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Auto insurance premiums for Hawaii motorists rose slightly this year from 2010, the state Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs reported in its annual comparison of the state’s top motor vehicle insurers.
The average annual premium for someone with a clean driving record rose to $467.55, a 0.7 percent increase from last year, according to a recent analysis of DCCA data.
The premium was calculated for a motorist with basic coverage driving a 2010 Honda Accord LX 4-door sedan. The agency surveyed 53 insurers representing about 95 percent of the policies written in Hawaii.
BY THE NUMBERS
Average annual insurance premium (basic coverage) in 2011 for motorists with a clean record driving a 2010 Honda Accord LX 4-door sedan:
| Island |
Annual change |
| Oahu |
| $509.42 |
+0.6% |
| Hawaii island |
| $509.40 |
+0.9% |
| Maui |
| $472.25 |
+0.8% |
| Kauai |
| $379.15 |
+0.7% |
Source: State Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs |
The DCCA publishes premiums for individual insurance companies annually to help consumers compare prices when shopping for automobile insurance.
The comparison table can be found on the agency’s website: hawaii.gov/dcca/ins/consumer/consumer_information/mv_premiums.
"When motor vehicle owners take the time to shop around for policies, it keeps the insurance industry competitive," said Gordon Ito, state insurance commissioner.
"Consumers can use the premium comparison table as an easy way to compare rates and consider their options," he said.
Motorists on Oahu paid the highest average premium in the state this year at $509.42. The rate with one speeding conviction rose to $604.51. Hawaii island was a close second with an average premium of $509.40. That rose to $603.06 with one speeding conviction. Maui was third with an average premium of $472.25, or $560.89 with a speeding conviction. Kauai trailed with an average premium of $379.15, or $444.87 with a speeding conviction.
The premiums are based on the following coverages: $20,000/$40,000 bodily injury liability; $10,000 property damage liability; $10,000 personal injury protection; $20,000/$40,000 uninsured motorist stacked; $20,000/$40,000 underinsured motorist stacked.
Hawaii’s auto insurance companies wrote policies covering 927,099 vehicles in Hawaii as of Dec. 31, 2010, according to the DCCA. There were 1,120,080 vehicles registered in the state in 2010, according to the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism.
The number of complaints against insurers rose to 227 in 2010 from 218 in 2009, the DCCA reported.
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