Uninsured Motorist Coverage for Seniors in Hawaii
Hawaii requires drivers to carry uninsured motorist coverage, and for older drivers it often matters more, not less, as the years go on.
Yes, and in Hawaii it's required, not optional
Hawaii law requires auto insurers to offer uninsured motorist coverage, and most drivers carry it as part of their policy. It pays for your injuries if a driver with no insurance, or not enough insurance, hits you. It doesn't depend on your age. What changes for an older driver isn't whether you qualify for it, but how much of it makes sense to carry and why.
The reason it matters more for seniors isn't about driving ability. It's that medical costs after a serious accident tend to be higher to treat and take longer to recover from at an older age. If the other driver has no insurance or carries only the state minimum, your own uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage is what stands between you and paying those costs yourself.
How much coverage you carry matters more than your age does
Hawaii sets a minimum amount of uninsured motorist coverage insurers must offer, but you can usually choose to carry more. Many drivers keep the minimum for years without ever looking at it again, simply because it was the default when they signed up.
For an older driver, it's worth checking that number against what a serious injury would actually cost to treat. A minimum policy that felt adequate decades ago may not match current medical costs. Ask your insurer what your current uninsured motorist limit is and whether you can raise it.
This is also one of the few parts of a policy where raising the limit doesn't require you to prove anything about your driving record or your health. It's simply a choice about how much protection you're buying.
What people get wrong about underinsured coverage
Uninsured motorist coverage and underinsured motorist coverage sound like the same thing, and in Hawaii they're often bundled together, but they cover different situations. Uninsured coverage pays when the other driver has no policy at all. Underinsured coverage pays when they have a policy, but its limits are too low to cover what you're owed.
A driver who causes a serious accident with only a minimal policy can leave you with real costs even though technically they were insured. If your own underinsured motorist limit is also low, there's little left to make up the difference.
Check both numbers on your policy, not just one. They're usually listed together, but they're separate limits and worth confirming separately with your insurer.
Questions people ask about this
Does my health insurance cover injuries from an uninsured driver instead?
Health insurance may cover some medical treatment, but it won't cover lost income, pain and suffering, or other costs that uninsured motorist coverage is meant to pay for. The two work differently and aren't a substitute for each other. Check with your health plan to see what it actually covers in an accident.
Will my rate go up if I raise my uninsured motorist coverage?
It depends on your insurer, since each one prices coverage differently. Raising this particular limit is often a smaller cost than raising liability coverage, because you're insuring against someone else's lack of coverage, not your own risk. Ask your insurer for a quote at a higher limit before assuming it costs more than it's worth.
Does uninsured motorist coverage apply if I'm a passenger in someone else's car?
Yes, uninsured motorist coverage generally follows you, not just your car, so it can apply if you're a passenger or even a pedestrian hit by an uninsured driver. The details depend on your policy's wording. Ask your insurer to confirm how your coverage applies outside your own vehicle.
Can my insurer drop my uninsured motorist coverage as I get older?
No insurer can remove required coverage without your agreement, since Hawaii requires it be offered on every policy. You can choose to decline it in writing in some cases, but that's a decision you make, not one made for you based on age. If your coverage has changed, ask your insurer directly why and whether you agreed to it.
What happens if the uninsured driver who hits me has no assets either?
Your uninsured motorist coverage pays regardless of whether the other driver could ever pay you back themselves. That's the purpose of carrying it, since suing someone with no assets or no insurance rarely results in actual payment. Your own policy is what provides the recovery in that situation.
See what other insurers would charge to raise your uninsured motorist coverage before you renew.
Pull out your current policy declarations page and find your uninsured and underinsured motorist limits. Call your insurer and ask what those numbers mean in practice, and what it would cost to raise them. If you don't have a recent renewal notice in hand, ask for one so you can see the current limits in writing. Compare what you're told against quotes from other insurers before your renewal date arrives, not after. Bring your driving record and any discount certificates you've completed, since those can affect the quote you're given.
