Best Car Insurance in Hawaii

Last Updated on October 7, 2026

By James Shaffer · Reviewed by Thomas Rockford, insurance industry executive and financial analyst, on October 5, 2026 · How we fact-check

Car insurance can be pricey in many parts of the country, but Hawaii is still often one of the more affordable states for auto coverage.

Insure.com’s rate study, updated September 25, 2026, puts average full coverage in Hawaii at $1,757 a year against a national average of $2,578, which makes Hawaii one of the cheapest states to insure a car in. That figure is for a 40-year-old driver with a clean record and good credit in a Honda Accord LX at 100/300/100 limits with $500 deductibles.

Hawaii is also one of the few states where the regulator publishes its own price survey. The Insurance Division’s 2026 motor vehicle premium comparison prices the required coverage package on a 2024 Honda Accord LX for a driver with no accidents and no convictions, and the annual premiums run from $195 to $1,577 depending on the company and the island. The same comparison runs a second driver with one speeding conviction, where the top of the range is $1,913. That spread is the best argument there is for getting more than one quote.

Drivers in Hawaii can often save even more by comparing quotes, stacking discounts, and choosing the right company for their needs—especially because some insurers price certain driver profiles more competitively than others.

What are the best auto insurance companies in Hawaii? What are Hawaii’s minimum requirements? And what happens if you drive uninsured? Continue reading to learn how to find the best car insurance in Hawaii.

1. Hawaii Is Often Below the National Average: Hawaii typically ranks as a more affordable state for auto insurance, but rates still vary widely by driver profile and island.
2. The Minimums Went Up on January 1, 2026: Hawaii now requires 40/80/20 liability coverage plus $10,000 of personal injury protection (PIP) per person. The old limits were 20/40/10, so if your policy last renewed in 2025 you may still be on them.
3. Strict Proof-of-Insurance Expectations: You must carry proof of coverage (a Hawaii insurance ID card) and driving uninsured can lead to fines and license suspension.
4. Shopping Around Matters: In the state’s own 2026 premium comparison the required coverage ran from $195 to $1,577 a year for a driver with a clean record, depending on the company. Comparing quotes is the fastest way to save here.
5. Hawaii Bans Most Personal Rating Factors: State law forbids insurers from rating on age, sex, length of driving experience, credit, marital status and more. A teenager in Hawaii is not surcharged for being a teenager, which is why Hawaii keeps topping the cheapest-for-young-drivers tables.

Top 10 Auto Insurance Companies in Hawaii

Hawaii drivers can choose from big national carriers and strong local/regional options. The “best” insurer depends on your eligibility, budget, coverage needs, and driving history.

1. USAA: If you (or an immediate family member) have military affiliation, USAA is often one of the best values for price and service. Start here if you qualify for USAA membership, then compare it to a few other quotes.
2. GEICO: GEICO is popular in Hawaii for straightforward online quotes and is a useful benchmark when you’re checking whether a quote is reasonable—and GEICO is often among the cheaper options for many drivers, though not always the cheapest. One Hawaii catch: GEICO’s own page says its DriveEasy telematics program is not offered in Hawaii, so don’t count on that discount here.
3. State Farm: State Farm can be a strong choice if you want a local agent, prefer face-to-face service, or plan to bundle auto with renters/homeowners insurance. It’s also a good option for drivers who value claims support and long-term stability.
4. Island Insurance: Island Insurance Company Limited is Hawaii-based and calls itself Hawai’i’s insurance experts. Worth quoting if you want local servicing and an agent you can see in person.
5. Allstate: Allstate is widely available throughout Hawaii with a large agent footprint and a variety of discounts (especially if you bundle). It can be a strong fit for drivers who want customization and optional coverages.
6. Progressive: Often competitive for drivers who want flexible payment options and good online tools for comparing coverage and deductible combinations. Like GEICO, its telematics program has a Hawaii gap: Progressive’s Snapshot FAQ says the participation discount isn’t available in Hawaii.
7. Farmers: Farmers can be a good fit if you prefer working with an agent and want a range of add-ons and discount opportunities. It’s also worth quoting if you’re shopping multiple policy types with one provider.
8. Liberty Mutual: Liberty Mutual is worth considering if you want a wide menu of optional coverages and bundling potential. It may not always be the cheapest, but it can be competitive depending on ZIP code and policy structure.
9. First Insurance Company of Hawaii (FICOH): A Hawaii insurer that is part of Tokio Marine Group, so it pairs local servicing with a large parent. It writes personal auto alongside home, condo, renters, flood and hurricane coverage.
10. AAA (Auto Club): If you’re an AAA member, it’s worth checking auto quotes through the club’s insurance arm. Hawaii’s club sits in the Auto Club Enterprises family, so hawaii.aaa.com sends you to ace.aaa.com. Ask which company actually underwrites the policy, because that varies by club.

