Hawaii Car Insurance Requirements in 2026

Hawaii car insurance requirements at a glance

Coverage	Minimum Requirement in Hawaii
Bodily injury liability	$40,000 per person/$80,000 per accident
Property damage liability	$20,000 per accident
Personal injury protection	$10,000

Hawaii car insurance requirements explained

Hawaii updated its liability insurance requirements as of Jan. 1, 2026. The new law doubled the state-minimum requirement for bodily injury and property damage liability. Policies purchased or renewed before New Year’s Day are subject to the previous requirements.

Hawaii also requires personal injury protection (PIP) coverage, though the minimum coverage requirements remained the same when the state increased liability requirements.

Hawaii bodily injury liability insurance requirements

As of January 2026, Hawaii requires all drivers to have at least $40,000 per person and $80,000 per accident in bodily injury liability insurance.^[1] That’s higher than most states, except Alaska, Maine, Michigan, North Carolina, and Virginia, which each require $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident.

Policies bought or renewed before Jan. 1, 2026, had a minimum limit of $20,000 per person and $40,000 per accident.^[2]

Bodily injury liability insurance helps cover medical bills for injuries if you cause an accident. For example, say you run a red light and hit another car, causing the other driver to break their leg. Your bodily injury coverage would help pay for X-rays, doctor bills, and other related medical expenses.

Hawaii property damage liability insurance requirements

Hawaii requires drivers to have at least $20,000 in property damage liability coverage effective Jan. 1, 2026. Before that, the limit was $10,000.

Property damage liability insurance covers resulting third-party vehicle and property repairs from an accident you cause. For example, if you accidentally hit a parked car while driving, your property damage coverage would help pay to repair that car.

Hawaii personal injury protection (PIP) requirements

Hawaii also requires drivers to have at least $10,000 in PIP coverage. This coverage didn’t increase alongside the state’s liability limits in January 2026.

PIP pays for your own medical costs after an accident, regardless of fault. For example, imagine you collide with another car that cuts you off on the highway and experience whiplash and a concussion. Your PIP coverage would pay for any resulting medical or rehabilitation costs. It may also cover wage loss and funeral expenses if needed.

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Are Hawaii’s car insurance requirements sufficient for most drivers?

Hawaii’s new higher liability insurance requirements may be sufficient for many drivers. In 2022, the average bodily injury liability claim in Hawaii was $40,235, which matches the state’s minimum bodily injury requirement per person.^[3] But in a more serious accident, that limit might not be enough.

The table below shows the limits experts recommend for Hawaii drivers.

Coverage	Recommended Limit in Hawaii
Bodily injury liability coverage	$100,000 per person/$300,000 per accident
Property damage liability coverage	$100,000 per accident

If you have a high net worth, you may consider even higher limits of 250/500/250 for increased financial protection. Also consider an umbrella policy to cover any expenses that exceed your liability coverage.

Other car insurance requirements to be aware of in Hawaii

Hawaii law only requires liability and PIP coverage. But if you lease or finance your car, your lender may require full coverage, which includes collision and comprehensive coverage, to protect its investment.

Collision coverage pays for vehicle repairs after a collision with another vehicle or object, regardless of fault. Comprehensive coverage guards against non-collision damage, including flooding, fire, vandalism, and theft. Without these coverages, you’ll pay out of pocket for vehicle repair or replacement.

Comprehensive coverage is a smart buy for Hawaii drivers whether they own or finance their car. It can cover repairs to damage that a natural disaster, like a hurricane, tsunami, earthquake, flash flood, or wildfire, causes.

How Hawaii’s car insurance requirements influence rates

Hawaii only recently increased its liability coverage requirements. You might have had 20/40/10 coverage in previous years to meet Hawaii’s requirements. Now, you need at least 40/80/20 coverage to continue driving legally, which will increase your premiums by around 25% according to state data.

In the event of an accident, your new policy would provide more coverage than your old one. For example, if you cause an accident that results in $25,000 in injuries and $15,000 in property damage, your 2026 policy would fully cover your liability. But with the old limits, you’d have to pay $10,000 out of pocket.

Cheapest state-minimum required car insurance in Hawaii

The below rates in Hawaii are estimated rates current as of: Sunday, November 1 at 12:28 AM PDT. 

Insurance Company	Average Monthly Quote
GEICO	$50
State Farm	$53
USAA	$65
21st Century	$79

Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time Hawaii car insurance quotes from Insurify's 500+ partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual car insurance quotes in Hawaii may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.

Hawaii car insurance laws and related programs

Most states let insurers consider a customer’s credit-based insurance score as a factor when determining rates. Hawaii is one of seven states that ban this practice for car insurance.

That means your insurer can’t increase your premiums if you have a poor credit rating, unlike in most other states.

Penalties for driving without insurance in Hawaii

Driving without insurance is illegal in Hawaii. Drivers who operate a vehicle without adequate insurance face the following penalties:^[4]

• Fines: You’ll pay $500 for the first offense and at least $1,500 for each subsequent offense within five years.

• License suspension: You’ll lose your license for three months for the first conviction and one year for a subsequent conviction within a five-year period.

• Non-refundable coverage: The court may require you to have a non-refundable car insurance policy for six months after conviction.

• Jail time: You may receive up to 30 days’ imprisonment for multiple convictions within five years.

• Registration suspension: The court may suspend your vehicle registration after multiple convictions within five years.

• Vehicle impoundment: Multiple convictions could result in the state impounding your car and possibly selling it to cover the cost of storage and any other costs related to vehicle seizure.

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Other car insurance coverages worth considering in Hawaii

Hawaii’s 40/80/20 insurance requirements may not be enough to cover you in the event of an accident. Consider adding these optional coverages to your auto policy for increased financial protection:

• Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage: Hawaii requires insurers to notify customers about UM/UIM coverage options, but you can decline coverage in writing. Hawaii’s 10% uninsured motorist rate is lower than most states, but a collision with an uninsured driver can cost you if you don’t have UM coverage.^[5] 

• Collision coverage: Hawaii’s narrow, winding roads can be dangerous, and the Kahekili Highway is one of the most treacherous. If you take a corner too fast and collide with another vehicle, your liability coverage won’t pay for your own vehicle’s repairs, but collision coverage will.

• Comprehensive coverage: Tropical storms and hurricanes are common in Hawaii between June 1 and November 30. Comprehensive coverage can pay for car repairs, minus a deductible, if flying debris damages it during a storm.

• Gap insurance: New cars depreciate in value by approximately 30% in the first two years, according to industry data. If an auto accident totals your car and you owe more on the loan than the vehicle’s cash value, you’ll have to pay the difference out of pocket. Gap insurance can cover the difference between what you owe and your insurance payout.

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