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

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.

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 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 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. 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 explains the idea in more detail, and our post on 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 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

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.

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 covers the order of steps. The location index compares Hawaii with every other state.