Hawaii Auto Insurance State Requirements

Hawaii auto insurance is regulated by the State. You must have automobile coverage to register and drive your car. This is a No Fault system which means that the State does not require an automobile owner to carry Comprehensive and Collision nor Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage. Coverage required is $10,000 personal injury protection (PIP), $20,000 per person/$40,000 for bodily injury per event, and $10,000 for property damage.

This State requirement means that a driver must maintain minimum coverage on their vehicle. When an accident occurs, the guilty party, as a rule, does not have to reimburse you for injuries. However, if medical costs exceed $5,000 and it was the other person’s fault, a lawsuit can be filed for damages.

In addition to medical costs and wage loss not covered by your policy, there are other things that allow a lawsuit. These would include accidents resulting in death, serious disfigurement, permanent loss of any body part or function, and if No Fault benefits have been exhausted. These situations need the assistance of a lawyer.

If your bodily injuries do exceed $5,000 you have two years to file your lawsuit. If you have received No Fault public assistance benefit payments or worker’s compensation then within two years from the date of the last payment. You are allowed five years to sue for property damage. If you do not file within this period than you have no further claims.

If you let your policy lapse, your county government is immediately notified. The fine for driving without insurance is, first offense $1,000, 2nd offense up to $3,000. In addition, you could lose your driver’s license, be put in jail or have to surrender the car’s license plates and registration certificate.

The required PIP (personal injury protection) on your policy will usually cover your injuries. An application to be filled out will be provided by your insuring company. Other coverage may also be provided depending on your auto insurance policy purchase. Most people choose to increase the minimum required due to the high costs of medical care and repair costs.

Extra coverage that can be purchased include underinsured, uninsured coverage, death benefits, funeral expenses, wage loss, alternative care, PIP managed care and deductible. Uninsured motorist is an important coverage to have with these difficult economic times. A minimum of $20,000 per person coverage will pay for death or serious injury when the uninsured person is at fault or in case of a hit and run accident. The same coverage can be purchased for an underinsured driver.

There were 109 fatal accidents reported in Hawaii in 2009. This does not cover accidents that caused serious injuries and damages. Having the proper coverage will assure that you will not be paying out-of-pocket should such an event occur to you. Hawaii auto insurance costs depend on the type and amount of coverage purchased as well as your credit rating. Finding good coverage at a price you can afford is the smart thing to do. Rates can be compared by visiting the available sites on the Internet. It must be remembered that ‘no-fault’ only refers to injuries. The driver-at-fault is responsible for damages to the property or vehicle.

Are you looking for the best rate possible for the coverage you need?  The only way to do this in your area is to search our directory of local auto insurance agents or to compare auto insurance quotes from multiple providers. Look around our site, learn about different insurance products, and find local agents or national companies by entering your zip code into one of our convenient forms located on every page.

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