Hawaii requires at least $40,000 of bodily injury liability per person, $80,000 per accident and $20,000 of property damage liability (40/80/20), plus $10,000 of personal injury protection (PIP). Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage come with the policy unless a named insured rejects them in writing.
These limits apply to new and renewed policies starting January 1, 2026. Before that, Hawaii’s minimum was 20/40/10, and some websites (including a DCCA consumer page) still show the old numbers. Hawaii is also a no-fault state, so your own PIP pays for injury treatment up to its limit, and you can sue the other driver over injuries only in certain cases.
Key Takeaways
- Hawaii’s minimum is now 40/80/20 liability plus $10,000 of PIP. Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage at the 40/80 bodily injury limits are included unless you reject them in writing.
- Because of the no-fault system, you can sue an at-fault driver for injuries only if there’s a death, a significant permanent loss of use of a body part or function, permanent and serious disfigurement, or PIP benefits of $5,000 or more.
- A first conviction for driving uninsured brings a $500 fine, plus either a three-month license suspension or a six-month nonrefundable insurance policy. A later offense within five years brings a fine of at least $2,000, and for multiple convictions the court must also impose up to 30 days in jail, plate suspension, impoundment or a combination.
- After a policy has been in force for 60 days, a Hawaii insurer can cancel it only for a few reasons, such as nonpayment or a suspended license, and it needs to give 30 days’ notice (20 for nonpayment).
Hawaii Minimum Car Insurance at a Glance
| Coverage | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Bodily injury liability | $40,000 per person and $80,000 per accident |
| Property damage liability | $20,000 per accident |
| Personal injury protection (PIP) | $10,000 per person |
| Uninsured motorist | Included at $40,000 per person and $80,000 per accident unless rejected in writing |
| Underinsured motorist | Included at $40,000 per person and $80,000 per accident unless rejected in writing |
| Collision and comprehensive | Not required by law, but insurers must make them available, and lenders and lessors often require them |
The Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA) explains the change in its FAQ on auto insurance minimum limits. The new amounts are in HRS 431:10C-301, as amended by Act 138 of 2024, which set the January 1, 2026 start date. The PIP amount, set by HRS 431:10C-103.5, didn’t change. DCCA’s earlier FAQ said that doubling the minimums may raise premiums by about 25% on average, so your own change could be higher or lower. RateFrog’s guide to liability limits explains how these numbers work.
Under HRS 431:10C-104, you can’t drive a car on a public road without a policy, and the owner has to keep the policy in force for the whole registration period. The only alternative in that law is self-insurance under HRS 431:10C-105, which takes an application to the Insurance Commissioner and approval.
Personal Injury Protection in Hawaii
PIP pays for reasonable and appropriate treatment and expenses that result from a car accident, including physical therapy prescribed by a doctor, occupational therapy and rehabilitation. The statute caps the required benefit at $10,000 per person in total.
Insurers have to make more options available under HRS 431:10C-302, including higher PIP benefits, wage loss coverage, death benefits, $2,000 of funeral coverage and PIP deductibles of $100, $300, $500 or $1,000. RateFrog’s guide to personal injury protection covers how PIP claims usually work.
When You Can Sue After a Crash
Hawaii’s no-fault law, HRS 431:10C-306, removes the right to sue over injuries from a car accident except in these situations:
- The person dies in the accident.
- There’s a significant permanent loss of use of a part or function of the body.
- There’s permanent and serious disfigurement that causes mental or emotional suffering.
- The PIP benefits incurred by the injured person reach $5,000.
The $5,000 figure counts PIP benefits and certain related amounts, such as deductibles, copayments and some health insurance payments. It’s a different number from the $10,000 PIP limit.
Even when you can sue, HRS 431:10C-301.5 reduces a bodily injury recovery by $5,000 or by the PIP benefits incurred, whichever is greater, up to the maximum limit. This is called the covered loss deductible.
Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverage in Hawaii
Under HRS 431:10C-301, a policy for a car registered or mainly garaged in Hawaii has to include uninsured motorist (UM) and underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage at the same limits as the bodily injury minimum, unless a named insured rejects them in writing. The UIM offer has to be easy to see, show the premium next to it and have a spot for your signature if you reject it. DCCA’s consumer page calls this coverage optional, but the law treats it as part of the policy until you sign it away.
Under HRS 431:10C-103, an uninsured vehicle includes one with no bodily injury liability insurance or self-insurance, and an unidentified vehicle that causes an injury crash, if it’s reported to police within 30 days or as soon as practicable. An underinsured vehicle is one whose liability limits are less than the damages the law holds the driver responsible for.
Stacking (combining) UM or UIM coverage is not allowed unless you buy the stacking option, which insurers must offer. They also must offer UM and UIM up to your bodily injury limits. RateFrog’s guide to uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage explains how these coverages work.
