Car Insurance in Hilo, Hawaii
Estimated full coverage in Hilo runs about $1,050 a year ($87/month) — ▼ −4% versus the Hawaii average, ranking 8th most expensive of the 8 Hawaii cities we cover.
- Per month
- $87
- vs. Hawaii average ($1,095)
- −4%
- vs. U.S. average ($1,590)
- −34%
- State-minimum coverage
- $420/yr
- Minimum liability
- 40/80/20
- Insurance offices nearby
- 10
Why car insurance in Hilo costs less than the Hawaii average
Insurers price by territory, and Hilo's numbers explain most of the gap. With 50,404 residents on 53.6 square miles, the city's density (940 people per square mile) is 33% higher than the density where the typical Hawaii resident lives (709). The average commute is 20.3 minutes (Hawaii: 26.2), and 72% of workers drive alone. Together these put our location factor at 0.96× the state baseline for liability and collision, and 0.94× for comprehensive once FEMA weather risk for Hawaii County is included.
| Factor | Hilo | Hawaii ref. | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population density | 940 / sq mi | 709 / sq mi | More vehicles per mile of road means more fender-benders and claims. |
| Average commute | 20.3 min | 26.2 min | Longer daily drives add exposure to crashes. |
| Commutes over 60 min | 6.5% | — | Long highway commutes raise mileage-based risk. |
| Drive alone to work | 71.8% | — | Share of workers commuting by car. |
| Public transit to work | 0.9% | — | Transit use lowers how much residents drive. |
| Work from home | 8.9% | — | Remote workers may qualify for low-mileage pricing. |
| Households without a car | 8.9% | — | Context for non-owner and occasional-driver policies. |
| Weather hazard score (FEMA) | 38.7 | 48.6 | Hail, wind, flood and hurricane exposure drive comprehensive claims. |
Minimum car insurance in Hilo
Hilo drivers follow Hawaii's rules: at least 40/80/20 liability coverage, personal injury protection. Hawaii is no-fault. We estimate state-minimum coverage in Hilo at $420 a year, and $540 for 100/300/100 limits.
| Coverage | Required? | Minimum | What it pays for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bodily injury liability | Yes | $40,000 per person / $80,000 per accident | Injuries you cause to other people |
| Property damage liability | Yes | $20,000 | Damage you cause to other vehicles and property |
| Personal injury protection (PIP) | Yes | $10,000 Personal injury protection of at least $10,000 is required for your own medical and rehabilitation costs, regardless of fault. | Your own medical bills and lost wages, regardless of fault |
| Uninsured motorist (UM) | No | — Insurers must offer uninsured motorist coverage; it may be rejected in writing. | Your injuries when the at-fault driver has no insurance |
| Underinsured motorist (UIM) | No | — Insurers must offer underinsured motorist coverage; it may be rejected in writing. | The gap when the at-fault driver’s limits are too low |
| Medical payments (MedPay) | No | — Medical expenses are covered through required PIP. | Medical bills for you and your passengers |
Proof of coverage must be carried while driving.
Minimums were raised recently from 20/40/10.
Risk factors that shape Hilo premiums
Accidents
Hawaii recorded 102 traffic deaths, or 0.96 per 100 million vehicle miles (U.S.: 1.19), in the latest full year of federal crash data. Local crash frequency is folded into our density and commute factors.
Vehicle theft
Hawaii's vehicle theft rate is 282 per 100,000 residents (U.S.: 197). The most-stolen vehicle in the state is the Ford Pickup (Full Size) (NICB). Theft losses are paid by comprehensive coverage.
Weather
FEMA rates Hawaii County as very low for hail, relatively high for inland flooding and very low for strong wind, and relatively low for hurricanes.
Traffic & commuting
6.5% of Hilo commuters spend an hour or more getting to work, and there are 1.92 vehicles per household. 8.9% work from home — worth mentioning to insurers that offer low-mileage pricing.
| Hazard | Risk rating | Score (0–100) | Insurance impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hail | 4.3 | Comprehensive (car); roof claims (home) | |
| Tornado | 7.4 | Comprehensive; dwelling | |
| Hurricane | 68.3 | Comprehensive; wind/hurricane deductibles (home) | |
| Inland (river) flooding | 98.9 | Comprehensive; home needs a separate flood policy | |
| Coastal flooding | 50.8 | Comprehensive; home needs a separate flood policy | |
| Strong wind | 2.6 | Comprehensive; dwelling | |
| Winter weather | 1.7 | Collision (icy roads); frozen pipes (home) |
Scores are national percentiles of FEMA's county risk (higher means more expected loss than most other U.S. counties).
