Question: For the driver’s license, must I do the written test in writing?
Answer: No, that portion can be administered verbally at the Kapalama or Wahiawa driver’s license offices on limited dates and times, according to the city’s website. The fee is higher: $10 instead of $2. Note that these locations are driver’s licenses offices, not satellite city halls. Find details at 808ne.ws/dmvloc.
Q: You answer questions about regular driver’s licenses, but what about commercial driver’s licenses? Can I get a duplicate online? If no, why not? What about change of address?
A: No. Duplication of commercial driver’s licenses must be handled in person at the CDL office, which is located at 897 Second St. in Pearl City. It is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, except for federal and state holidays.
“The CDL office is required to perform various verification and background checks pursuant to Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations. The CDL staff is prepared to process these checks,” according to the city’s website, explaining the need for an in-person visit.
Be sure to bring your current DOT certificate. The duplication fee is $15.
As for changing your address, you can do it when you get your CDL duplicate; bring two documents that verify your new principal Hawaii address.
Or you can notify the office of the address change by fax or mail, but you won’t get a replacement plastic license reflecting the address change, as you would if you visit the office in person to obtain a duplicate.
Send a letter with your name, outdated address, new address, license number as it appears on your driver’s license, date of birth and your signature to Commercial Drivers License Section, P.O. Box 30360, Honolulu, HI 96820-0360. Or fax the information to 808-768-1405. The office will update your address in its database.
For more information, see 808ne.ws/cdlinfo.
Waianae Road Tests
The city is alerting drivers who have road-test appointments at the Waianae Driver Licensing Center from Aug. 8-19 that they should report to the Kapolei Driver Licensing Center instead.
Renovations are scheduled then on the parking lot of the Waianae Neighborhood Community Center, whose tenants include the driver licensing center and satellite city hall. Those facilities will remain open for other services during the work, but not road tests.
The scheduled work including repaving and marking the parking lot, repairing curbs and installing traffic signs. The parking lot will be closed and street parking also will be limited. Customers are urged to be patient and drive with extra caution during the work.
Scheduled and stand-by road tests during that period are being shifted to Kapolei. People with appointments then have been notified, the city said.
Mahalo
I recently went to the DMV to renew my driver’s license but found that I had not brought all the requisite documents. A very nice DMV employee advised me to return home, get the documents and return to her window to complete the process, without having to stand in line. Had she not offered me that option, I would have been out of luck, as I would not have been able to schedule another appointment before my license expired. Mahalo to her for being so helpful and accommodating. After I left the DMV, I went to Down to Earth to shop and dropped my charge card outside the store. A very nice person picked it up and returned it to the cashier, whom I am fortunate to know. She returned it to me when I went back there the next day. Whoever this kind person was, I owe you a huge debt of gratitude. Mahalo for your thoughtfulness! — Jill
Write to Kokua Line at Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 7 Waterfront Plaza, Suite 210, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Honolulu 96813; call 529-4773; fax 529-4750; or email kokualine@staradvertiser.com.