Here's what you need to know when driving in Hawaii
Across the Aloha State, there are 9,523 miles of road just waiting to be driven. We’ll get you prepped, then you take the wheel.
Compare rates from the best insurance companies in Hawaii.
Across the Aloha State, there are 9,523 miles of road just waiting to be driven. We’ll get you prepped, then you take the wheel.
Rank | Company Name | Avg. Annual Premium |
---|---|---|
1 | State Farm | $1,290 |
2 | USAA | $1,296 |
3 | GEICO | $1,368 |
4 | Liberty Mutual | $1,435 |
5 | Progressive | $1,510 |
6 | First of Hawaii | $1,967 |
7 | Allstate | $1,974 |
8 | AIG | $2,938 |
Drivers with good driving records typically enjoy lower car insurance costs than drivers with histories of speeding tickets, at-fault accidents, or DUI citations. Hawaii drivers don't enjoy much of a rate discount for staying safe on the roads, as a lack of traffic tickets is rewarded by just a 9% price cut, compared to 17% nationally. In addition to earning a cheaper premium for driving incident-free, you may qualify for a safe-driving bonus through your car insurance company. The amount of these discounts may vary, but they typically run between 5 and 10%.
Rating Factor | $ Savings | % Savings |
---|---|---|
No Traffic Tickets | $108 | 9.06% |
No Accidents | $413 | 27.66% |
Good Credit | $0 | 0.00% |
Young drivers (those between the ages of 16 and 25) pay extraordinarily high auto insurance rates, with those aged 16-19 paying the most expensive premiums of all. Because of the risk presented by inexperienced drivers, teens pay more than three times the national average for car insurance. Hawaii is a relatively affordable state for teen drivers: the typical teen driver pays $1,946 per year — about $3,000 less than the national average for teens and only about double the average premium for all Hawaiian drivers.
Age | Annual Rate with Parents | Annual Rate Alone |
---|---|---|
16 | $2,744 | $1,253 |
17 | $2,744 | $1,128 |
18 | $2,744 | $1,111 |
19 | $2,744 | $1,102 |
If you have no at-fault accidents, speeding tickets, or DUIs, you can save money on car insurance. As insurance companies use your driving record as a way to predict the level of risk you present, keeping your driving record clean will lead to lower premiums. It's especially important to avoid DUI citations in Hawaii, the state with the largest insurance rate penalty after a DUI (79%). Conversely, speeding tickets and at-fault accidents carry lower-than-average rate hikes in Hawaii (9% and 27%, respectively).
Rating Factor | Annual Rate | % Increase |
---|---|---|
At-Fault Accident | $1,493 | 27.66% |
DUI | $5,389 | 79.97% |
Speeding Violation | $1,187 | 9.06% |
Bad Credit | $1,080 | 0.00% |
Each car insurance company boasts about its affordable costs. But just like with any product, the cheapest car insurance isn't always the best option. Considering what's at stake, it's worth doing your research to obtain an auto insurance policy that can cover your car completely after a collision. Be on the lookout for a great value, instead of settling for the cheapest auto insurance in your state.
Review top auto insurance companies' financial strength and claims satisfaction levels to better understand the level of service they'll provide. Claims satisfaction — assigned by J.D. Power — is rated on a scale of 2 to 5, with 5 being "among the best" and 2 being "the rest." Financial strength — calculated by A.M. Best and ranging from "Poor" to "Superior" — determines an insurer's financial strength and ability to fulfill its policy and contractual obligations.
Insurance Company | Claims Satisfaction (J.D. Power) | Financial Strength (A.M. Best) |
AIG | Not Rated | Excellent |
Allstate | 3 | Superior |
GEICO | 3 | Superior |
Liberty Mutual | 3 | Excellent |
Progressive | 3 | Superior |
State Farm | 3 | Superior |
USAA | 5 | Superior |
The legal minimum car insurance in Hawaii is $20,000 Bodily Injury per person, $40,000 Bodily Injury per accident, and $10,000 Property Damage per accident.
If you choose the minimum allowed coverage in Hawaii, expect to owe an average of $516 annually. This is more affordable than the U.S. average by 21%. If you elect better car insurance coverage, you can select a policy with comprehensive and collision coverage, which will protect against damages caused by car-on-car collisions, theft, or weather incidents. It's worth noting that better coverage carries a cost: in Hawaii, a comprehensive policy with a $1,000 deductible runs $924, 79% more than liability-only car insurance. For comprehensive coverage with a $500 deductible, you can expect to pay 108% more than you would for a liability-only policy.