Estimated car insurance in Hilo by driver profile
A clean-record driver in their 50s pays the least in our Hilo model (about $965 for full coverage); an 18-year-old on their own policy pays about $2,885, and a DUI pushes a 30-something to $1,940.
| Driver | Minimum | Standard | Full coverage | Full / month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teen driver (18, own policy) | $1,150 | $1,480 | $2,885 | $240 |
| Young adult (22) | $670 | $865 | $1,680 | $140 |
| Adult in their 30s | $420 | $540 | $1,050 | $88 |
| Adult in their 50s | $385 | $495 | $965 | $80 |
| Senior (72) | $470 | $605 | $1,175 | $98 |
| 30s, one at-fault accident | $605 | $780 | $1,520 | $127 |
| 30s, DUI on record | $775 | $995 | $1,940 | $162 |
Minimum vs. standard vs. full coverage in Hilo
| Coverage level | What it includes | Per year | Per month | Typical range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| State minimum liability | Only the liability (and PIP/UM where required) limits your state mandates. No coverage for your own car. | $420 | $35 | $345–$495 |
| Standard liability (100/300/100) | Higher liability limits plus uninsured motorist coverage. Still no coverage for damage to your own car. | $540 | $45 | $440–$635 |
| Full coverage | Standard liability plus collision and comprehensive, typically required on a financed or leased car. | $1,050 | $87 | $860–$1,240 |
Estimate your premium in Hilo
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Cheap car insurance in Hilo: how to lower your rate
The cheapest policy is the one that fits your situation. These levers are priced with Hilo's own numbers:
| Change | Est. yearly savings | Good fit if… |
|---|---|---|
| Raise collision/comprehensive deductible from $500 to $1,000 | $70 | You have savings to cover a bigger out-of-pocket repair. |
| Low-mileage / usage-based pricing (under 7,500 mi) | $75 | You're among the 8.9% of Hilo workers who work from home, or you rarely drive. |
| Drop collision & comprehensive on an older car | $280 | The car is paid off and worth little more than a year of premiums. |
| Standard (100/300/100) instead of full coverage | $510 | No loan or lease requires physical-damage coverage. |
| Avoid one speeding ticket | $230 | Everyone — violations typically affect rates for three to five years. |
Also ask about bundling, good-student, paid-in-full and defensive-driving discounts, and re-shop at every renewal — the same driver can be priced very differently by different insurers. We don't recommend specific companies. Common car insurance discounts.
Comparing car insurance quotes in Hilo
- Use identical limits and deductibles on every quote — e.g. 100/300/100 liability with $1,000 deductibles — or prices aren't comparable.
- Get quotes from different channels: captive agents, independent agents who quote several insurers, and direct online insurers. There are 10 offices listed below.
- Check complaint records with the Hawaii Insurance Division (complaint information) before you buy.
- Mention your ZIP code accurately — within Hilo, our estimates differ by up to $0 a year between neighborhoods.
Car insurance agents near Hilo, HI
We found 10 insurance offices within about 6 miles of central Hilo, from open map data. Hover over a listing to show it on the map, click it to open the address in Google Maps, or tap it on a phone to start navigation. We don't sell insurance, rate these offices or receive anything from them.
-
Claire Justo - State Farm
2100 Kanoelehua Avenue, Suite 212, Hilo, HI 96720 -
HMSA - HSMA
HI -
Pyramid Insurance
HI -
Allstate
HI -
Financial Benefits Insurance
1289 Kilauea Avenue, , HI -
Iris Kuwaye - State Farm
9 Lei St, Hilo, HI 96720 -
Nakoa Kai Insurance Professionals
680 Manono St, Hilo, HI 96720 -
Hope Chu Hing - State Farm
586 Kanoelehua Avenue, Suite 300, Hilo, HI 96720 -
State Farm
HI -
Robert Shimabuku - State Farm
16-566 Keaau - Pahoa Rd., #122, Keaau, HI 96749
Map © Google. Office list: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0) - https://www.openstreetmap.org/copyright; All The Places (alltheplaces.xyz), data released under the CC-0 waiver; run 2026-09-19-13-32-18. OSM license. Listings are informational and may be out of date.