Proof of Insurance in Hawaii
Under HRS 431:10C-107, your insurer gives you a paper or electronic insurance ID card that shows the vehicle, the policy number, the names of the insured and the insurer, and the coverage dates. The card has to be in the car or available on a phone or other mobile device, and you have to show it when a police officer asks. The law allows the card to be accessed through the insurer’s website, app or database. RateFrog’s guide to getting proof of insurance fast can help if you need a card right away.
How Hawaii Checks Your Coverage
Hawaii doesn’t have an electronic insurance verification system. A 2025 bill, SB726, would have created one, but it hasn’t become law.
Proof of insurance also isn’t required for a car’s first registration, under HRS 286-41(e). DCCA’s consumer page says that if your car isn’t insured, you have to turn in the registration certificate and license plates to the county director of finance. That page still lists the old 20/40/10 limits, so rely on it only for that point.
Penalties for Driving Without Insurance in Hawaii
The penalties are in HRS 431:10C-117. Act 138 raised the repeat-offense fine starting July 1, 2024. The amounts below are from the statute as it read in October 2026.
Fines
A conviction for not having insurance when you were cited brings a $500 fine for a first offense and at least $2,000 for each later offense within five years of a prior one. Other violations of the insurance law carry a fine of $100 to $5,000.
The court can suspend all or part of the fine if you show you now have a policy. You can also ask to do community service instead: 75 to 100 hours for a first offense and 200 to 275 hours for a second.
License Suspension or a Six-Month Policy
On top of the fine, the court has to choose one of two things. It can suspend the license of the driver or registered owner for three months on a first conviction, or one year for another offense within five years. Or it can require you to keep a nonrefundable insurance policy in force for six months.
Repeat Offenses
For multiple convictions within five years, the court must also impose one or more of these: up to 30 days in jail, suspension or revocation of the car’s plates, or impoundment of the car, which can include its sale.
A person who is cited can present a good faith defense, including lack of knowledge or proof of insurance. The general penalty also doesn’t apply to someone driving another person’s car whose own insurance covers that driving, an employee driving an employer’s car within the normal scope of the job, or a driver of a borrowed car who reasonably believes it’s insured.
A Crash Without Insurance
Hawaii’s Motor Vehicle Safety Responsibility Act adds another risk. Under HRS 287-5, after a crash that causes an injury, a death or more than $3,000 of damage to one person’s property, the administrator (the county police chief or director of finance) can require security if no release or similar document is on file 20 days after the crash report is received. The amount is whatever the administrator thinks would cover possible judgments.
If you don’t post it, HRS 287-6 lets the administrator suspend the license of each driver and the registered owner, with at least 10 days’ notice. Having a liability policy on the car at the time of the crash exempts you under HRS 287-7. Under HRS 287-9, the suspension lasts until you deposit the security, a release or a ruling of no liability is filed, or two years pass without a lawsuit. RateFrog’s guide to what happens when insurance lapses covers the broader risks.
SR-22 Filings in Hawaii
Hawaii’s statutes don’t use the term SR-22, and no state agency page using it turned up. The law calls it proof of financial responsibility. Under HRS 287-20, it can be required after a license suspension or revocation for impaired driving, or after a conviction for offenses such as reckless or inattentive driving, impaired driving or driving while suspended. A first conviction within five years for driving without insurance is excluded from this requirement.
Under HRS 287-21, you can give proof with a certificate from an insurer authorized in Hawaii, a bond, a deposit of money or securities, or self-insurance.
Under HRS 287-40, the requirement can generally end three years after the proof was first required if you’ve had no conviction calling for a suspension in that time. It doesn’t end while a damages lawsuit is pending, a judgment is unpaid or you’ve had a crash in the past year. RateFrog’s SR-22 guide explains how these filings work in general.
If You Can’t Find Coverage
The Hawaii Joint Underwriting Plan (HJUP) insures drivers who can’t get coverage from a licensed company or who have several accidents or traffic convictions. According to DCCA’s HJUP page, the coverages are the same as in the regular market but may cost more, and you can apply through any agent licensed to sell auto insurance in Hawaii. The plan’s page on AIPSO lists a general number of (877) 622-4776 and a private passenger line of 800-827-6370.
Under the Insurance Division rules, vehicle owners with a conviction for driving uninsured in the past 36 months, two or more moving violations within 18 months or two or more at-fault accidents with injuries or $1,000 or more of property damage can qualify.
People who get public assistance cash payments or SSI can choose plan coverage under HRS 431:10C-407. Under the rules, if they’re the only registered owner, a certificate from the Department of Human Services is treated as payment in full for basic coverage. It has to be submitted within 30 days, and the coverage ends 30 days after benefits stop.
