Posts Tagged ‘HI car insurance’

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage for Hawaii Drivers

Friday, May 27th, 2011

Under Hawaii state law, insurance providers must inform consumers about uninsured and underinsured motorist protection. If a driver does not want to add this type of protection to his or her policy, they must indicate this fact in writing.

Uninsured motorist coverage comes into play when the at-fault driver in an accident does not have insurance coverage. Hawaii is a no-fault car insurance state, which means that an accident victim’s own insurer would be responsible for paying for medical bills and expenses stemming from the accident. The right to sue is reserved for cases where the accident resulted in serious and permanent injuries.

No-fault coverage only pays for personal injuries, and uninsured motorist coverage can be used to pay for the cost of repairs to the policyholder’s vehicle if necessary. If uninsured motorist coverage is purchased, the minimum level the insurer can write a policy for is $20,000 for an individual victim and $40,000 to pay for all injuries stemming from the same accident. The minimum level of property damage under this type of policy is $10,000.

A driver can also purchase underinsured motorist coverage to make up the difference between the protection that an at-fault driver has available and the true level of damages caused. The minimum level of this type of protection is $20,000.

Even though this type of insurance is not required, Hawaii car insurance buyers would be well advised to add it to their policy. It is valuable protection that is worth the money spent on premiums.

Is Hawaii a No-fault Auto Insurance State?

Monday, May 9th, 2011

Hawaii is a no-fault state for car insurance purposes. Drivers must carry Personal Injury Protection (PIP) to pay for their own medical bills (and those of the occupants of their vehicle) following an accident. Unless the injuries are serious, the driver’s own insurance company will pay for these expenses. This system means that injured people can get their claims settled more quickly than if they had to sue the at-fault driver to get compensation. The minimum level of PIP coverage that must be purchased is $10,000.

The no-fault system in this state only applies to personal injuries. A claim for physical damage to a driver’s vehicle or public property (sign posts, guard rails, light stands, fences, etc.) must be paid for by the at-fault driver. For this reason, property damage liability coverage is required in the state. The minimum level of property damage liability coverage mandated by law is $10,000.

Drivers in Hawaii always have the option of buying a policy with a higher limit than the minimum required by law if they wish. Bodily injury liability coverage in the amount of $20,000 to pay for injuries sustained by a single accident victim and $40,000 to pay for all injuries sustained in an accident must be put in place. Since this coverage comes into play in the case of injuries which meet the threshold where the accident victim can sue for damages, buying a policy with a higher limit may be the better way to go.

 

Free Auto Insurance Quote Benefit Hawaii Drivers

Tuesday, April 19th, 2011

When Hawaii auto insurance customers want to find the best possible rates on their coverage, checking out free quotes offered by providers is a great strategy. Each company offering coverage in the state uses its own formula to get rates for policyholders, and pricing can vary significantly between providers.

The way to find the lowest rates on coverage is to shop around. Many insurance providers offer no-cost quotes for coverage, and a consumer can get pricing quickly and easily by going online. A buyer can visit individual insurance company web sites or choose to get pricing from a single site that is equipped with an insurance quote tool that can offer quotes from several companies at once. A consumer can even buy a policy online once he or she finds the right one.

The advantage of visiting individual company web sites is that a buyer can learn something about the company before deciding whether to request a quote for coverage. A good choice is a company that is well-established and which has the resources available to pay out on its policyholders’ claims. Good customer service practices and low rates for coverage are also important to budget-conscious consumers. Anyone getting free quotes for coverage should take the time to compare them carefully to confirm that they are for the same type and level of protection before making a buying decision.

 

What Factors Influence Hawaii Car Insurance Rates

Friday, March 18th, 2011

Hawaii car insurance customers need to understand how rates are calculated in the state to make the best decisions about where to buy their coverage. When a driver requests a quote for coverage, the insurer considers several factors before providing this information. All insurance companies licensed to sell policies in the state set their own rates for coverage, and rates can and do vary significantly between providers.

Drivers who apply for coverage can expect that the HI car insurance company will pull their record before providing a quote for coverage. Applicants who have a clean driving record are considered lower risk for car insurance purposes and are offered better rates because of it. A person who has been involved in accidents, has moving violations on his or her record or has been accused of a DUI offense will be considered a higher risk for car insurance purposes.

The insurance company will also want to know about the driving record of all licensed drivers in the household. Even if these other people aren’t driving the vehicle regularly, the insurer will consider that they have access to it and include this fact in the rate calculation.

Another factor that plays a role in determining Hawaii car insurance rates is the make and model of the vehicle. Insurance companies base their rates for physical damage coverage in part on how expensive a particular type of vehicle is to repair. The companies also consider how likely a particular model is to be stolen when setting rates for coverage.