If you're a resident of Hawaii, you must renew your driver's license either in person or by mail every 1-8 years, depending on your age and the county where you live. Renewal fees are relatively inexpensive across the state, ranging from $5-$40.

Drivers in Hawaii need to stay on top of their license renewal deadlines, as the state does not send out renewal notices. If your license has already expired, you can reactivate it within one year of expiration. Driving with an expired license can result in a fine or even jail time.

If you're not sure how Hawaii driver's license renewal works, don't worry.

Jerry

, the

car insurance

comparison super app, can tell you everything you need to know about driver's license renewal in the Aloha State.

Make safe driving pay

Get rewarded for safe driving. Earn points and unlock benefits. Totally free.

Start earning now

When to renew your driver’s license in Hawaii

You can renew your Hawaii license up to six months before its expiration date or reactivate it up to one year after it's expired. You can find your license's expiration date in the section labeled "4b" on the front of the card.

If your driver's license is expired, you have a 90-day grace period following its expiration to renew without penalty. Once you surpass that 90-day window, you'll incur a reactivation fee of $5 per 30 days (or any fraction thereof).

Drivers ages 25-71 in Hawaii, Honolulu, and Maui counties must renew their licenses every eight years. Renewal for these drivers costs $40, but drivers who fall outside this age bracket usually face shorter renewal periods and lower fees.

In Kauai County, drivers of all ages must renew their license every eight years for $32.

MORE:

Hawaii car insurance laws—all you need to know

How to renew your driver’s license in Hawaii

Hawaii does not offer online license renewal, leaving you with the option to renew either by mail or in person at the DMV. Hawaii residents can only renew by mail up to twice in a row.

Renew your license by mail

As a Hawaii resident, you can renew your driver's license by mail up to two consecutive times before having to go in person to the DMV. If you qualify to renew by mail, you must write a letter to your county of residence requesting to renew your driver's license.

Note that you cannot send in a Hawaii driver's license renewal form until you've sent your license renewal request letter. You can mail or fax this letter. The request letter must include the following information:

Name as it appears on your license

Mailing address

Hawaii driver's license number or the last four digits of your Social Security number

Date of birth

Email address (in case there's a problem with your paperwork)

Signature

The address for your request letter will depend on your county of residence, as detailed below:

Hawaii County: Department of Finance Vehicle Registration and Licensing Division Driver License Section 349 Kapiolani St., Hilo, HI 96720

Kauai County: County of Kauai Department of Finance Driver License Division 4444 Rice St., Suite A480, Lihue, HI 96766

Honolulu County: Department of Customer Services P.O. Box 30340 Honolulu, HI 96820-0340

Maui County: Division of Motor Vehicle and Licensing 70 E. Kaahumanu Ave., Maui Mall, Suite A-17, Kahului, HI 96732

Once your request is approved, you will receive a renewal packet by either mail or email. At that point, you must complete and return all of the appropriate renewal forms.

Key Takeaway If you want to renew your Hawaii driver's license by mail, you must first mail or fax a renewal request.

Renew your license in person

If you've already renewed your license by mail twice in a row (or if you prefer the real-life DMV experience), you'll have to go in person to the DMV to renew. Regardless of where in the state you live, you'll have to fill out and submit a

Hawaii driver's license renewal form

Residents of Hawaii and Maui counties must go to the Department of Finance to renew a driver's license. Kauai County drivers go to the Treasury Division of Finance. If you reside in Honolulu County, the Department of Customer Services handles license renewal.

Honolulu County residents must

make an appointment

to renew their license in person. At the appointment, these drivers must bring:

A current driver's license

Original documents providing proof of identity, legal presence, and Social Security number

Two proofs of address

Your name must be the same on all of the documents listed above.

Drivers who live in other counties should refer to their county's specific driver's license renewal requirements and go to their local DMV to renew.

MORE: Hawaii electric vehicle incentives

How long does it take to renew a Hawaii driver’s license?

Hawaii license renewal times vary, but in most cases, you should receive your new license within four weeks of applying for renewal.

In Honolulu County, if it's taken longer than eight weeks for you to receive your license, the government requests that you call 808-768-9100 and leave a message detailing your situation.

MORE:

Driving without a license: What are the penalties?

How to save money on car insurance in Hawaii

Now that you're up to speed on renewing your Hawaii driver's license, it's time to sort out your

car insurance

Most drivers in Hawaii will find that car insurance rates in the state fall below average. Even so, car accidents are common in Hawaii due to the winding island roads and high rates of driving under the influence. With this in mind, Hawaii drivers should make sure their car insurance has them covered.

That's where

Jerry

comes in. A

licensed broker

, Jerry does all the hard work of finding cheap quotes from top name-brand insurance companies. Jerry even helps you sign up for your new policy and cancel your old one.

And that's not all. In addition to its top-notch customer support services, Jerry helps its users save an average of $887 per year on car insurance.

“Amazing! I’ll admit, I’m young with 2 accidents. This spiked my insurance rates and every quote I found.
Jerry
, though, helped me find affordable insurance. It truly helped me!” —Marcus F.

"I’m earning

awesome rewards

every week, just for driving safe!”

FAQs

What documents do you need to renew your Hawaii driver's license?

Exact requirements vary by county, but most Hawaii drivers must submit a current driver's license and documents proving their identity, legal presence, Social Security number, and primary address.

Can I renew my Hawaii state driver’s license online?

No. Hawaii residents may renew their driver's license either by mail or in person at the DMV.

Are you overpaying for car insurance?

Compare quotes and find out in 45 seconds.

Try Jerry