Hawaii Permit Test Cost by County, Retakes and the 7-Day Wait
How much is the Hawaii permit test, and how long do you wait to retake it?
The online Class 3 permit test costs $12 in Honolulu (Oahu), $11 in Hawaii County, $20 in Kauai County and $25 in Maui County (U.S. dollars). Each price is the county fee plus $10. In Honolulu, a retake costs another full $12, and you wait 7 days after a fail because of knowledge. You can take the test only twice in one day.
Where these fees and rules come from
The online test fees, the retake rules and the 60-day appointment rule come from the City and County of Honolulu online permit test page. The Honolulu in-person fees come from the Honolulu fee and requirements page. The office list comes from the 2023 Hawaii Driver's Manual of the Hawaii Department of Transportation. The Honolulu procedures, road test and FAQ pages and Honolulu news releases of 2026 add the other details. Each county runs its own driver licensing, so a fee marked Honolulu (Oahu) is the Oahu fee. 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.
Online permit test fee by county
| County | County fee | Online test total |
|---|---|---|
| Honolulu (Oahu) | $2 | $12 |
| Hawaii County (Big Island) | $1 | $11 |
| Kauai County | $10 | $20 |
| Maui County | $15 | $25 |
What the online test needs: your county, a computer and a webcam
The $10 part of the price is a transaction fee. In Honolulu it also covers the credit card fee, and you can pay only online, by credit card. Select your own county when you register: with the wrong county, you may lose your test result.
The online test is for the Class 3 (car) license only. It has 30 questions and a one-hour time limit, in English and Spanish. If you are under 18, an adult over 21 must take part in the registration and stay out of view of the webcam during the test.
Retake rules for the online test
- You can retake the test as many times as needed, but only twice in one day.
- Honolulu (Oahu): a retake costs another full test fee of $12.
- After a fail because of knowledge, wait 7 days before you try again.
- There is no refund when you fail because of knowledge or fraud.
- After two warnings for looking away from the screen or leaving it, the third one stops the test, and the attempt counts as a fail. The webcam rules guide shows how to avoid this.
What to do after your online result
Can you skip the online test in Honolulu?
Yes. You can take the written test at a driver licensing center by appointment, but you must bring all the permit documents before you sit the test. In Honolulu (Oahu) the in-person test costs $2 if you did not use the online test. On Aug. 4, 2026, Honolulu cut the in-office permit test days to free slots for renewals. In-person tests now run only on selected days: Kapalama on Tuesdays and Thursdays, Kapolei on Mondays and Wednesdays, Koolau on Wednesdays, and Wahiawa and Waianae on Tuesdays. The online test needs no appointment and runs 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Honolulu (Oahu) fees at the licensing center
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Written test, in person | $2 |
| Online permit test | $12 |
| Instruction permit | $5 |
| Oral test (Kapalama and Wahiawa) | $10 |
| Road test (not refundable) | $8 |
| Credit or debit card payment at the center | 2.35% service fee added |
After you pass: your permit card and how long it lasts
At the visit you get a temporary permit. Allow about six to eight weeks for the plastic card to arrive by mail, says the Honolulu FAQ. The Honolulu (Oahu) instruction permit is valid for one year. In Honolulu, if your permit has been expired for more than 90 days, you must take the written test again.
On Maui, the Big Island or Kauai: ask your county
Each of the four counties, Honolulu, Hawaii, Kauai and Maui, runs its own driver licensing offices. The 2023 manual lists these phone numbers: Hawaii County (808) 961-2222, Kauai County (808) 241-4242 and Maui County (808) 270-7363. Call your county office and ask for its in-person test fee, permit fee and appointment steps before you go; the in-person fees in this guide are Honolulu fees.
Kauai readers: as of Sept. 25, 2026, full driver licensing on the island was still offline after a fire at the Lihue Civic Center destroyed the main administrative and computer center of the Kauai DMV. Call or check the county page before you plan a visit.
Key takeaways
- The online permit test is the county fee plus $10: $12 Honolulu (Oahu), $11 Hawaii County, $20 Kauai County, $25 Maui County.
- Pick the right county at registration, or you may lose your result.
- You can retake the online test as many times as needed, but only twice in one day. In Honolulu a retake costs another $12.
- Wait 7 days after a knowledge fail. There is no refund for a knowledge or fraud fail.
- After you pass online, book your licensing center visit within 60 days.
- Next step: practice on the free Hawaii Class 3 learner's permit practice test before you pay for your test.
Frequently asked questions
Does the Hawaii permit test fee include the permit?
No. The test fee pays only for the test. You pay the permit fee at your licensing center visit. In Honolulu (Oahu) the permit fee is $5, so the total is $17 with the online test ($12 + $5) or $7 with the in-person test ($2 + $5). On other islands, ask your county office for its permit fee.
Can I take the Hawaii permit test orally if I cannot read English well?
Yes, in Honolulu (Oahu). Book an Instruction Permit Initial (Written Test) appointment at the Kapalama Driver Licensing Center. The clerk then sets your oral test: a Tuesday for an oral phone translation, or a Thursday for an oral classroom test in English. You pay the $10 oral test fee on the day of the oral test.
Do I get a refund if I fail the online permit test?
No. Refunds are not issued when you fail because of knowledge or because of fraud. A retake in Honolulu costs another full test fee of $12, so study before you pay for each attempt.
What if I choose the wrong county for the online test?
You may lose your test result, because you must pick the correct county at registration. The county also sets the fee ($12, $11, $20 or $25), so confirm your county of residence before you pay.
Can I pay with cash at a Honolulu driver licensing center?
Yes. In Honolulu (Oahu), the center takes cash, a check drawn on U.S. funds, a money order, or a traveler's or cashier's check. A Visa, MasterCard or Discover credit or debit card adds a 2.35% service fee. The online test is different: you pay for it only online, by credit card.
How many questions are on the Hawaii online permit test?
The online test has 30 questions and a one-hour time limit. It is in English and Spanish. It is only for the Class 3 (car) license.
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