Renewal by Mail for Out of State Requests

Federal and State laws do not allow for the renewal by mail of a driver’s license when legal presence has not yet been established. Pursuant to 6 CFR §37.11 each person applying for a State of Hawai’i Real ID compliant driver’s license issued by our Division must physically appear in person at an authorized licensing office for a mandatory photo and with appropriate documentation to establish legal presence in order to legally issue a compliant driver’s license.  If you are out of state and need to renew your license by mail, you may apply for a limited purpose driver’s license. A Limited Purpose Driver’s License provides you with the authority to operate a motor vehicle for the category you are licensed for. It cannot be used for identification purposes and is not acceptable for official Federal purposes. View more information about a Limited Purpose Driver’s License.

For applicants residing in another state

If you are now stationed or residing in another state, you may wish to inquire with the state you are in about receiving that state's REAL ID compliant license.  Should you surrender (transfer) your Hawaii license to another state, your Hawaii license will be cancelled and will no longer be valid for driving. 

You are required to provide 2 documents proving your principle residence within the State of Hawai’i. If you will be using an out of state mailing address, you must provide 1 document with the out of state address in addition to the 2 documents with Hawai’i address.  You will be issued a limited purpose driver's license.

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Hawaii Residents

Hawaii residents age 72 and older with a Hawaii mailing and principal residence address:  

If your license is a REAL-ID compliant license (has a gold star on the top right) and you are here in Hawaii, you will receive a REAL ID compliant license with gold star.

Active Military Service Members - Overseas

Active duty military personnel and their dependents whose driver’s license expired while they were under deployment orders have the benefit of having their driver’s license valid for ninety days (with proper military discharge orders) after they return to the United States. 

If you are returning to Hawaii after being actively deployed overseas, you will need to renew your license in person with your military orders (within ninety days of return).  An appointment can be made here or you may come in as a walk in.  Please check our website for information on walk ins.  Should there have been a break in deployment service (ex:  vacation to the U.S., etc.), your license will no longer be renewable and a written test and road test will be required.

Out of Country

We do not mail licenses to foreign addresses.  Your Limited Purpose Driver's License card must be picked up at our driver license office at the address below by a 3rd party shipping company (FedEx, UPS, etc.).  This arrangement and expense shall be the sole responsibility of the applicant.  If a friend or a family member will be picking up your limited purpose driver's license card for you, a signed letter of authorization to release your license is required with your completed packet.  Your signed authorization must include the name and phone number of the individual who will be obtaining your license.  Your authorized person will need to present a valid photo identification for pick-up. 

Please send a request to renew by mail.  Your request must contain the following information:

• Your name as it appears on your current driver’s license;
• Your social security number or driver’s license number;
• Your date of birth;
• A phone number
• E-mail address where you can be reached;
• An out of state address where you can receive mail;
• Your signature as it appears on your license.

The processing of your license may be delayed if any of the above information is missing. Upon clearance with the National Drivers Registry, a renewal packet will be mailed to you to complete and return to us. You may renew six (6) months prior to license expiration date.  Upon receipt of your temporary driver's license, you must return your expiring or expired plastic license in your possession in order to receive your plastic renewed license.

Requests for license renewals may be mailed, emailed or faxed to:

Department of Finance
Vehicle Registration & Licensing Division
Driver License Section
349 Kapiolani Street
Hilo, HI 96720

Fax: (808) 961-8861

Email: renewals@hawaiicounty.gov

Once your letter, email or Fax is received, we will mail/email a renewal packet to you with the appropriate instructions.  Complete and return all of the forms.  For information on Hawaii's Legal Presence Law.  Please visit the acceptable document list for detailed information about the acceptable supporting documents required to obtain a driver's license.

Please note that a REAL-ID compliant driver's license cannot be mailed out of state.  In addition, the U.S. Postal Service and the Vehicle Registration & Licensing Division will not forward it to a different address.  If your current mailing address is not in Hawaii, your driver's license will be converted to a Limited Purpose Driver's License.  Once your driver's license is converted to a Limited Purpose Driver's License it cannot be renewed by mail again.

A Limited Purpose Driver's License is just for the purpose of driving, and is not REAL-ID compliant.  Limited Purpose Driver's Licenses cannot be used for federal purposes such as entering federal facilities or boarding an airplane.

You are eligible to renew your Class 1, 2 or 3 license by mail only under the following conditions:

• You don't have temporary lawful status in the United States
• You don't have any compliance requirements pending in another jurisdiction.