Frequently Asked Questions

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Driver's Licensing

How early can I renew my driver's license?

You can renew a driver's 6 months prior to expiration.

My license has expired, do I need to start all over again?

You have 1 year after expiration to renew your license without needing to complete a written test and road test. After 1 year you will need start over as a new applicant and will need to take written test and road test.

**IMPORTANT NOTE** Any license issued to applicants with temporary lawful status (limited term bases) may be renewed up to ninety days after expiration. Thereafter, the applicant shall be treated a new applicant for a license.

State Identification

Motor Vehicle Registration

Driver's License
- I received a letter which says, “Order of Security Requirement or Suspension”. What do I need to do?
- My child is 15 ½ and wants to get her permit. Her father does not live in Hawaiʻi, and we have joint custody. Does he need to sign for her permit?
- I am in Maine and have lost my license. Can my mother come in to pay for another one for me?
- Can I use a rental vehicle to take my road test?
- I currently hold a CDL and the courts suspended my CDL for driving under the influence. How does that affect my license?
- I currently hold a CDL and my license was revoked for driving under the influence by the Administrative Driver’s License Revocation Office. What happens to my CDL?
- How long is my written test valid for?
- My driver's license has expired, do I need to start all over again?
- My insurance card is expired. Can I use a fax copy or bring in my policy?
Hawaii State Identification Card
- I am a foreign born applicant holding a valid Hawaiʻi State Identification Card. I also own a business in the U.S. (mainland). Can I renew my Hawaiʻi State Identification Card by mail?
- I was born in a foreign country and am adopted by my parents who are U.S. citizens. What documents do I need to prove legal name, date of birth and legal status in order to obtain a Hawaiʻi State Identification Card?
- Immigration has acknowledged receipt of my application. I am still waiting for my immigration documents to be processed. How will my pending status affect my eligibility to obtain a Hawaiʻi State Identification Card?
- I want to submit my State certified birth certificate for proof of legal name, date of birth & legal presence. The names on some of my documentation match, but on other documentation the names differ. Will this be sufficient?
- My birth certificate was obtained the year after I was born. Is it acceptable as proof of identification?
- My documents are very old, delicate and difficult to read. Should I bring those documents in to prove my identity?
- My father was in the military and I was born out of country. I lost my documents verifying birth abroad and do not have a U.S. passport. What can I bring in to prove I am a U.S. citizen and to prove my identity?
- What documents are considered to be legal and admissible?
- My Hawaiʻi birth certificate shows my birth name and my Hawaiʻi State Identification Card shows my married name. Am I required to present additional proof of legal name?
- I will be renewing my Hawaiʻi State Identification Card soon. I was born at home and do not have a birth certificate. I have no living relative to confirm who I am. Can I provide something else?
- Will I qualify for a Hawaiʻi State Identification Card a day before the expiration of my legal status?
- If the documents I submit at the time of renewal are not acceptable, will I be provided with more information on other forms that you will accept?
- Can I mail in my documents so they can be reviewed and approved prior to my renewal of my Hawaiʻi State Identification Card?
- I lost my Hawaiʻi State Identification Card and I would like to apply for a duplicate. Am I required to present documentary proof of legal name, date of birth, social security number and legal presence?
- Once legal name, date of birth, social security number, legal presence and proof of principal residence address are established, will I need to provide the documents again at the time of my next renewal?
- I am temporarily authorized to be in the U.S. Can I renew my Hawaiʻi State Identification Card by mail?
- I am temporarily authorized to be in the U.S. How often will I have to present documentary proof of legal name, date of birth, social security number, legal presence and proof of principal residence address?

Our new office appointment scheduler is now live!

The scheduler allows you to book appointments only 7 days in advance.

Our Driver's license office in Ka'u is currently open every Tuesday for limited Driver's License transactions. Road tests for this location are not available at this time, we apologize for the inconvenience.

Frequently Asked Questions

How early can I renew my driver's license?

My license has expired, do I need to start all over again?

How early can I renew my vehicle registration?

Driver's License

I received a letter which says, “Order of Security Requirement or Suspension”. What do I need to do?

My child is 15 ½ and wants to get her permit. Her father does not live in Hawaiʻi, and we have joint custody. Does he need to sign for her permit?

I am in Maine and have lost my license. Can my mother come in to pay for another one for me?

Can I use a rental vehicle to take my road test?

I currently hold a CDL and the courts suspended my CDL for driving under the influence. How does that affect my license?

I currently hold a CDL and my license was revoked for driving under the influence by the Administrative Driver’s License Revocation Office. What happens to my CDL?

How long is my written test valid for?

My driver's license has expired, do I need to start all over again?

My insurance card is expired. Can I use a fax copy or bring in my policy?

Hawaii State Identification Card

I am a foreign born applicant holding a valid Hawaiʻi State Identification Card. I also own a business in the U.S. (mainland). Can I renew my Hawaiʻi State Identification Card by mail?

I was born in a foreign country and am adopted by my parents who are U.S. citizens. What documents do I need to prove legal name, date of birth and legal status in order to obtain a Hawaiʻi State Identification Card?

Immigration has acknowledged receipt of my application. I am still waiting for my immigration documents to be processed. How will my pending status affect my eligibility to obtain a Hawaiʻi State Identification Card?

I want to submit my State certified birth certificate for proof of legal name, date of birth & legal presence. The names on some of my documentation match, but on other documentation the names differ. Will this be sufficient?

My birth certificate was obtained the year after I was born. Is it acceptable as proof of identification?

My documents are very old, delicate and difficult to read. Should I bring those documents in to prove my identity?

My father was in the military and I was born out of country. I lost my documents verifying birth abroad and do not have a U.S. passport. What can I bring in to prove I am a U.S. citizen and to prove my identity?

What documents are considered to be legal and admissible?

My Hawaiʻi birth certificate shows my birth name and my Hawaiʻi State Identification Card shows my married name. Am I required to present additional proof of legal name?

I will be renewing my Hawaiʻi State Identification Card soon. I was born at home and do not have a birth certificate. I have no living relative to confirm who I am. Can I provide something else?

Will I qualify for a Hawaiʻi State Identification Card a day before the expiration of my legal status?

If the documents I submit at the time of renewal are not acceptable, will I be provided with more information on other forms that you will accept?

Can I mail in my documents so they can be reviewed and approved prior to my renewal of my Hawaiʻi State Identification Card?

I lost my Hawaiʻi State Identification Card and I would like to apply for a duplicate. Am I required to present documentary proof of legal name, date of birth, social security number and legal presence?

Once legal name, date of birth, social security number, legal presence and proof of principal residence address are established, will I need to provide the documents again at the time of my next renewal?

I am temporarily authorized to be in the U.S. Can I renew my Hawaiʻi State Identification Card by mail?

I am temporarily authorized to be in the U.S. How often will I have to present documentary proof of legal name, date of birth, social security number, legal presence and proof of principal residence address?