COVID-19 ID FAQs

Posted on May 7, 2020 in
The following is a Frequently-Asked-Questions (FAQs) discussion on the State of Hawaii’s COVID-19 emergency procedures as it relates to non-commercial driver’s license (DL), instructional permit (IP), and state identification (SID) cardholders.  The temporary interim procedures established is in accordance with the Governor’s (First) Supplementary to the Emergency Proclamation signed on March 16, 2020 and the last proclamation titled, “Emergency Proclamation Related to the State’s COVID-19 Delta Response”, signed on October 1, 2021, that temporarily suspended specific Hawaii Revised Statutes and Hawaii Department of Transportation Administrative Rules.  As of December 1, 2021, no further suspension of law or administrative rules for DLs, IPs and SIDs are allowed.

(The temporary interim procedures conveyed in the FAQs are subject to change.  Please continue to check this website for the latest revisions.)

(Revised November 30, 2021)

 
  1. Am I still allowed to legally drive my motor vehicle if my non-commercial driver’s license (DL) or instruction permit (IP) has expired?
No.  DL or IP that are expired will no longer be valid to legally operate a motor vehicle after November 30, 2021.  The COVID‑19 Emergency Proclamation Related to the State’s COVID-19 Delta Response that was issued on October 1, 2021, and ended on November 30, 2021 included the suspension of law that allowed for the expired DL and IP to remain valid until November 30, 2021.  
  1. What will happen to my expired non-commercial driver’s license (DL) or instruction permit (IP) that was extended during this emergency period once the Hawaii COVID-19 emergency proclamation has ended?
Once the Hawaii COVID‑19 Emergency Proclamation Related to the State’s COVID-19 Delta Response that was issued on October 1, 2021, has ended on November 30, 2021, your DL or IP will no longer be valid to legally drive a motor vehicle on public roads.  
  1. My driver’s license (DL) or instruction permit (IP) expires right after the emergency period ends on November 30, 2021. What happens if I cannot get an appointment in time to renew my DL or IP?
You will no longer be licensed to legally operate a motor vehicle on public roadways.  Please contact your county DMV to make the appropriate arrangements for an appointment.  (See the following link to get the county contact information: https://hidot.hawaii.gov/driverslicense/ )  
  1. What happens to my State Identification card (SID) if it expires during the Hawaii COVID-19 emergency period of March 16, 2020 thru November 30, 2021?
SIDs that expire between March 16, 2020 thru November 29, 2021, are considered to be valid until the Hawaii COVID-19 Emergency Proclamation Related to the State’s COVID-19 Delta Response ends on November 30, 2021.  After November 30, 2021, an expired SID is no longer valid.  However, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will accept SIDs that expired on or after March 1, 2020, a year after the expiration date shown on the SID.  Visit the TSA website for the latest information: https://www.tsa.gov/coronavirus.  
  1. My expired driver’s license (DL) or instruction permit (IP) was granted a waiver of the expiration date. When I renew my DL or IP, will I get issued my renewed DL or IP with any additional days? 
Except for limited-term DL or IP issued to non-U.S. citizens, a renewed DL will expire on your birth date for 8 years, 4 years, 2 years or 1 year, as calculated based on your age and the original expiration date.  An IP will expire 1 year from the renewal date.  
  1. Will I be able to use my qualified motorcycle rider education course completion certification to waive the Hawaii skills test if it expired during the Hawaii COVID-19 emergency?
No.  The motorcycle rider education course completion certification is valid for 90 days from the course completion date.  
  1. During the Hawaii COVID-19 emergency period of March 16, 2020 through November 30, 2021, will I be charged a penalty for renewing (or reactivating) my driver’s license after 90 days from the driver’s license (DL) expiration date?
The 90-day no-fee reactivation (renewal) period for DLs that expired during the EP will be calculated using November 30, 2021, as the DL expiration date.  The late penalty fee is waived if the DL is renewed within the 90-days that is calculated from November 30, 2021.  
  1. During the Hawaii COVID-19 emergency period of March 16, 2020 through November 30, 2021, will I be able to reactivate and renew my driver’s license after one-year has passed from the driver’s license (DL) expiration date?
The 1-year reactivation (renewal) period for DLs that expired during the EP will be calculated using November 30, 2021, as the DL expiration date.  You may reactivate (renew) your DL if the DL is renewed within the 1-year that is calculated from November 30, 2021.  Please be aware that once the Hawaii COVID‑19 Emergency Proclamation Related to the State’s COVID-19 Delta Response that was issued on October 1, 2021, has ended on November 30, 2021, your DL will no longer be valid to legally drive a motor vehicle on public roads.  
  1. During the Hawaii COVID-19 emergency period of March 16, 2020 through November 30, 2021, will I be able to renew my instruction permit after 90-days have passed from the instruction permit’s (IP) expiration date?
The 90-day renewal period for IPs that expired during the EP will be calculated using November 30, 2021, as the IP expiration date.  If your IP is renewed within the 90-days that is calculated from November 30, 2021, you may renew your IP without having to retake the written test.  Please be aware that once the Hawaii COVID‑19 Emergency Proclamation Related to the State’s COVID-19 Delta Response that was issued on October 1, 2021, has ended on November 30, 2021, your IP will no longer be valid to legally drive a motor vehicle on public roads.  
  1. Can I use my expired driver’s license (DL), instruction permit (IP) or State ID (SID) as an acceptable identification at airport Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checkpoints?
TSA will accept your DL, IP or SIDs that expired on or after March 1, 2020, a year after the expiration date shown on the card.  Visit the TSA website for the latest information: https://www.tsa.gov/coronavirus.

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