Hawaii Driver's Ed: Required Hours, Certificates, 50-Hour Statement
Do you need driver's ed in Hawaii, and how many hours is it?
Yes, if you are under 18 and want a Class 3 license. You need two certificates: driver education and behind-the-wheel. Driver education is at least 30 classroom hours, or an online course with at least 6 hours of content. Behind the wheel is at least 6 hours, or a simulator course plus 2 hours. A parent also signs a notarized statement of 40 day and 10 night practice hours.
Where these rules come from
The hours, the two certificates, the parent statement and the fee limits come from the Hawaii Administrative Rules, chapter 19-139, Driver Education Program Requirements. The Hawaii Department of Transportation (HDOT) keeps the driver education page with lists of approved schools and instructors. The road test steps and the $8 fee are from the City and County of Honolulu road test page. The Honolulu graduated driver licensing page, the Honolulu license requirements page and the 2023 English Hawaii Driver's Manual give the same two-certificate rule. This guide is current as of 2026. Confirm the rules with your county driver licensing office or the Hawaii Department of Transportation (hidot.hawaii.gov) before you drive.
Hawaii driver's ed at a glance
| Part | What the rule requires |
|---|---|
| Who must do it | Everyone under 18 who wants a Class 1, 2 or 3 license |
| Driver education | At least 30 hours of classroom instruction, or an online course with at least 6 hours of course content |
| Behind the wheel | At least 6 hours with a certified instructor, or a simulator course plus at least 2 hours with an instructor |
| Shortest time | The whole program takes at least six weeks |
| Certificates | One driver education certificate and one behind-the-wheel certificate |
| Parent statement | Notarized, for 40 daytime and 10 nighttime practice hours (no night hours for Class 1 or 2) |
Who needs driver's ed in Hawaii?
The State rule covers all persons under 18 who want a Class 1, 2 or 3 license, so it applies on every island. For the Class 3 provisional license, the Honolulu licensing page says you must finish a State certified driver's education course and hold the classroom and behind-the-wheel certificates. You also hold your instruction permit for at least 180 days and pass a road test. The practice question on the driver education step before the provisional license checks this rule.
The two certificates
- Driver Education Student Completion Certificate (HDOT DE-20)
- The school gives you this form after you finish every requirement of a certified classroom course or online course.
- Behind-the-Wheel Student Completion Certificate (HDOT DE-21)
- You get this form after you finish a behind-the-wheel driving course or a certified driving simulator curriculum. A behind-the-wheel session has at most three students, and each student drives at most 1.5 hours in one session.
How the simulator option counts
The rule counts a simulator completion certificate as four of the six required behind-the-wheel hours. The simulator school gives you that certificate, and you give it to your behind-the-wheel instructor. A simulator course plus 2 hours in a car with an instructor therefore equals the full 6 hours.
What is the 50-hour statement?
Before the school issues your behind-the-wheel certificate, the instructor needs a notarized statement from your parent or guardian. It says you completed 40 hours of daytime driving and 10 hours of nighttime driving with a supervisor. Class 1 and Class 2 applicants do not need the 10 night hours, so a Class 3 applicant needs all 50. On your permit, the supervisor must be a licensed driver who is at least 21 and licensed for that type of vehicle, as this permit supervisor question checks. From 11:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m., a parent or guardian must sit next to you. The guide to Hawaii instruction permit supervisor rules has more.
From driver's ed to the road test
- 1Pick a school
HDOT lists driving schools in good standing by island, plus virtual schools and instructors. The lists are not an endorsement, so compare schools yourself.
- 2Finish the classroom or online course
Collect your Driver Education Student Completion Certificate.
- 3Finish the behind-the-wheel course
Give the instructor the notarized parent statement for your 40 day and 10 night hours before the school issues the Behind-the-Wheel certificate.
- 4Hold your permit for 180 days
You must keep a valid instruction permit for at least 180 days before the road test.
- 5Book the road test
In Honolulu (Oahu), road test appointments are required. Bring the permit and both certificates. The road test fee is $8 and is not refundable. The guide to Hawaii road test vehicle checks and no-shows covers what to bring and what happens if you miss it. Readers on other islands: check the steps and fees with your county.
Driver's ed fee limits in the 2006 rule
| Course | Maximum fee per student |
|---|---|
| Classroom instruction | $250 per person |
| Online course | $100 per person |
| Behind-the-wheel lessons | $50 per hour |
| Simulator course | $250 per person |
These limits come from the rule adopted on January 27, 2006. Students pay all course fees. The rule also tells HDOT to review the fees and to adjust them when the consumer price index for transportation in Hawaii rises more than 2 percent. Ask each school for its current price in writing before you sign up.
What to do in common situations
Key takeaways
- Everyone under 18 who wants a Class 1, 2 or 3 license needs two certificates: driver education and behind-the-wheel.
- Driver education is at least 30 classroom hours, or an online course of at least 6 hours. Behind the wheel is at least 6 hours, or a simulator course plus 2 hours.
- The program takes at least six weeks.
- A notarized parent statement for 40 day and 10 night hours must reach the instructor before the behind-the-wheel certificate.
- In Honolulu (Oahu), you show both certificates at the road test, and the fee is $8.
- Next step: practice on the free Hawaii Class 3 learner's permit practice test. Our practice tests are in English only.
Hawaii driver's ed: common questions
Do I need driver's ed if I am 18 or older in Hawaii?
Hawaii's driver education rule covers persons under 18 who want a Class 1, 2 or 3 license. If you are 18 or older, ask your county driver licensing office which steps apply to you. On an instruction permit, you drive only with a licensed driver who is at least 21 and licensed for that type of vehicle.
How long does Hawaii driver's ed take?
The program cannot be completed in less than six weeks. Classroom instruction is at least 30 hours, or an online course has at least 6 hours of content. Behind the wheel is at least 6 hours with an instructor. The permit must also be held for at least 180 days before the road test, so start early.
Can I take Hawaii driver's ed online?
Yes, for the driver education part. An online or Internet course with at least 6 hours of course content meets the rule. Behind-the-wheel training is in a vehicle with a certified instructor, or a certified simulator course plus 2 hours with an instructor. HDOT lists compliant virtual driving schools.
How much does driver's ed cost in Hawaii?
The 2006 rule sets maximum fees: $250 for a classroom course, $100 for an online course, $50 per hour of behind-the-wheel lessons and $250 for a simulator course. Students pay the fees. The rule also lets HDOT adjust the limits when transportation prices rise, so ask each school for its current price before you pay.
How do I find an approved driving school in Hawaii?
Use the lists on the HDOT driver education page. It lists driving schools in good standing and approved instructors by island, and compliant virtual schools. HDOT says being on the list is not an endorsement, so ask about price, schedule and car before you book.
Who must sign the 40-hour and 10-hour practice statement?
A parent or guardian signs it, and a notary must notarize it. The instructor must receive it before the school issues your behind-the-wheel certificate. Class 1 and Class 2 applicants skip the 10 night hours.
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