for passing or when vehicles enter from the right.

  What the manual says

  • The manual says that when moving slower than other traffic you should drive in the extreme right lane.
  • The left lane is used for passing or when vehicles are entering from the right.

  Source: Hawaii Driver's Manual (2023), page 26, 65

Official steps for moving to Hawaii

• Driving on a license from another state

  If you are 18 or older, you may drive in Hawaii with a valid driver’s license from another U.S. state (the manual and Kauai’s page). The pages differ for drivers under 18, so ask your county.

  Source: [7] [4]

• Transferring an out-of-state license

  The county pages describe how to transfer a license from another state:

  • Honolulu’s page says valid out-of-state licenses can be transferred from U.S. states, U.S. territories and Canada, and that you must be 18 or older.
  • Hawaii County’s page says to present your valid, unexpired out-of-state license, and that you are required to turn it in.
  • Honolulu’s page says you take an eye test and are fingerprinted, and after passing the vision test you are issued a comparable non-CDL Hawaii license. It also says the road test may be waived.
  • Honolulu’s and Hawaii County’s pages say an expired out-of-state license cannot be transferred: you apply as a new applicant and take a written test and a road test.
  • Kauai’s page says that if you do not have the plastic out-of-state license, you may have to apply as a new applicant and pass the 30-question multiple-choice test and a road test.

  Source: [1] [2] [3] [4]

• A license from another country

  Hawaii has driver-license reciprocity agreements with only three countries: Japan, Korea and Taiwan, with certain conditions (Honolulu’s page and the DOT list). Honolulu’s page says applicants who qualify for reciprocity are not required to take the written and road tests, that an expired foreign license cannot be transferred, and that reciprocity applicants must bring a verification letter notarized, translated and sealed by their consulate. If your license is from another country, ask your county office what applies to you.

  Source: [8] [9]

• Documents in another language

  Honolulu’s page says all documents must be translated into English.

  Source: [2]

• Military service members

  Honolulu’s military page says that military members with a valid driver’s license from another U.S. state do not need a Hawaii license unless that license is expiring and they cannot renew it in that state. An expired license is not valid for driving. Honolulu’s and Kauai’s pages say that if a Hawaii license expired while its holder was deployed outside the United States, it stays valid for 90 days after the return to the United States (Kauai’s page: for a member of the Armed Forces on active federal service; Honolulu’s page: with a valid U.S. military ID). Honolulu’s page says you must bring original or certified copies of your deployment papers to renew it.

  Source: [1] [4] [10]

Sources

1. Driver's License Procedures (City & County of Honolulu) (honolulu.gov) — City & County of Honolulu, Department of Customer Services
2. Hawaii Driver's License Frequently Asked Questions (City & County of Honolulu) (honolulu.gov) — City & County of Honolulu, Department of Customer Services
3. Driver's Licensing pages (County of Hawai’i, Vehicle Registration & Licensing) (vrl.hawaiicounty.gov) — County of Hawai’i, Department of Finance
4. Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) driver pages (County of Kauai) (kauai.gov) — County of Kauai, Department of Finance
5. Road Test (City & County of Honolulu) (honolulu.gov) — City & County of Honolulu, Department of Customer Services
6. Driver's License Requirements (City & County of Honolulu) (honolulu.gov) — City & County of Honolulu, Department of Customer Services
7. Hawaii Driver’s Manual, English, 2023 edition (hidot.hawaii.gov) — Hawaii Department of Transportation
8. Reciprocal Operating Privileges List (Act 131) (hidot.hawaii.gov) — Hawaii Department of Transportation
9. Foreign Driver's License Transfer (City & County of Honolulu) (honolulu.gov) — City & County of Honolulu, Department of Customer Services
10. Information for U.S. Military Service Members (City & County of Honolulu) (honolulu.gov) — City & County of Honolulu, Department of Customer Services