Drivers face suspended or revoked drivers licenses in Hawaii as a result of disobeying traffic laws and state regulations. You may get a driving license suspension or revocation for driving and non-driving offenses.

In order to reinstate drivers licenses in HI, drivers need to complete the suspension and/or revocation period and satisfy a set of requirements, which may vary depending on the traffic offense. Committing a criminal offense may also bring you additional fines, penalties and suspensions. To find out more information about the Hawaii drivers license reinstatement process, continue reading the sections below.

Reinstating a Hawaii Suspended License

The process of reinstating drivers licenses in Hawaii is mandatory for drivers who want to continue operating their motor vehicles on public roads within the state. You may receive a drivers license suspension or revocation due to a variety of reasons, such as: Operating a Vehicle Under the Influence of an Intoxicant (OVUII) which is widely known as DUI/DWI violation, failure or refusal to submit to a Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) test, major traffic violations and other more serious offenses.

To check the offenses, you have committed and whether they will bring you a drivers license suspension or revocation, you can order a copy of your HI driving record, at any time.

How to Reinstate a Hawaii Suspended Drivers License

The Hawaii driving license reinstatement process includes completing a certain suspension or revocation period and satisfying a set of requirements. The reinstatement requirements vary depending on the type of offense you have committed. To reinstate drivers licenses, motorists may have to complete the following:

  • Satisfy possible court requirements.
  • Provide proof of car insurance, if needed.
  • Complete a driver improvement course and/or an alcohol education program, whichever is needed.
  • Reapply for an HI driver’s license and retake the knowledge and driving skills tests.
  • Pay the required reinstatement fee.

When reinstating driving licenses in Hawaii, applicants may be required to visit a regional HI DOT office in their county, depending on your specific situation. Upon visiting the DMV, you may need to provide proof of legal name and date of birth, proof of your Social Security Number and proof of citizenship or authorized presence.

Honolulu County

Residents of Honolulu County may reinstate drivers licenses by mail or fax, by including their full names, Social Security Numbers, date of births, mailing and residence addresses and signatures. In order to complete a Hawaii drivers license reinstatement process, drivers who are on Oahu must appear in person at a Financial Responsibility Section in Honolulu with valid proof of identity.

Suspension and/or Revocation Periods in Hawaii

The duration of a Hawaii drivers license suspension or revocation period differs depending on the offenses you have committed in the past and whether you have refused to submit to a Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) test. According to state law, drivers can get a HI revoked drivers license for the following periods:

  • First offense within five years: one-year revocation period for submitting to a BAC test (two years for refusing the test).
  • Second offense within five years: eighteen-month revocation period for submitting to a BAC test (three years for refusing the test).
  • Third offense within five years: two-year revocation period for submitting to a BAC test (four years for refusing the test).
  • Fourth or subsequent offense within ten years: five to ten-year revocation period for submitting to a BAC test (ten years for refusing the test).

If you have uncertainties about the status of your driver’s license, order your Hawaii driving record and check your past offenses and violations. For more information about the periods of revoked or suspended driving licenses, contact a local DOT office.

Hawaii Point System

Drivers facing a suspended drivers license in Hawaii do not accrue demerit points for each violation committed, because Hawaii does not have a point system. However, each traffic violation, ticket or offense will be written on your HI driving record.

Drivers who accumulate several offenses may receive a mandatory community service sentence, be ordered to pay fines, or have actions taken against their driving record by the HI DOT. Also, you can still receive a drivers license suspension for committing certain violations even though Hawaii does not use a point system.

Traffic School in Hawaii

Drivers with a HI drivers license suspension or revocation may be able to enroll in a state-approved traffic school. Taking a driver improvement program class depends on the driver’s traffic offenses, their driving history and on the decision from their court. Drivers can complete such a course in order to satisfy possible court requirements or to dismiss traffic tickets.

