Hawaii Minimum Car Insurance Requirements (2026)
Hawaii requires every registered vehicle to carry at least 40/80/20 liability insurance, meaning $40,000 in bodily injury coverage per person, $80,000 per accident, and $20,000 in property damage per accident, plus $10,000 in Personal Injury Protection (PIP). These higher minimums took effect January 1, 2026, doubling the prior 20/40/10 limits, and Hawaii remains a no-fault state.
Hawaii's minimum car insurance at a glance
Every owner of a vehicle registered in Hawaii must carry a motor vehicle insurance policy for the entire registration period, and no one may operate a vehicle on a public road unless it is insured at all times. As of January 1, 2026, the statutory minimum liability limits are 40/80/20:
- $40,000 bodily injury (BI) liability per person
- $80,000 bodily injury liability per accident
- $20,000 property damage (PD) liability per accident
On top of liability, every policy must include at least $10,000 of Personal Injury Protection (PIP). These figures are double the old 20/40/10 minimums that had been in place for years. The change applies statewide to all personal auto policies that are new or up for renewal on or after January 1, 2026, so if your policy renewed early in the year you may already carry the new limits. You must keep proof of coverage, such as your motor vehicle insurance identification card, with you whenever you drive.
What each required coverage actually pays for
Bodily injury liability pays for the medical bills, lost income, and pain-and-suffering claims of other people you injure in a crash you cause. The per-person figure ($40,000) caps what the policy pays any single injured victim; the per-accident figure ($80,000) caps the total across everyone hurt in one crash. Property damage liability ($20,000) pays to repair or replace another driver's vehicle, plus things like guardrails, fences, or buildings you damage. Neither coverage pays for your own injuries or your own vehicle. That is what PIP (for your medical costs) and optional collision and comprehensive coverage are for. Because these are the legal floor, they are the least an insurer may sell you, not a recommendation. A serious multi-vehicle crash in Hawaii can generate medical and repair costs well beyond $40,000 or $20,000, and any amount above your limits becomes your personal financial responsibility.
Key data
| Factor | Filed value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum bodily injury liability per person (effective Jan 1, 2026) | $40,000 | Hawaii DCCA Insurance Division - Auto Minimum Limits FAQ · Jul 2026 |
| Minimum property damage liability per accident (effective Jan 1, 2026) | $20,000 | Hawaii DCCA Insurance Division - Auto Minimum Limits FAQ · Jul 2026 |
| Minimum required Personal Injury Protection (PIP) per person | $10,000 | Hawaii DCCA Insurance Division - Motor Vehicle Insurance Information · Jul 2026 |
| Fine for driving without motor vehicle insurance (first offense) | $500 | Hawaii State Legislature (Hawaii Revised Statutes) · Jul 2026 |
Hawaii is a no-fault state
Hawaii is one of a small group of no-fault auto insurance states. Under HRS 431:10C-306, tort liability is abolished up to a monetary and injury threshold. In practical terms, after most crashes each driver first turns to their own PIP coverage to pay medical and rehabilitation bills, regardless of who caused the accident. You generally cannot sue the at-fault driver for pain and suffering unless the injury crosses a legal threshold, such as death, significant permanent injury, or medical costs that exceed the statutory limit. This no-fault design is why PIP is mandatory on every Hawaii policy and why the state pairs PIP with liability coverage. It speeds up payment of routine medical bills but also means your own policy carries more of the load, so choosing an adequate PIP limit and considering higher liability limits both matter.
Personal Injury Protection (PIP) explained
PIP is the heart of Hawaii's no-fault system. The minimum is $10,000 per person, and it pays your own (and your passengers') medical and rehabilitative expenses after a crash without regard to fault. Covered care can include hospital and physician bills and rehabilitation services. Hawaii law also lets you buy optional add-ons that build on PIP, such as wage-loss replacement, alternative care (including approved healing methods), death benefits (typically offered in a range from $25,000 to $100,000), and funeral benefits (commonly $2,000). Drivers can also select a PIP deductible or a PIP managed-care option to trade a lower premium for more out-of-pocket exposure. Because $10,000 disappears quickly against modern medical costs, many Hawaii residents purchase PIP above the minimum. If you have strong health insurance you may lean lighter on PIP add-ons, but the base $10,000 PIP is not optional.
Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage
Liability and PIP are mandatory, but two of the most valuable protections in Hawaii are optional: uninsured motorist (UM) and underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage. UM pays for your injuries when an at-fault driver has no insurance or flees the scene; UIM fills the gap when the at-fault driver's liability limits are too low to cover your injuries. Insurers in Hawaii must offer you UM and UIM, and you can reject them only in writing. Given that a meaningful share of drivers on the road carry only minimum coverage (or none), turning down UM/UIM leaves you exposed to paying for another person's negligence out of your own pocket. Stacking UM/UIM limits that match your liability limits is a common, relatively affordable upgrade. Collision and comprehensive coverage, which repair your own vehicle, are also optional under state law but are usually required by a lender or leasing company.
