Hawaii Driving Points are the hidden cost of a speeding ticket — they pile up on your license, and enough of them in a set time window will suspend your right to drive. This guide explains the Hawaii point system in plain English: exactly how many points a speeding ticket adds at each speed bracket, how many hawaii driving points trigger a suspension, how long points stay on your record, and how to check and reduce them.
All figures are estimates for general guidance, verified against Hawaii sources as of June 2026.
In This Hawaii Guide:
How Hawaii Driving Points Work
Hawaii technically has a point system under HRS 286-128 (12-point threshold), but it is effectively dormant. Most traffic violations were reclassified as civil infractions under HRS Chapter 291D, which does not trigger point assessments. In practice, Hawaii operates as a no-point state — violations are tracked on a Traffic Abstract (driving history) but no demerit points accumulate for ordinary speeding or moving violations.
Hawaii Driving Points by Speed Bracket
Here is how many hawaii driving points a speeding ticket typically adds, based on how far over the limit you were going:
| How Fast Over the Limit | Points Added |
|---|---|
| 1-10 mph over | UNVERIFIED — Hawaii does not actively assess points for civil traffic infractions including speeding. No points are added in practice. |
| 11-20 mph over | UNVERIFIED — same as above; no points assessed in practice for civil speeding infractions. |
| 21+ mph over | UNVERIFIED — same as above. However, excessive speeding (80+ mph or 35+ mph over the limit) is a petty misdemeanor under HRS 291C-105 and carries a mandatory 30-day license suspension (2nd offense within 5 years) rather than points. |
How long points last: Hawaii does not actively track demerit points. Moving violations remain on your Traffic Abstract (driving history) for at least 10 years. Insurance companies review this full record when setting rates.
How Many Hawaii Driving Points Until Suspension?
In Hawaii, The dormant statute (HRS 286-128) sets the threshold at 12 points, with a 1-to-6-month suspension. In practice, suspensions are triggered by specific serious violations — excessive speeding (HRS 291C-105), DUI (HRS 291E), reckless driving, habitual offender status, or failure to appear/pay fines — rather than by accumulated points. Each new speeding ticket pushes you closer to that limit, which is why watching your hawaii driving points matters even when a single ticket seems minor.
How to Check and Reduce Your Hawaii Driving Points
How to check your points: Hawaii does not maintain a point balance. Drivers can obtain their Traffic Abstract (driving history record) in person at any District Court Traffic Violations Bureau for a 9 fee, or by mail using Form 2067 (notarized, with a 9 money order). The Hawaii Judiciary also offers traffic abstract access at courts.state.hi.us. The HDOT page for requesting records is hidot.hawaii.gov/highways/library/motor-vehicle-safety-office/request-a-copy-of-your-hawaii-driver-history-record/
How to reduce your hawaii driving points: Hawaii does not offer a standardized traffic school or defensive driving course to reduce points, lower fines, or remove tickets from a driving record. A judge may order a driver improvement course as part of sentencing at the court’s discretion. Contesting a ticket and winning removes it from the record. An attorney may be able to negotiate reduced charges. See our Hawaii traffic school guide for the full point-reduction process.
Reinstating a suspended license: Requirements vary by offense but generally include paying a reinstatement fee (approximately 20 in Honolulu County; other counties may vary), filing SR-22 proof of insurance if required, completing any court-ordered requirements (such as alcohol education, driver improvement courses, or community service), and possibly retaking driving knowledge and skills tests. Payment is typically by certified check or money order.
Insurance Points vs DMV Points in Hawaii
Insurance companies in Hawaii use their own internal point or rating systems based on violations listed on a driver’s Traffic Abstract. Even without state-assessed points, any moving violation — especially speeding, excessive speeding, or DUI — can result in significant insurance rate increases. Insurers typically review the full 3-to-5-year driving history when calculating premiums. A ticket can raise your premium for years — compare cheaper car insurance at Car Cover Guide if a ticket has pushed your rate up.
