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Motorcycle Insurance Minimum Requirements in Hawaii

Prior to taking your motorcycle or motor scooter out on Hawaii’s beautiful roads, y ou must purchase liability insurance in order to be legal.

Ways to Establish Financial Responsibility

Liability insurance proves that you’re financially responsible - meaning you can cover costs related to an accident you cause - enough to be out driving, in case of an accident. Insurance is the only way accepted as proof of financial responsibility.

Two-Wheeled Vehicles Defined

Not every two-wheeled vehicle with a motor needs to be insured, only motor scooters and motorcycles.

Hawaii Motorcycle Insurance Requirements

Hawaii requires you to have liability insurance on your motorcycle to help you pay for any property damages or bodily injuries suffered by others in an accident you cause.

Your motorcycle insurance policy must include the following minimum coverage limits per accident:

  • $20,000 for bodily injury per person.
  • $40,000 for total bodily injury if multiple people are hurt in the accident.
  • $10,000 for property damage.

Keep in mind that these are only the minimum requirements. Hawaii motorcycle insurance companies are required to offer you higher limits as an option. You should especially consider purchasing these higher limits if you own highly valued assets (such as a home) that can be exposed in a lawsuit after a crash.

Optional Coverages

Since liability insurance only covers other people's property damages or injuries, you may find that it does not adequately provide enough financial protection especially when you consider that you may het hurt or your motorcycle may be damaged in an accident.

There are other types of coverage that you should look into as you begin gathering motorcycle insurance quotes. Be aware that the insurance companies are also required to offer personal injury medical payments, and income disability to help cover some of your costs if you are hurt in an accident.

Additionally, most Hawaii motorcycle insurance companies will offer damage coverage for your bike. These coverages typically come in the forms of:

  • Collision - This will cover damages your motorcycle caused by an accident.
  • Comprehensive - This will cover non-accident related damages, such as damages from severe weather or vandalism.

A Note on No-Fault insurance

Hawaii is considered a "no-fault" state. This means that Hawaii requires drivers to carry personal injury protection coverage that acts as their primary source of insurance if they are hurt in an accident.

Motorcycles are an exception to this rule. Personal injury protection coverage does not need to be included in a motorcycle insurance policy.

Proof of Insurance and Financial Responsibility

The insurance company will issue you a card with your policy number and other information on it. Carry this with you when you ride as proof of insurance.

Penalties for Failure to Maintain Financial Responsibility

If you have no proof of insurance or an expired proof of insurance, you could be fined and issued a citation if you’re pulled over or involved in an accident.

Driving without motorcycle insurance could result in you returning your registration and motorcycle plates to the county director of finance. Once you pay off all your fines and get new insurance, you can get your plates and registration back.

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