For many teens, earning a driver’s license is a significant milestone that represents their freedom and a sign of their independence. The excitement of being able to drive also comes with the responsibility of learning how to drive safely. For this reason, the process to attain a driver’s license under the age of 18 is longer, and highly structured. The road may seem long and intimidating, but most teens just need to know where to begin.
Before aspiring drivers can even begin driving, they must pass a written exam to attain a learners permit. To sign up, the teen will need to schedule an appointment with their local DMV, and provide various documents. The exam has 30 multiple choice questions that evaluate a driver’s understanding of traffic laws, road signs, and various safe driving techniques. In order to prepare for this test, drivers should study the drivers handbook provided by the Hawaii Department of Motor Vehicles (HDMV). By completing this test, drivers demonstrate that they know the rules of the road and are ready to begin driving under supervision.
After getting a learners permit, the teen driver can take two directions. If the teen desires to get their driver’s license before they turn 18, they must complete a Driver’s Education Course and complete a sufficient amount of hours driving under supervision. But some teens don’t want to go through the heavy traffic of coursework to attain their license, and that’s ok! They can also wait until they turn 18 and then take a road test.
Jacob Wong has been a driver’s ed instructor for three years. He recommends the best time to sign up for drivers ed is when teens are very close to getting their permit. “Some of our kids start the course before they get their permit. And once they get it, then they can start the Behind-The-Wheel Lessons.” To complete driver’s education, teens must complete 30 hours of in-class instruction, six hours behind the wheel, and a 50-hour driving log. Wong also recommends that taking drivers ed over the summer is the best time because “the students are off of school and have more time to commit to the course.”
Wong works with a private program called Drivers Education Alliance. “For the 30 hours, it usually costs about $255 and Behind-The-Wheel Lessons cost around $300. So it can usually cost from $500-600 for an entire drivers ed program.” This may be a challenge for teens who may not be able to afford a private program. Public school students have the opportunity to enroll in a less expensive driver’s education program offered by the Hawaii Department of Education. However, a lot of teenagers sign up this way, and the wait often becomes very lengthy. So by the time the teenager can start drivers ed, they have already turned 18 and don’t need that prerequisite anymore.
Behind-The-Wheel lessons are crucial for aspiring teen drivers because they provide hands-on experience, and the opportunity to apply what they learn in Drivers Ed to real life traffic situations. These lessons also build confidence and develop the skills needed to handle various driving conditions safely.
Tracy Koide was a Behind-The-Wheel instructor for six years. She believes that every teen who wants to get their license should take their lessons seriously. “The steering wheel is a deadly weapon,” Koide said. “No matter how many times you say sorry, you can’t bring a life back.” She says many students immediately start driving as soon as they get their permit. And while many parents want their teen to get as much practice as they can, it’s possible that some can get carried away. “A lot of parents push too much too fast onto their teens. That ends up giving the student anxiety behind the wheel, and it builds bad habits for them as new drivers,” Koide said. Aspiring drivers need to be aware of the risks and understand that earning a license is a privilege, and should be taken seriously.
By the time students complete Drivers Education and Behind-The-Wheel lessons, they should have a driving log completed of 50 hours: 40 in daytime, and ten at night.
Jabin Cristobal, 11, has slowly been building up his driving hours since getting his permit back in April,2024. “To me, nighttime is a better time to practice at first because there are less cars on the road.” Cristobal said. “But also driving whenever you can, at any time, is the best way to increase the amount of time you spend actually being the driver. And you’ll need to be able to drive with other cars on the road anyways.”
Teens can practice driving on the road as long as they have their learners permit and a licensed driver over the age of 21 who will supervise in the car. Between the hours of 11:00pm – 5:00am, teens must have a parent or guardian for supervision.
Once the teen has completed these prerequisites, they can sign up for their road test by going to the official DMV website and scheduling an appointment.
