Renewing Your CDL in Hawaii

To renew your commercial driver's license (CDL), you will need to appear in person at one of the offices listed below that handle commercial licenses. You may renew your CDL up to six months before it expires.

Of course, in order to extend the life of your CDL for another period, you will have to fill out an application and again prove your physical fitness to handle a commercial vehicle. This entails two principal actions:

• Ace a vision exam.

• Turn in the DOT medical clearance form showing you are still able to handle behind-the-wheel duties.

The fee in most cases for the renewal is $30, and the CDL is valid for six years (two years if you are 72 or older).

Renewing a Hazmat Endorsement

If you are renewing a hazardous materials endorsement, you must pass the hazmat written examination again. A passing score is 80%. You will also need to have another background check and update your fingerprints through the Transportation Safety Administration.

Go to the TSA hazardous materials application website and click on "Fingerprint Locations." Scroll down to see the locations in Hawaii. Note that except for the office in Honolulu, the offices perched on the neighboring islands are open only once or twice a month.

Neither Lanai nor Molokai has a fingerprinting office location. You might call the appropriate CDL offices to see what, if any, arrangements can be made. Or you might just need to make a trip to the Maui office.

The fee for the hazmat background check from the TSA is $89.25.

New Federal Requirements

You must self-certify your type of vehicle operation with the your county's licensing office by January 2014. This means you must self-certify one of the following driving categories:

• Non-Excepted Interstate
• Excepted Interstate
• Non-Excepted Intrastate
• Excepted Intrastate

If you choose Non-Excepted Interstate, you must provide your county's licensing office with a federal medical certificate.

CDL Office Locations

Note: In the rural locations, it might be best to call first to double-check the testing hours and to confirm the site.

Oahu

• CDL Unit

• 99-501 Salt Lake Blvd.

• Honolulu, HI 96818

• (808) 487-5534

Kauai

• Department of Finance

• 444 Rice St.

• Lihue, HI 96766

• (808) 241-6550

Hawaii (Big Island)

• Hilo Police Station

• 349 Kapiolani

• Hilo, HI 96720

• (808) 961-2222

• Old Kailua Airport

• (808) 327-3580

• Waimea Police Station

• 9835 Kaumaualii Highway

• Waimea, HI 96796

• (808) 887-3087

Maui

• Maui Service Center

• 70 East Kaahumanu Ave., Suite A-17

• Kahului, HI 96732

• (808) 270-7363

• Hana Police Station

• Mile Marker 33

• (808) 248-8254

Molokai

• Mitchell Pauole Center

• Aiona Street and Ala Malama Avenue

• Kauanakakai, HI 96748

• (808) 553-3430

Lanai

• Lanai City Gym

• (808) 565-7878

• (Definitely call ahead at this location, due to staffing shortages.)

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