Penalties for driving without insurance
Driving uninsured in Hawaii is treated seriously and is not a simple traffic infraction on a first offense. Under HRS 431:10C-117, a first conviction carries a fine of $500, and the court will either suspend your driver's license for three months or require you to keep a nonrefundable insurance policy in force for six months. Courts may also order community service in lieu of part of the fine, generally 75 to 100 hours for a first offense and 200 to 275 hours for a second. Repeat convictions within a five-year period bring substantially higher fines, longer license suspensions of up to one year, and possible impoundment (or impoundment and sale) of the vehicle. Owners of uninsured vehicles may also have to surrender their registration and license plates.
On top of the penalties, an uninsured at-fault driver is personally liable for all crash damages that a policy would otherwise have paid.
SR-22 and reinstatement in Hawaii
Drivers moving from the mainland often ask about the SR-22, a certificate an insurer files with the state to prove a high-risk driver carries coverage. Hawaii does not use the SR-22 system. Instead, reinstatement runs through proof of financial responsibility under Hawaii's Motor Vehicle Safety Responsibility Act (HRS Chapter 287) alongside the penalty rules of HRS 431:10C-117. After an uninsured-driving conviction, you typically clear the suspension, pay any fines, and show you carry a compliant policy. A repeat conviction within five years triggers a requirement to furnish and maintain proof of financial responsibility before a license is reissued; the first offense within a five-year period is exempt from that ongoing proof requirement. Because there is no SR-22 filing, be cautious of any vendor claiming to sell you a Hawaii SR-22, and confirm reinstatement steps directly with the licensing authority or the Insurance Division.
How much coverage you really need and how to compare
State minimums are a legal floor, not a safety target. The Insurance Division itself notes that even the new 40/80/20 limits can be exceeded by a serious crash, and it encourages drivers to consider higher liability limits plus UM/UIM. Because the 2026 change roughly doubled required limits, the Division has estimated an average premium impact of about a 25% increase, though your actual cost depends on your driving record, vehicle, ZIP code, and claims history. To compare well: quote the exact same limits and deductibles across every carrier, decide on your PIP and UM/UIM levels first, and treat price as only one factor alongside a carrier's claims service and complaint record. Because rates for identical coverage can vary widely between insurers, getting several quotes at matching limits is the single most effective way to control cost without dropping protection you may need after a crash.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum car insurance required in Hawaii?
As of January 1, 2026, Hawaii requires 40/80/20 liability coverage: $40,000 bodily injury per person, $80,000 bodily injury per accident, and $20,000 property damage per accident. Every policy must also include at least $10,000 in Personal Injury Protection (PIP). These limits doubled the prior 20/40/10 minimums.
Is Hawaii a no-fault state?
Yes. Hawaii is a no-fault state. Tort liability is abolished up to a monetary and injury threshold under HRS 431:10C-306, so after most crashes each driver first uses their own PIP coverage to pay medical bills regardless of fault. You can only sue the at-fault driver for pain and suffering if your injury crosses the statutory threshold.
Does Hawaii require an SR-22?
No. Hawaii does not use the SR-22 certificate system common on the mainland. Reinstatement after an uninsured-driving conviction is handled through proof of financial responsibility under HRS Chapter 287 and the penalties in HRS 431:10C-117. A repeat conviction within five years requires furnishing and maintaining proof of financial responsibility; a first offense within five years is exempt.
What is the penalty for driving without insurance in Hawaii?
A first conviction carries a $500 fine, plus either a three-month license suspension or a requirement to keep insurance in force for six months. Courts may order community service instead of part of the fine. Repeat offenses within five years bring higher fines, suspensions up to one year, and possible vehicle impoundment or sale.
Is PIP coverage mandatory in Hawaii?
Yes. Because Hawaii is a no-fault state, every auto policy must include Personal Injury Protection of at least $10,000 per person. PIP pays your own and your passengers' medical and rehabilitation costs regardless of who caused the crash. Optional add-ons like wage loss, alternative care, and death benefits can be layered on top of the base PIP.
Should I buy more than Hawaii's minimum coverage?
For most drivers, yes. The Hawaii Insurance Division notes that serious accidents can exceed even the 40/80/20 minimums, leaving you personally liable for the excess. Higher liability limits, uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, and collision and comprehensive coverage all provide meaningful added protection, often for a modest premium increase.
Sources cited
- Hawaii DCCA Insurance Division - Auto Minimum Limits FAQ — captured Jul 2026
- Hawaii State Legislature (Hawaii Revised Statutes) — captured Jul 2026
- Hawaii Department of Transportation - Driver Licensing — captured Jul 2026
- Insurance Information Institute - Automobile Financial Responsibility Laws by State — captured Jul 2026
- NAIC - Automobile Insurance — captured Jul 2026