Insurance cost of popular cars in Hilo
| Model | Segment | Est. full coverage / yr | vs. average car |
|---|---|---|---|
| Honda CR-V | Small SUV | $785 | −25% |
| Subaru Outback | Wagon | $770 | −27% |
| Tesla Model 3 | Midsize car | $1,135 | +8% |
| Subaru Forester | Small SUV | $755 | −28% |
| Honda Civic | Compact car | $1,215 | +16% |
| Toyota Corolla | Compact car | $1,125 | +7% |
| Jeep Wrangler | Midsize SUV | $870 | −17% |
| Mazda CX-5 | Small SUV | $890 | −15% |
| MINI Cooper | Subcompact car | $795 | −24% |
| Tesla Model Y | Midsize SUV | $1,025 | −2% |
Car insurance in nearby Hawaii cities
- Kahului $1,120/yr · 121 mi
- East Honolulu $1,215/yr · 203 mi
- Kailua $1,250/yr · 208 mi
- Honolulu $1,180/yr · 212 mi
- Kaneohe $1,245/yr · 212 mi
- Pearl City $1,220/yr · 220 mi
- Waipahu $1,370/yr · 223 mi
All Hawaii cities and state rules · Homeowners insurance in Hilo
Frequently asked questions
How much is car insurance in Hilo, HI?
We estimate full coverage in Hilo at about $1,050 a year ($87 a month) for a driver in their 30s with a clean record, and about $420 for Hawaii's minimum liability coverage. Real quotes vary by insurer, driver and vehicle.
Why is car insurance in Hilo cheaper than the Hawaii average?
Our Hilo estimate is 4% lower than the statewide figure. The model reflects a population density of 940 people per square mile (the typical Hawaii resident lives at about 709) and an average commute of 20.3 minutes versus 26.2 statewide. Denser traffic and longer drives mean more claims, which insurers price into local rates.
What car insurance is required in Hilo?
Drivers in Hilo follow Hawaii law: at least 40/80/20 liability coverage plus PIP.
How much is car insurance for a teenager in Hilo?
An 18-year-old with their own full-coverage policy would pay around $2,885 a year in Hilo by our estimate ($1,150 for minimum coverage). Adding a teen to a parent's policy is usually cheaper.
Does weather affect car insurance in Hilo?
Yes. FEMA's National Risk Index rates Hawaii County for inland (river) flooding (relatively high) risk. Weather mainly affects the comprehensive part of a policy, which pays for hail, flood and wind damage.
Are there car insurance agents near me in Hilo?
We list 10 insurance offices in and around Hilo, with addresses, phone numbers where published, and directions. We don't sell insurance or rank these offices.
How we estimate this
We start from the state's average liability, collision and comprehensive premiums published by the NAIC, then apply a location factor (population density and commute time from the Census ACS, weather hazard scores from FEMA's National Risk Index), a vehicle factor (HLDI insurance-loss data where available, otherwise vehicle segment), and a driver-profile multiplier. Results are rounded ranges for comparison, not quotes. Read the full methodology.
- Hawaii Insurance Division: Auto Insurance Minimum Limits FAQ
- Hawaii Revised Statutes 431:10C-306 (abolition of tort liability / threshold)
- Hawaii Revised Statutes 431:10C-301 (UM/UIM offer)
- Hawaii SB 2342 CD1 (increase of minimum limits)
- Maui County: Financial Responsibility (SR-22)
- Hawaii Insurance Division: File a Complaint
- NAIC 2022/2023 Auto Insurance Database Report
- NAIC Homeowners Insurance Report: Data for 2023
- Insurance Research Council uninsured motorist estimates (via Triple-I)
- IIHS Fatality Facts: state by state
- FBI Crime Data Explorer: Crime in the United States 2025 (Table 4)
- NICB 2022 Vehicle Theft Data: top 10 stolen vehicles by state
- FHWA Highway Statistics 2024, Table DL-1C (licensed drivers)
- FHWA Highway Statistics 2024, Table MV-1 (registrations)
- FHWA Highway Statistics 2024, Table VM-2 (vehicle-miles traveled)
- U.S. Census Bureau Vintage 2024 population estimates
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (Hilo and ZIP code tabulation areas)
- U.S. Census Bureau population estimates and Gazetteer files
- FEMA National Risk Index (county hazard ratings)
- Insurance office locations: OpenStreetMap contributors and All The Places