that meets the state’s minimum liability coverage limits of 20/40/10—that is, $20,000 of bodily injury liability per person, $40,000 of bodily injury liability per accident, and $10,000 of property damage liability per accident, along with $10,000 in personal injury protection (PIP).

Hawaii drivers are required to carry minimum liability coverage and personal injury protection.
The Aloha State’s coverage requirements follow a 20/40/10 pattern—but this may not be enough coverage for most drivers.
Penalties for driving without insurance in Hawaii include fines, license and registration suspension, SR-22 requirement, and potential jail time.

Minimum car insurance requirements in Hawaii: Liability and PIP

If you’re driving in Hawaii, state law requires you to have your vehicle insured through the motor vehicle registration period and carry a valid Hawaii motor vehicle insurance identification card in your car at all times.

Hawaii car insurance laws require drivers to carry

liability insurance

that meets the following coverage limits:

$20,000 of

bodily injury liability insurance

per person

$40,000 of bodily injury liability insurance per accident

$10,000 of

property damage liability insurance

per accident

If you’re involved in an at-fault accident with another driver, liability insurance will cover the cost of medical bills and property damage repair costs for the other driver up to your car insurance policy limits.

In addition to liability insurance, you’ll also need to carry a minimum of $10,000 in

personal injury protection (PIP)

, which covers your medical expenses if you’re involved in a crash, regardless of who’s at fault.

Hawaii minimum auto insurance requirements

Type of car insurance coverage	Minimum insurance limit
Bodily injury liability (per person)	$20,000
Bodily injury liability (per accident)	$40,000
Property damage liability (per accident)	$10,000
Personal injury protection (per person)	$10,000

Keep in mind that these limits are only what is legally required by the state. If you lease or finance a vehicle, your bank or lender may require you also to purchase physical damage coverage—

full-coverage car insurance

or comprehensive and collision insurance.

Key Takeaway Hawaii requires all drivers to carry liability insurance—bodily injury and property damage—that follows a 20/40/10 limit and at least $10,000 in PIP coverage.

Understanding Hawaii’s minimum insurance coverage requirements

Liability is the most common form of insurance required in most states. It protects you against legal claims resulting from physical injuries and damage to other individuals or property if you cause a car accident. While liability insurance in Hawaii will pay for the injured party’s medical expenses and vehicle repair costs up to your policy limit, it won’t cover your costs.

Liability insurance is divided into two categories:

Bodily injury liability

helps cover the cost of injuries and lost wages for the other party if you are at fault in an accident.

Property damage liability

helps cover the cost of property damage for any other parties involved in an accident where you are at fault in an accident.

Personal injury protection (PIP) helps cover the cost of injuries to you and your passengers regardless of who’s at fault in an accident. It covers things like:

Medical expenses from a car crash

Wage loss due to injury

Rehabilitation costs

Replacement services for things you can’t do due to the accident

Funeral expenses and death benefits

Hawaii is one of 12 states that require PIP as part of “no-fault auto insurance” laws, which limits your ability to sue for injuries resulting from a car crash.

Do you need more coverage than Hawaii’s required insurance minimum?

It’s generally a good idea.

Hawaii’s insurance limits are slightly lower than other states, and only carrying

state minimum auto insurance

leaves you vulnerable if you’re involved in an at-fault accident.

Let’s look at how the policy limits for a minimum-coverage plan in Hawaii would hold up if you were involved in an at-fault car crash.

Here’s what it might look like if you’re in an accident with minimal coverage…

Liability insurance is designed to cover medical expenses and property damage costs for the other party if you are at fault in a car accident. According to data published by the Insurance Information Institute (III), the average bodily injury liability claim in 2021 was $22,734; the average property damage claim was $5,314.

Let’s say you get into an accident that causes injuries and damage around those average amounts. If you only purchase minimum-coverage car insurance at Hawaii’s 20/40/10, your policy wouldn’t completely cover the bodily injury costs of the other party—you would be liable for $2,734 out-of-pocket. On the other hand, you wouldn’t owe anything for property damage.

