Department of Transportation

HONOLULU – The Hawaii Department of Transportation (HDOT) announces that beginning Jan. 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.

To view frequently asked questions and a list of acceptable documents to verify legal name, date of birth, and Hawaii residency, click on the following HDOT link:

https://hidot.hawaii.gov/highways/files/2019/11/Limited-Purpose-DL-Info-and-FAQ-Pamphlet-2019-11-13.pdf

The periods of validity for these credentials are as follows:

• 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 is 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;
  • 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 seventy-two (72) years of age or older.

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.

For additional information on offices issuing these credentials, please call the county where you intend to apply for a license or permit.

County of Hawaii: (808) 961-2222

City & County of Honolulu: (808) 768-9100

County of Kauai: (808) 241-4242

County of Maui: (808) 270-7363

 

*The new license is effective Jan. 1, however with the holiday and weekend Jan. 4 will be the first day people will be able to apply.

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