Hawaii Auto Insurance

Under Hawaii law, insurance companies may exclude a driver in your household from inclusion on your auto insurance policy for legal reasons.  In fact, the auto insurance company may make this request for persons with a poor driving history which pose a higher risk.  If a driver is excluded from the policy, they have no liability coverage but you still have the liability exposure if they drive one of your vehicles and get in an accident. The exclusion must be stated on the policy or on an endorsement attached tot he policy.  Some exclusions are difficult to spot on Hawaii auto insurance policies so it is important that you read your policy carefully.

According to Hawaiian law, you cannot drive without the minimum amount of auto liability insurance and there are no exceptions allowed for this law.  Driving without proper insurance is considered as breaking the law.  Insurance in Hawaii will notify the proper authorities if your insurance is dropped or lapses.  You can be fined from $1,000.00 to $3,000.00.  In addition, you may face jail time as well as the loss of your driver’s license, registration and plates for your vehicle. 

The state of Hawaii allows insurance companies to check you credit history when they set your premiums and determine whether they will insure you.  Paying your bills on time can help to reduce your insurance rates.  The company may ask you to explain any bankruptcies, judgments, or credit problems.  The insurance company will also use other criteria such as your driving record, age, type of vehicle you drive and the area where you live to determine your premium rates.

Hawaii is a no fault state but only where bodily injury is concerned. The medical bills involved in an accident must be greater than $5,000.00 and the injury must be declared as severe by the courts in order for the responsible party to be forced to pay additional costs.  You are not required to carry comprehensive, collision, or uninsured motorist coverage but you will have to carry $10,000.00 of personal injury protection insurance (PIP).  Some other types of auto insurance you may carry in Hawaii are wage loss, alternative care, death benefits in the range of $25,000.00 to $100,000.00, funeral benefits of $2,000.00, PIP deductible and PIP managed care.

Hawaii has listed the following insurance companies as certified to sell auto insurance in the state as of 2008:  AIG Centennial Insurance Company, AIG Hawaii Insurance Company Incorporated, Allstate Indemnity Company, Allstate Insurance Company, American Automobile Insurance Company, American Home Assurance Company, American Insurance Company, Associated Indemnity Corporation, Crum & Forster Indemnity Company, Dongbu Insurance Company, Ltd. (US Branch), DTRIC Insurance Company Ltd., Federal Insurance Company, Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company of Hawaii, Incorporated, Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company, First Fire & Casualty Insurance of Hawaii, First Indemnity Insurance of Hawaii, Incorporated, First Insurance Company of Hawaii, Incorporated, Garrison Property & Casualty Insurance Company, GEICO Casualty Company, GEICO Indemnity Company, Government Employees Insurance Company (GEICO), Hartford Underwriters Insurance Company, Hawaiian Insurance & Guaranty Company, Ltd., IDS Property Casualty Insurance Company, Insurance Company of the state of Pennsylvania, Interinsurance Exchange of the Automobile Club, Island Insurance Company, Ltd., Island Premier Insurance Company, Ltd., Liberty Insurance Company, Liberty Insurance Corporation, Liberty Mutual Fire Insurance Company, Metropolitan Property & Casualty Insurance Company, National Surety Corporation, National Union Fire Insurance Company of Pittsburgh, PA., New Hampshire Insurance Company, North River Insurance Company, Pacific Indemnity Company, Phoenix Insurance Company, Progressive Casualty Insurance Company, Progressive Direct Insurance Company, Progressive Hawaii Insurance Company, Progressive Northern Insurance Company, Progressive Northwestern Insurance Company, Progressive Specialty Insurance Company, RLI Insurance Company, State Farm Fire & Casualty Company, State Farm mutual Automobile Insurance Company, Tradewind Insurance Company, Ltd., Travelers Indemnity Company of America, United Services Automobile Association, United States Fire Insurance Company, USAA Casualty Insurance Company, and USAA General indemnity Company.

The average insurance premium in Hawaii averages about $853.00 and has the 15th most expensive auto insurance premiums in the nation as of 2006. 

Some things you can do to reduce your premiums are to maintain a clean driving record, and drive a vehicle with a good safety rating.  Other things that can affect your insurance are the area where you live and work and the traffic volume in that area.  Your age, the age of your car as well as its condition and the type of vehicle you drive, your gender, and your marital status will play a factor in the cost of your auto insurance premiums.  It may also help insurance costs to be aware of the top ten stolen vehicles in Hawaii.  The list is included below.

Top Ten Stolen Cars

1. 1995 Honda Civic EX
2. 1990 Toyota Camry
3. 1990 Honda Accord LX
4. 1996 Acura Integra LS
5. 1991 Toyota Camry
6. 1993 Honda Civic Del Sol S
7. 1994 Honda Civic DX
8. 1995 Honda Civic DX
9. 1990 Honda Accord EX
10. 1990 Honda Civic