# Hawaii car insurance in 2026: higher minimums, no-fault PIP and costs

> Hawaii raised its car insurance minimums in 2026. See the new liability limits, how no-fault PIP works, when you can sue and what drivers pay.

Canonical page: https://statecover-guide.com/location/hawaii/  
Last reviewed: October 28, 2026 by the StateCover Guide editorial team  
General information, not legal or insurance advice.

## Quick answer

Since January 1, 2026, new and renewed Hawaii car insurance policies must carry at least $40,000 per person and $80,000 per accident in bodily injury liability, $20,000 in property damage liability and $10,000 in personal injury protection (PIP). Hawaii is a no-fault state, so your own PIP pays your medical costs first, whoever caused the crash. Drivers in Hawaii spend less than the national average, about $888.07 a year in 2023.

## Key facts

| Fact | Hawaii |
|---|---|
| Car insurance required | Yes |
| Bodily injury liability | $40,000 per person, $80,000 per accident |
| Property damage liability | $20,000 per accident |
| Fault system | No-fault |
| Personal injury protection (PIP) | Required: $10,000 |
| Uninsured motorist (UM) | Must be offered at liability limits; can be rejected in writing |
| Underinsured motorist (UIM) | Must be offered; can be rejected in writing |
| Medical payments (MedPay) | Not required |
| Average expenditure (2023) | $888.07 a year (US: $1,281) |
| Uninsured drivers (2023) | 9.6% (US: 15.4%) |
| Insurance regulator | Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Insurance Division, (808) 586-2790 |
| Vehicle registration | County motor vehicle registration offices (for Oahu: City and County of Honolulu, Department of Customer Services, Division of Motor Vehicles) |

## What changed on January 1, 2026

Act 138, passed in 2024, doubled Hawaii's liability minimums. The higher limits apply to new and renewal policies from January 1, 2026.

| Liability coverage | Before 2026 | From January 1, 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Bodily injury, per person | $20,000 | $40,000 |
| Bodily injury, per accident | $40,000 | $80,000 |
| Property damage, per accident | $10,000 | $20,000 |

Policies renewed on or after that date must meet the new minimums, so a policy written at the old limits had to move up at renewal, and the premium may have gone up with it. At least one state consumer page still showed the previous limits in early 2026. The statute is what counts, so check your [declarations page](https://statecover-guide.com/blog/how-to-read-your-declarations-page/) and make sure it shows at least the new figures.

Even the new minimums can run out quickly. For example, if you cause a crash that totals a $45,000 car, a property damage limit at the new minimum of $20,000 leaves $25,000 that the other owner can try to collect from you. Our [liability guide](https://statecover-guide.com/coverage/liability/) explains how to choose limits above the minimum.

## How Hawaii's no-fault system works

Hawaii requires $10,000 per person in [personal injury protection](https://statecover-guide.com/coverage/personal-injury-protection/). After a crash, each injured person claims first from personal injury protection, regardless of who was at fault. The idea is to pay medical bills quickly and keep smaller injury cases out of court.

### When you can still sue

No-fault limits your right to sue the other driver for injuries. Under Hawaii law, you keep that right if:

- the PIP benefits incurred for your injury reach $5,000;
- the injury causes a significant permanent loss of use of a part or function of the body;
- the injury causes permanent and serious disfigurement that leads to mental or emotional suffering; or
- the crash causes a death.

The no-fault rules do not cover damage to cars and other property. Property damage claims still go against the driver who caused the crash, which is why property damage liability matters as much in Hawaii as anywhere. The glossary entry on the [tort threshold](https://statecover-guide.com/glossary/tort-threshold/) explains the idea in more detail, and our post on [no-fault vs at-fault states](https://statecover-guide.com/blog/no-fault-vs-at-fault-states/) compares the systems.

## Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage

Hawaii does not force you to buy UM or UIM, but insurers must offer both, and you can turn them down only in writing. UM coverage must be offered at the same limits as your liability coverage. The Insurance Research Council estimates that 9.6% of Hawaii drivers were uninsured in 2023, below the national 15.4%. A lower rate does not mean zero risk: if an uninsured or underinsured driver seriously injures you and your costs pass the PIP limit, [uninsured motorist coverage](https://statecover-guide.com/coverage/uninsured-motorist/) is what fills the gap.

## Fines and license penalties for uninsured driving

Driving uninsured in Hawaii is not a simple traffic ticket. A conviction brings a fine of $500 for a first offense and at least $2,000 for each later offense within 5 years. The court can suspend part of a first-offense fine if you show a current policy, or allow community service instead. On top of the fine, the court orders either a license suspension of three months for a first conviction, or a nonrefundable policy kept in force for six months. Repeat offenders can also face jail, loss of their plates or impoundment.

## Hawaii premiums and the credit score ban

| Measure (2023) | Hawaii | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Average expenditure per insured vehicle | $888.07 | $1,281 |
| Roughly per month | $74 | $107 |
| Combined average premium (liability, collision, comprehensive) | $998.04 | $1,438 |

Both Hawaii averages are below the national figures. They come from 2023, before the higher liability minimums began, so policies that had to move up from the old limits may cost more now.

