Almost every state requires its licensed drivers to have a minimum amount of insurance coverage. The required insurance generally includes bodily injury liability coverage and property damage liability coverage in certain minimum amounts.

You are required to show proof of the minimum insurance coverage to a police officer when you are stopped for a moving traffic violation or involved in a traffic accident—and you may receive a citation if you are not able to show proof of insurance. And in some states you are required to show proof of insurance to register your car. In those states, the failure to register your car may result in an additional citation.

In Hawaii, as in most states, drivers are legally required to carry a minimum amount of auto insurance. The state mandates that drivers have both bodily injury liability coverage and property damage liability coverage. The minimum coverage amounts in Hawaii are $20,000 for bodily injury per person, $40,000 for total bodily injury if multiple people are hurt in an accident, and $10,000 for property damage. Hawaii is a no-fault state, which means that drivers must also carry personal injury protection (PIP) to cover medical expenses, lost wages, and other damages, regardless of who is at fault in an accident. Proof of insurance must be presented to law enforcement upon request, such as when stopped for a traffic violation or after an accident. Failure to provide proof of insurance can result in a citation. Additionally, proof of insurance is required for vehicle registration in Hawaii. Not having insurance or failing to register a vehicle due to lack of insurance can lead to additional penalties.