Hawaii · County driver licensing offices

Hawaii permit practice test: 30 questions, 80% to pass

Hawaii’s knowledge test, given by your county’s driver licensing office, has 30 questions, and you need 24 right, or 80%, to pass.

30

questions

24

right to pass

80%

passing score

Checked against the Hawaii Driver’s Manual (2023 edition) on October 25, 2026. How we check facts

Practice test

Take a 10-question Hawaii permit practice test

Pick an answer and check it. Every question comes with the reason behind the right answer and the sentence of an official document it rests on.

To pass here you need 8 of 10, since Hawaii’s test asks for 80%.

  1. Question 1 of 10 · Guide and service signs

    Small green upright panel with the word MILE above the white number 8, on a short post beside a freeway
    You pass this marker and want Exit 30. About how far is it?
    Show the answer

    The answer is B: About 22 miles.

    Exit numbers usually follow the mile markers, so Exit 30 is near mile 30. From mile 8 that is about 22 miles. Watch the markers count up toward it so the exit does not catch you in the wrong lane.

    “The exit numbers shall correspond to the posted Reference Location or Enhanced Reference Location signs.”

    MUTCD, 11th Edition, page 345
  2. Question 2 of 10 · Right-of-way

    Intersection seen from above. Your car has stopped at a stop sign at the bottom approach. The cross street has no signs, and a car marked A is coming along it from your left
    You stopped at this stop sign. Car A has no sign. Who goes first?
    Show the answer

    The answer is A: Car A. It has no sign.

    A stop sign asks two things of you: stop, then yield to the traffic on the cross street. Car A has no sign, so it does not have to stop or wait for you. Stopping first and being on the right do not help you here. Go once the street is clear both ways.

    “You must stop behind the stop line or crosswalk, if one is present.”

    AAMVA Model Driver’s License Manual, page 22
  3. Question 3 of 10 · Stopping distance and braking

    The average driver takes about ____ to move a foot from the gas to the brake.
    Show the answer

    The answer is A: 3/4 to 1 second

    Reaction time is how long it takes to get your foot from the gas to the brake. For the average driver it is about 3/4 second to 1 second. Before that, noticing the hazard takes about as long again. Your car keeps rolling the whole time, because the brakes have not begun to work.

    “Your reaction time—This is the time and distance it takes for you to react and move your foot from the gas pedal and begin applying the brakes. The average driver has a reaction time of ¾ second to 1 second.”

    AAMVA Model Driver’s License Manual, page 30
  4. Question 4 of 10 · Warning signs

    Yellow diamond sign on a post at the right of a two-lane highway, showing a black tractor. Open fields lie either side with a farm gate on the right. No vehicles
    You are at highway speed when you pass this sign. What should you get ready for?
    Show the answer

    The answer is A: Slow farm vehicles on the road.

    The tractor is the farm machinery sign. Tractors and combines use this road and move far slower than you, so you close on them fast. Ease off as soon as you see one, and pass with care, since the operator may not hear you coming.

    “Vehicular Traffic Warning (W8-6, W11-1, W11-5, W11-8, W11-10, W11-11, W11-12P, W11-14, W11-15, and W11-15a) signs (see Figure 2C-14) may be used to alert road users to locations where unexpected entries into the roadway by trucks, bicycles, farm vehicles, emergency vehicles, golf carts, horse-drawn vehicles, or other vehicles might occur.”

    MUTCD, 11th Edition, page 232
  5. Question 5 of 10 · Roundabouts and intersections

    Roundabout seen from above with four roads leading off it, a yield sign and a crosswalk at every road. Your car is on the circular roadway partway around, coming up to the next entry, where another car marked A is waiting at the yield line, with the next exit beyond it
    When do you use your turn signal here?
    Show the answer

    The answer is B: As you reach your exit.

    Signal right as you come up to the exit you want. It tells the driver waiting at the next entry that you are leaving, so they can pull in behind you. Turn it on as you reach your exit, not earlier. Signal too soon and a driver at the exit before it may pull out in front of you.

    “Proceed to the appropriate exit, signal intent, and exit.”

    AAMVA Model Driver’s License Manual, page 26
  6. Question 6 of 10 · Slow-moving and farm vehicles

    Two-lane country road seen from your car. On the right, a green tractor stands stopped at an open field gate with its front toward the road. The road ahead is empty
    A tractor is waiting at this field gate. What should you do as you get near?
    Show the answer

    The answer is B: Slow down and be ready to stop.

    Slow down early. A tractor is slow to pick up speed once it pulls onto the road. Its driver cannot hear you and may not see you. Do not count on it waiting, whoever has the right of way. Be ready to stop if it pulls out ahead of you.

    “Watch out for vehicles that have trouble keeping up with the flow of other traffic and when entering the roadway; they take longer to pick up speed. These include some large trucks, as well as farm equipment and horse-drawn vehicles.”

    Pennsylvania Driver's Manual, page 48
  7. Question 7 of 10 · Traffic signals and arrows

    Pedestrian signal on a pole at the far corner of a crosswalk, showing an orange raised hand with the number 7 counting down beside it and a small caption beside the signal reading Flashing. The crosswalk and the street are empty
    You are at the curb and the signal shows this. What should you do?
    Show the answer

    The answer is C: Wait at the curb for the next walk signal.

    The flashing hand means do not start. The countdown is not an invitation to run for it. It tells anyone already in the road how many seconds are left to finish. If you are halfway across when it starts, keep going. If you are still on the curb, wait.

