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Hawaii Minimum Car Insurance Requirements, Penalties and Other Auto Insurance Laws
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What Is the Minimum Car Insurance Requirement in Hawaii?
How much car insurance do you need in Hawaii? State laws require that you have a policy that follows the minimum limits, but you are free to increase them or add more coverage based on your needs and desires. In Hawaii, you should have at least:
- $20,000 in bodily injury per person
- $40,000 in bodily injury per accident
- $10,000 in property damage
- $10,000 in personal injury protection
Insurers may also refer to these limits as 20/40/10 and personal injury protection, also known as ‘PIP coverage.’
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What Does This Minimum Coverage Mean?
Hawaii’s minimum car insurance requirements include 20/40/10 in liability coverage and personal injury protection (PIP). Drivers need $20,000 in bodily injury coverage per person with a $40,000 limit per accident, which covers a third party’s medical bills or other expenses resulting from an accident. Policies also require at least $10,000 in property damage coverage, which can help an at-fault driver cover the costs of a third party’s damaged vehicle or personal belongings.
Hawaii is a no-fault state, which means drivers must have PIP insurance. This means that regardless of who is at fault, all drivers involved in an accident need coverage that can pay for their own and their passengers’ injuries. Personal injury protection insurance does this — if the coverage limit is not reached through medical bills, it can also help pay for other related expenses. This includes lost wages due to injury, childcare, funeral services, health insurance deductibles and more.
How Much Does the Minimum Car Insurance Cost in Hawaii?
The cost of your car insurance premiums in Hawaii is based on several factors — this includes your age, driving history, postal code and even your credit score. The insurer you choose also plays a role, as some insurers weigh certain factors more heavily than others. The most affordable option for drivers in Hawaii is USAA, which offers auto insurance at an average of $297 per year. However, this is only available for military families. GEICO is the next cheapest option that all drivers can purchase; their policies costing an average of $333 per year.
These prices are only estimates based on rates for an average Hawaii driver and should not be used to compare insurance prices.
Rates for car insurance in Hawaii are based on a sample profile of a 40-year-old Hawaiian resident driving a 2010 Toyota Camry with a good driving record and credit score. It looked for a policy with the state’s minimum average of 20/40/10 and personal injury protection.
MoneyGeek also ranked the best car insurance companies in Hawaii for those who want strong service and affordable rates.
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What Is the Minimum Car Insurance Requirement in Hawaii While Leasing a Car?
In Hawaii, car lease insurance requirements can differ from that of the state. Leasing companies may require higher minimums to protect their financial interest in a vehicle. The majority of these institutions ask for full coverage car insurance with minimum liability coverage of 100/300/50. To find out the minimum coverage you need, contact your financial leasing company.
How much car insurance you need in Hawaii will depend on several factors, such as your driving history and the percentage of uninsured motorists in the state. However, note that as medical bills and lawsuits can soar beyond the minimum limits, Hawaii’s requirements for auto insurance coverage may not be enough to protect you if an accident occurs.
MoneyGeek generally recommends that drivers in Hawaii get full coverage insurance with at least 50/100/50 in liability limits. However, as 9.3% of drivers in Hawaii are uninsured, it pays to get more protection by getting comprehensive and collision insurance along with uninsured motorists coverage.
Penalties for Driving Without Car Insurance in Hawaii
As Hawaii car insurance laws state that auto insurance is mandatory for all drivers, failing to procure and maintain this with a registered vehicle can lead to fines or penalties. Carrying proof of insurance, like an insurance ID or a printed contract of the policy, must be shown to authorities in the event of an accident.
If you are caught without auto insurance in Hawaii, you may face penalties upon conviction in court:
First Offense
- Drivers license and/or privileges will be suspended for three months
- Will be required to file for an SR-22
- Fines from $500
Second and Subsequent Offenses
- Drivers license and/or privileges will be suspended for three months
- Will be required to file for an SR-22
- Imprisonment for not more than 30 days
- Impoundment of motor vehicle
- Suspension or revocation of vehicle plates
- Fines from $1,500
Frequently Asked Questions About Car Insurance in Hawaii
Hawaii’s car insurance laws can be overwhelming to understand. To simplify the requirements, MoneyGeek has answered a few frequently asked questions on car insurance in Hawaii.
Yes, Hawaii requires that all drivers have a car insurance policy to drive. Policies should have a minimum liability limit of 20/40/10 and personal injury protection, which can help pay for third-party injuries and damages and that of the driver and their passengers.
No, proof of insurance is not required in Hawaii to register your vehicle. However, drivers are required to have car insurance to drive around the state. Not having car insurance is illegal and can lead to fines or penalties.
In Hawaii, drivers’ minimum car insurance requirements are a minimum liability limit of 20/40/10 and $10,000 in personal injury protection. This means having $40,000 in bodily injury coverage per accident with a $20,000 limit per person and $10,000 in property damage coverage.
Auto insurance follows the car in Hawaii. This means that if a driver’s friend or family member drove their vehicle and got into an accident, the third parties involved and the driver will be covered.
Insurers often require a license for you to purchase car insurance in Hawaii. This is used to gather information on your driving history. However, it is still possible to buy auto insurance without a license, as model car collectors and parents of teen car owners may want to protect their assets. However, this can hike up premium prices.
Yes, Hawaii is a no-fault state. The state requires all drivers to have auto insurance which will cover the costs of their own and their passenger’s medical bills in case of an accident, regardless of who is at fault. Note, however, that this does not include vehicles or property. The driver at fault in an accident will be responsible for the damages made to a third party’s vehicle or property.
The state of Hawaii requires that all drivers have $10,000 in personal injury protection coverage. This can help cover the costs of the driver and their passenger’s injuries.
Uninsured motorist insurance is not required in Hawaii but is recommended for all. This is because it can help pay for costs associated with getting into an accident with an uninsured driver at fault. In addition, as 9.3% of drivers in Hawaii are uninsured, it pays to have extra protection.
Hawaii does not allow drivers to file for diminished value compensation. This is where a driver can receive payment for the difference in their vehicle’s value before and after an accident, as a car’s value can depreciate significantly after a collision.
Having a DUI in Hawaii can lead to fines and license revocation, but it will not affect the car insurance requirements. Instead, car insurance premiums will rise if you’ve received a DUI.
Hawaii does not require that cars have a CARCO Inspection, but it is optional for drivers. A CARCO Inspection provides additional protection for both the policyholder and the insurer, as it documents, through photos, the condition of the vehicle pre-insurance.
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sources
- Hawaii State Legislature. "§431:10C-117 Penalties." Accessed July 12, 2021.
- Insurance Information Institute. "2020 Insurance Fact Book." Accessed July 11, 2021.
- Insurance Information Institute. "Facts + Statistics: Uninsured motorists." Accessed July 12, 2021.
- Kelly Blue Book. "Penalties for Driving Without Car Insurance by State." Accessed July 12, 2021.