State guide · Updated October 2026
Hawaii Driving Laws (2026): Speed, Phone, Insurance, Tax
Hawaii sits in the West census region, with Honolulu as the capital and Honolulu and Hilo as its biggest cities. This page gathers the Hawaii driving laws people search for most, from speed and phones to insurance, car tax and motorcycles.
Every topic below answers one question in detail, with the facts, the figures and how it compares nationally; we last verified the numbers on October 25, 2026.
Hawaii driving laws: speed limits
The top speed limit in Hawaii is 60 mph. Interstates carry limits of up to 60 mph in town and country alike.
| Hawaii: Maximum posted speed | 60 mph |
|---|---|
| Rural freeways | 60 mph |
| Urban interstates | 60 mph |
On busy roads such as H-1 and H-2, posted limits are often lower than 60 mph, especially through Honolulu and in work zones.
Every driver must also hold a speed reasonable for weather and traffic, even under the limit.
Bottom line, under Hawaii driving laws: max speed limit, 60 mph.
Hawaii driving laws: cell phone and texting law
Only hands-free. Hawaii enforces a hands-free law: drivers are not allowed to hold a phone to talk, text or browse while driving. Voice calls through the car and a mounted map are fine.
| Hawaii: Hand-held calls | Banned |
|---|---|
| Texting behind the wheel | Banned |
| Teen phone ban | Drivers under 18 |
Under the Hawaii driving laws, a mounted phone, voice commands and one swipe to answer a call or start navigation stay legal; having it in your hand at a stoplight is what gets ticketed.
Young drivers obtain a stricter law: in Hawaii, drivers under 18 cannot touch a phone at all, not even through Bluetooth.
Bottom line, under Hawaii driving laws: phone law, hands-free law.
Hawaii driving laws: driving age and teen licenses
In Hawaii, teens can obtain a learner's permit at 15 and a provisional (intermediate) license at 16; limits on night driving and passengers obey.
| Hawaii: Earliest permit | Age 15 |
|---|---|
| Intermediate (provisional) license | Age 16 |
| Supervised driving hours | 50 (10 at night) |
| Unrestricted license | Age 17 and 6 months licensed |
To qualify for the road test, permit holders in Hawaii log 50 hours (10 at night) of supervised driving.
At a glance, under Hawaii driving laws: learner's permit age, permit at 15.
Hawaii driving laws: minimum car insurance
Hawaii requires motorists to carry at least 40/80/20 in liability coverage: $40,000 for injuries to one person, $80,000 for all injuries in one crash and $20,000 for property damage. You also need personal injury protection (PIP).
| Hawaii: Bodily injury per person | $40,000 |
|---|---|
| Injury limit per crash | $80,000 |
| Property damage | $20,000 |
| Other mandatory coverage | PIP |
| Fault system | No-fault |
| Coverage mandatory by law | Yes |
Hawaii raised its minimums from 20/40/10 to 40/80/20 on January 1, 2026.
Hawaii is a no-fault state: your own PIP pays your medical bills first after a crash, and suing the other driver is limited to serious injuries.
Required on top of liability in Hawaii: personal injury protection (PIP).
The legal minimum frequently falls short in a serious crash, since medical bills plus a replacement car can exceed $80,000 fast.
Consumer groups suggest limits like 100/300/100, as anything above your limits may be collected from you directly.
In short, under Hawaii driving laws: car insurance, 40/80/20.
Hawaii driving laws: car sales tax
Hawaii charges a 4% state general excise tax on car purchases, and local taxes can add to that.
| Hawaii: Statewide rate | 4% (general excise tax) |
|---|---|
| Local add-ons | Yes, in some areas |
| Trade-in lowers tax | No |
| Tax on a $30,000 purchase | $1,200 |
Hawaii charges a general excise tax (GET) instead of a sales tax; the majority of counties add a 0.5% surcharge.
- A $19,100 car in Hawaii: around $764 in state tax
- A $33,650 car in Hawaii: roughly $1,346 in state tax
- A $55,000 car in Hawaii: roughly $2,200 in state tax
Hawaii taxes the full price, so a trade-in does not reduce the Hawaii driving laws.
In short, under Hawaii driving laws: car sales tax, 4%.
Hawaii driving laws: vehicle inspection and emissions
Yes. Hawaii requires an annual safety inspection, but no emissions testing.
| Hawaii: Safety inspection | Every year |
|---|---|
| Emissions test | Not required |
New vehicles get a two-year first inspection; after that it is each year.
The safety check in Hawaii looks at brakes, lights, tires, steering, glass and horn once a year.
At a glance, under Hawaii driving laws: car inspection, safety only.
