What is Car Insurance? - Island Insurance | Island Insurance

What is Car Insurance?

Car insurance in Hawaii helps provide financial protection for you, your family, other drivers and passengers, and your vehicle. You can choose the amount of protection by selecting your coverages and limits. An auto insurance policy can provide these coverages:

  • Accidents
  • Liability
  • Medical Expenses
  • Property
  • Vehicles

Understanding Your Auto Insurance Policy

Your auto insurance policy consists of multiple coverages that provide protection in different situations involving your car. Coverages have different limits and may have deductibles. Specific coverages and limits may also be required by a lienholder or lender.

To better understand your policy, there are insurance terms you should know:

  • Coverage – protection and benefits provided to you
  • Limits – Maximum amount of protection for a specific coverage
  • Policy – Contract between you and your insurance company
  • Premium – The price of your insurance policy
  • Deductible – The portion you pay out-of-pocket if you file a claim

Types of Car Insurance Coverage

Various types of car insurance coverage are available to help protect you, other drivers and passengers, and your vehicle if you’re involved in a car accident.

Liability Coverages
  • Bodily Injury Liability pays for damages for bodily injury or death resulting from an accident for which you are at fault.
  • Property Damage Liability pays for damage to someone else’s property resulting from an accident for which you are at fault.
Personal Umbrella Policy

A personal umbrella policy is a type of insurance policy designed to add extra liability coverage over and above the existing limits and coverages of your auto and home, condo or renters policies. This is important protection to consider especially if you are involved in an accident that injures another person and you are found responsible for a potentially large judgment, and any medical bills. If this were to happen and your current policy limits are exhausted, you may be faced with paying the difference from your hard earned savings.

A personal umbrella policy premium is an affordable way to protect your current and future assets. With premiums that could start as low as $150 annually, you can obtain a substantial amount of additional protection with coverage limits ranging from $1 million to $5 million.

Personal Injury Protection

Personal injury protection covers medical expenses only related to injuries caused by a motor vehicle accident.

Uninsured Motorist Coverages
  • Uninsured Motorist Coverage may help compensate you for your injuries caused by an at-fault driver without insurance.
  • Underinsured Motorist Coverage may help compensate you for your injuries caused by a driver without sufficient limits of insurance to pay your bodily injury claim.
Vehicle Coverages
  • Collision Coverage may pay for damage to your car when it hits, or is hit by another vehicle or other object.
  • Other Than Collision Coverage may pay for damage to your car from theft, vandalism, fire, or other covered losses.
Additional Auto Insurance Coverages

Emergency Towing & Labor Reimbursement is included at no additional charge for auto policies with collision and other than collision coverage. A reimbursement of up to $75 on covered vehicles is available for the following emergency services – one per disablement, at the place of disablement.

  • Emergency Towing
  • Lockout Service
  • Tire Change
  • Battery Jump Start

Rental Car Reimbursement is included at no additional charge for Island Insurance auto policyholders with collision and other than collision coverages who require a car rental because a covered vehicle is damaged or disabled for more than 24 hours. Specific limits apply.

How much car insurance do I need?

The amount of auto insurance coverages you will need should be determined by your needs and budget. Some things to consider when deciding how much coverage you may need:

  • Your assets and financial situation – Depending on how much assets you have, you may opt for higher liability coverage amounts. If you are at fault in an accident where someone is injured but your liability coverage limits don’t cover all their expenses, you may be responsible for the remainder of the amount.
  • Deductibles and risk tolerance – In the event of an accident or loss, your deductible is the amount you will have to pay before your insurance covers the remaining amount (up to your policy limit). Typically, higher deductibles will lower your premium, however, please determine if you will be able to afford your deductible amount as it will be your out-of-pocket expense.
  • Vehicle type – Depending on the type of vehicle you drive, you may want to consider higher amounts of coverage if your make of vehicle may require costly repairs or is popular with thieves.
  • Car payments – If you have a brand new vehicle and are making car payments, your loan or finance company may require you to obtain Collision and Other Than Collision Coverage in addition to Liability Coverage.
State of Hawaii auto insurance required minimums

All Hawaii drivers are required to maintain a minimum amount of auto insurance coverage as noted below throughout the registration period of a vehicle (drivers must also have a valid State of Hawaii motor vehicle insurance ID card while driving).

  • $20,000/$40,000 bodily injury liability
  • $10,000 property damage liability
  • $10,000 personal injury protection

You may also want to keep in mind that state required minimums may not cover the costs of a serious accident, so it’s worth considering purchasing higher levels of coverage.

When should I make changes to my auto insurance?

You may only think of making changes to your auto policy if you purchasing a new car but it is recommended that you review your car insurance each year prior to its renewal. Your personal circumstances may have changed since you first purchased your auto policy or you may be reviewing your financial situation. Whatever your reason, you don’t have to wait for your renewal to make changes to your auto policy. If you have experienced any of the following, you may want to review your auto policy with your agent.

  • You are purchasing a new car
  • Adding or removing a car
  • Adding or removing a driver
  • You are getting married
  • You are getting divorced
  • You are moving residences
  • Your driving habits have changed
  • You own an older vehicle or a high-end automobile

Why should I purchase my auto insurance from Island Insurance?

Island insurance was founded in downtown Honolulu in 1940 and is the only locally owned property and casualty (P&C) insurance company. Guided by its founding values of providing affordable insurance options to the people of Hawaii, Island is recognized as a Top 50 P&C insurer in the nation.

Our customers have the convenience of paying their bill or managing their policy online 24/7. Or, if you need assistance with your policy or to speak to a claims representative, our employees live and work in Hawaii just like you and are here to help you.

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