Suspended license in Hawaii: points, other causes, and how to reinstate
Hawaii does not use a points system; it counts convictions instead. No course removes points. The fee to reinstate after a suspension that is not alcohol-related is $20 (City and County of Honolulu).
A DUI is only one of the ways a license gets suspended. Points from ordinary tickets, an unpaid ticket, a lapse in insurance, unpaid child support or a missed court date each carry their own suspension and their own path back. The rules below are the ones the Hawaii Department of Transportation (Ignition Interlock Program); driver licensing is administered by the county driver licensing offices, and administrative revocations by the Hawaii State Judiciary's Administrative Driver's License Revocation Office (ADLRO) states, each quoted from its page or from the statute.
How the points system works
This state does not use a points system. What it uses instead — a count of convictions inside a period, a driver-improvement rule or a habitual-offender rule — is described below in the state's own words.
Hawaii has no accumulating point system in Hawaii Revised Statutes chapter 286 or the Hawaii Driver's Manual. Suspension for moving violations is imposed by the courts: under HRS § 286-125 a court may, in its discretion, revoke or suspend the license of any driver convicted of a traffic law violation involving a vehicle in motion, and the Judiciary places a driver's license 'stopper' on the record of a motorist who fails to respond to a citation, appear, or comply with a court order.
Points period stated by the agency: No point retention period applies. A certified traffic abstract from the Judiciary shows all alleged moving violations and any convictions resulting therefrom and any administrative license revocation; under HRS § 286-126 a court may not suspend a license for longer than five years unless otherwise provided by law.
“a certified traffic abstract shows “all alleged moving violations and any convictions resulting therefrom, arising from the operation of a motor vehicle and any administrative license revocation.”
Check points or the driving record: courts.state.hi.us
The statute: HRS § 286-125
“any court of competent jurisdiction may, in its discretion, revoke or suspend the license of any driver convicted of any felony in the commission of which a motor vehicle is used, or convicted of a violation of this part or of any traffic law or regulation of the State or any political subdivision”
Traffic school and point reduction
| Course | Court-ordered driver's education class |
|---|---|
| Effect | No point-reduction course |
Because Hawaii keeps no point total, there is no course that reduces points. The Judiciary's stopper page refers to completion of a driver's education class as one of the court orders a motorist must fully comply with before a license stopper is cleared; it is imposed by the court in the underlying case rather than offered as a program that dismisses a citation.
“fully comply with all court orders (e.g., completion of a driver’s education class) entered in the underlying cases.”
Other reasons a license is suspended, and what ends each one
These are the causes the licensing agency itself lists on its suspension pages, with what it requires to lift each one. Court-imposed suspensions and DUI suspensions are covered on the state's DUI pages.
| Cause | What the agency states | To reinstate | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Driver's license stopper (failure to respond, appear or comply) | A stopper may be imposed if a defendant fails to respond to a citation or summons for a traffic crime, fails to appear in court after arrest and release, fails to fully comply with any court order, or fails to appear for a traffic infraction that requires a court appearance. A motorist with a stopper will not be allowed to obtain or renew a driver's license. | Pay in full the total amount ordered in all cases underlying the stopper and fully comply with all court orders; a clearance may also issue if the default judgment behind the stopper is set aside on a motion filed within 90 days with a cash appearance bond. | — |
| Default judgment on a civil traffic infraction (unpaid amount) | For a civil moving or equipment infraction, a default judgment is entered when the defendant fails to timely respond to the citation or fails to appear at a scheduled hearing; failure to pay the amount ordered by the default judgment within 30 days results in a driver's license stopper on the record. | Pay the amount ordered in full, or file a Motion to Set Aside the Default Judgment within 90 days and post a cash appearance bond equal to the amount ordered; the stopper is lifted when the bond is posted. | — |
| No motor vehicle insurance (HRS § 431:10C-117) | On conviction of driving without a motor vehicle insurance policy in effect, the court must either suspend the driver's license for three months for a first conviction and one year for any subsequent offense within five years, or require a nonrefundable insurance policy to be kept in force for six months, in addition to the fine. | Serve the court-ordered suspension or keep the required policy in force; the statute states the driver is not required to obtain proof of financial responsibility under HRS § 287-20 for this offense. The Honolulu Financial Responsibility Section handles clearance of financial-responsibility suspensions. | — |
