Replacing a Lost License in Hawaii

Replacing a Hawaii Driver's License

If your license is lost, damaged, or―even worse―stolen, you can easily obtain a replacement driver's license through applying directly with one of the following departments (depending on your county):

  • Honolulu: Department of Customer Services.
  • Hawaii: Department of Finance.
  • Kauai: Department of Finance.
  • Maui: Department of Finance.
Continue reading this page for the information you need to obtain a duplicate Hawaii driver's license.

NOTE: If you are seeking a replacement of your lost or stolen commercial driver's license (CDL), please visit our page about Replacing a Lost CDL.

Upgrading to a REAL ID

If you wish to replace your license with a REAL ID-compliant license, you MUST do so in person. Jump down to the in-person steps for your county below.

Apply for a Duplicate License in Hawaii

NOTE: If your driver's license will expire within 6 months, you may want to consider processing a driver's license renewal application instead. For details, read our page about Renewing Your Driver’s License.

The process for applying for a replacement driver's license will depend on which Hawaii county you reside in.

Hawaii County

In Hawaii County, you will need to appear at a local HI driver's license office in person to request a replacement HI driver's license. You'll need to:

  • Complete a State of Hawaii Driver’s License Application (Form CSD-DL).
  • Bring 2 documents proving your identity, such as your:
    • Social Security card.
    • Birth certificate.
    • Military ID.
  • Show 2 documents that prove your Principal Residence Address.
    • GENERALLY, these documents are only required if you’re applying for a license or renewing your license; however, it’s safest to have them ready for your replacement, too.
    • These proofs are absolutely required if you need to make an address change.
  • All legal documents associated with any name change, if applicable (e.g. marriage certificate, divorce decree, or other court documents).
  • Pay the applicable fee.

NOTE: See Hawaii County’s list of acceptable documents.

Your duplicate HI driver's license will have the same expiration date as it did before it was lost or stolen.

Honolulu County

Depending on how fast you need your duplicate license—and your eligibility—you can apply for a replacement online or in person.

Online

You can apply online if:

  • The original license was issued by the City and County of Honolulu.
  • The office has all required identity, presence, and residence documents on file.
  • You’re NOT applying to convert your regular license to one that meets REAL ID standards (e.g. a license with a gold star).
  • You don’t need your temporary paper license immediately.
  • You don’t need to make any name or address changes.
    • When you apply online, you receive an exact replicant.
  • You can pay the $6 duplicate fee and an online service charge with a major credit or debit card.

You should receive your permanent replacement at the mailing address the county has on file.

In Person

If you need your temporary paper license immediately, you need to make changes to your license, and/or the county doesn’t have the required documents on file, you can apply in person.

Bring to the county office:

  You’ll receive your temporary paper license immediately; your permanent replacement should arrive in the mail.

Maui County

Visit your county office and:

  • Submit a completed State of Hawaii Driver's License Application (Form CSD-DL).
  • Show original (no copies) proofs of identity, such as your:
    • Birth certificate.
    • Social Security card.
    • Hawaii ID card.
  • Be prepared to show 2 documents proving your principal residence address.
    • TYPICALLY, these are only required if you’re applying for your initial license or renewing your license; however, play it safe and bring them just in case.
  • Submit a clearance letter from the Traffic Violations Bureau IF you have any outstanding citations.
    • For Maui, contact the Traffic Violations Bureau at (808) 244-2800.

Pay the $10 duplicate license fee.

Kauai County

Head to your county office and:

  • Submit a completed State of Hawaii Driver's License Application (Form CSD-DL).
  • Surrender your damaged driver’s license.
    • If your license was lost or stolen, show another proof of photo identification.
  • Provide proof of any name change, if applicable (e.g. marriage certificate, divorce decree, naturalization papers, or other applicable court documents).
  • Be prepared to show 2 documents proving your Principal Residence Address.
    • TYPICALLY, these are only required if you’re applying for your initial license or renewing your license; however, play it safe and bring them just in case.
Pay the duplicate license fee.

Replace a License While Out of State

If you lose your HI driver's license while out of state, please follow the steps below for your county of residence.

NOTE: Follow the same instructions below if you need to replace a HI motorcycle license.

If you are currently out of state due to military obligations, visit our Drivers in the Military page for more information.

Hawaii, Honolulu, & Kauai Counties

To replace your HI driver's license while out of state, compose a letter including the following information:

  • Your name as it appears on your HI driver's license.
  • Either your Social Security number (SSN) OR your HI driver's license number.
  • Your date of birth.
  • A telephone number where you can be reached.
  • Your current out-of-state address.
  • An e-mail address, if you have one.
  • Your signature.
  • A certified check or money order for the applicable fee


If you live in Hawaii County, mail this letter and your $6 certified check or money order (payable to "County Director of Finance") to:

Department of Finance

Vehicle Registration and Licensing Division

Driver License Section
349 Kapiolani Street
Hilo, HI 96720

If you live in Honolulu County, mail this letter and your $6 certified check or money order (made out to the "City & County of Honolulu") to:

Driver's License Section
P.O. Box 30340
Honolulu, HI 96820

Upon receiving your request, a temporary duplicate Hawaii driver's license will be mailed to you and is valid for 60 days. You will need to go to your local county DMV office to receive a new driver's license upon your return to Hawaii.

If you live in Kauai County, mail this letter and your $7 certified check or money order (made payable to “County of Kauai—Director of Finance”) to:

Driver License Division

4444 Rice St., Ste A480

Lihue, HI 96766

Maui County

NOTE: Hawaii issues REAL ID-compliant licenses. For information on REAL ID, visit the state's website.

If you're a Maui County resident, call the Division of Motor Vehicles and Licensing at (808) 270-7363 for information on requesting a replacement HI driver's license. 

Fees for a Duplicate HI Driver's License

The cost to receive a duplicate driver's license in Hawaii or Honolulu Counties is $6. For Kauai or Maui county residents, please contact your local DMV office and ask for fee details.

Fee payments must be made by:

  • Cash.
  • Check.
  • Money order.
  • Credit/debit card (Honolulu only).

If you're submitting your duplicate driver's license request by mail, payment must be made by a certified check or money order for the exact fee amount.

Preventing Identity Theft in Hawaii

If you've lost your Hawaii driver's license, it may be a good idea to report it to the DMV and/or local authorities. While not a requirement of the HI DMV, it is an important step in order to prevent identity theft.

As a further attempt to prevent people stealing your identity, the state of Hawaii has taken measures to improve the driver's license itself against counterfeiting. Thus, if you are fretting about someone finding your HI driver's license and selling modified duplicates to people who aren't you, this is unlikely to occur.

The security features include:

  • The addition of the driver's ghost image.
  • A bar code.
  • Holograms.
  • An ant-sized state flag.
  • A red line across the top of the driver's license.

These measures, along with the fact that your Social Security number (SSN) is no longer used on your driver's license, can make a lost or stolen driver's license from Hawaii difficult to misuse.

Forms

CSD-DL
Drivers License Application
Apply for a new, renewed, OR duplicate Hawaii instruction permit in Honolulu. Form can also be used to request an out-of-state driver's license transfer, replacement driver's license, OR driver's license renewal.
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