DMV information regarding State ID, licenses

Published on September 20, 2026

LĪHUʻE - The County of Kauaʻi is providing the following information regarding the Division of Motor Vehicles, including driver’s licenses, State IDs and vehicle registrations.

The LĪhuʻe DMV was located in the Kāpule Building, which was severely damaged in the fire. Driver’s license and State ID transactions cannot be processed on Kauaʻi until the County’s connection to the state mainframe is restored. Vehicle registration renewals are still available online and at community kiosks.

If your license is expiring soon, please do not panic. Call the DMV at 808-241-1949 and staff will walk you through your situation.

Voicemails left on County phone lines may not be retrievable at this time, so please do not expect a return call on a voicemail message.

The County is aware that incorrect information is circulating. Residents are asked to rely on the DMV directly, on www.kauai.gov/DMV, and on the County’s recovery website, www.kauairecovers.org, which posts department-by-department FAQs and alternate phone numbers while County phone lines remain down.

Common questions

My license is expired, or it is about to expire. If I am pulled over, will I be cited or arrested?

State law regulates driver licensing. The County has requested that the State take action to waive or extend the renewal, expiration, reactivation or other deadlines for licenses and permits that occur during this emergency period.

In light of the damage to DMV infrastructure and the resulting disruption to driver’s license renewal services, the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney does not intend to prosecute individuals for driving without a valid license when their license has expired and they are unable to renew it because of these circumstances.

This temporary approach is intended to address individuals who are otherwise eligible to renew their licenses and are making reasonable efforts to do so. It does not apply to individuals whose licenses are suspended, revoked, or otherwise invalid for reasons unrelated to the current DMV disruption.

Please call the DMV at 808-241-1949 so staff can look at your specific situation and explain your options.

Where can I go to renew or replace my license right now?

In-person license and State ID transactions are not available on Kauaʻi at this time. DMV staff are available to answer questions and help residents understand their options at the Kapaʻa Armory satellite office, which is open for inquiries only, and at the DMV mobile trailer in the LĪhuʻe Civic Center parking lot, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Look for the posted signs. You can also call 808-241-1949.

Do I need to fly to another island to renew?

No. The County is not asking anyone to travel to another island just for DMV services. Call the DMV first at 808-241-1949.

What happens if my license expires before services are restored? Will I be charged late or reactivation fees?

Call the DMV at 808-241-1949. Fee questions tied to the closure are under review with the County’s state partners, and the County will announce any change publicly rather than case by case.

I have a trip coming up. Can I still fly?

The rules for flying and the rules for driving are separate. The Transportation Security Administration sets its own identification requirements at airport checkpoints. Check tsa.gov before you travel.

Can I still renew my vehicle registration?

Yes. Registration renewals are available two ways.

• Community kiosks: Western Motors, 3680 Kaumualiʻi Highway in Hanapēpē; Safeway, 4454 Nuhou St. in LĪhuʻe; Safeway, 4-831 Kūhiō Highway in Kapaʻa; and Foodland, 5-4280 Kūhiō Highway in Princeville. Scan the barcode on your renewal notice or enter your license plate number. Kiosks take major credit and debit cards and print your registration card and emblem once payment is confirmed. Registrations up to 10 months expired may be renewed at a kiosk with a valid temporary safety check.
• Online at https://mvr.ehawaii.gov/renewals/kauai/lookup. Registration cards and emblems are mailed in about seven to 10 business days.

For vehicle title and inquiry information, visit https://mvinquiry.hnl.info/title.

What about State ID cards?

State ID transactions are processed in person and are unavailable for the same reason. Call 808-241-1949 if your ID is expiring and staff will explain your options.

Can I still buy a Kauaʻi Bus pass at the DMV?

No. Bus passes are available at the usual retail locations, including Big Save in Waimea, ʻEleʻele, Kōloa, Kapaʻa and Hanalei; Times in LĪhuʻe; Menehune Food Mart in Kekaha, Kapahi and KĪlauea; the Kapaʻa Shell gas station; and the Kauaʻi Bus office in LĪhuʻe. Kauaʻi Bus fares are waived through Sept. 30.

How can I pay my sewer bill?

Payments can be made online at https://pay.ehawaii.gov/kauai#!/public. Penalties and interest will be waived for payments delayed because of the fire.

I mailed or dropped off my vehicle registration renewal before the fire but have not received my new registration. Will it still be processed?

If your check has not been cashed, your renewal was likely affected by the fire and will need to be resubmitted. You may renew online or at a community kiosk. Please confirm that your original check has not cleared before submitting another payment.

When will full DMV services resume?

There is no firm date yet. In-person services depend on County IT restoring the connection to the state mainframe. The County will announce updates as soon as they are confirmed.

For more information, please contact the Division of Motor Vehicles at 808-241-1949, email kauaidmv@kauai.gov, or visit www.kauai.gov/DMV. Department FAQs and alternate County phone numbers are posted at www.kauairecovers.org.

To receive emergency alerts, sign up for Everbridge by visiting www.kauai.gov/KEMA and clicking “Notification Services,” texting “KAUAIEMA” to 888777, or calling KEMA at 808-241-1800.

If you need an ASL interpreter, materials in an alternate format, or other auxiliary aid support, or an interpreter for a language other than English, please contact the County ADA Coordinator at lhall@kauai.gov as soon as possible. Requests made as early as possible will allow adequate time to fulfill your request. Upon request, this notice is available in alternate formats such as large print, Braille, or electronic copy.

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