Q What is the exact driver education
requirement?
A A student will need to obtain a driver
education student completion certificate and a behind-the wheel
student completion certificate before signing up for a road test.
To obtain a driver education student completion certificate, a
student must complete a 30-hour classroom course.
To obtain the behind-the-wheel student completion certificate, a
student may chose six hours of behind-the-wheel training with a
DOT-certified instructor, or a DOT-certified simulator driver
education course and two hours of behind-the-wheel training with a
DOT-certified instructor.
Q I’m from a single-parent family and my
mom works 10 hours a day. I need my license so I can get to
school. Do you make exceptions for special circumstances like
mine?
A No. The law does not provide for any
exceptions from the new age requirement or the mandatory driver
education requirements.
Q Do I need a permit to take driver
education?
A No, you don’t need it for driver
education classes.
However, you do need your permit before you can take behind the
wheel or simulator courses.
Q How old do you have to be to take driver
education courses?
A There is no set age, however, most
students take it when they’re getting ready to get their learner’s
permit.
Q Why did the Legislature raise the minimum
driving age to 16?
A Fifteen and sixteen year olds have the
highest rate of automobile crashes of any age, resulting in
serious injury and death. Increasing the driving age, and
requiring driver education and behind-the-wheel lessons and 50
hours of practice driving, should help to reduce the number of
crashes by this age group.
Q Why can’t I teach my child to drive?
A The goal of the driver education law is to make sure
that all students receive the same information about
driving, including traffic laws, safe driving practices, etc. Not
all parents teach all of the information. You will still
have a major influence on your child’s driving as you let them
practice drive with you. A parent or person over the age of 18
must spend at least 50 hours (40 during the day and 10 at night)
driving with the student before they can obtain a driver’s
license.
Q I just want to get a license to drive a
motorcycle. Am I subject to the new requirements?
A Yes. The law does not distinguish between
Class 1, 2 or 3 licenses. It says that anyone applying for a
license after January 1, 2001 who is under the age of 18 is
subject to the driver education requirements. You may meet this
requirement by taking a motorcycle education course through the
University of Hawaii Community Colleges.
Q How much is it going to cost to take
driver education?
A The rates will vary depending on which
course you take and where you take it. The Department of Education
charges $10 for 30 hours of classroom and six hours of
behind-the-wheel driving instruction. Private instructors
generally charge $30-$40 per hour for behind-the-wheel courses.
The state has set maximum fees that can be charged. Instructors
may charge up to the maximum fee, although most charge less. The maximum fee for a 30-hour classroom course is
$250; a simulator course, $250; behind-the-wheel, $50 per hour.
Q If I took driver education in another state,
can this count toward meeting the Hawaii driver ed requirement?
A It depends. Hawaii will accept proof of a driver education
course if it appears on a student's official transcript from their mainland
high school.
In that case the student should go the Driver
Education Coordinator at their Hawaii high school and ask the coordinator to
check their transcript. The student will still have to comply with the
50 hours of practice driving. When they have submitted the notarized affidavit,
the Driver Education Coordinator may issue the student the Driver Education
and the Behind the Wheel Student Completion Certificates.
Q How can I find out about driver education
courses?
A First, ask at your school. Most public
high schools offer driver ed courses on a first-come, first-served
basis. A list of certified private instructors and classes are posted on this website.
