Hawaii Car Insurance

Hawaii has been a no-fault Personal Injury Protection state since 1974. Every Hawaii driver carries 20/40/10 liability plus a minimum $10,000 PIP, and most claims for minor injuries are paid through the policyholder's own PIP regardless of fault. The structure was designed to reduce small-claim litigation and keep premiums manageable in a small island insurance market — and it shapes how every Hawaii claim, settlement, and rate is calculated.

Hawaii minimum coverage

Hawaii requires every registered vehicle to carry:

• $20,000 per person bodily injury liability.
• $40,000 per accident bodily injury liability.
• $10,000 per accident property damage liability.
• $10,000 Personal Injury Protection (PIP) per person, per accident.

That's the legal floor under HRS §431:10C-301. Most Hawaii drivers carry higher liability limits — 100/300/100 is the typical recommended level — because the legal minimum exhausts quickly in any serious crash, and Hawaii's medical costs are among the highest in the country.

How no-fault works in Hawaii

Personal Injury Protection pays the policyholder's own medical expenses, lost wages, and certain other accident-related costs regardless of who caused the crash, up to the PIP limit. PIP is the first source of payment for minor injuries; the driver typically cannot sue another driver for pain and suffering unless one of the statutory thresholds is met:

• Medical expenses exceed the PIP limit, or
• The injury is a "serious injury" as defined in HRS §431:10C-308.5 — including death, permanent disfigurement, significant permanent loss of bodily function, or permanent serious disfigurement.

Outside those thresholds, claims for pain and suffering are limited or barred, which is the key trade-off of the no-fault system.

Optional and recommended coverages

• Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM) — Hawaii insurers must offer UM/UIM at the same limits as the bodily injury policy. The buyer can decline in writing but it's strongly recommended. Hawaii's uninsured-motorist rate is roughly 10-15%.
• Collision and Comprehensive — required by lenders on financed vehicles; optional otherwise. Comprehensive matters in Hawaii because of weather events, lava activity on the Big Island, theft, and vandalism risks specific to high-tourist areas.
• Medical Payments (MedPay) — supplements PIP for medical-only expenses; less common when PIP is high.
• Wage Loss / Death Benefit Riders — Hawaii PIP can be expanded with optional wage-loss and death-benefit riders.

SR-22 after a suspension

Hawaii requires drivers reinstating after an OVUII conviction or certain other major violations to file an SR-22 certificate of financial responsibility for at least 3 years. The SR-22 is filed by the insurer directly with Hawaii DOT and proves continuous coverage at or above the state minimums. A lapse during the 3-year filing period triggers an automatic re-suspension. SR-22 carriers are typically nonstandard insurers; rates run 80-150% above clean-record drivers. See Hawaii license reinstatement for when an SR-22 is required.

What affects Hawaii rates

Hawaii rates are driven by the standard factors plus a few state-specific items:

• Driving record — the conviction-based driver record shows OVUII, reckless driving, and moving violations on the abstract.
• Age and tenure — under-25 drivers pay a 30-50% surcharge; senior drivers see modest increases after 70.
• Zip code — Honolulu has the highest urban rates; Big Island and Kauai rural zones generally lower.
• Vehicle make, model, and theft frequency — Hawaii's high theft rate for certain vehicles affects comprehensive premiums significantly.
• Annual mileage and use — commute, pleasure, and rideshare use are priced separately.
• Credit-based insurance score — Hawaii does not allow credit-based insurance scoring as a primary rating factor (one of a few states with this restriction).

Proof of insurance at registration and stops

Hawaii requires proof of active no-fault insurance at every registration renewal. Most county portals verify electronically with the insurer; physical proof can be either a printed insurance card or the digital ID card on a smartphone. Operating without insurance is a citable offense under HRS §431:10C-117, with fines and license suspension for repeat violations. Police officers in all four counties verify insurance during routine stops.