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Last reviewed November 12, 2026.
This page summarizes what we could verify from official sources about how Hawaii applies driver vehicle inspection and related vehicle-inspection rules. It is not a complete reprint of Hawaii law.
Interstate operations
If you operate a commercial motor vehicle in interstate commerce to, from, or through Hawaii, the federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) apply, including 49 CFR Part 396 and the DVIR rules in § 396.11 and § 396.13. State rules do not replace those federal interstate requirements. Start with What a DVIR is and who must complete one.
State agency
For Hawaii-specific questions, including how the rules apply to operations that stay entirely inside Hawaii, contact Hawaii Department of Transportation.
What official sources say about state adoption
Official Hawaii Administrative Rules, Chapter 19-141, adopted under Hawaii Revised Statutes § 286-202, define “Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations” as 49 CFR Parts 383, 385, 386, and 390–399, and authorize the director of transportation to adopt those regulations. Section 19-141-4 incorporates the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations into the chapter. The official compilation we reviewed incorporated those regulations as they existed on November 1, 2015.
Intrastate operations and variations
Because the official incorporation date in the compilation we reviewed is November 1, 2015, later federal changes (including the 2020 passenger-carrier no-defect DVIR rule and the 2026 electronic-DVIR wording in §§ 396.11 and 396.13) may or may not be part of Hawaii’s current adopted text. Confirm with the Hawaii Department of Transportation whether Chapter 19-141 has been updated, and how Part 396 applies to operations that stay inside Hawaii.
What we could not independently verify from official sources in this review:
- Whether Hawaii has updated HAR Chapter 19-141 after the November 1, 2015 incorporation date in the official compilation we reviewed, and any Hawaii-specific vehicle threshold or DVIR exception.
Please confirm those points with the state agency linked on this page before relying on them.
Related federal guides
Sources
- Hawaii Administrative Rules, Chapter 19-141 (official Hawaii DOT compilation)
- Hawaii Department of Transportation
Need a printable form? DVIR.io offers free FMCSA-aligned PDF templates, including post-trip, pre-trip, bus and motorcoach, and intermodal reports.
Get the free DVIR templatesThis page is general information only. It is not legal advice, and it is not advice on any specific DVIR or vehicle-inspection requirement. Rules can change, and how they apply depends on your operation, your vehicles, and your location. Get advice in your own area on your specific state and federal requirements. If you have a question for DVIR.io, use the contact form.