6+ years writing about insurance, travel, and personal finances
Contributor to brands like Credible
In addition to insurance, Nick specializes in writing about business, entrepreneurship, personal finance, and travel. He’s been featured in myriad web publications, including Fox Business.
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Licensed auto and home insurance agent
3+ years experience in insurance and personal finance editing
Katie uses her knowledge and expertise as a licensed property and casualty agent in Massachusetts to help readers understand the complexities of insurance shopping.
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Amber Benka is a licensed insurance agent specializing in auto, home, commercial, life, and health insurance. She has owned the R.A.L Insurance Agency for four years.
Updated May 23, 2023
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Table of contents
If you ever receive a DUI conviction or have an at-fault accident without insurance in Hawaii, you’ll likely need to file an SR-22 form. This official form proves to the state that you have the state’s minimum required amount of car insurance.
Hawaii drivers can still find affordable coverage if they need to file an SR-22 form following a serious driving violation.
An SR-22 isn’t a type of insurance but a form filed by your insurance company.
The violations that lead to filing an SR-22, like a DUI or uninsured driving, cause insurance costs to increase.
Drivers in Hawaii with an SR-22 form pay an average of $108 per month, though rates vary from person to person.
What is SR-22 insurance in Hawaii, and when do you need it?
Not technically insurance, SR-22 forms serve as proof to the state that you have the state-required minimum liability insurance coverage and can financially cover the costs of damages or injuries you may cause in an accident. Hawaii requires drivers to carry minimum amounts of personal injury protection (PIP), bodily injury liability, and property damage liability coverage.[1]
Though most drivers don’t need to file an SR-22, state courts can require filing for drivers after reckless driving convictions, DUIs, at-fault accidents while driving uninsured, and license suspensions. An SR-22 stays on your driving record for at least three years in Hawaii.[2]
SR-22 forms differ from SR-21 and FR-44 forms. In Hawaii, you need to submit an SR-21 form after an accident to show verification of your insurance.[3] An FR-44 form works like an SR-22, though it usually requires a higher liability limit than an SR-22. Virginia and Florida require FR-44s instead of SR-22s.
How can you get an SR-22 in Hawaii?
If you need to file an SR-22 in Hawaii, you’ll receive formal notice of this information in person from the courts or in the mail. You must meet your SR-22 requirement as soon as possible after you receive notice.
Drivers in Hawaii can’t secure these filings through government offices.[4] Instead, you’ll need to contact your insurer and ask them to assist you with the SR-22 form. Many insurance companies offer SR-22 filings, and some specifically cater services to high-risk drivers.
If your current insurer doesn’t provide these filings, you’ll need to purchase coverage from a new one. Your insurer then files an SR-22 with the state on your behalf and will notify the state if your coverage lapses during the period you need SR-22 coverage.
How long is an SR-22 required in Hawaii?
Drivers in Hawaii must file and maintain an SR-22 for a period of three years from their conviction date, which resembles SR-22 and FR-44 guidelines in other states.
Some additional factors may increase the time required to maintain an SR-22, such as having another major driving incident or your coverage lapsing. If your coverage lapses, you need to restart the SR-22 filing process.
How much is SR-22 insurance in Hawaii?
The cost for an SR-22 filing depends on state requirements and insurance company prices, but fees are typically between $15 and $25. For instance, an SR-22 filing fee could cost $25 with Progressive.
Beyond the filing fee, your insurance rates will increase as a result of the driving violation that required you to file an SR-22 form. Convictions for serious driving violations, like a DUI or reckless driving, typically cause significant premium increases.
Cheapest companies for SR-22 insurance in Hawaii
The cheapest company for you ultimately depends on factors like your driving record, credit history, age, vehicle, and more. On average, drivers in Hawaii with an SR-22 filing pay $108 per month for car insurance.
Cheapest insurance companies in Hawaii with SR-22 by city
Car insurance premiums vary by location within each state. More populated cities tend to have higher rates of vehicle accidents and crime, so auto insurers often adjust costs in the area accordingly. Honolulu has more drivers and accidents than less populated cities like Kihei or Halawa.
Alternatively, drivers in rural areas typically receive cheaper average rates for the same coverage. Depending on where you live, you may pay more or less than the state average of $108 per month.
How SR-22 insurance affects driving record and future rates in Hawaii
One of the best ways to get the cheapest car insurance in Hawaii is to maintain a clean driving record. Unfortunately, drivers required to file an SR-22 in Hawaii will likely see an increase in their rates due to the circumstances leading to the SR-22.
