PermitPal
Am I Ready for the Hawaii Permit Test?
12-question diagnostic · 4 easy, 4 medium, 4 hard · Updated July 12, 2026
Twelve questions, deliberately mixed: four easy, four medium, four of the hardest in our verified Hawaii bank. The real test needs 80% — but a diagnostic this short needs a margin, so read your result like this: 11+ of 12, you're ready to book; 9–10, you're close — drill the 25 hardest first; below that, work the full test ladder before test day.
Answer each question to see the explanation. Your score is tallied against the real passing bar at the end.
1. Alcohol is best described as:
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Correct answer: A depressant that slows reflexes and impairs judgment
Alcohol is a depressant, not a stimulant. It slows normal reflexes, interferes with judgment, reduces alertness, and impairs vision. Feeling "stimulated" only means your inhibitions are lowered.
2. In Hawaii, which driver license category covers ordinary cars and light trucks (18,000 lbs. GVWR or less)?
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Correct answer: Category 3
A Category 3 (class 3) license covers any single vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating of 18,000 pounds or less and vehicles designed to carry 15 or fewer passengers, including the driver.
3. Parking your vehicle in a prohibited place can result in:
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Correct answer: Your vehicle being towed away at your expense
Parking in a prohibited place can be an inconvenient and costly experience. Where your vehicle is hazardous to other traffic, it will be towed away and you must contact the police for recovery information.
4. If you are involved in a crash, the first thing you must do is:
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Correct answer: Stop immediately and, if possible, move your vehicle off the traveled roadway
If involved in a crash, stop immediately and, if possible, move your vehicle off the traveled portion of the roadway. Do not leave the scene without identifying yourself and rendering assistance.
5. Which Hawaii license category is required to operate a moped?
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Correct answer: Category 1
A Category 1 (class 1) license is required to operate a moped on Hawaii highways. You must pass a special knowledge test and an off-street skills test for it.
6. Which alcoholic drink is most likely to affect your ability to drive?
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Correct answer: It depends only on the amount of alcohol that enters your blood, not the type of drink
It doesn’t matter whether you drink beer, wine, whiskey, or any other alcoholic beverage — it is the amount of alcohol that enters your blood that causes the problem.
7. When you park next to a curb, no part of your vehicle may be more than:
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Correct answer: 12 inches from the curb
Parking more than 12 inches (30 cm) from the curb is prohibited. When parallel parked, the vehicle’s curbside wheels must be within 12 inches of the curb or completely within the marked parking stall.
8. The property-damage amount that triggers the requirement to report a crash to police is:
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Correct answer: $3,000 or more
Property damage of $3,000 or more must be reported to the police immediately. Any amount of personal injury or a death must also be reported.
9. A large, fast-moving vehicle passing close to you can create wind gusts that:
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Correct answer: Are strong enough to push a smaller vehicle off course
Large fast-moving vehicles cause wind gusts (slipstream) great enough to cause direction changes in smaller vehicles. Be prepared to take corrective steering action when approaching or passing them at high speed.
10. A driver who cannot or chooses not to provide a Social Security number may be issued what kind of Hawaii license?
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Correct answer: A limited purpose license, valid only for driving
An applicant who refuses or is unable to provide a Social Security number may receive a limited purpose license. It is valid only for driving and is not acceptable identification for federal purposes such as boarding an airplane.
11. If you strike an unattended parked vehicle and cannot find the owner, you must:
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Correct answer: Leave a written notice with your name, address, and the circumstances of the crash
Upon striking an unattended vehicle, stop and locate the owner, or leave a written notice containing your name and address and the circumstances of the crash. Notify the owner if you damage other property along the highway.
12. A trailer you tow must be equipped with its own brakes if the loaded trailer weighs:
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Correct answer: More than half the weight of the towing vehicle, or 3,000 pounds or more
If your loaded trailer weighs more than half the weight of the towing vehicle, or is 3,000 pounds or more, the trailer must be equipped with brakes and breakaway protection.
📱 The app version of this is smarter: PermitPal tracks every answer across the full 230-question Hawaii bank and tells you exactly which topics aren't test-ready yet. Free to start, $29.99 once.