📨 Get Free Traffic Ticket Guides Alerts
Free · No spam · Unsubscribe anytime
How Hawaii Driving Points Actually Work
A point system is the state’s way of tracking risky driving. Each moving violation adds a set number of points to your license, and the points stay on your record for a fixed period before they drop off. If you collect too many Hawaii driving points inside that window, the DMV suspends your license — which is why even a minor speeding ticket matters if you already have points.
It is important to separate two different kinds of points. DMV points are what the state uses to suspend your license. Insurance points are a separate system your insurer uses to set your premium, and they often last longer than DMV points. A single speeding ticket can therefore cost you twice: once toward a possible suspension, and again as a higher insurance bill.
Some states do not use points at all and instead apply a surcharge or simply track convictions, but the practical effect is the same — more violations mean a higher chance of losing your license and paying more to drive.
Keeping your Hawaii driving points low protects more than your license — it protects your wallet. Drivers with a clean record qualify for the best insurance rates, while each added violation can move you into a higher-risk tier. If a ticket has pushed your points up, acting quickly to reduce or contest it is usually worth the effort.
What to Do About Your Hawaii Speeding Ticket
Once you have a Hawaii speeding ticket, you generally have three choices, and the right one depends on the points involved, your driving record, and your insurance:
- Pay it — the fastest option, but paying is an admission of guilt that adds points and can raise your premium for years.
- Fight it — contesting can get the ticket reduced or dismissed, especially if the officer does not appear or the evidence is weak. See how to fight a speeding ticket in Hawaii.
- Take traffic school — if you qualify, a state-approved course can keep points off your record. See the Hawaii traffic school guide.
Before deciding, it helps to know the full cost — use our speeding ticket cost calculator and the Hawaii points guide to see how close a ticket puts you to a suspension. There is no single right answer for everyone; the best choice depends on how many points the ticket adds, what your record looks like, and how much your insurance would rise.
Other Hawaii rules to know: 1) Excessive speeding (80+ mph or 35+ mph over the limit) is a petty misdemeanor, not just a civil infraction — it carries potential jail time (48 hours to 5 days for 1st offense, 5-14 days for 2nd), community service, and mandatory license suspension. 2) Hawaii uses automated speed enforcement cameras (notably on Oahu), with fines averaging approximately 250; citations go to the registered vehicle owner, not the driver.
3) Regular speeding fines are relatively low: 62 for 1-10 mph over, 122 for 11-29 mph over, plus a 10 surcharge for exceeding by more than 10 mph. 4) School zone and construction zone speeding carries a 250 fine plus surcharges of 100 (construction) or 125 (school zone). 5) Hawaii’s four counties (Honolulu/Oahu, Maui, Hawaii/Big Island, Kauai) handle some DMV processes differently, including reinstatement fees.
Official Hawaii Sources & Resources
- Hawaii DMV: https://hidot.hawaii.gov/highways/library/motor-vehicle-safety-office/
- Hawaii Point Schedule: UNVERIFIED — Hawaii does not publish an active point schedule because the point system is dormant. The governing statute is HRS 286-128, viewable at capitol.hawaii.gov/hrscurrent/vol05_ch0261-0319/hrs0286/hrs_0286-.htm
- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration: nhtsa.gov
- Cornell Legal Information Institute: law.cornell.edu/wex
Statute reference: HRS 286-128 (point system framework); HRS Chapter 291D (civil traffic infractions adjudication); HRS 291C-102 (speeding); HRS 291C-105 (excessive speeding)
This Hawaii driving points guide was last verified against official sources in June 2026. Always confirm your current point total with the Hawaii DMV.
More Hawaii Traffic Ticket Guides
- Hawaii Speeding Ticket Cost
- How to Fight a Speeding Ticket in Hawaii
- Hawaii Traffic School & Dismissal
- Speeding Ticket Cost Calculator
- All 50 States
Disclaimer: This guide is informational only and is not legal advice. Fines, points, and procedures are estimates for general guidance and change when state laws change. Always verify the exact amount and process with your state DMV or the court listed on your citation, and consult a licensed traffic attorney in your state for advice on your specific situation.