Family of 5 Moving from AZ to Maui June 1st (Hilo: homes, live)

[CyberCity]

Originally Posted by MauiPartTimer

They said they're policy would stay in place until renewel time, but when we went to get the safety inspection, we had to get insurance through a company that issues policies in HI.

Don't you hate that, when a company representative tells you something that they really know nothing about? And even reading online about the Hawaii car registration process, little-to-nothing is said about the specifics on auto insurance requirements (ie a Hawaii no-fault policy).

[MauiPartTimer]

Originally Posted by CyberCity

Don't you hate that, when a company representative tells you something that they really know nothing about? And even reading online about the Hawaii car registration process, little-to-nothing is said about the specifics on auto insurance requirements (ie a Hawaii no-fault policy).

Yeah, but in fairness, I think the CA insurance might have been able to stay in place if I'd kept the CA license and registration for the allowable 1 year. It just wasn't clear when they told me that. We decided not to wait and just registered the car in HI since we didn't know whether we'd be on-island when the year was up and didn't want to have to worry about it.

[whtviper1]

Originally Posted by MauiPartTimer

Yeah, but in fairness, I think the CA insurance might have been able to stay in place if I'd kept the CA license and registration for the allowable 1 year. It just wasn't clear when they told me that. We decided not to wait and just registered the car in HI since we didn't know whether we'd be on-island when the year was up and didn't want to have to worry about it.

Even if you kept the CA registration - you'd still need a safety check and the first thing they ask you for is your insurance card which must show the insurance is issued in Hawaii.

[OpenD]

Originally Posted by MauiPartTimer

Maybe I missed it, but the one other thing I'd call out is insurance. Our existing insurance company who only insures cars in California gave us some information that was only partially correct. They said they're policy would stay in place until renewel time, but when we went to get the safety inspection, we had to get insurance through a company that issues policies in HI. Not too big a deal since we already had an agent for our homeowner's insurance who set it up, but it would have been nice to know this is advance.

This is a common complaint, and I suppose the information should go on a sticky here...

All cars to be registered in Hawai'i must have insurance and an ID card issued by a Hawai'i company. Mainland insurance policies and ID cards do not qualify.

What this means is that no matter what company issued your mainland car insurance policy, you will need a new policy from a different company in Hawai'i. Many mainland companies get confused about this. For example, if you have a policy with Geico on the mainland, they will probably say "yeah, you're covered in Hawai'i," but in fact you will need a new policy, at a different rate, from the Hawai'i company that is an affiliate of Geico. Sure, the Geico rep on the phone can arrange it for you, but that isn't what you might expect from what they tell you, and you'll save a wasted trip to the safety inspection station if you get the new policy and new ID card first.

[Wegandi]

Originally Posted by OpenD

This is a common complaint, and I suppose the information should go on a sticky here...

All cars to be registered in Hawai'i must have insurance and an ID card issued by a Hawai'i company. Mainland insurance policies and ID cards do not qualify.

What this means is that no matter what company issued your mainland car insurance policy, you will need a new policy from a different company in Hawai'i. Many mainland companies get confused about this. For example, if you have a policy with Geico on the mainland, they will probably say "yeah, you're covered in Hawai'i," but in fact you will need a new policy, at a different rate, from the Hawai'i company that is an affiliate of Geico. Sure, the Geico rep on the phone can arrange it for you, but that isn't what you might expect from what they tell you, and you'll save a wasted trip to the safety inspection station if you get the new policy and new ID card first.

What? What sort of protectionist tripe...I just looked it up and to change over registration/title/etc. it says you need an original copy of insurance card. I have USAA and they've never sent me any insurance card in the mail before (it is all online. I print my own copy off as proof). Does anyone here have experience with this. I'm also pretty sure USAA covers Hawaii, so I should be fine keeping the same company right?

[whtviper1]

Originally Posted by Wegandi

What? What sort of protectionist tripe...I just looked it up and to change over registration/title/etc. it says you need an original copy of insurance card. I have USAA and they've never sent me any insurance card in the mail before (it is all online. I print my own copy off as proof). Does anyone here have experience with this. I'm also pretty sure USAA covers Hawaii, so I should be fine keeping the same company right?

You can't print your own card. It has to have special labeling on the actual card to show it is a Hawaii policy.

I used to have USAA but dropped it a little after I got to Hawaii - their rates were higher than just about anyone else. When you get to Hawaii you'll call them and they will make the policy changes - and send you a card in the mail.

[MovingAloha]

Originally Posted by Wegandi

What? What sort of protectionist tripe...I just looked it up and to change over registration/title/etc. it says you need an original copy of insurance card. I have USAA and they've never sent me any insurance card in the mail before (it is all online. I print my own copy off as proof). Does anyone here have experience with this. I'm also pretty sure USAA covers Hawaii, so I should be fine keeping the same company right?

Welcome to Hawaii. It is true, you need to let USAA know you're moving to Hawaii and that they will need to mail you a hardcopy original card. I also printed a copy off the computer as backup. This will also be the case when or if you need to take your car for repairs requiring insurance payment. I ran into this issue with my Infiniti.

[Wegandi]

Originally Posted by whtviper1

You can't print your own card. It has to have special labeling on the actual card to show it is a Hawaii policy.

I used to have USAA but dropped it a little after I got to Hawaii - their rates were higher than just about anyone else. When you get to Hawaii you'll call them and they will make the policy changes - and send you a card in the mail.

Thanks for the heads up. Any particular companies you found that are friendly and responsive, but also not too expensive. I pay 150$ a month here in Florida for a 2002 Mitsubishi Eclipse GT with no accident or moving violation history and am 26 years old. I still can't believe how expensive Florida insurance is. Surely, Hawaii cannot be as bad!

Originally Posted by MovingAloha

Welcome to Hawaii. It is true, you need to let USAA know you're moving to Hawaii and that they will need to mail you a hardcopy original card. I also printed a copy off the computer as backup. This will also be the case when or if you need to take your car for repairs requiring insurance payment. I ran into this issue with my Infiniti.

Intriguing. Sounds like the Stamp Act type of stuff with the insurance card 'stamp of Approval by Government'. Lol. In any event, sounds like a good plan to have a back up printed off too. How did you find USAA compared to other companies rates in the area?

[whtviper1]

Originally Posted by Wegandi

Thanks for the heads up. Any particular companies you found that are friendly and responsive, but also not too expensive. I pay 150$ a month here in Florida for a 2002 Mitsubishi Eclipse GT with no accident or moving violation history and am 26 years old. I still can't believe how expensive Florida insurance is. Surely, Hawaii cannot be as bad!

For me, Allstate gave me a great price - hundreds of dollars less than USAA - I think USAA uses a 3rd party in Hawaii which potentially makes it expensive.

I don't know what you will pay in Hawaii - but if you want to live in or around Waikiki you'll be paying some of the highest rates on the island.

[Wegandi]

Originally Posted by whtviper1

For me, Allstate gave me a great price - hundreds of dollars less than USAA - I think USAA uses a 3rd party in Hawaii which potentially makes it expensive.

I don't know what you will pay in Hawaii - but if you want to live in or around Waikiki you'll be paying some of the highest rates on the island.

I'd rather be out around Kaimuki and KCC than Waikiki if I can help it. Does the rates really change that dramatically in such a short distance? I can't imagine that one such a small island as Oahu that rates would differ at all, since it is such a short drive to anywhere on the island.