| Noncompliance with an order of support (HRS § 576D-13) | When an obligor is not in compliance with a child support order, or fails to comply with a subpoena or warrant in a paternity or child support proceeding, the Child Support Enforcement Agency serves notice of intent to certify the obligor as noncompliant, directing the licensing authority to deny or suspend the license or deny renewal, reinstatement or restoration. | Compliance with the support order or the subpoena or warrant, as determined by the agency; the statute provides notice and an opportunity to respond before certification. | — |
| Suspension by the examiner of drivers (incompetence or abandoned-vehicle charges) | The examiner of drivers may suspend a license without hearing on reasonable cause to believe the licensee is incompetent to operate the type of vehicle licensed or has mental or physical infirmities that make driving unsafe, or on notice from the county director of finance of outstanding abandoned-vehicle charges and fines; the licensee is notified and afforded a hearing. | After the hearing the examiner may rescind the suspension, extend it, or revoke the license; an appeal is available under HRS § 286-129. | — |
| Court revocation or suspension on conviction (manslaughter, negligent homicide, felonies, moving violations) | Under HRS § 286-124 a court must revoke the license on conviction of manslaughter or negligent homicide resulting from the operation of a motor vehicle, for a period set at sentencing; under HRS § 286-125 a court may revoke or suspend the license of a driver convicted of a felony involving a motor vehicle or any traffic violation involving a vehicle in motion. Unless otherwise provided by law, a court may not suspend for longer than five years. | After a court revocation, a new license may not be applied for or granted until the revocation period determined by the court expires (HRS § 286-126). | — |
Source quotes for each cause
Driver's license stopper (failure to respond, appear or comply)
“A motorist who has a driver’s license “stopper” on his or her record will not be allowed to obtain or renew a driver’s license. A license stopper may be imposed if a defendant fails to respond to a citation or summons for a traffic crime”
Default judgment on a civil traffic infraction (unpaid amount)
“failure to pay the amount order by the default judgment within 30 days will result in a driver’s license “stopper” being placed on the defendant’s driver’s license record.”
No motor vehicle insurance (HRS § 431:10C-117)
“Suspend the driver's license of the driver or of the registered owner for: (i) Three months for the first conviction; and (ii) One year for any subsequent offense within a five-year period from a previous offense”
Noncompliance with an order of support (HRS § 576D-13)
“the agency shall serve notice upon the obligor or individual of the agency's intent to certify the obligor or individual as noncompliant with an order of support or a subpoena or warrant relating to a paternity or child support proceeding, which shall direct the appropriate licensing authority to”
Suspension by the examiner of drivers (incompetence or abandoned-vehicle charges)
“The examiner of drivers may suspend any driver's license without hearing when the examiner: (1) Has reasonable cause to believe that the licensee is incompetent to operate the type of motor vehicle for which the licensee holds a license”
Court revocation or suspension on conviction (manslaughter, negligent homicide, felonies, moving violations)
“Any court of competent jurisdiction shall forthwith revoke the license of any driver upon a conviction of the driver of manslaughter or for negligent homicide in the first or second degrees resulting from the operation of a motor vehicle.”
Reinstating after a non-DUI suspension
Reinstatement fee: $20 (City and County of Honolulu). Driver licensing in Hawaii is administered by the counties, which set their own fees; the City and County of Honolulu fee table lists a $20 reinstatement fee, and its FAQ states a $20 reinstatement fee by certified check or money order is submitted to clear the driver record.
“Reactivation (Renewing After 90-Day Grace Period) $ 5 per 30-day period Reinstatement $ 20”
Identify the stopper or suspension on the record
The Honolulu Driver's License Section provides driving-privilege and reinstatement information on a signed written request by mail or fax; the Judiciary's Traffic Violations Bureau provides the traffic abstract, driving record and outstanding-violations clearance.
“How do I find out about my driver's license suspension? A signed written request is required in order to obtain information regarding your driving privilege/license reinstatement.”
Pay all amounts ordered and comply with all court orders
To clear a license stopper, the motorist pays in full the total amount ordered in all underlying cases and fully complies with all court orders, such as completion of a driver's education class.
