HONOLULU (KHON2) — The cost of car insurance in Hawaiʻi weighs heavy on many families, but discounts can help lighten the load.
Local companies and national brands operating in the islands offer ways to lower monthly or yearly bills for safe drivers, students, those with college degrees and households willing to bundle coverage.
With so little time and the need to save money becoming more and more necessary, KHON2.com did a bit of digging to find out what you can save and from where.
Local insurers offer loyalty and education savings
Island Insurance, based in Honolulu, rewards customers who complete a defensive driving course. The company also recognizes educational achievement.
Drivers with a college degree may qualify for what Island calls a “school discount.” Other ways to save include:
- Cars equipped with anti-lock brakes, air bags or anti-theft systems.
- Hybrid vehicles.
- Multiple cars or bundled policies.
- Renewal credits for long-term customers.
Click here to find out more.
DTRIC Insurance gives credit to drivers with a four-year degree or professional license. Safe drivers without accidents or violations can receive up to 25% off. Other DTRIC discounts include:
- Multi-car households, up to 25%.
- Paid-in-full savings of about 8%.
- Continuous coverage discounts.
- Paperless and electronic payment plans.
Click here to find out more.
First Insurance Company of Hawaiʻi highlights loyalty and clean records. Longtime customers may save up to 10%. A spotless driving history can cut premiums by as much as 40%. Other offerings are:
- Multi-car households saving 20%.
- Accident forgiveness after five years of safe driving.
Click here to find out more.
National brands extend student and safe driver programs
GEICO recognizes students with strong report cards. A full-time student who earns at least a B average may save up to 15%.
They also provide discounts for those with college degrees, and those discounts for education get even deeper the more degrees you have. GEICO also provides discounts for:
- Approved driver education or defensive driving courses.
- Students away from home without regular use of a car.
- Cars with safety features such as anti-lock brakes, airbags and daytime running lights.
- Federal employees and military members.
- Multi-car and bundled policies.
Click here to find out more.
Progressive lists good student and distant student discounts as well. The company runs its Snapshot program, which monitors driving habits through an app.
Careful braking, lower speeds and fewer late-night trips can result in lower rates. Progressive also offers:
- Multi-policy and multi-car discounts.
- Savings for homeowners.
- Online quote, paperless and auto-pay discounts.
Click here to find out more.
USAA, which serves military members and families, offers a good student discount that can save up to 10%, but not in Hawaiʻi. Its SafePilot program tracks driving habits through an app and can deliver up to 30% in savings for careful drivers. USAA also offers:
- Multi-vehicle and bundling discounts.
- Discounts for storing a car, sometimes up to 60%.
- Price breaks for new vehicles and cars with anti-theft devices.
- Accident forgiveness for long-term safe drivers.
Click here to find out more.
Choices depend on the driver
Each insurer structures its discounts differently, but patterns emerge. Clean records, safe driving programs, education achievements and bundling remain the most common paths to savings.
For Hawaiʻi residents, reviewing what local companies provide may uncover opportunities that national firms do not.