Effective January 1, 2016

Beginning January 4, 2016, the public may apply for a limited purpose instruction permit, limited purpose provisional driver’s license, or a limited purpose driver’s license. A Limited Purpose credential does not require documentary proof of legal presence and/or proof of a social security number. The term “legal presence” is defined as a person who is either a U.S. citizen or is legally authorized to be in the U.S.

The limited purpose instruction permit, limited purpose provisional driver’s license, and limited purpose driver’s license are issued as a license to operate a motor vehicle on public highways.

Limited purpose credentials are not Real ID compliant and therefore, not exclusively accepted by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to board a commercial aircraft or enter federal facilities. Additional screening and/or documents may be required. In addition, these credentials are not accepted for official federal purposes and do not establish eligibility for employment, voter registration, or public benefits.

When applying for a limited purpose instruction permit, limited purpose provisional driver’s license, or limited purpose driver’s license, the applicant must provide the required documents verifying their legal name, date of birth, and principal residence within the State of Hawaii.

View frequently asked questions and a list of acceptable documents to verify legal name, date of birth and Hawaii residency.

Periods of Validity

Limited purpose instruction permit: one (1) year and may be renewed for another year no more than thirty (30) days prior to the expiration date of the limited purpose instruction permit and no later than ninety (90) days after the expiration date.

Limited purpose provisional driver’s license: issued to applicants between the ages of 16 and 17 years of age in accordance to the requirements set forth in Section 286-102.6, Hawaii Revised Statutes and shall expire on the provisional licensee’s nineteenth (19th) birthday.

Limited purpose driver’s license:

• Four (4) years for licensees who are twenty-four (24) years of age or younger and those who are seventy-two (72) years of age to seventy-nine (79) years of age. 
• Eight (8) years for licensees who are twenty-five (25) through seventy-one (71) years of age; and,
• Two (2) years for licensees who are eighty (80) years of age or older.

Additional Information

When traveling within the U.S., individuals possessing a Hawaii limited purpose driver’s license should consult with that state’s driver licensing agency to confirm this type of driver’s license is valid for driving in that state.

These credentials will be issued at the Hilo, Kona and Waimea offices only. Please call (808) 961-2222 for further information.

For further information on offices issuing these credentials in other counties call:

• City & County of Honolulu (808) 532-7730
• County of Kaua‘i (808) 241-4242
• County of Maui (808) 270-7363

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