“To clear a license stopper, an individual must: pay in full the total amount that he or she has been ordered to pay in all cases underlying the stopper; and fully comply with all court orders”
Clear any financial responsibility requirement
Drivers outside Oahu send a signed written request to the Honolulu Financial Responsibility Section to learn the financial responsibility requirements to reinstate; the Driver's Manual states a person cannot be licensed while failing to comply with the financial responsibility laws.
“a signed written request is required in order to obtain information regarding your financial responsibility requirements to reinstate your driving privilege/license reinstatement.”
Submit the clearance and the county reinstatement fee
The certified outstanding-violations clearance from the Traffic Violations Bureau is mailed to the Kapalama Driver Licensing Center with the $20 reinstatement fee payable to the City and County of Honolulu.
“Mail the certified outstanding violations clearance to Kapalama Driver Licensing Center, P.O. Box 30340 Honolulu, HI 96820.”
Official page: courts.state.hi.us
After a DUI the steps are different: how to get a license back after a DUI in Hawaii.
Questions about a suspended license in Hawaii
- Does Hawaii have a driver's license point system?
- No accumulating point system appears in Hawaii Revised Statutes chapter 286 or the Hawaii Driver's Manual. Under HRS § 286-125, a court may in its discretion revoke or suspend the license of a driver convicted of any traffic violation involving a vehicle in motion, and HRS § 286-126 limits a court suspension to five years unless otherwise provided by law.
- What is a driver's license stopper in Hawaii?
- The Hawaii State Judiciary states a stopper is placed on a motorist's record for failing to respond to a citation or summons, failing to appear in court, failing to comply with a court order, or failing to appear for an infraction requiring a court appearance. A motorist with a stopper cannot obtain or renew a license until all amounts ordered are paid and all court orders are satisfied.
- What happens if a Hawaii traffic ticket is not paid?
- The Judiciary's Moving or Equipment Violations page states a default judgment is entered when the defendant fails to respond to the citation or to appear at a hearing, and failure to pay the amount ordered within 30 days results in a driver's license stopper. A motion to set aside the default judgment may be filed within 90 days with a cash appearance bond equal to the amount ordered.
- What is the penalty for driving without insurance in Hawaii?
- Under HRS § 431:10C-117, a first conviction for having no insurance policy in effect carries a $500 fine (minimum $2,000 for subsequent offenses within five years) and the court must either suspend the license for three months (one year for a subsequent offense within five years) or require a nonrefundable insurance policy kept in force for six months.
- How much is the license reinstatement fee in Hawaii?
- Licensing is handled by each county. The City and County of Honolulu fee table lists a $20 reinstatement fee, and its Driver's License FAQ states the certified outstanding-violations clearance from the Traffic Violations Bureau and a $20 reinstatement fee are mailed to the Kapalama Driver Licensing Center to clear the record.
Sources
- Hawaii State Judiciary — Driver's License Stoppers
- Hawaii State Judiciary — Moving or Equipment Violations (default judgment, stopper)
- Hawaii State Judiciary — Traffic Abstracts & Traffic Court Reports
- HRS § 286-119 Authority of examiner of drivers to suspend or revoke licenses
- HRS § 286-122 Suspension of a license; surrender
- HRS § 286-124 Mandatory revocation of license by a court
- HRS § 286-125 Discretionary revocation or suspension of license by a court
- HRS § 286-126 Period of suspension or revocation
- HRS chapter 286 section index (Hawaii State Legislature)
- HRS § 431:10C-117 Penalties (no motor vehicle insurance)
- HRS § 576D-13 Suspension or denial of licenses (child support)
- Hawaii DOT — Hawaii Driver's Manual (2023 edition PDF)
- City and County of Honolulu, Department of Customer Services — Driver's License FAQ
- City and County of Honolulu, Department of Customer Services — Fee Table
Cite this page
Every state page quotes the statute or agency page each value comes from; when citing this page, include the verification date shown above.
WheelsBack. "Hawaii license suspension, points and reinstatement rules." Verified against primary sources August 29, 2026; sources re-checked September 4, 2026. https://wheelsback.com/hawaii/suspended-license/