Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs

[INS]

Having motor vehicle insurance is essential to owning a motor vehicle in Hawaii. Hawaii State law requires that your vehicle be insured and that you carry the motor vehicle insurance identification card in your motor vehicle at all times. You can be ticketed and fined if you operate a vehicle without the required motor vehicle identification card.

If you don’t have insurance on your motor vehicle, you must surrender the registration certificate and license plates to the county director of finance. When you do that, you will not be able to drive the vehicle.

Hawaii is considered a “no-fault-state”, which means your motor vehicle insurance company will pay the bills for your injuries and your passengers’ injuries up to the personal injury protection benefits limit of PTP. And you cannot sue or be sued unless there are serious injuries. Because “no-fault” applies to injuries, not to vehicles or property, the driver-at-fault in an accident is responsible for damages to vehicle and property.

Your minimum motor vehicle insurance policy must have protection for you and your passengers of $10,000 per person personal injury protection benefits. This is for paying medical and rehabilitation costs.

Your mandatory coverage also include a $20,000 per person or $40,000 per accident bodily injury liability and a $10,000 per occurrence property damage liability. These cover damages for the injured party when you are at-fault in an accident.

Optional coverages and options you may purchase include: collision and comprehensive, uninsured (“UTM”) and underinsured (“UIM”) coverages, wage loss, alternative care, including healing methods such as naturopathy, acupuncture and faith healing, death benefits with coverage from $25,000 to $100,000, funeral benefits with coverage of $2,000, PIP deductible and PIP managed care.

Your insurance agent or company must advise you about your uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage options including your right to decline coverage in writing. You may purchase at a minimum $20,000 per person uninsured motorist coverage to pay for serious injury or death if the driver at fault does not have insurance or in case of a hit and run accident. You may also purchase at a minimum $20,000 per person underinsured motorist coverage to pay if the driver at fault does not have enough insurance.

Your insurance company or insurance agent should help you decide on the best coverages for your individual situation and needs.