Best car insurance in Hawaii for 2023

Our 2023 Bankrate Score considers variables our insurance editorial team determined impacts policyholders’ experiences with an insurance company. These rating factors include a robust assessment of each company’s product availability, financial strength ratings, online capabilities and customer and claims support accessibility. Each factor was added to a category, and these categories were weighted in a tiered approach to analyze how companies perform in key customer-impacting categories.

Like our previous Bankrate Scores, each category was assigned a metric to determine performance, and the weighted sum adds up to a company’s total Bankrate Score — out of 5 points. This year, our 2023 scoring model provides a more comprehensive view, indicating when companies excel across several key areas and better highlighting where they fall short.

• Tier 1 (Cost & ratings): To determine how well auto and home insurance companies satisfy these priorities, 2023 quoted premiums from Quadrant Information Services (if available), as well as any of the latest third-party agency ratings from J.D. Power, AM Best and the NAIC, were analyzed.
• Tier 2 (Coverage & savings): We assessed companies’ coverage options and availability to help policyholders find a provider that balances cost with coverage. Additionally, we evaluated each company’s discount options listed on its website.
• Tier 3 (Support): To encompass the many ways an auto insurance company can support policyholders, we analyzed avenues of customer accessibility along with community support. This analysis incorporated additional financial strength ratings from S&P and Moody’s and factored a company’s corporate sustainability efforts.

Knowing your insurance obligations is an important part of being a safe and responsible driver, and failure to maintain Hawaii state minimum liability limits can result in a ticket and a fine. Additionally, Hawaii is a no-fault state, so you may find it helpful to learn more about personal injury protection, or PIP coverage.

Because your lienholder has a financial interest in your vehicle, it wants to ensure that your car will be repaired after an accident. As such, most lienholders require full coverage as a provision of your loan agreement. If you’re leasing, you may also be required to carry certain liability limits. To avoid expensive force-placed insurance, you may want to review your finance documents carefully, and when in doubt, a conversation with a licensed agent may be in order.

The best auto insurance in Hawaii is a policy that can meet your individual needs. For example, some parts of Hawaii are relatively remote, so roadside assistance might be a good coverage option if you travel often. Perhaps you have a teen who is about to go away for college. In that case, you may want to choose a company that offers a distant student discount. Maybe you have accidents or tickets on your record and need a company that is geared toward high-risk drivers. Before shopping, you may want to think about what makes you unique from other drivers and use this information as a guide when requesting quotes.

Although Hawaii has some restrictions on what information insurance companies can use to determine your premium, rates are still individualized. For instance, your driving history and the type of vehicle you drive can still impact your rate. This means that no one car insurance company in Hawaii is the cheapest for all drivers. However, based on average premium data from Quadrant Information Services, Geico, USAA and State Farm could be good places to start.

Hawaii drivers have numerous options when it comes to choosing a car insurance company, but there is no one best insurance company for everyone. Based on Bankrate’s research and scoring system, which takes customer support, coverage options and cost into account, Geico, USAA, State Farm, Allstate and Farmers ranked as the top companies for auto insurance in Hawaii. Because car insurance depends so heavily on personal preference and the vehicle you drive (among other things), the best auto insurance company for you is the one that can most closely fit your needs. Getting quotes from several companies could help you find the best car insurance Hawaii for you.

Driving without insurance is a serious offense. If you are caught driving without insurance, you might face fines, license suspension and even jail time. If you cause an accident and do not have insurance coverage, you will be responsible for paying for the damages out of pocket. If you cannot afford to do so, you may be sued.

Hawaii’s tropical climate comes with a downside: storms. The island is vulnerable to natural disasters like tsunamis, earthquakes and tropical storms. Your car insurance might provide coverage for damage caused by natural disasters, but only if you have comprehensive coverage. If you have minimum coverage or just liability coverage, you will not have coverage for damages caused by natural disasters.

Hawaii requires a minimum of $20,000 per person and $40,000 per accident in bodily injury liability coverage, as well as a minimum of $10,000 per accident in property damage liability. The state also requires a $10,000 minimum in PIP coverage.

No, the average full coverage car insurance is 58 percent lower in Hawaii than the national average. Comparatively cheap auto insurance rates may be in part due to Hawaii’s year-round temperate climate and potential for fewer inclement weather-related claims.