The Best Cheap Car Insurance in Hawaii for 2020

The Best Cheap Car Insurance Companies for Hawaii Drivers in 2020

The majority of drivers in Hawaii select their coverage from five top car insurance companies operating in the state. The table below takes a look at those companies alongside their approximate costs for the average driver. Because these numbers represent only an estimate, they may vary significantly from the quote you receive. Review MoneyGeek’s discount checklist to ensure you find the best rate.

When Hawaii auto insurance companies create personalized quotes, they take into account myriad factors to arrive at the final number. Some of these include the driver’s age, their driving history, and the type of car they use. If you want more than an approximate number, it’s best to contact an insurance company directly.

Market Share by Company

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners identified GEICO as the largest company providing auto insurance quotes in Hawaii. Getting a quote from one of the largest auto insurance companies in Hawaii could help you save.

Cheapest Car Insurance for Drivers With a DUI in Hawaii

Finding cheap car insurance with a DUI in Hawaii may seem difficult, but it can be done. Drunk driving accounted for 484 deaths in Hawaii between 2003 and 2012, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In a study of adults who reported driving after drinking too much in the previous 30 days, 2.9% of Hawaiians stated they had – as compared to a national average of 1.9%. Those caught driving under the influence are subject to fines and driving suspension, both of which can make insurance rates go up. The table below provides approximate costs of auto insurance for those with a DUI on their records.

If convicted of a DUI in Hawaii, plan for this to stay on your record for five years. During this time, auto insurers may require you to pay a higher premium. Unless you receive another DUI in the interim, the charge will fall off your record and you can access reduced rates. The real cost of receiving a DUI can be high, but there are things you can do to lessen the financial burden.

Cheapest Car Insurance for HI Speeding or Distracted Driving Tickets

Distracted driving accounted for 110 fatal accidents across Hawaii in 2018 alone. While not every distracted driving incident results in a wreck, Hawaii police departments take this infraction seriously. Statewide the police issued 14,500 distracted driving citations in 2018 in addition to speeding tickets. While Hawaii does not currently employ a points-based system, tickets can still result in higher car insurance rates. Check out the table below to get a sense of approximate costs for those with a ticket on their record.

Tickets for distracted driving or speeding can impact your rates for a number of years, depending on the severity of the ticket and how many you receive over a given time period. First-time offenders may be able to remove the ticket from their record by participating in a safe-driving training. Distracted driving can cost a lot more than just higher insurance rates, making it important to stay focused on the road.

Cheapest Car Insurance Companies in HI for Drivers With Bad Credit

In many states, insurance companies use a driver’s credit score to influence rates. Experian found that the average credit score in America was 703 as of 2018, while Hawaii’s average was 723 during the same timeframe. Despite Hawaii’s higher-than-average credit scores, however, credit scores cannot be used to inform insurance costs. Hawaii is one of a small group of states that does not allow insurers to weigh a driver’s credit score. While your credit score may not impact your car insurance rates in Hawaii, it can influence other aspects of life, including mortgage lending, loans and credit cards. Improving your credit score can help improve your finances overall.

Cheapest Car Insurance Companies in Hawaii for Seniors

Seniors may face unique factors when looking for car insurance in Hawaii, but they can often lower their rates by finding coverage that fits their stage of life. Retirees, for instance, typically drive less than they did when working and may need a different type of coverage. While many seniors are safe and alert drivers, others aren’t and can cause premiums to rise for everyone. Drivers aged 65 and above accounted for 22.4% of fatal traffic crashes in the state for 2017. Review the table below to get a sense of approximate costs for this population.

Hawaii’s DMV also sets specific rules around licensing senior citizens. They must apply for their license in person and successfully pass a vision test once every eight years up until the age of 72. Once they turn 72, licenses must be renewed every two years.

Cheapest Car Insurance for Students

• Maintain a clean driving record with no crashes or moving violations. Many insurance companies offer discounts for three years or more with a clean record.
• Keep up the grades. Some insurance companies offer Good Student Discounts.
• Only drive the family's oldest, least expensive car. Avoid driving convertibles, sports cars and SUVs as they are usually more expensive to insure.
• You may also want to ask your insurance company about an "accident forgiveness" clause that guarantees premiums will not increase after one minor accident. If your child attends a nearby college and still lives at home, she/he will still be insured. If your child is away at school for nine months a year, you must inform your insurer of the move and find out if your child is still covered. If your child has no plans to drive at school, you may be able to remove her/him from your policy. Alternatively, some insurers offer a discount if your student lives more than 100 miles from where the insured vehicle is kept and doesn't have access to a car while at school.