Hawaii is also one of the states that restrict the use of credit in car insurance pricing. The NAIC lists these states as banning credit-based insurance scores for rating or for offering or renewing a policy: California, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, Oregon and Utah. Read more in [credit score and car insurance](https://statecover-guide.com/costs/credit-score/).

## Speeding and alcohol in Hawaii crash deaths

IIHS counted 102 traffic deaths in Hawaii in 2024. The death rate per person, 7.1 per 100,000 people, was below the national 11.5 per 100,000 people. Two figures stand out, though. Speeding was involved in 42% of deaths (US: 29%), and IIHS estimates that 49% of drivers killed were over the legal alcohol limit (US: 31%). Both are above the national shares.

## Registering a car in Hawaii

Each county runs its own vehicle registration. Where to go: County motor vehicle registration offices (for Oahu: City and County of Honolulu, Department of Customer Services, Division of Motor Vehicles). Keep proof of a policy that meets the current minimums with you. If you are moving a car from the mainland, our [new residents guide](https://statecover-guide.com/drivers/new-residents/) covers the order of steps. The [location index](https://statecover-guide.com/location/) compares Hawaii with every other state.

## FAQ

### Did Hawaii raise its minimum car insurance in 2026?

Yes. For new and renewal policies from January 1, 2026, the minimum liability limits are $40,000 per person, $80,000 per accident and $20,000 for property damage, up from $20,000, $40,000 and $10,000.

### Is Hawaii a no-fault state?

Yes. Your own PIP pays your medical costs first, up to $10,000 per person, no matter who caused the crash. You can still sue the at-fault driver for injuries in the serious cases the law lists, and property damage claims are not affected.

### When can I sue the other driver after a crash in Hawaii?

You can sue for injuries when the PIP benefits incurred reach $5,000, or when the injury causes death, a significant permanent loss of a body function or permanent and serious disfigurement. A licensed attorney can tell you whether your case qualifies.

### What is the penalty for driving without insurance in Hawaii?

A first conviction carries a $500 fine and either a license suspension or a required nonrefundable policy. Later offenses within 5 years cost at least $2,000 each and can add jail time.

### Does my credit score affect car insurance prices in Hawaii?

Hawaii is among the states the NAIC lists as banning credit-based insurance scores for rating or for offering or renewing a policy. Your driving record, the car and where you live still matter.

## Sources

- [Hawaii Insurance Division, Motor Vehicle Insurance](https://cca.hawaii.gov/ins/consumers-mvi/) — mandatory coverages and consumer information
- [Hawaii Act 138 (2024)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2024/bills/GM1239_.PDF) — higher liability minimums for new and renewal policies from 2026
- [Hawaii Revised Statutes, Section 431:10C-306](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/hrscurrent/Vol09_Ch0431-0435H/HRS0431/HRS_0431-0010C-0306.htm) — limits on lawsuits and the PIP threshold
- [Hawaii Revised Statutes, Section 431:10C-117](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/hrscurrent/Vol09_Ch0431-0435H/HRS0431/HRS_0431-0010C-0117.htm) — penalties for driving without insurance
- [Hawaii Revised Statutes, Section 431:10C-301 (required motor vehicle policy coverage)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/hrscurrent/Vol09_Ch0431-0435H/HRS0431/HRS_0431-0010C-0301.htm), as of October 28, 2026
- [Hawaii Revised Statutes, Section 431:10C-103.5 (personal injury protection benefits; limits)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/hrscurrent/Vol09_Ch0431-0435H/HRS0431/HRS_0431-0010C-0103_0005.htm), as of October 28, 2026
- [Insurance Information Institute, Background on: No-fault auto insurance](https://www.iii.org/article/background-on-no-fault-auto-insurance), as of October 28, 2026
- [Insurance Information Institute, Facts + Statistics: Uninsured motorists](https://www.iii.org/fact-statistic/facts-statistics-uninsured-motorists), as of October 28, 2026
- [City and County of Honolulu, Department of Customer Services](https://www.honolulu.gov/csd/), as of July 10, 2026
- [IIHS, Fatality Facts 2024: State by state](https://www.iihs.org/research-areas/fatality-statistics/detail/state-by-state), as of June 1, 2026
- [NAIC, 2022/2023 Auto Insurance Database Report](https://content.naic.org/sites/default/files/publication-aut-pb-auto-insurance-database.pdf), as of February 13, 2026
- [NAIC, 2022/2023 Auto Insurance Database Report](https://content.naic.org/article/naic-releases-20222023-auto-insurance-database-report), as of February 13, 2026
- [Hawaii Insurance Division, 2026 Motor Vehicle Insurance Premium Comparison guide](https://cca.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/5.-2026-MV-Prem-Pub.pdf), as of January 1, 2026
- [Insurance Research Council, Uninsured and Underinsured Motorists: 2017–2023 (press release)](https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250220231032/en), as of February 20, 2025
- [NAIC, Center for Insurance Policy and Research: Credit-Based Insurance Scores](https://content.naic.org/cipr_topics/topic_credit_based_insurance_scores.htm), as of January 31, 2024