Hawaii Auto Insurance

Hawaii auto insurance coverage is essential for safe and legal driving on the island state. Seeing how important auto insurance is, you will want to find the insurance companies in HI that give you the best coverage and fit your individual needs. This is very easy to do if you do a little research, and we are here to help you locate an ideal car insurance policy for your Hawaii based car. Here is some information which will help you choose the insurance company that is right for you.

Minimum Requirements For Your Hawaii Auto Insurance Policy

The State of Hawaii requires you to carry a valid Hawaii insurance identification card in you vehicle at all times, and it requires you to have the minimum insurance requirements for the duration of the registration. Failure do meet these requirements results in a fine of $1000 for the first offense and up to $3000 for the second offence, also you may have your license and license plates suspended, and/or some jail time.

Hawaii also requires you to have a minimum Bodily Injury Liability of $20,000 per person, a minimum of $40,000 per accident, and a minimum of $10,000 Property Damage Liability. This basic coverage is referred to as the 20/40/10 coverage. This liability coverage is to protect you from being sued if you are at fault in an accident. Because this coverage only covers the other party in the event of an accident, Hawaii State law requires you to have and carry a minimum of $10,000 Personal Injury Protection or PIP. This will help pay for any reasonable medical expenses for you and your passengers.

Other Available Types Of HI Auto Insurance Coverage

Although the state minimums are rather low it is beneficial for most drivers to carry more than the required insurance coverage. The state insurance companies offer additional coverage. These include Collision Coverage to protect your vehicle when it is involved in a collision. Comprehensive Coverage, or Other than Collision Coverage, pays for losses of your vehicle due to theft or natural disasters. These are often required on your vehicle if you are financing it through a bank or lending company.

Other insurance coverage includes Rental Reimbursement. Basically, this covers renting a car or auto when your main vehicle can not be used. There is also Uninsured Motorist Coverage and an Underinsured Coverage to protect you should you suffer bodily injuries from an accident where the driver at fault has little or no insurance or if you should be the victim of a hit and run.

There is an Alternative Expenses coverage offered which covers less traditional services. These may include acupuncture, naturopathic therapies and even faith healing depending on the specifics of the policy. Along with that is an Additional Chiropractic Treatments coverage which provides for up to 30 additional chiropractic visits up to $75 per visit or treatment.

Other popular insurance coverage options include:

• Wage Loss Benefits which provide for you when injuries from an auto accident prevents you from performing the work you were doing before your accident.
• Death Coverage provides benefits for the spouse and dependent children should the insured person die as a result of an accident.
• Funeral Coverage which pays up to $2,000 for funeral and burial expenses for an insured person who dies as a result of an automobile accident.

Hawaiians paid an average of about $881 in car insurance premiums compared to the national average of $914 in 2003. There was also a .5% to a 1% decrease in car insurance rate for 2007. Another way that Hawaiians save money on auto insurance is by getting higher deductibles, which typically mean lower premiums and more monthly savings. Just make sure that you can cover whatever deductible you choose.

Other Hawaii Auto Insurance Regulations

The State of Hawaii is a ‘No-Fault’ State, meaning that your claim for an injury will be paid out, up to a certain limit, no matter who is at fault for the accident. This is to protect you as a driver from being sued in the event that you are at fault in an accident for bodily injuries and loss of wages. This, however, also limits your ability to sue should the reverse happen.

Hawaii has a monetary threshold of $5,000 which has to be exhausted before a party can claim additional money from an insurance company or an individual. Any medical expenses above this threshold can be filed as a claim for damages against the driver at fault after this $5,000 has been spent on medical expenses.

How long you must be a resident in Hawaii before you can get a license, and registration, and insurance, which depends on which island you are going to live on, and can be found with the DMV office on the island/county you reside in. If you meet the following requirements you can use your vehicle if you have it registered in another state.

• Your vehicle is registered under your name.
• You obtain a safety check inspection from an authorized station.
• You obtain an out of state permit before 30 days have expired upon your arrival to Hawaii.

You can use your out of state license plates until they expire, or for 12 months. You can get Hawaii license plates too. This is a good option for you if you plan on leaving your vehicle in Hawaii. You must insure your vehicle before you can register it in the State of Hawaii. This allows you a good a deal of time to find the insurance company that is right for your needs.

Make sure that your insurance company advises you about the uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage options and your right to refuse coverage in writing. They can help you find the coverage plan that fits you and your family’s needs perfectly.

Comparing Hawaii Auto Insurance Quotes Online

Our free rate tool at the top of the page will give you the top insurance companies side by side so you can compare them with great ease and comfort. Find the Hawaii auto insurance company that is right for you now!