Tip: If you have trouble finding coverage through standard insurers—after multiple violations, say—Hawaii’s fallback has a name: the Hawaii Joint Underwriting Plan. The Insurance Division describes it as a risk-pooling arrangement that every motor vehicle insurer in the state has to take part in, for drivers who can’t get insured in the normal market. You apply through any agent licensed to sell motor vehicle insurance in Hawaii. Every company named above writes motor vehicle insurance in Hawaii. Most of them are priced by name in the state’s own 2026 premium comparison, and the two Hawaii-based ones appear there through affiliated companies in the same group.

Hawaii Minimum Car Insurance Requirements

Hawaii law requires drivers to carry minimum liability coverage and personal injury protection (PIP). You also must keep a valid Hawaii motor vehicle insurance ID card in your vehicle and be able to show proof of coverage when requested.

The limits went up on January 1, 2026. Senate Bill 2342 raised Hawaii’s liability minimums from 20/40/10 to 40/80/20, and the Insurance Division says the new figures apply to all new and renewal policies with effective dates on or after that day. The PIP requirement did not change. If your policy last renewed in 2025 and nobody has mentioned it, check your declarations page—you may still be carrying the old limits.

Hawaii Minimum Limits (40/80/20) Plus Required PIP

• $40,000 bodily injury liability per person
• $80,000 bodily injury liability per accident
• $20,000 property damage liability per accident
• $10,000 personal injury protection (PIP) per person

Keep in mind: minimum coverage is designed to meet legal requirements—not to fully protect your finances after a serious crash. Many drivers choose higher liability limits and add physical damage coverage (collision and comprehensive), especially if they’re leasing/financing a vehicle.

If you’re comparing options, it helps to understand what a minimum coverage auto insurance policy does (and doesn’t) include before you choose a plan based purely on price.

How Hawaii’s No-Fault Insurance System Works

Hawaii is a no-fault state for injuries. In plain English: after a crash, your PIP coverage is designed to pay for reasonable medical expenses (up to your PIP limits) for you and your passengers, regardless of who caused the accident.

Because of this no-fault structure, lawsuits over injuries are generally limited. Hawaii sets a dollar threshold of medical and rehabilitative expense in the statute, and until your injury costs clear it (or the injury is severe enough to qualify on its own), you work through your own PIP rather than suing the other driver. That threshold is set by statute and changes, so ask your agent or a lawyer for the current figure rather than relying on an old number.

Driving Without Insurance in Hawaii

Driving uninsured in Hawaii is illegal—and the penalties can be expensive and disruptive (including license suspension). You’re also required to have proof of coverage available; being caught without proof of insurance can still create major headaches even if you’re actually insured.

Penalties can vary based on circumstances and whether it’s a first or repeat offense. Generally, repeat offenses within a five-year period come with much tougher consequences.

For what it’s worth, Hawaii drivers mostly do carry coverage. The Insurance Research Council’s 2025 study put Hawaii’s uninsured rate at 9.6% in 2023, 41st among the states, against 15.4% nationally. That is one of the lowest rates in the country.

How Tickets and Accidents Affect Hawaii Car Insurance Rates

Hawaii’s statute bans a long list of personal characteristics as rating factors, but it says nothing about how you drive. So insurers lean hard on what is left: your driving record, your claim history, your vehicle type, and where you garage the car.

Car Insurance in Hawaii With a DUI

A DUI is one of the fastest ways to trigger big premium increases and coverage complications. If you’re shopping after a conviction, compare multiple carriers, ask about payment plan options, and focus on companies that still write policies for high-risk drivers. You can start with this guide to finding cheaper DUI car insurance.

