Penalties for Driving Without Insurance in Hawaii
People caught driving without insurance in Hawaii face significant penalties. Sanctions include fines of up to $5,000, community service of up to 275 hours, license suspension for up to one year, vehicle impoundment and even jail time of up to 30 days.
Type of penalty | First offense | Second offense | Multiple convictions within 5 years |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Fines | $500 | $1,500 to $5,000 | $1,500 to $5,000 |
|
Community service alternative | 75 to 100 hours in lieu of fine | 200 to 275 hours in lieu of fine | 200 to 275 hours in lieu of fine |
|
Registration suspension | N/A | N/A | Suspension or revocation of registration plates |
|
License suspension | 3 months, or until proof of insurance is provided | 1 year, or until proof of insurance is provided | 1 year, or until proof of insurance is provided |
|
Imprisonment | N/A | N/A | Not more than 30 days |
|
SR-22 maintenance | 3 years | 3 years | 3 years |
In addition to these penalties, your Hawaii auto insurance rates will likely increase as a result of being convicted for driving without insurance.
Penalties for driving uninsured in Hawaii
By law in Hawaii, you are required to carry liability coverage with minimums of 20/40/10. You need to be able to produce proper proof of insurance when requested at a traffic stop or during a vehicle safety inspection.
Violating the Hawaii auto insurance requirement is considered a traffic violation, which removes you from the roadways when your driving privileges are suspended.
First offense
Even if this is your first time getting caught driving uninsured, you can expect to face serious sanctions. First, you will be fined no less than $500. Secondly, your license will be suspended for a minimum of three months (or until you provide proof of insurance).
The state, however, gives you a chance to decrease your monetary penalties and even keep your driver's license. In lieu of paying the fine, you may be able to perform community service for 75 to 100 hours, if it's your first insurance offense. The court may also waive your suspension if you agree to buy a nonrefundable insurance policy that covers your car for at least the next six months.
Second offense
If you have a repeat conviction for driving without insurance within five years of the first, the penalties become more severe. This time around, you will be charged a heavier fine, ranging from $1,500 to $5,000. You can still choose the community service alternative, but you'll need to put in 200 to 275 hours. Your license suspension period will also grow to one full year.
Multiple convictions within five years
Hawaii imposes even stiffer penalties if you're found to be a habitual offender of their laws. If your record shows multiple records of driving without insurance within a five-year period (the law doesn't specify a number for "multiple records"), Hawaii will add more unforgiving penalties to the second offense sanctions, as it no longer considers the repeat insurance violation a mere traffic violation. You may serve jail time for 30 days, have your registration plates suspended or revoked and, if the court sees fit, have your motor vehicle impounded.
Caught without insurance in an accident
If you are uninsured at the time the accident report is filed, you will face the penalties mentioned above, regardless of whether you were at fault for the accident. Additionally, if it is determined that you are at fault, you will be responsible for paying any damages — including car repair and medical bills — out of pocket.
Reinstatement process
To reinstate your Hawaii driver's license, you will need to buy an auto insurance policy that meets at least the state's minimum coverage requirements and have your insurer file an SR-22 certificate, which you will need to maintain for the next three years.
Hawaii does not have a statewide DMV, so contact your county to determine their process for reinstating your license. Generally, you will need to submit a reinstatement request, pay a fee ($20 in Honolulu, for example) and provide proof of insurance.
You may also need to retake the necessary driver's examinations. That includes taking the knowledge test ($1 to 2) and the road skills test ($10).
Your revoked registration can be reinstated by paying a state fee of $45 plus a county fee of $12.
Reapplying for auto insurance in Hawaii
Insurance companies use your driving record to evaluate whether they want to insure you and to calculate your car insurance cost. A history of violations serves as a warning signal. If a conviction for no insurance is getting you denied by insurers in the mainstream market, Hawaii's Joint Underwriting Plan can help. With the state's assistance, you can obtain the appropriate car insurance, even if you're branded a high-risk driver.