Types of Hawaii Drivers License Suspensions

Drivers can get a suspended or revoked driving license in Hawaii when they disobey state laws and regulations. A drivers license suspension or revocation may occur for various reasons, such as:

  • Operating a Vehicle Under the Influence of an Intoxicant (OVUII).
  • Failing or refusing to submit to a Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) test.
  • Committing major traffic violations.
  • Violating state vehicle insurance laws.
  • Committing drug-related offenses.

Hawaii DUI Suspensions

Drivers will face revoked drivers licenses in Hawaii if operating their vehicles under the influence of an intoxicant (OVUII). Your driving license suspension or revocation depends on the type of offense you have committed, on the legal BAC level and your age at the time of conviction.

Both the Department of Transportation and the Administrative Driver’s License Revocation Office (ADLRO) may revoke or suspend your driving privileges. DUI/DWI offenders may get the following drivers license suspensions or revocations:

  • One-year revocation for first offense.
  • Revocation from 18 months to two years for an offense within five years of a prior conviction.
  • Two-year revocation for an offense within five years of two prior convictions.

In addition to the HI revoked drivers license, drivers who are younger than 18 years of age will receive an additional fine of $500 and imprisonment of 48 hours.

Note: Motorists may install an Ignition Interlock Device (IID) in their vehicles and apply for a restricted license known as Ignition Interlock Permit (IIP) for their driving license suspension or revocation period.

Car Insurance Suspensions

Drivers are required to purchase and maintain a minimum liability car insurance coverage. According to state law, drivers must pay $20,000 for Bodily Injury (BI), $40,000 for bodily injury of all people, and $20,000 for property damage.

If you fail to maintain vehicle insurance in Hawaii, you will not face a driving license suspension or revocation, but you will be required to surrender your car registration and license plates. drivers will be able to reinstate driving licenses in Hawaii, after obtaining vehicle insurance.

Traffic Summons or Failure to Pay

Drivers may face a HI driving license suspension or revocation due to failure to pay traffic tickets. A citation may be issued for parking infractions that violate the state road rules and regulations.

Motorists who fail to answer citations will get a default judgment in favor of the state. You will receive a notice of entry and you will have to pay the total amount within 30 days. Failure to pay on time will place a stopper on your record until you submit a payment.

Hawaii Hardship Drivers License

Hardship licenses allow motorists holding suspended driving licenses to operate their motor vehicles for work-related purposes or personal needs. The Hawaii Administrative Driver’s License Revocation Office (ADLRO) offers you either an Ignition Interlock Permit (IIP) or an Employee Driver’s Permit (EDP) for completing your job responsibilities. Note that you are not eligible for either one of these permits if you already have a revoked or suspended driving license from another case.

Both the ignition interlock permit and the employee driver’s permit have a shorter duration than your revocation period. Therefore, you are encouraged to apply for an amended IIP or amended EDP prior to the expiration date of your regular IIP or EDP.

Applying for A Hawaii Hardship License

Motorists with suspended or revoked drivers licenses in Hawaii may apply for either an Ignition Interlock Permit (IIP) for personal reasons or an Employee Driver’s Permit (EDP) for work-related situations. In order to apply for an IID, drivers must hold a valid HI driver’s license at the time of the arrest and install an Ignition Interlock Device (IID) during the drivers license suspension or revocation period.

You can apply for an EDP only in situations when your employer will discharge you from work if you do not fulfill your job responsibilities, such as operating an employer-owned vehicle. In order to get an EDP while you are waiting for your drivers license suspension period to be over, the employer must specify certain restrictions, such as the exact days and work hours, which should not exceed 12 hours on a daily basis. The employer must also provide a business card and a copy of the employer-owned car registration for the motor vehicle you will operate.

Drivers License Reinstatement Fees

The process of reinstating driving licenses in Hawaii cannot be completed without a payment for the appropriate fees. To reinstate drivers licenses, you will have to satisfy certain requirements, which vary depending on your specific situation.

The drivers license reinstatement fee in Honolulu County is $20, which can be paid by a certified check or money order. Other counties have other fees. Contact your local DMV office if you live in Maui, Hawaii Kaua’i counties.

Last updated on Tuesday, March 3 2020.