Hawaii driving laws: license and registration deadlines for newcomers
After moving to Hawaii, you have 30 days to obtain a Hawaii driver's license, and 30 days to register your car.
| Hawaii: New driver's license | 30 days |
|---|---|
| Vehicle registration | 30 days |
| Minimum car insurance | 40/80/20 |
| Inspection | Safety only |
Hawaii has no statewide DMV: each county (Honolulu, Hawaii, Maui, Kauai) handles licenses and registration, and a safety inspection is needed before you can register.
Step-by-step list for Hawaii driving laws
- Apply for a Hawaii driver's license: 30 days. Take an ID document, your SSN and two documents with your new address to the county driver licensing office (REAL ID rules).
- Set up car insurance at or above the minimum: Hawaii sets a floor of 40/80/20. A policy is generally mandatory before registration.
- Vehicle check: Yes. Hawaii requires an annual safety inspection, but no emissions testing.
- Title and register the car: 30 days at the county motor vehicle office.
The clock generally begins once you begin a job, buy a house or put children in a local school in Hawaii, not on the day the boxes arrive.
At a glance, under Hawaii driving laws: new resident deadline, 30 days.
Hawaii driving laws: motorcycle helmet law
Only for motorcyclists under 18. In Hawaii, motorcyclists 17 and younger must wear a helmet; riders 18 and older can legally go without one. It is the same in Honolulu, in Hilo and on quiet stretches of H-2.
| Hawaii: Helmets mandatory for | Riders 17 and younger |
|---|---|
| Kind of law | Partial (age-based) |
| Helmet optional for adults | Yes |
Riders 17 and younger must wear a helmet under the Hawaii driving laws; from age 18 a rider can decide.
NHTSA estimates that helmets cut over a third of rider deaths, and 41% of passenger deaths.
A legal helmet indicates the DOT label at the rear; novelty helmets without it are not legal.
In short, under Hawaii driving laws: helmet law, under 18.
Hawaii driving laws: lane splitting
No. Riding between lanes are not allowed in Hawaii. Motorcycles must use a full lane, and motorcyclists cannot squeeze between vehicles or ride between lanes of traffic.
| Hawaii: Splitting in moving traffic | Not legal |
|---|---|
| Filtering at a stop | Not legal |
| Law dates from | — |
Lane splitting is not allowed, but since 2018 motorcyclists can use the shoulder to pass stopped traffic on some roads where the shoulder is wide enough.
With no law allowing it, Hawaii driving laws is cited as an illegal pass, and a collision while doing it may hurt the rider in an injury claim.
In short, under Hawaii driving laws: lane splitting, not allowed.
Where the Hawaii driving laws stand out
- 60 mph (max speed limit), among the slower 2 states
Driving around Hawaii
Key highways include H-1, H-2 and H-3, linking Honolulu, Hilo and Honolulu. Every one of these roads is covered by Hawaii driving laws.
You obtain a license from the county driver licensing office, and registration and titles go through the county motor vehicle office.
Every rule on this page applies in each county, from Honolulu to small towns.
Next door
- Hawaii has no land neighbors; compare it with any state through the topic guides.
FAQ: the Hawaii driving laws
Do the Hawaii driving laws differ for trucks?
Nearly all roads in Hawaii post the same limit for passenger cars and big rigs; watch for separate truck signs.
Can an officer stop you only for violating the Hawaii driving laws?
Yes. In Hawaii it is usually primary enforcement, so an officer can stop you for it without any other reason.
Can a 15-year-old drive alone under the Hawaii driving laws laws?
No. Driving without an adult is permitted after you receive the provisional license at 16 in Hawaii.
What happens if I drive without Hawaii driving laws?
Driving without coverage in Hawaii can bring penalties, suspension of your license and plates, and personal responsibility for any damage.
Is the Hawaii driving laws due on used cars?
Yes. Used vehicles are taxed too, and sales between individuals can be valued at a minimum or book value.
Is a Hawaii driving laws needed to sell a car?
The car must have a current inspection when it is registered in Hawaii.
Do adults have to obey the Hawaii driving laws?
No. Just motorcyclists 17 and younger must wear one in Hawaii.
Is filtering at red lights part of Hawaii driving laws?
No. Riding between stopped cars at a light is not allowed in Hawaii as well.
Travel ideas in Hawaii
- Place to visitHawaii Volcanoes National ParkTwo of the world’s most active volcanoes, steaming craters and lava fields that run into the sea.
- Place to visitPearl Harbor National MemorialThe white memorial over the sunken USS Arizona, where the US entered World War II on December 7, 1941.
- Scenic driveRoad to HanaAbout 620 curves and 59 bridges through rainforest, waterfalls and black-sand beaches on Maui.