Hawaii Car Insurance Requirements: Minimums, Fault Rules & Penalties

Minimum liability requirements

Hawaii requires every motor vehicle operated on public roads to carry at least the following coverage:

Coverage	Minimum limit
Bodily injury per person	$20,000
Bodily injury per accident	$40,000
Property damage per accident	$10,000
Personal injury protection (PIP) per person	$10,000

Hawaii's liability minimums are somewhat lower than the national average, and the property damage minimum of $10,000 can fall short in accidents involving newer vehicles. Drivers who want to avoid personal out-of-pocket exposure should consider limits well above these floors.

The mandatory PIP coverage is the cornerstone of Hawaii's no-fault insurance framework. PIP pays for your own medical expenses and a portion of lost wages after a collision, regardless of who caused it. The $10,000 minimum provides a basic cushion, but given the high cost of medical care in Hawaii — where island geography limits facility options and can increase treatment costs — higher PIP limits are worth considering.

Fault system

Hawaii is a no-fault state. Following a collision, each driver turns to their own PIP policy to cover medical bills and lost-wage replacement up to the policy limit, regardless of which driver was responsible for the accident. This approach is intended to provide prompt medical coverage and reduce litigation over minor injury claims.

PIP does not cover property damage. Vehicle repair and replacement claims still proceed through the at-fault driver's property damage liability coverage, so maintaining adequate liability limits remains important even under the no-fault system.

For serious injuries, Hawaii allows injured parties to step outside the no-fault framework and bring a tort claim against the at-fault driver. The serious-injury threshold includes:

• Death
• Significant and permanent disfigurement
• Permanent injury of a significant nature

When injuries meet this threshold, the injured party can seek compensation beyond PIP limits directly from the at-fault driver's bodily injury liability coverage. This means liability coverage continues to serve a protective function even in a no-fault state.

SR-22 requirements

An SR-22 is a certificate of financial responsibility that your insurer files with the Hawaii Department of Motor Vehicles to confirm your policy meets state minimums. Hawaii requires an SR-22 filing after:

• A DUI or DWI conviction
• A reckless driving conviction
• A license suspension arising from other serious traffic violations
• Any DMV or court order requiring proof of financial responsibility

The required filing period is 3 years. The SR-22 must remain continuously on file throughout this period. If your policy lapses or is cancelled, your insurer must notify the Hawaii DMV, which will result in re-suspension of your license. Reinstating after a lapse requires a new SR-22 filing, a new active policy, and payment of any outstanding reinstatement fees.

Drivers completing the SR-22 requirement typically pay higher premiums. Shopping multiple carriers that work with high-risk drivers is the best strategy for managing those costs during the filing period.

Penalties for driving without insurance

Hawaii's penalty structure escalates significantly with each offense, making repeated uninsured driving one of the more costly compliance failures in the state.

Offense	Fine	License action
First offense	$500	Suspended until proof of insurance filed
Second offense	$1,500	Suspended 1 year
Third and subsequent	$5,000	Suspended until compliance demonstrated

A first-offense fine of $500 is paired with an immediate license suspension that remains in effect until the driver provides proof of active coverage. The jump to $1,500 for a second offense and $5,000 for a third reflects Hawaii's approach of sharply increasing consequences for repeated violations.

In addition to court fines, a suspended driver faces reinstatement fees, potential vehicle impoundment costs, and the ongoing liability exposure that comes with driving uninsured. If you cause an accident without coverage, you are personally responsible for all damages — a liability that can dwarf any insurance premium.

For help comparing coverage options that satisfy Hawaii's requirements, visit the AIS auto insurance quote page.