Regardless of best intentions, teenagers often have higher rates of crashes due to possessing less experience behind the wheel. Because of this, insurance companies often charge higher car insurance premiums to protect them and others in the event of an accident. The table below takes a look at average monthly costs from a few of the top auto insurance companies in Hawaii.

Premium Comparison by Student Type

PREMIUM COMPARISON FOR TWO ADULTS + 16-YEAR-OLD

Average premium for two 2014

Mustang GTs

$3,339

Average premium for two 2008

Town and Country Limiteds

$1,950

Annual benefits of minivans:$1,389 saved

This is 42% less expensive.

Cheaper premium for college vs. high school drivers

Median premium change with a college student vs. high school driver:

$0 DECREASE

This is a savings of 0%.

Potential discounts for teens in Hawaii

Impact on annual premium with good student and defensive driving discounts:

$0 SAVED

Hawaii students: a long-distance discount

You may pay a smaller annual family premium if your child lives 150 miles or more away from home.

Average premium for a 19-year-old male

$2,413 at home

$2,413 at school

$0 IN SAVINGS

Average premium for a 19-year-old female

$2,410 at home

$2,410 at school

$0 IN SAVINGS

Insurance Rate Information for Military Drivers and Veterans

Hawaii has more than 71,000 active, reserve, and civilian military personnel living in the state alongside 112,304 veterans. If your Hawaii driver's license expires during an overseas deployment, you have 90 days upon your return to the United States to renew it. Bring proof of deployment along with your other papers when you apply for renewal.

Before leaving for deployment, talk with your insurance agent about whether you can suspend parts of your auto insurance. If your car won't be used in your absence, this could be a safe way to save money on your premium.

Age savings for Hawaii service members

25 years$1,319
50 years$1,319

25 years$1,319
50 years$1,319

---

$0 Saved

$0 Saved

Median auto insurance for service members: $904

Who Needs Car Insurance in Hawaii?

All motor vehicles registered in Hawaii must be insured, and Hawaii does a better job than most states of enforcing this rule. An estimated 10.6% of Hawaiian drivers are uninsured, according to the Insurance Research Council. 

Motorcycle and motor scooter drivers are exempt from the Personal Injury Protection (PIP) requirement, but they must purchase the same minimum bodily injury and property damage liability insurance as other drivers.

Proof of Insurance in Hawaii

You must carry a valid Hawaii motor vehicle insurance identification card in your vehicle at all times. If you don't, you can get a ticket and be fined.

Minimum Liability Insurance Requirements in Hawaii

Hawaii requires all drivers of motor vehicles to carry the following minimum coverage:

• $10,000 per person personal injury protection (PIP) to cover your medical and rehabilitative costs, and those of your passengers, regardless of who is at fault.
• $20,000 per person/$40,000 per accident bodily injury liability to cover medical expenses for others if you are at fault.
• $10,000 per occurrence of property damage liability to cover property damage to others if you are at fault.

By law, your insurance agent must advise you of uninsured and underinsured motorist insurance options. If you choose to decline this insurance, you must do so in writing.

Car Insurance Requirements in Hawaii: How Much Coverage Do You Need?

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Sources

• AAA. “Hawaii Laws & Rules.” Accessed March 11, 2020.
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Sobering Facts: Drunk Driving in Hawaii.” Accessed March 11, 2020.
• Defense Manpower Data Center. “Military and Civilian Personnel by Service/Agency by State/Country.” Accessed March 11, 2020.
• Driving Laws. “Learn about drunk driving laws in all 50 states.’ Accessed March 11, 2020.
• Experian. “2019 Consumer Credit Review.” Accessed March 11, 2020.
• Insurance Information Institute. “Facts + Statistics: Uninsured Motorists.” Accessed March 11, 2020.
• National Association of Insurance Commissioners. “2018 Market Share Reports.” Accessed March 11, 2020.
• National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. “Traffic Safety Facts.” Accessed March 11, 2020.
• QuoteWizard. “How Long Does a DUI or DWI Stay on Your Driving Record?” Accessed March 11, 2020.
• State of Hawaii Department of Transportation. “April is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month.” Accessed March 11, 2020.
• U.S. Department of Veterans Affair. “Veterans as a Percent of County Population.” Accessed March 11, 2020.