When you think of Hawaii, it’s tempting to imagine that it’s all beaches and vacation destinations. While the Hawaii islands are famously known for their scenic sights and sunny days lounging around at your favorite resort, most people in Hawaii still need to drive a car to get around. If you are going to be a responsible driver anywhere in the U.S., you will need proper car insurance to keep you covered.
Every state has their own rules and regulations surrounding car insurance, so it’s important to stay educated on the car insurance laws in your state. Whether you are a new driver in Hawaii or you’re just looking for a new car insurance company, here are the basics about car insurance in The Aloha State.
Hawaii Car Insurance Requirements
The state of Hawaii requires that you have two types of coverage on your car insurance policy:
- Liability coverage
- Personal injury protection (PIP) coverage.
Hawaii Liability Coverage
Hawaii is a “no-fault” state, which means that every driver is responsible for filing an insurance claim through their own insurance company, regardless of which driver is at fault for the accident. That being said, fault isn’t completely disregarded when it comes to car accidents in Hawaii. You still need a certain amount of liability insurance in order to abide by Hawaii laws:
- Bodily injury liability: $20,000 per person.
- Total bodily injury liability: $40,000 if multiple people are injured.
- Property damage liability: $10,000
Hawaii Personal Injury Protection (PIP)
Because Hawaii is a no-fault state, all drivers will need to have PIP on their insurance policy. This means that if you are involved in a car accident with another driver, you will automatically be covered by your insurance company through PIP. Hawaii uses this structure as a way to limit lawsuits in the states, unless sever injuries have occurred. The minimum amount of PIP insurance required in Hawaii is $10,000.
Additional Car Insurance Coverage
Insurance needs are different for every driver. Some drivers might feel like they need more, where some might feel they need less. If the minimum coverage limits that the state of Hawaii requires you to get don’t make you feel secure enough, you do have other options. Here are some of the most common types of coverages that drivers can add to their policy as they see fit:
- Collision insurance: This type of coverage helps you cover the costs if you are involved in a car accident.
- Comprehensive insurance: This type of coverage helps to cover the damages done to your car as a result of non-accident related instances such as theft, vandalism, or bad weather.
- Uninsured motorist coverage: Even though car insurance is mandatory in Hawaii, there are still many drivers taking on the roadways without insurance. If you are ever involved in an accident with one of these people and they are at-fault, this type of coverage will help you cover the costs.
- Underinsured motorist coverage: Similar to uninsured motorist coverage, underinsured motorist coverage is there to back you up if the driver who caused your car accident doesn’t have sufficient insurance to cover the damages.
Note that while collision and comprehensive insurance coverages are considered optional, most people will need to include them on their policy if they are leasing or financing their vehicle.
Hawaii Joint Underwriting Plan
When shopping for car insurance, it’s important to remember that the companies’ business relies on their ability to assess risk. If you are a driver who has a poor driving record, you may be viewed as high-risk by a lot of insurers. This can be tedious to deal with, especially when you live in a state that requires all drivers to have car insurance.
If you are struggling to find an insurance company to cover you due to having a bad driving record, you might need to look for insurance through Hawaii’s joint underwriting plan. The state of Hawaii has implemented this program as a way to make sure that all drivers have access to car insurance. If you continue to get denied coverage, ask an agent for more information on how to apply for the program.
Hawaii Car Insurance Discounts
We all want to save money where we can. Luckily, if you’re looking to cut back on car insurance rates, there are a few ways you can go about doing so in the state of Hawaii. Here are some of the most common car insurance discounts you can look for:
- Good driver: Many car insurance companies will offer breaks to drivers who have a good driving record.
- Good student: If you are enrolled in school or college full time, you might be eligible for a good student discount through your car insurance company.
- Anti-theft device: Some car insurance companies will reward drivers for having an anti-theft device installed in their car, as this decreases the risk of your car being stolen.
- Safety device: Ask your car insurance company if there are any safety devices that you can get installed in your car to prevent injuries and accidents. If you are trying to make your time driving as safe as possible, some car insurance companies will reward you for this.
Always ask your insurer about opportunities for saving money on insurance and be open to their answers. When it comes to keeping your car insurance rates low, you’re better off safe than sorry.