Hawaii CDL Office Locations & Hours of Operation:
Hilo Driver Licensing Office:
349 Kapiolani Street
Hilo, HI 96720
Ph: (808)961-2222
Fax: (808) 961-8861
Hours: Monday - Friday
8:00AM - 4:00PM
Kona Driver Licensing Office
West Hawaii Civic Center
74-5044 Ane Keohokalole
Hwy Kailua-Kona, HI 96740
Ph: (808) 323-4800
Fax: (808)323-4819
Hours: Monday - Friday 8:00AM - 4:00PM
Hawaii CDL Commercial Driver License Fees
- General Knowledge Test (Pass or Fail) - 15.00
- Special Knowledge Test (Pass or Fail) - 5.00
- Instruction Permit - 30.00
- Duplicate Permit - 15.00
- Practical Skills Test - 50.00
- CDL $5 per year or a fraction thereof
- New License 1 year - 5.00
- New License 2 years (Age 72 and above) - 10.00
- New License 4 years (Age 21 - 24) - 20.00
- New License 8 years (Age 25 - 71) - 40.00
- License Renewal 1 year - 5.00
- License Renewal (Age 72 and above) - 10.00
- License Renewal (Age 21-24) - 20.00
- License Renewal (Age 25 - 71) - 40.00
- Duplicate License - 15.00
- License Upgrade - 15.00
Documents Required to Apply for a Hawaii Commercial Learner's Permit
- Hawaii State Driver's License
- Social Security Card or SSA Verification Letter
- Proof of Citizenship or Legal Presence (refer to List of Acceptable Documents)
Requirements to obtain a Hawaii Commercial Learner's Permit
- Complete the CDL Application DOT 4-764 MVS (07/15)
- Fulfill document requirements listed above
- Successfully complete General Knowledge test
- Successfully complete any required Special Knowledge test relevant to testing vehicle
Hawaii CDL Practical Test Location and Requirements
South Hilo Practical Tests are held Monday through Friday. Kona Practical Tests
are held on Tuesdays and Wednesdays only. To schedule an appointment, the applicant
must apply in person and pay a $50 Practical Test Fee.
Bring the following to the Hawaii CDL road test site:
- A valid Hawaii Driver License
- A valid permit representative to the class of vehicle you will be operating (A, B, or C)
- A valid DOT Medical Certificate
- Original and valid Certificate of Registration
- Original and valid DOT Vehicle Inspection
- Original and valid motor vehicle insurance identification card or self-insured certificate
Commercial vehicles that are exempt from DOT vehicle inspection must present
DOT exemption form. Applicant must be accompanied by a licensed driver with
a same class or higher license, representative to the testing vehicel or higher
with proper endorsements and a valid DOT Medical Certificate. Proper attire
and footwear must be worn for testing. Use of slippers is not allowed.
Hawaii CDL Practical Test Description
Applicant must pay a $50 fee for the Hawaii CDL Practical Test at the time of scheduling;
Applicant must pass the three (3) part Practical Test on the same day. The Practical
Test consists of a Vehicle Inspection, Basic Controls Skills Test, and a Road
Test. Failure of the air brake test is an automatic failure of the Practical
Test. The Practical Test will be terminated at that point. If the applicant
fails to pass the Practical Test or fails to show up for the Practical Test,
there is no refund. The $50 fee is for the complete three (3) part Practical
Test. If any part of the test is failed, the applicant must reschedule a Practical
Test by paying the $50 Practical Test fee.
Any vehicle that has components marked or labeled (placarded) cannot be used
for the Practical Test.
Hawaii defines a Class A vehicle as it is defined in the FMCSR and 286-2, HRS,
which is as follows: "Any combination of vehicles with a gross combination
weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 pounds or more provided the GCWR of the vehicle(s)
being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds."
The maximum time for the Hawaii CDL Practical Test of a Class A vehicle is two (2) hours.
The maximum time for a Class B or lower is one and one-half (1.5) hours.
No memory aids are allowed during the Hawaii CDL Practical Test.
Applicant must wear a seat belt while performing the Hawaii CDL Basic Controls Skills
Test.
School bus doors must be closed when performing the Hawaii CDL Basic Controls Skills Test.
Hawaii uses the random (partial) method of conducting the Vehicle Inspection
and the Basic Controls Skills Test maneuvers.