    “Pedestrians facing a flashing UPRAISED HAND (symbolizing DONT WALK) signal indication shall not start to cross the roadway in the direction of the signal indication. Any pedestrian who has already started to cross the roadway on a steady WALKING PERSON (symbolizing WALK) signal indication shall continue to proceed to the far side”

    MUTCD, 11th Edition, page 687
  8. Question 8 of 10 · Fatigue, vision and health

    A health condition sometimes makes you faint without warning. May you drive?
    Show the answer

    The answer is A: Not until your doctor says so.

    A condition that can make you faint, black out or lose control without warning affects whether you can drive at all. Ask your doctor whether it is under control and whether you may drive. Your state may have rules about it too, and in some states you have to report it to the license office.

    “People with heart diseases, high blood pressure, circulation problems, or those in danger of a blackout, fainting, or a heart attack should not get behind the wheel. If you are being treated by a doctor for a heart condition, ask if the condition could affect your driving ability.”

    South Dakota Driver License Manual, page 22
  9. Question 9 of 10 · Emergencies and crashes

    The gas pedal sticks and the car keeps speeding up. Shift into ____.
    Show the answer

    The answer is A: neutral

    Neutral takes the engine off the wheels, so the car stops being pushed however loud the engine races. Brake gently, steer off the road and stop, then switch the engine off. Have the pedal fixed before you drive again.

    “Shift to neutral and search for an escape path.”

    AAMVA Model Driver’s License Manual, page 34
  10. Question 10 of 10 · Lane use and changing lanes

    You signal for a gap. The driver behind speeds up and closes it. What now?
    Show the answer

    The answer is B: Wait for the next gap.

    A signal asks for room. It does not give you the right of way, so the space is not yours until it is open. Stay in your lane and take the next gap. Pushing into a closing gap is how cars get sideswiped.

    “Identify a gap in traffic, signal, and look again in the direction of the lane change.”

    AAMVA Model Driver’s License Manual, page 27

These 10 questions are from the DMV Champ app’s practice set, last updated October 23, 2026. Spot a mistake in a question? Email us.

How many questions can you miss on the Hawaii permit test?

6

You need 24 of the 30 right.

In Maui County, the written test has 30 multiple choice questions, and more than 6 wrong answers means you fail.

“Pass a 30 question multiple choice written examination, please refer to the Hawaii Driver's Manual. If you obtain more than 6 errors, you will fail the examination and will be required to wait seven days before you are eligible to retake the examination.”

Maui County DMV, Class 3 instruction permit page

In Honolulu, the written test for a learner’s permit has 30 multiple choice questions.

“Pass a 30 question multiple-choice written examination; please refer to the Hawaii Driver’s Manual”

Honolulu Department of Customer Services, graduated licensing page

Hawaii’s rules say you pass a knowledge test when at least 80% of your answers are right.

“The applicant shall be considered to have passed a knowledge test if at least eighty per cent of the questions have been answered correctly.”

Hawaii DOT, driver licensing rules (HAR chapter 19-122), page 23

DMV Champ uses the same format for Tennessee.

How old do you have to be to get an instruction permit in Hawaii?

The youngest you can be is 15 and a half.

“The minimum age to acquire an instruction permit is 15 1/2 years.”

Hawaii Driver’s Manual, page 13

What happens if you fail the Hawaii permit test?

In Maui County, if you fail the written test, you wait 7 days before you can take it again.

“If you obtain more than 6 errors, you will fail the examination and will be required to wait seven days before you are eligible to retake the examination.”

Maui County DMV, Class 3 instruction permit page

In Honolulu, if you fail the online test, you wait 7 days before you can try again.

“Also, applicants who fail testing due to knowledge must wait seven (7) days before attempting to retake the test.”

Honolulu Department of Customer Services, online permit test page

In Hawaii County, you can retake the online test as often as you need, but you wait 7 days after a failed try.

“You can take it as many times as needed but there will be a 7-day waiting period after a failed or disqualified result.”

Hawaii County Vehicle Registration and Licensing, online written test page

How do you take the Hawaii permit test?

It’s given at your county’s driver licensing office.

“Written tests are administered between 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.”

Hawaii Driver’s Manual, page 2

In Honolulu, you can take the test online on a desktop or laptop computer with a webcam, but not on a phone or tablet.

“To take the test online, you must have an internet-connected desktop or laptop computer with a mouse (or mouse-pad controlled cursor), keyboard and a functioning webcam. No cell phone, tablet or touchscreen device may be used.”

Honolulu Department of Customer Services, online permit test page

In Honolulu, the online test gives you 60 minutes.

“You have 60 minutes (one hour) to complete the 30 question test.”

Honolulu Department of Customer Services, online permit test page

In Honolulu, you can also take the written test at a driver licensing center if you book an appointment.

“You may take a learner’s permit written test at a driver licensing center by appointment available at AlohaQ.org.”

Honolulu Department of Customer Services, online permit test page

In Honolulu, the online test can read the questions aloud in English or Spanish if your computer has speakers.

“The Online Learner’s Permit Test can be read aloud in English or Spanish by the testing application, if you have speakers connected to your computer.”

Honolulu Department of Customer Services, online permit test page

Test simulator

Practice in the Hawaii format

30 questions24 to pass60 minutes

DMV Champ teaches every question with its explanation, then checks you with 5 simulated tests of 30 questions, graded against the 24-correct passing score. 36 topics in Hawaii: the 34 every state tests, plus winter driving and flooding, because the Hawaii handbook teaches them.

Download on the App Store