Driving Tests

Moving to Hawaii From the Mainland: Swap Your License With an Eye Test

informational·how to guide·Published October 14, 2026·Updated October 20, 2026

Do I have to retest to get a Hawaii license after I move from the mainland?

Not if your license is valid. Honolulu (Oahu) transfers valid licenses from U.S. states, U.S. territories and Canada. You must be 18 or older, pass an eye test, give fingerprints and a photo, pay the license fee and surrender your old license. The road test may be waived. An expired or lost license needs the written test and the road test.

Where these transfer rules come from

Most steps and fees come from the City and County of Honolulu: its driver's license FAQ, its driver's license procedures page, its requirements, fee and motorcycle pages, and its news release of October 16, 2026. The law excerpt and the document rules come from the Hawaii Driver's Manual (2023 edition) and the Hawaii Department of Transportation (HDOT). Each county runs its own driver licensing, so these are the Honolulu (Oahu) rules. 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 license transfer at a glance (Honolulu)

Hawaii license transfer at a glance (Honolulu)
Item	What Honolulu says
Licenses that transfer	Valid licenses from U.S. states, U.S. territories and Canada
Minimum age	18 or older
Appointment	AlohaQ appointment at a Driver Licensing Center (alohaq.org)
Tests	Eye test and fingerprinting. The road test may be waived.
What you give up	Your out-of-state license. Honolulu returns it to the issuing state.
What you get	A comparable non-CDL Hawaii license
License fee	$20 (U.S. dollars) for 4 years at ages 17 to 24, or $40 for 8 years at ages 25 to 71
Plastic card	Mailed within five weeks. Until then, carry the paper temporary license.

Can I drive in Hawaii on my mainland license first?

Yes, if you are 18 or older and your license stays valid. Under the Hawaii law excerpt in the HDOT moped sheet (HRS 286-105(3)), a person at least 18 years old with a valid license from another state, a U.S. territory or a Canadian province is exempt from a Hawaii license for that type of vehicle. An expired license no longer counts. Ask your county how long a new resident can drive on it. To see which vehicles a Hawaii Class 3 license covers, try this free question on the Class 3 category.

How to transfer your mainland license in Honolulu

1
Check that your license can transfer
It must be valid, not expired, and from a U.S. state, a U.S. territory or Canada. You must be 18 or older.
2
Make an AlohaQ appointment
Book online at alohaq.org for a Driver Licensing Center. At the center, complete the driver's license application for an out-of-state transfer.
3
Bring your documents
Bring your valid license and the original documents in the next section.
4
Take the eye test and give fingerprints
Both are part of the transfer. At the same visit, you pay the license fee and have your photo taken.
5
Surrender your old license
You must give up your valid out-of-state license. Honolulu returns it to the state that issued it.
6
Leave with a temporary license
After you pass the eye test, you get a comparable non-CDL Hawaii license. Since Oct. 19, 2026, the temporary license is a printout on standard 8.5 x 11 inch paper. It lets you drive right away. The plastic card comes by mail within five weeks.

What documents to bring

Original documents that prove your identity, legal presence and date of birth. These REAL ID document rules also apply to anyone who has just moved to Hawaii from another state.
Two proofs of your principal residence address in Hawaii, such as a current utility bill, telephone bill, bank statement or medical statement.
Originals or certified copies only. Notarized copies and faxes do not count as certified copies.
The same name on all documents. If your names differ, bring the original name-change document, such as a marriage certificate, a divorce decree or court documents.

What to do if your license is not in good shape

Your out-of-state license is expired

It cannot transfer. You must pass both the written test and the road test. Plan time to study for the Hawaii written test before your appointment.

You lost your out-of-state license

You must pass both the written test and the road test.

You live on Maui, Kauai or Hawaii island

Hawaii County, Maui County and Kauai County each have their own licensing offices and appointment systems. Ask your county for its transfer steps and fees before you go.

Can I keep my motorcycle endorsement?

In Honolulu, a motorcycle endorsement transfer also needs a vision test and fingerprinting, and you get a temporary Class 2-3 (motorcycle and car) license. Motorcycle endorsements on Alabama licenses do not transfer. An Oahu resident who transferred a car license since Sept. 1, 2016 and wants a motorcycle instruction permit takes both the Class 2 and the Class 3 written tests. Since Dec. 26, 2025, a state-approved basic safety rider course is also required before a Class 2 permit. Our guide to the moped, Class 1 and motorcycle rider course rules has more.

Will the temporary license work for flights?

No. The paper temporary license is not accepted for airport security or federal identification. Only the permanent plastic card counts as a REAL ID credential for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). If you plan to fly within six weeks of getting a REAL ID license, carry another ID, such as a passport or a military ID card.

Key takeaways

A valid license from a U.S. state, a U.S. territory or Canada can transfer in Honolulu (Oahu). You must be 18 or older.
The transfer includes an eye test, fingerprints, a photo and the license fee. The road test may be waived.
You surrender your old license. Bring original documents and two proofs of your Hawaii address.
An expired or lost license cannot transfer. You take the written test and the road test.
The plastic card comes by mail within five weeks. The paper temporary license does not work for flights.
Next step: practice Hawaii road rules on the free Hawaii Class 3 learner's permit practice test.

Hawaii license transfer: common questions

Can I transfer a Canadian license to Hawaii?

Yes. Honolulu transfers valid licenses from Canada in the same way as licenses from U.S. states and U.S. territories. The Hawaii law excerpt also names a province of Canada among the places whose licenses count. The same age rule applies: you must be 18 or older, and the license must not be expired.

Can I keep my old license as a souvenir?

No. To get a Hawaii license, you must surrender all valid driver's licenses that you have. Honolulu returns your out-of-state license to the state that issued it. No driver may hold more than one valid license at any time, so you cannot keep the mainland license as a second card.

Does a Hawaii license need a Social Security number?

Honolulu says that since June 18, 2021, Social Security number documents are optional. Its transfer steps still list the number among the proofs. Ask the licensing center when you book your appointment, so that you bring the right papers.

My license expired while I was deployed. Can I still transfer it?

Maybe. In Honolulu, this rule applies only to states with an automatic military extension. Within 90 days of your return to the United States, go to a driver licensing center and apply for an out-of-state transfer. Bring your license, your active duty or dependent military ID card and your original documents.

When do I renew my new Hawaii license?

At ages 25 to 71, a new Honolulu license expires on your eighth birthday after the date of issue. At ages 17 to 24, the license is for 4 years. You can renew within six months before the expiration date, and you must pass a vision test before the renewal.

What if my Hawaii license expires?

An expired Hawaii license is not valid for driving, and there is no grace period for driving. In Honolulu, you can renew within 90 days with no penalties. After 90 days, a $5 late fee applies for each month. After one year past the expiration date, you must start over with the written test and the road test.