What about your expenses? If you or your passengers were injured or your vehicle was damaged in the accident, your liability coverage won’t pay for you. You would be liable to pay your medical expenses and vehicle repair costs without a full coverage insurance policy (i.e., collision or comprehensive insurance). According to the same III study, the average collision insurance claim in 2021 was $5,010, which would be an out-of-pocket expense for you with only Hawaii state minimum coverage.

But also remember that those amounts are just averages. If you incur more serious injuries or extensive vehicle damage, costs can be much higher.

Our recommendation

Increase your liability limits to at least 50/100/50

Purchase comprehensive and collision coverage with a high deductible (such as $1,000)

Adding extra coverage will increase your insurance premiums, but it’s a safe investment to help you avoid catastrophic out-of-pocket costs. You can keep your car insurance rates low by comparing insurance quotes from multiple providers to find the best deal for your profile.

Additional coverage options

If the idea of being vulnerable to financial trouble if you’re involved in a car accident doesn’t sound appealing, purchasing optional coverages might be a good idea. Collision and comprehensive are great places to start, but you can also add other coverages for better protection.

Some optional coverage types you may want to consider:

Collision insurance

: Helps cover the cost of damage to your vehicle due to a collision with another vehicle or stationary object.

Comprehensive insurance

: Protects you from the costs of non-collision-related damage to your car, such as theft, vandalism, floods, hail, and more. Comprehensive covers most things that collision insurance doesn’t.

Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage:

UM/UIM covers your medical expenses if you’re in a car accident with an at-fault driver who doesn’t have sufficient liability coverage (or no liability coverage at all) to cover your costs. The Hawaii DCAA recommends purchasing at least $20,000 of uninsured motorist coverage.

Gap insurance:

If you leased or financed a new vehicle and it’s deemed a total loss in a crash, gap insurance covers the difference between how much your car is worth at the time of the incident (the

actual cash value

) and how much you still owe on your

car loan

—but it’s best to

purchase it from your insurance company

, not through your dealership.

Roadside assistance coverage: Also known as

towing and labor coverage

, roadside assistance helps cover the costs of standard roadside assistance services, like towing, battery changes, or gas delivery.

What is the penalty for not having auto insurance coverage in Hawaii?

Drivers caught breaking Hawaii car insurance laws can face serious fines and penalties. If you knowingly drive without proper insurance, you could even face a

license suspension

, an

SR-22 insurance

requirement, or jail time.

Penalties for driving without insurance in Hawaii

Check out the table below for a breakdown of Hawaii's penalties for driving without insurance.

Penalty	First offense	Second offense	Subsequent offenses within 5 years
Fine	$500	$1,500 to $5,000	$1,500 to $5,000
Community service alternative	75 to 100 hours in place of fine	200 to 275 hours in place of fine	200 to 275 hours in place of fine
Vehicle registration suspension	N/A	N/A	Registration plates are suspended or revoked
Driver’s license suspension	3 months or until proof of insurance is provided	1 year or until proof of insurance is provided	1 year or until proof of insurance is provided
Jail time	N/A	N/A	Up to 30 days
SR-22 requirement	3 years	3 years	3 years

FAQ

What is the law for car insurance in Hawaii?

Car insurance in Hawaii is mandatory if you own and operate a motor vehicle. Hawaii State law requires that you maintain insurance on your vehicle for as long as it’s registered and always carry a valid Hawaii auto insurance identification card in your vehicle.

Does Hawaii require no-fault insurance?

Hawaii is a no-fault state and requires drivers to carry personal injury protection (PIP) on top of liability coverage. If you or your passenger are injured in a car crash, your PIP benefits will pay for your injuries regardless of who’s at fault.

What kind of insurance do you need in Hawaii?

The minimum requirements for car insurance in Hawaii are liability coverage limits of 20/40/10 and personal injury protection coverage of $10,000. As a no-fault state, Hawaii drivers have the right to medical benefits regardless of fault in exchange for limited tort rights (the right to sue).

Does my car insurance cover me in Hawaii?

If you travel out of state with your car, your car insurance will still be valid. But if you’re visiting Hawaii and have a rental car, you’ll likely need to purchase

rental car insurance

, or it may automatically be included in the cost of your rental.

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