The Hawaii permit test is a written knowledge test you can take online at home or in person at your county driver licensing center, and the City and County of Honolulu says it has 30 questions. Hawaii has no single statewide DMV: each county runs its own licensing offices, so fees, appointments and office days depend on the island you live on.
Hawaii permit test at a glance
| Detail | What to know |
|---|---|
| Agency | Your county driver licensing office (Honolulu Customer Services Department, Hawaii County, Maui County or Kauai County). The Hawaii Department of Transportation (HDOT) runs the statewide online test |
| Questions | 30 according to the City and County of Honolulu. HDOT's online test page says 25, so the count may differ |
| Pass mark | Not published by HDOT or Honolulu |
| Minimum age | 15 and a half |
| Online test | Yes, at knowtodrive.com/hawaii on a computer with a webcam |
| Online fee | Honolulu $12, Hawaii County $11, Kauai $20, Maui $25 |
| In person | By appointment only, on set days at county licensing centers |
| Languages | English and Spanish online |
| Time limit | One hour online |
How many questions are on the Hawaii permit test?
The City and County of Honolulu says the online learner's permit test has 30 questions with a one-hour time limit. The state HDOT page for the same online test says 25 questions, so the official sources do not agree. Neither publishes a passing score.
Practice-test sites often say 80%, but that is unofficial. Because no one tells you how many you can miss, train until you can answer every practice question correctly.
What's on the Hawaii permit test
Questions come from the official Hawaii driver's manual for Class 3 (regular car) licenses. Expect:
- Road signs, signals and pavement markings.
- Right of way, turns, lane use and passing.
- Pedestrians and bicyclists, which matter on busy island streets.
- Speed, following distance, parking and emergencies.
- Alcohol, drugs and the penalties for impaired driving.
- Rules for young drivers, such as the 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. limits for permit and provisional drivers.
Why Hawaii is different: no statewide DMV
In most states one agency issues every license. In Hawaii, the counties do. If you live on Oahu, the Honolulu Customer Services Department (honolulu.gov/csd) runs licensing, with in-person tests at centers such as Kapalama, Kapolei, Koolau, Wahiawa and Waianae. Hawaii County, Maui County and Kauai County each have their own pages and fees. When you search for the Honolulu permit test or the Hawaii DMV written test, you are really looking for your county office.
How to study for the Hawaii permit test
- Download the Hawaii driver's manual and read one section a day.
- Learn road signs by shape and color, then by meaning.
- Write down every age, time and distance in the manual on one page.
- Take practice tests, note each wrong answer and reread that section.
- Before you pay for the online test, score 100% on practice tests at least twice.
What to bring and how to book
In Honolulu, book through AlohaQ.org. If you take the test in person, you must show all permit documents before the exam. If you pass online, you have 60 days to book an appointment and bring:
- The Certificate of Completion from the online test.
- A completed Driver's License Application Form.
- A certified birth certificate, your Social Security number and two proofs of your Hawaii address.
- If you are under 18: the Parental Consent Form (CS-L (DL) 239), signed by both parents listed on the birth certificate. An absent parent's signature must be notarized.
At the appointment you are photographed and fingerprinted, take an eye test and pay the permit fee. These are Honolulu's rules. HDOT's state page gives 30 days to finish after passing, so check your own county's page.
Can you take the Hawaii permit test online?
Yes. Since December 2024 the written test has been available statewide at knowtodrive.com/hawaii, with no appointment needed. The conditions are strict:
- Use a desktop or laptop with a webcam, mouse and keyboard. Phones and tablets do not work.
- If you are under 18, an adult must be present to register and must stay out of the webcam's view.
- Do not look away or leave the test screen. Honolulu allows two warnings, and a third ends the test as a fail.
- Pick the right county when you register, or your result may be forfeited.
- The online test covers Class 3 (car) only, not motorcycles.
HDOT reports that in Honolulu about two-thirds of permit tests in the first year were taken online.
What happens if you fail the Hawaii permit test?
For the online test, Honolulu allows unlimited retakes but no more than two in one day, and each retake costs the full fee. After failing for knowledge, you wait seven days before trying again. Fees are not refunded. Other counties may differ, so check your county's page.
Hawaii permit test FAQ
How many questions on Hawaii permit test?
The City and County of Honolulu says 30 questions with a one-hour limit. HDOT's state page says 25, so ask your county if you need the exact number.
What score do you need to pass the Hawaii permit test?
HDOT and Honolulu do not publish a passing score. Practice sites say 80%, which is unofficial.
How much is the Hawaii permit test online?
Honolulu charges $12, Hawaii County $11, Kauai $20 and Maui $25, paid by credit card.
How old do you have to be to take the Hawaii permit test?
At least 15 and a half.