During the Hawaii CDL Basic Controls Skills Test, the applicant is allowed one time per
exercise to exit the vehicle to check positioning. At the beginning of the Hawaii CDL Basic
Control Skills Test, the applicant will be informed about exiting and entering
the vehicle safely, which includes placing the vechicle into neutral/park and
setting the parking brake(s). Exit and enter trucks while facing the vehicle,
maintaining three (3) points of contact at all times. If the applicant exits
in an unsafe manner, the applicant will be informed again of his/her responsibility
to exit the vehicle safely. If the applicant exits the vehicle in an unsafe
manner a second time (including not securing the vehicle), an additional ten
(10) points will be deducted for that exercise for failure to follow instructions.
Bus drivers do not need to exit backwards, but must hold onto the rails as they
exit.
If the applicant fails to follow instructions, ten (10) additional points
will be deducted from his/her score for that exercise. For example, if the applicant
had two (2) points deducted prior to not following instructions, then the points
deducted for that exercise will total 12.
If the applicant accumulates thirteen (13) or more points during the Hawaii CDL Basic
Controls Skills Test, the Practical Test be will be terminated and marked as
failed. The applicant will need to reschedule the Practical Test by paying the
$50 Practical Test fee.
Hawaii allows simulated railroad crossing and student discharge during the
Road Test.
Hawaii CDL Written Knowledge Tests
You will need to pass the
Hawaii Knowledge
Tests that are required for the class of license, restriction, and
endorsements you wish to possess. A general knowledge test for the Class A or
Class B and C license must be successfully completed by all CDL applicants.
The information needed to pass these tests is contained in the
FREE
Hawaii CDL Handbook. Please read and study
this manual carefully.
- Class A - 70 Questions (50 GK + 20 Combination Vehicles) - Skills test required.
- Class B - 50 Questions - Skills test required.
- Class C - 50 Questions - Skills test required for bus, school bus and air
brakes vehicles..
- Passenger Endorsement - 20 questions - Skills test required in bus.
- School Bus Endorsement - 25 questions - Skills test required in school bus.
- Doubles/Triples Endorsement - 20 questions - No additional skills tests.
- Tank Vehicle Endorsement - 20 questions - No additional skills tests.
- Hazardous Materials Endorsement - 30 questions - No additional skills tests.
- Air Brake Restriction Removal - 25 questions - Additional skills test in vehicle with Air Brakes.
If you need help . . .
determining what Class of CDL you need based upon the type
of vehicle you will drive (A, B or C) or are not sure which CDL
Endorsements you need based upon the type of loads you will carry; use the
free CDL Selector Tool . . .
Hawaii
Go to CDL Selector Tool
Not sure which HI CDL Tests you need to pass? Use this tool to determine what Class of CDL and which CDL Endorsements you require.
Classes of Hawaii CDL and Required Tests
| CDL Class |
Tests Required |
Possible Endorsements and Required Tests |
Class A
(Combination
vehicle endorsement required) |
General Knowledge Written Exam
Combination Endorsement Written Exam
Road Exam |
|
| Class B |
General Knowledge Written Exam
Road Exam |
|
| Class C |
General Knowledge Written Exam
Road Exam
Note: If upgrading to a Class C from a Class D, no road test is required UNLESS the endorsement requires one. |
|
Hawaii CDL Endorsements
| Exam |
Time Allowed (Minutes) |
# of Questions on Exam |
# of Correct Answers Needed to Pass |
| General Knowledge |
60 |
50 |
40 |
| Air Brakes |
25 |
25 |
20 |
| HazMat |
30 |
30 |
24 |
| Tank |
20 |
20 |
16 |
| Passenger |
20 |
20 |
16 |
| Doubles/Triples |
20 |
20 |
16 |
| Combination Vehicles |
20 |
20 |
16 |
| School Bus |
20 |
20 |
16 |
In addition to the Hawaii CDL (commercial driver's license) information found in our website covering the Hawaii CDL and in the free Hawaii CDL Handbook (which is quite boring and a bit confusing - and doesn't have a single multiple-choice question in it that is asked on the actual tests), the complete online
prep program will prepare you to easily pass your
Hawaii CDL written exams to get your Hawaii CDL permit. The skills test modules are invaluable to give you a head start before doing your
work, possibly saving you a lot of money. The Hawaii CDL test prep program includes the following features . . .
