Persons exempted from license — Hawaii Permit Test

You need no Hawaii license while employed by and driving a federal government vehicle that is not a commercial motor vehicle, if you hold a valid federal driver's license.

Federal workers move between states on duty, and the federal license already shows they were tested.

When you are employed by and driving a motor vehicle owned by the federal government that does not fit the definition of a commercial motor vehicle (federal fire fighters and active duty military are exempt) and possess a valid driver’s license issued by an agency of the federal government.

A person 13 or older may operate a road machine, farm tractor or implement of husbandry temporarily on the highway without a license, moving between terminals and only at designated terminal areas.

Farm and road equipment has to cross public roads to get between work sites, and the trip is short and slow.

When you are thirteen years of age or older and operating any road machine, farm tractor or implement of husbandry temporarily on the highway moving in and between terminals and only at designated terminal areas.

A valid license equal to a Hawaii class 1, 2 or 3 license issued in another U.S. state, D.C., Puerto Rico, a U.S. territory or a Canadian province lets you drive in Hawaii without a Hawaii license.

Visitors from the mainland would otherwise have to pass Hawaii's tests just to rent a car for a week.

When you have in your possession a valid driver’s license equivalent to a Hawaii Class 1, 2 or 3 driver’s license or provisional license issued to you in any state of the United States, District of Columbia, The Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Guam, a province of the Dominion of Canada, or the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

In Hawaii, a foreign driver's license accompanied by an International Driving Permit is valid for one year from the date of arrival in the United States.

A visitor who stays past that year and keeps driving on the foreign license is driving unlicensed.

Compact foreign drivers licenses accompanied by an International Driving Permit issued in the foreign jurisdiction are valid for one year from the date of arrival (your first port-of-entry) into the United States.

A non-resident at least 21 years old with a valid commercial driver's license from another state, D.C., a Canadian province or Mexico needs no Hawaii license.

Truck drivers passing through already hold a license tested to the same national standard.

When you are a non-resident at least twenty-one years of age and have in your possession a valid commercial driver’s license issued to you in any state of the United States, District of Columbia, a province of the Dominion of Canada, or Mexico.

When may a federal employee drive in Hawaii without a Hawaii license?

When driving a federal vehicle on duty with a federal license. Federal workers move between states on duty, and the federal license already shows they were tested. State of Hawaii Driver’s Manual, p.10: “When you are employed by and driving a motor vehicle owned by the federal government that does not fit the definition of a commercial motor vehicle (federal fire fighters and active duty military are exempt) and possess a valid driver’s license issued by an agency of the federal government.”