For instance, DUI convictions often warrant SR-22s and typically increase premium rates, no matter the driver’s previous record. Thankfully, you can lower your car insurance rates in Hawaii even while maintaining your SR-22.[5]
Ask if you qualify for a discount
Most insurers offer discounts to their policyholders. Some discounts are automatic, while others are earned over time. Ask your insurer if you qualify for multi-car, multi-policy, paid-in-full, paperless, low-mileage, or student driver discounts.
Increase your deductible
When you raise your deductible, you take on more financial responsibility in the event of an accident. Raising your deductible can lower your premium, but remember that it means more out-of-pocket expenses if you have an accident.
Lower your optional coverages
Your SR-22 proves that you meet the coverage level required, though your current policy may exceed that coverage. Optional coverages like gap insurance, collision, comprehensive, and roadside assistance aren’t required by law and can significantly increase your premium rates.
Compare rates from other insurers
Before you file an SR-22, you should compare rates from other insurance companies, particularly if they cater to high-risk drivers with SR-22s or FR-44s. Comparison shopping can help you identify which insurer has the lowest rates, the most discounts, and other opportunities to lower your rate without reducing your coverage level.
Rates and savings incentives change regularly. The industry is highly competitive, which means drivers in Hawaii can continue to save if they seek out the cheapest rates for their desired coverage. As you maintain your SR-22, use the tips above each year to uncover any additional savings.
Hawaii SR-22 insurance FAQs
Because only some drivers need SR-22s, many policyholders don’t know much about these forms. The following information can hopefully help you navigate the process of filing an SR-22 in Hawaii.
How long do you have to hold an SR-22 in Hawaii?
You typically need to hold your SR-22 for a minimum of three years. A court order will determine how long you need to hold an SR-22, and the duration may exceed three years depending on the severity of the offense.
How do you get rid of an SR-22 in Hawaii?
Although you have to file for an SR-22, you can’t remove it from your policy like you could an optional coverage. Instead, you’ll have to wait until your SR-22 period expires. Check with the DMV to see when your SR-22 expires before notifying your insurer to remove it.
What happens to your SR-22 in Hawaii if you move?
You’ll likely need to file an SR-22 form with the DMV of your new state via an existing or new auto insurer. “My understanding is that if you have an SR-22 or FR-44 requirement in one state, it still applies even if you’re moving to a state that doesn’t have an SR-22 or FR-44 requirement,” says Loretta Worters, vice president of media relations for the Insurance Information Institute.
Do you need an SR-22 in Hawaii if you don’t have a car?
Yes. If a traffic court conviction orders you to obtain a proof of financial responsibility form, you must comply, even if you don’t have a car. Because Hawaii has a minimum insurance requirement for all licensed drivers, a driver required to have an SR-22 must obtain one regardless of vehicle ownership.
Is Hawaii a no-fault state?
Yes. Hawaii is a no-fault state, which means your insurer pays for the injuries you and your passengers sustain in an accident, regardless of fault. You need to maintain the minimum required coverage in Hawaii, including PIP, bodily injury, and property damage coverage.
Related articles
More cities in Hawaii
Sources
- Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs. "Motor Vehicle Insurance Information."
- State of Hawaii Department of Transportation. "Hawaii Driver's Manual."
- County of Hawaii. "Driver License General Information: Frequently Asked Questions."
- County of Maui, Hawaii. "Financial Responsibility Sections."
- Insurance Information Institute. "How to save money on car insurance."
Nick Dauk is a freelance writer specializing in business, entrepreneurship, personal finance, and travel. His work has been featured in Fox Business, BBC, The Edge, Business Insider, and Bisnow. Nick is a first-generation college graduate, having majored in Interdisciplinary Studies at the University of Central Florida. His eclectic coursework, combined with previous managerial roles in the retail and broadcast television industries, have helped him develop an interdisciplinary approach to writing.
For nearly a decade, Nick has created content for mom-and-pop businesses and global corporations. As a travel writer, his global adventures have also been featured on Inside Hook, Houston Chronicle, Culture Trip, and Matador. When he's not traveling, Nick can be found in Orlando spending time with his wife and toddler.
Licensed auto and home insurance agent
3+ years experience in insurance and personal finance editing
Katie uses her knowledge and expertise as a licensed property and casualty agent in Massachusetts to help readers understand the complexities of insurance shopping.
Featured in
Amber Benka is a licensed insurance agent specializing in auto, home, commercial, life, and health insurance. She has owned the R.A.L Insurance Agency for four years.