Hawaii Auto Insurance
Hawaii has plenty of natural beauty, but whether you’re headed to the beach to enjoy a day of sunshine or driving to work in Honolulu, affordable auto insurance coverage can help protect you, your loved ones and your vehicle on every journey. So, take a few minutes to learn about cheap car insurance in Hawaii, including which coverages are mandatory and which ones are optional.
Hawaii Car Insurance Laws
Do you have to have car insurance in Hawaii?
Hawaii requires all vehicle owners to carry a car insurance policy that satisfies all state insurance laws. Hawaii auto insurance policies must at least meet the state’s minimum liability coverage limits, typically expressed as three numbers representing thousands of dollars. For example, the liability limits in Hawaii are 20/40/10, as shown below under Hawaii Minimum Car Insurance Requirements.
In addition to liability coverage, Hawaii is a no-fault state that requires vehicle owners to carry personal injury protection, sometimes called PIP coverage.
What is a no-fault state?
When people say, “Hawaii is a no-fault state,” what do they mean? Well, in a no-fault state, each person injured in a car accident files a claim with their own insurance company and relies on their own coverage to pay for their medical expenses regardless of who was at fault. If an injured party does not have their own auto insurance, they would file a claim under the policy insuring the vehicle they were occupying at the time of the accident.
In an at-fault state, however, the at-fault driver would be liable for 100% of the injured person’s medical expenses. In this scenario, the at-fault driver's insurance would help cover the accident victim's expenses.
No-fault coverage only applies to personal injuries. In both no-fault states and at-fault states, drivers file property damage claims with the at-fault party’s insurer.
Hawaii Minimum Car Insurance Requirements
Wondering what your insurance policy needs to fulfill Hawaii’s insurance requirements? Here’s a quick breakdown by coverage type.
|
Coverages |
Is It Required by Law? |
|
Bodily Injury Liability Coverage provides financial protection if you cause an accident that injures another person. It helps pay for their medical expenses and your legal services (if necessary). |
Yes. $20,000 bodily injury per person/$40,000 bodily injury per accident. |
|
Property Damage Liability Coverage helps pay to repair or replace other people’s property that is damaged in an accident you cause. It typically involves damage to another vehicle, but it could help pay to repair a house, fence, mailbox and more. |
Yes. $10,000 property damage per accident. |
|
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage (UM/UIM) helps pay for your medical bills and related expenses if the other driver has no coverage (UM), insufficient coverage (UIM) or can’t be identified due to hit and run. In some states, UM/UIM can also help pay for property damage. |
Not required. |
|
Personal Injury Protection (PIP) helps pay for your medical and related expenses stemming from an accident, regardless of fault. |
Yes. $10,000 PIP coverage. |
|
Collision Coverage helps pay to repair or replace your vehicle if you collide with another car, tree, guardrail or another object, regardless of fault. |
Not required.1 |
|
Comprehensive Coverage helps pay to repair or replace your vehicle if it’s damaged by something other than a collision, like fire, floodwaters, falling branches, vandalism or contact with an animal. |
Not required.1 |
IMPORTANT NOTE: >While purchasing liability coverage and PIP coverage ensures you satisfy Hawaii’s laws, it doesn’t protect you or your vehicle in every circumstance. You would need to add additional coverage, like UM/UIM, comprehensive and collision, to protect yourself and your vehicle more fully.
1Your lender may require these coverages if you lease or finance your vehicle.
Are there additional coverage options?
For greater peace of mind, Hawaii drivers may have access to add-on services and other coverages depending on the insurer:
Hawaii Proof of Financial Responsibility and Penalties
What if I don't meet Hawaii’s minimum car insurance requirements?
Hawaii takes a strict stance on vehicle owners who don’t meet insurance requirements. The fines and other penalties for driving without insurance vary depending on the nature of the violation. However, they typically get more severe for subsequent offenses and can include community service, loss or driving privileges and more, according to ValuePenguin.
Penalties for Driving with a Suspended License in Hawaii
Driving without a valid license can lead to harsh penalties in Hawaii. For example, if you’re caught operating a vehicle while suspended, revoked or otherwise unlicensed from a DUI charge, the National Conference of State Legislatures reports you could be facing fines, jail time and an increased license suspension. However, it ultimately depends on the specific reason your license was suspended or revoked and which offense it is.
SR-22 Insurance in Hawaii
Some states require high-risk drivers to keep an SR-22 (also known as a certificate of financial responsibility) on file with the state verifying they have purchased auto insurance coverage that satisfies the state’s minimum coverage requirements. Depending on your current state, if you recently moved from out of state or if you’re planning to move out of state soon, you could be required to keep an SR-22 on file if:
- You have committed serious driving violations.
- You have failed to maintain proper liability coverage or have broken state insurance laws.
- You were convicted of a DUI/DWI.
High-Risk Auto Insurance in Hawaii
Many individuals do not have a perfect driving record, and after a certain number of violations or a serious enough violation, drivers can be considered a major risk to insure. Some insurance companies won’t insure high-risk drivers, but non-standard insurance (another name for high-risk auto insurance) is often available elsewhere to provide financial protection for these drivers.
Where can I find the cheapest car insurance rates in Hawaii?
Car insurance costs vary depending on a number of factors, including:
- The amount and type of coverage you choose
- The year, make and model of the vehicle you drive
- How much you drive, where you drive and where you live
- Your demographics
- Your driving record
- Your credit history
Other Hawaii Auto Insurance Resources
- Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs
- Hawaii Department of Transportation
- Official Website of Hawaii
*Roadside Assistance is not insurance and is administered through Nation Safe Drivers, Boca Raton, FL. Not all benefits available in all states.
** The “Direct Auto Insurance” brand is used by insurers in the National General Group, Winston-Salem, NC to describe their direct-to-consumer auto insurance programs. Direct Auto Insurance branded policies are produced by Direct General Insurance Agency, Inc. dba “Direct Auto Insurance” and by National General Insurance Marketing Inc.