Car Insurance in Hawaii With an At-Fault Accident

One at-fault accident can raise rates for years—especially if there’s significant property damage or injuries. If you’ve been in a crash, review your declarations page and make sure you understand what will and won’t be covered before you renew. Here’s what to know about being at-fault in an accident and how it can impact premiums.

Car Insurance in Hawaii With Speeding Tickets

One minor ticket may not double your rates, but repeated violations (or higher-speed citations) can cause major increases. If you’ve been cited recently, it helps to know how much a single speeding ticket can increase your rates and to shop around before your next renewal.

Car Insurance in Hawaii for Young Drivers

Hawaii is the exception to the rule that young drivers pay more. State law says no insurer may base a rating plan, directly or indirectly, on a person’s age or length of driving experience. A Hawaii insurer cannot surcharge a 19-year-old for being 19, which is why Hawaii keeps coming out cheapest in young-driver rate tables.

What still moves a young driver’s price here is the driving record, the car and where it is kept. So stay violation-free, ask about good student discounts where a company offers them, and compare companies. If you’re shopping for a teen or a driver under 25, start here: cheapest car insurance for young drivers. Just know the mainland advice in that guide about age-based surcharges doesn’t apply to a Hawaii policy.

Car Insurance in Hawaii With Poor Credit

Unlike many states, Hawaii does not allow auto insurers to use credit bureau-related factors when determining premiums. In other words, a bad credit score should not automatically raise your auto insurance price in Hawaii the way it often does elsewhere.

Credit is one item on a longer list. Hawaii’s statute says no insurer may base a rating plan, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, on a person’s race, creed, ethnic extraction, age, sex, length of driving experience, credit bureau rating, marital status or physical handicap. That is a much shorter list of permitted factors than almost any mainland state allows.

If you’re moving from the mainland, this may be a big change—here’s a broader explainer on whether credit scores affect car insurance rates and how state rules can differ.

Because credit isn’t a pricing factor in Hawaii, insurers typically focus more heavily on factors like claims history and your driving history, plus vehicle characteristics and location.

SR-22 Insurance in Hawaii

An SR-22 is not a separate insurance policy—it’s a form filed by an insurer to prove you carry the required coverage after certain serious driving situations. If you’re ordered to carry one, your insurer can usually file it for you (often for a small filing fee), and you’ll need to keep the policy active the entire required period.

SR-22 filing periods vary by situation. For a deeper breakdown, see our guide on how long an SR-22 lasts.

How to Save Money on Car Insurance in Hawaii

• Compare at least 3–5 quotes: The same driver can get very different prices depending on the insurer.
• Raise deductibles (if you can afford it): Higher deductibles can reduce premiums, especially on collision and comprehensive.
• Ask about all discounts: Common savings include multi-policy, safe driver, paperless, autopay, and good student discounts.
• Don’t let coverage lapse: Gaps can cause higher pricing and added hassle in a state with strict insurance enforcement.
• Right-size your coverage: If you have an older paid-off vehicle, you may decide collision/comprehensive isn’t cost-effective—but keep liability and PIP strong enough to protect your assets.

FAQs on Car Insurance in Hawaii

Conclusion: How to Find the Best Auto Insurance in Hawaii

Hawaii car insurance is often cheaper than mainland averages, but your price still depends heavily on your driving record, vehicle, and location. The best way to find the right policy is simple: compare quotes, confirm you’re meeting Hawaii’s current minimum requirements of 40/80/20 plus PIP, and choose the carrier that gives you the best balance of price and claims support.

My advice is to pull out your declarations page before you shop and check whether you are still on 20/40/10. The limits changed in January 2026 and a renewal should have moved you, but it is a two-minute check and the gap between 20/40 and 40/80 is the difference between a covered claim and a lawsuit.

Sources

Checked October 5, 2026

• Hawaii Insurance Division — FAQ on Auto Insurance Minimum Limits
• Hawaii Insurance Division — 2026 Motor Vehicle Insurance Premium Comparison
• Hawaii State Legislature — Senate Bill 2342, CD1
• Hawaii Revised Statutes — 431:10C-207
• First Insurance Company of Hawaii — Home Page
• Island Insurance — Home Page
• GEICO — DriveEasy Telematics
• Progressive — Snapshot FAQ
• Insure.com — Car Insurance Rates, September 25, 2026
• Insurance Information Institute — Uninsured Motorists