Hawaii Instruction Permit Fees: County Breakdown, Hidden Costs, and Retake Fees (2026)

Hawaii instruction-permit costs vary by county and by whether you take the knowledge test in person or online. The base in-person path is $7 in Honolulu, $12 in Hawaii County, $27 in Maui County, and $26 in Kauai County. Online testing adds a $10 transaction fee, while permit issuance and any county application fee are paid separately.

Hawaii Permit and Written-Test Fees by County

The in-person permit cost is made up of the county knowledge-test fee, any county application fee, and the permit issuance fee.

If you test online through KnowToDrive, you pay the county knowledge-test fee plus a $10 online transaction fee. The remaining application and permit-issuance fees are paid later under the county's issuance process. There are no standard payment plans for these government fees.

How Much Does a Hawaii Instruction Permit Cost In Person vs. Online?

Using the current county fee schedules, the base in-person permit path is $7 in Honolulu, $12 in Hawaii County, $27 in Maui County, and $26 in Kauai County. Using KnowToDrive adds the $10 online transaction fee, so the comparable online path is $17, $22, $37, and $36 respectively.

Is the Hawaii Permit Issuance Fee Separate from the Written-Test Fee?

Yes. The knowledge-test charge and the permit issuance fee are separate parts of the transaction. Some counties also charge a separate application fee. Passing the test does not mean the permit issuance fee has already been paid.

Extra Costs That Can Increase a Hawaii Permit Price

Retakes and optional payment choices can raise the total. A failed knowledge test requires another test fee for the next attempt.

• Online testing: The online charge is the county knowledge-test fee plus a $10 transaction fee for each online attempt.
• Card payments: Card-processing rules and service charges vary by county. Check the dedicated payment-method guide before your visit.
• Parental consent: In Honolulu, the parental consent form is CS-L(DL)239. If notarization is needed, any notary cost is separate from the permit fee.

For example, a Maui applicant who fails an in-person knowledge test once would pay the $15 written-test fee again before later paying the $12 permit issuance fee after passing.

Do you pay the $10 KnowToDrive fee again if you fail? Yes. A new online attempt requires a new online test payment, which includes the county knowledge-test charge and the $10 online transaction fee.

Mistakes That Can Trigger Another Hawaii Permit Fee

The main fee-related mistake is paying for another test attempt unnecessarily. Verify the correct county fee and whether you are testing online or in person before paying.

Document, appointment, and office-location problems can also delay the permit process, but those details belong in the Hawaii Required Documents and Appointment guides rather than this fee page.

Where Can You Check Hawaii Permit Payment Methods and Fee Assistance?

Payment methods vary by county, so check the dedicated payment-method guide before visiting. Hawaii does not have a general instruction-permit fee waiver for every low-income applicant, although some targeted assistance programs may help with related licensing or driver-education costs.

After an online pass, the deadline to finish permit issuance is county-specific. Honolulu currently uses a 60-day window, while Maui and Kauai use 30 days. Follow the deadline published by the county handling your permit.

Does Hawaii Offer Payment Plans for Instruction-Permit Fees?

County fee schedules list the permit charges due at the applicable test or issuance step and do not describe a statewide installment plan for standard instruction-permit fees. If cost is a problem, check the separate fee-assistance guide for programs that may help with driver education or related licensing expenses.