Driving Without Insurance in Hawaii

A conviction for not having a motor vehicle insurance policy carries a fine of $500 for a first offense and at least $2,000 for each subsequent offense within five years (the court may suspend the fine if the driver shows current insurance, or allow community service). In addition, the court must either suspend the driver's or registered owner's license (3 months for a first conviction, 1 year for a subsequent offense within five years) or require a nonrefundable insurance policy to be kept for six months. For repeat convictions within five years, the court may also impose up to 30 days in jail, suspension or revocation of the vehicle's plates, and impoundment or sale of the vehicle. Other violations of the motor vehicle insurance law carry fines of $100 to $5,000.

Insurers must issue a paper or electronic insurance identification card for each insured vehicle, showing the vehicle, policy number, insured and insurer names, and effective and expiration dates. The card must be in the vehicle or accessible on a mobile electronic device at all times and shown to a police officer on demand. Drivers can be ticketed and fined for operating without the required card, and an owner without insurance must surrender the registration and plates to the county.

Hawaii requires drivers to furnish and maintain proof of financial responsibility (an SR-22-type filing) before relicensing after suspensions or revocations for certain offenses, including OVUII (impaired driving) and related offenses, reckless driving, driving while suspended, and at-fault moving violations in crashes causing injury, death or more than $3,000 in property damage. A first conviction within five years for driving without insurance does not trigger this requirement, and a license suspension under the no-insurance penalty statute does not require proof of financial responsibility.