How Hawaii Insurers Set Rates
Under HRS 431:10C-207, an insurer can’t base any rating plan, directly or indirectly, on your:
- Age, sex or marital status
- Credit bureau rating
- Length of driving experience
- Race, creed, ethnic background or physical handicap
Under HRS 431:10C-208, an accident that wasn’t your fault can’t raise your premium or cost you a discount. The law doesn’t ban location-based pricing, and the nonrenewal rules refer to rating territories. No state-required discount turned up in the rating law. RateFrog’s guide to the factors that affect car insurance rates covers how other factors work.
Cancellation and Nonrenewal Rules
Under HRS 431:10C-111, an insurer can cancel or refuse to renew a policy only in these cases:
- The principal operator’s license is suspended or revoked.
- Premiums aren’t paid after a reasonable demand.
- The nonrenewal falls within the state’s yearly nonrenewal limit.
- The policy has been in force for 60 days or less, and the reason isn’t one the law prohibits.
The law also allows cancellation when the Insurance Commissioner finds the insurer’s financial soundness would be impaired, or when the insurer leaves the market.
The insurer can’t refuse to continue your policy based solely on factors such as your age, sex, residence or the coverage you choose, and it carries the burden of proof. After a cancellation, it has to refund any unearned prepaid premium within 15 days of cancellation and return of your ID card.
Under HRS 431:10C-111.5, nonrenewals are limited each year to 2% of an insurer’s policies in each rating territory, plus one more for every two new policies written there. HRS 431:10C-112 requires at least 30 days’ notice before a cancellation or nonrenewal, or 20 days for nonpayment, backed by a certificate of mailing. If the insurer offers to renew 30 or more days ahead and you don’t accept, the policy ends at expiration. RateFrog’s guide to car insurance grace periods explains what usually happens when a payment is late.
Is Hawaii’s Minimum Coverage Enough?
The new 40/80/20 minimum is double the old one, but it can still run out in a serious crash, and $20,000 of property damage coverage may not replace a newer car. If a claim is more than your limits, you could owe the rest. PIP pays no more than $10,000 per person for your own injuries.
Before you sign away UM and UIM coverage to save money, think about how you’d pay for a serious injury caused by a driver with little or no insurance. RateFrog’s guide to how much car insurance you need can help you choose, and you can compare car insurance quotes at several coverage levels.
Where to Get Help
The DCCA Insurance Division takes calls at 1-844-808-DCCA (3222) on weekdays from 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Hawaii time and suggests speaking with an investigator before filing a complaint. You can file through its complaint page or the online complaint form.
Courts handle license suspensions for driving uninsured. For crash-related security and suspensions under the Safety Responsibility Act, contact your county police department or director of finance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did Hawaii’s Minimum Car Insurance Change in 2026?
Yes. New and renewed policies starting January 1, 2026 need 40/80/20 liability, up from 20/40/10. The $10,000 PIP requirement stayed the same, and UM and UIM now match the 40/80 bodily injury limits unless rejected in writing.
When Can I Sue the Other Driver in Hawaii?
Only if the crash causes a death, a significant permanent loss of use of a body part or function, permanent and serious disfigurement, or PIP benefits of $5,000 or more. Any recovery is reduced by the covered loss deductible.
What Is the Fine for Driving Without Insurance in Hawaii?
$500 for a first offense and at least $2,000 for each later offense within five years. The court also orders either a license suspension or a six-month nonrefundable policy.
Can I Show Proof of Insurance on My Phone in Hawaii?
Yes. Hawaii law lets you keep your insurance ID card on a mobile device and show it to an officer, and the law allows the card to be accessed through the insurer’s website or app.
Sources
- Hawaii DCCA: FAQ on Auto Insurance Minimum Limits (2026)
- Hawaii DCCA: FAQ on Auto Insurance Minimum Limits (earlier version)
- Hawaii DCCA: Motor Vehicle Insurance Information
- Hawaii DCCA: Hawaii Joint Underwriting Plan
- Hawaii Administrative Rules, Chapter 16-23 (Motor Vehicle Insurance)
- Act 138 (2024), SB2342
- SB726 (2025), Electronic Insurance Verification
- HRS 431:10C-103
- HRS 431:10C-103.5
- HRS 431:10C-104
- HRS 431:10C-105
- HRS 431:10C-107
- HRS 431:10C-111
- HRS 431:10C-111.5
- HRS 431:10C-112
- HRS 431:10C-117
- HRS 431:10C-207
- HRS 431:10C-208
- HRS 431:10C-301
- HRS 431:10C-301.5
- HRS 431:10C-302
- HRS 431:10C-306
- HRS 431:10C-407
- HRS 286-41
- HRS 287-5
- HRS 287-6
- HRS 287-7
- HRS 287-9
- HRS 287-20
- HRS 287-21
- HRS 287-40
- AIPSO: Hawaii Joint Underwriting Plan
- Hawaii DCCA: Filing a Complaint
- NAIC: Hawaii Online Complaint Form