The Hawaii road test
A plain-language guide, checked against the Hawaii's county driver-licensing offices: who the test is for, what to bring, how it is scored, and what a retake really costs.
The rule that decides your path
The Hawaii road test, also called the behind-the-wheel or driving skills test, is the final exam the County-administered (Honolulu CSD); fees per HRS 286 gives before it issues a driver's license. New drivers can take the Hawaii driving test at 17, after holding a learner permit for 180 days. The drive includes parallel parking.
Hawaii sets a specific pre-license education step every new driver has to clear. Under-18 applicants need parental consent. You must hold the provisional license at least 6 months and be 17 or older for a full license, which expires on your 19th birthday.
Below you'll find the full Hawaii road test requirements: who qualifies, what to bring, how examiners score the drive, and the retake rules if you don't pass the first time. On our Driving Index, Hawaii's written knowledge test ranks tied for 32nd-hardest of 51.
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What to bring to the Hawaii road test
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Documents
Your vehicle must have
Who comes with you. A licensed driver 21 or older must be present from when you are called through completion. No passengers ride along during the test.
If you fail the Hawaii road test
Here's how a retake works in Hawaii: None published between failures. A late arrival or no-show forfeits the fee and brings a 60-day bar. A passing result is valid for 30 days. The retest fee is $8, prepaid per test.
Beyond any fee, a retry usually means another day off work or school, another ride to the office, and another car to borrow, so failing costs far more than it looks on paper.
Passing on the first try is the cheapest way through. A first license runs $40 for 8 years (ages 25 to 71); age-tiered ($20 for 4 years at ages 17 to 24; $10 for 2 years at 72 and older). County-administered.
How the Hawaii road test is scored
Pass or fail, based on a satisfactory demonstration. Your vehicle must pass the safety check first. There is no numeric score.
Hawaii doesn't publish a point system or a set passing score, so the examiner simply judges whether you drive safely and follow the rules. In general, you fail for dangerous driving, breaking a traffic law, causing a crash, or not following the examiner's directions. Small mistakes add up too, so drive smoothly and predictably.
Before the road test
Pass the Hawaii written test on your first try
Nearby road-test guides.
Six more states, neighbours first, then the closest matches on test difficulty.
Test specifications, fees and laws change. This guide was last verified July 2026; always confirm current requirements with the County-administered (Honolulu CSD); fees per HRS 286 (hidot.hawaii.gov) before booking a test. DMV IQ is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or associated with any state DMV, DPS, MVD, or BMV.
Spot an error? Email [email protected] and we'll get it corrected.
Sources for this guide (4 official County-administered (Honolulu CSD); fees per HRS 286 pages)
- Eligibility: https://hidot.hawaii.gov/highways/files/2017/01/GDL-Brochure.pdf
- What to bring: https://www.honolulu.gov/csd/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2026/01/Road-Test-Brochure-CS-L-DL-230-REV-01-2026.pdf
- Test format: https://hidot.hawaii.gov/highways/files/2024/11/2023-Hawaii-Drivers-Manual_5.375x8.375_Final-r3-Digital-071924web.pdf
- Scoring: https://hidot.hawaii.gov/highways/files/2024/11/2023-Hawaii-Drivers-Manual_5.375x8.375_Final-r3-Digital-071924web.pdf
- Retakes: https://www.honolulu.gov/csd/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2026/01/Road-Test-Brochure-CS-L-DL-230-REV-01-2026.pdf
- Fees: https://www.honolulu.gov/csd/fee-table/
- Handbook (2023): https://hidot.hawaii.gov/highways/files/2024/11/2023-Hawaii-Drivers-Manual_5.375x8.375_Final-r3-Digital-071924web.pdf
Current as of 2026-07-16. Official Hawaii sources only; anything the state does not publish is left out rather than guessed.