Analyze typical rates for basic, better, and best coverage levels below.
Location | Liability-Only | Comprehensive — $1,000 Deductible | Comprehensive — $500 Deductible |
Hawaii | $516.41 | $924.28 | $1,072.01 |
National Average | $657.66 | $1,241.26 | $1,397.94 |
Hawaii's insurance regulations mandate that drivers carry liability and personal injury protection coverages at or above the below minimum levels:
Learn more about Hawaii's car insurance regulations.
If you get a ticket, your auto insurance costs may rise. How much your rates rise depends on the severity of the violation, your insurer's pricing standards, and differing local insurance regulations. That's why tickets may have a different impact on insurance in your state compared to the national average.
Below is a look at car insurance costs in Hawaii after a few common citations.
Violation | Avg. Annual Auto Insurance Rate | % Insurance Rate Increase | $ Insurance Rate Increase |
Hit and Run | $5,378 | 397% | $4,296 |
Refused Breathalyzer/Chemical Test | $5,316 | 392% | $4,235 |
DUI | $3,694 | 242% | $2,613 |
Racing | $2,330 | 116% | $1,249 |
Reckless Driving | $5,301 | 390% | $4,220 |
Driving with a Suspended License | $5,279 | 388% | $4,198 |
At-Fault Accident | $1,397 | 29% | $316 |
Driving with an Open Container | $1,555 | 44% | $474 |
Operating a Vehicle Without Permission | $1,183 | 9% | $102 |
Passing a School Bus | $1,255 | 16% | $174 |
Improper Passing | $1,191 | 10% | $109 |
Following Too Closely | $1,191 | 10% | $109 |
Speeding | $1,193 | 10% | $112 |
Failure to Stop at a Red Light | $1,183 | 9% | $102 |
Illegal Turn | $1,191 | 10% | $109 |
Driving Wrong Way/Wrong Lane | $1,191 | 10% | $109 |
Failure to Yield | $1,191 | 10% | $109 |
Speeding in a School Zone | $1,191 | 10% | $109 |
Driving Too Slowly | $1,191 | 10% | $109 |
Distracted Driving | $1,175 | 9% | $94 |
Driving with Expired Registration | $1,096 | 1% | $15 |
Failure to Show Documents | $1,103 | 2% | $22 |
Not-at-Fault Accident | $1,081 | 0% | $0 |
Failure to Use Child Safety Restraint | $1,103 | 2% | $22 |
Failure to Wear a Seat Belt | $1,103 | 2% | $22 |
Driving Without Lights | $1,081 | 0% | $0 |
Yes. Hawaii is a no-fault state. Every driver is responsible for their own medical bills after a car collision, regardless of fault. In order to cover for this expense, every driver is required to carry Personal Injury Protection (PIP), which provides necessary bodily injury coverage after an accident.
Although there is no state law in Hawaii regarding buying car insurance without a license, it is generally considered a difficult task. Your driver's license is an insurance company's view into your previous driving history. Without this, an insurer might view you as a high-risk driver and thus increase your premium. The best way to find car insurance in Hawaii without a license is to speak directly to an insurance agent.
There isn't a specific "theft" coverage — it's included in comprehensive coverage. Whether or not comprehensive coverage is required will depend on the nature of your car ownership. If you have a lease or loan on the vehicle, you are required to carry comprehensive, collision, and potentially gap coverage on the vehicle.
Car insurance companies calculate your rate based on many factors, location of the vehicle being an important one. The cheapest car insurance is found in Kihei, Hawaii, and the most expensive in Hilo, Hawaii.
Rank | City | Avg. Annual Premium |
---|---|---|
1 | Hilo | $1,121 |
2 | Ewa Beach | $1,056 |
3 | Royal Kunia | $1,056 |
4 | Honolulu | $1,049 |
5 | Halawa | $1,049 |
6 | Schofield Barracks | $1,047 |
7 | Kailua | $1,044 |
8 | Kapolei | $1,044 |
9 | Pearl City | $1,044 |
10 | Kahului | $1,035 |
11 | Kihei | $1,035 |