County Driver Licensing Offices (County DMV)
Hawaii Permit Test (2026)
Study for the official County DMV Learner's Permit Written Examination with free practice tests written from the state's own rules — plus the verified facts below: how many questions, the passing score, and what it costs.
Hawaii permit test: quick facts
- Questions on the exam
- 30
- Passing score
- 24 of 30 correct (80%)
- Minimum permit age
- 15½
- Fee
- $2 written test fee plus a $5 instruction (learner's) permit fee in the City and County of Honolulu. Licensing is county-run, so fees are set and collected by each county and can differ on other islands.
- If you fail
- If you fail the written test because of knowledge, you must wait seven days before retaking it, and every attempt is charged the full fee. The statewide online test also caps attempts at two per day and costs $12 in Honolulu County, $11 in Hawaii County, $20 in Kauai County, and $25 in Maui County per attempt (each includes a $10 transaction fee). Maui County applies the same seven-day wait to its in-person exam; because licensing is county-administered, confirm details with your island's driver licensing office.
- Online testing
- Available in some cases
- Languages
- The driver licensing knowledge test and the Hawaii Driver's Manual are available in English plus 13 other languages: Hawaiian, Spanish, Marshallese, Chuukese, Japanese, Korean, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Samoan, Tongan, Vietnamese, Tagalog, and Ilocano. The online permit test is currently offered only in English and Spanish.
How it works
Step 1
Take Practice Test 1 like the real thing — no notes, one question at a time.
Step 2
Read every explanation, especially for questions you missed. That's where the learning happens.
Step 3
Repeat with Test 2 and the road signs test until you pass comfortably every time.
Free Hawaii practice tests
Hawaii Practice Test 1
30 questions — signs, rules, and state law
Hawaii Practice Test 2
30 fresh questions, no repeats from Test 1
Hawaii Road Signs Test
25 questions on signs, shapes, and signals
New-driver rules in Hawaii
Hawaii licenses drivers through its four county driver licensing offices (Honolulu, Hawaii, Maui, and Kauai counties) rather than a statewide DMV. Teens can get an instruction permit at 15½, must hold it at least 180 days, and must complete a state-certified driver education course (classroom plus behind-the-wheel certificates) and a road test to earn a provisional license at 16. Provisional drivers may not drive between 11:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. or carry more than one non-household passenger under 18 unless a licensed parent or guardian is in the car, and can apply for a full license at 17 after holding the provisional license six months.
Verified 2026-08-18 · Source: County DMV
Hawaii permit test FAQ
How many questions are on the Hawaii permit test?
The official Hawaii Learner's Permit Written Examination has 30 questions, according to the County DMV (verified 2026-08-18).
What score do you need to pass the Hawaii permit test?
You must answer 24 of 30 questions correctly (80%) to pass the Hawaii Learner's Permit Written Examination.
How old do you have to be to get a learner's permit in Hawaii?
You can apply for a learner's permit in Hawaii at 15½, according to the County DMV (verified 2026-08-18).
How much does the Hawaii permit cost?
$2 written test fee plus a $5 instruction (learner's) permit fee in the City and County of Honolulu. Licensing is county-run, so fees are set and collected by each county and can differ on other islands. — as listed by the County Driver Licensing Offices (County DMV), verified 2026-08-18. Always confirm current fees on the official site.
What happens if you fail the Hawaii permit test?
If you fail the written test because of knowledge, you must wait seven days before retaking it, and every attempt is charged the full fee. The statewide online test also caps attempts at two per day and costs $12 in Honolulu County, $11 in Hawaii County, $20 in Kauai County, and $25 in Maui County per attempt (each includes a $10 transaction fee). Maui County applies the same seven-day wait to its in-person exam; because licensing is county-administered, confirm details with your island's driver licensing office. (per the County DMV, verified 2026-08-18).
Can you take the Hawaii permit test online?
Yes, in some cases. The County DMV offers an online option for the Learner's Permit Written Examination — check eligibility on the official site.
What languages is the Hawaii permit test offered in?
The driver licensing knowledge test and the Hawaii Driver's Manual are available in English plus 13 other languages: Hawaiian, Spanish, Marshallese, Chuukese, Japanese, Korean, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Samoan, Tongan, Vietnamese, Tagalog, and Ilocano. The online permit test is currently offered only in English and Spanish. (per the County DMV, verified 2026-08-18).
Who runs the permit test in Hawaii?
Driver licensing in Hawaii is handled by the County Driver Licensing Offices (County DMV). The official site is https://hidot.hawaii.gov/driverslicense/.