The Hawaii driving age: permit, provisional and full license

What is the Hawaii driving age for each stage?

Class 4 trucks and commercial licenses have age rules of their own, covered on the CDL page.

Instruction permit rules for teens

If you're under 18, each living parent or your legal guardian gives consent, unless you're married or emancipated. You pass an eye test and the written test. Everyone in the car wears a seat belt or child restraint, and the permit lasts one year.

Moving up to a provisional license at 16

To get one, you must:

• Hold the instruction permit for at least 180 days
• Finish a state certified driver's education course, with both the classroom and behind-the-wheel certificates
• Have no pending violation that could lead to a suspension or revocation
• Pass the road test

From 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. you may drive only with a licensed parent or guardian, unless you're going to or from work or a school-authorized activity with a signed statement from your employer or parent. Even then, you may carry no more than one passenger under 18. The provisional license expires on your 19th birthday.

The full license at 17

Once you're 17 and have held the provisional license for six months, you can convert it. On Oahu you book an AlohaQ visit, check the Renewal box on the application, hand in the provisional license, take an eye test and pay the license fee. If you haven't converted it by your 19th birthday, Honolulu says you reapply as an adult.

Penalties on a provisional license

Honolulu lists a 3-month suspension for a first provisional license violation and a 6-month revocation for a second. A first driving-related conviction brings a 6-month suspension or revocation, and a second brings a 1-year revocation.