Key points
Crashes with any injury, a death, or $3,000 or more in property damage must be reported to the police immediately.
Source: Handbook p. 52
“Traffic crashes resulting in personal injury to any extent, or death, or property damage of $3,000 or more must be reported to the police immediately”
Hawaii Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 52Stop immediately, move your vehicle off the traveled road if possible, and do not leave without identifying yourself and helping.
Source: Handbook p. 52
“Stop immediately. If possible move your vehicle off the travelled portion of the roadway. Do not leave the scene of a crash without identifying yourself and rendering assistance.”
Hawaii Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 52Do not move the injured unnecessarily, and keep them warm until skilled help arrives.
Source: Handbook p. 52
“Do not move the injured unnecessarily. Unskilled handling can make serious injuries out of minor ones. Keep the injured warm until skilled help arrives.”
Hawaii Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 52If you hit an unattended vehicle, locate the owner or leave a written note with your name, address and what happened.
Source: Handbook p. 52
“Upon striking an unattended vehicle, stop and locate the owner, or leave a written notice containing your name and address and circumstances of the crash.”
Hawaii Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 52After a reportable crash, report it to the police and your insurance company and file evidence of insurance (Form SR-21).
Source: Handbook p. 53
“Report the crash to the Police Department and insurance company and: File evidence of insurance (Form SR-21).”
Hawaii Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 53After certain convictions you must keep proof of financial responsibility (Form SR-22) for 3 years.
Source: Handbook p. 53
“File and maintain proof of financial responsibility for a period of three (3) years from conviction date; File evidence of insurance (Form SR-22).”
Hawaii Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 53Every owner of a car, bus or truck must have motor vehicle insurance to register or drive it.
Source: Handbook p. 54
“Every owner of a car, bus or truck must have motor vehicle insurance in order to register or operate a vehicle in the State.”
Hawaii Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 54Breaking the insurance law can bring a fine up to $5,000, 30 days in jail, or a license suspension.
Source: Handbook p. 54
“shall be subject to a fine not to exceed $5,000 or thirty (30) days imprisonment, or suspension of motor vehicle operator's license,”
Hawaii Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 54
Numbers to know
| Number | What it means | Manual |
|---|---|---|
| $3,000 | property damage that makes a crash reportable | Handbook p. 52 |
| SR-21 | form filed as evidence of insurance after a reportable crash | Handbook p. 53 |
| SR-22 for 3 years | proof of financial responsibility after certain convictions | Handbook p. 53 |
| $5,000 or 30 days | maximum fine or jail for violating the insurance law | Handbook p. 54 |
3 questions from the Hawaii practice test
1. After a Hawaii crash with death, injury or over $3,000 damage, what must a driver file?
- Nothing if insured
- A report to police and insurer, and evidence of insurance on Form SR-21
- Only a police report
- A bond of $10,000
Show answer
A report to police and insurer, and evidence of insurance on Form SR-21. The Motor Vehicle Safety Responsibility Law covers all drivers in crashes resulting in death, injury or property damage in excess of $3,000, who must report the crash to the police and their insurance company and file evidence of insurance on Form SR-21. Drivers convicted of certain offenses must file and maintain proof of financial responsibility for three years on Form SR-22, or the license is suspended.
2. How long must a Hawaii driver convicted of certain vehicle offenses maintain an SR-22?
- One year
- 30 days
- Three years from the conviction date
- For life
Show answer
Three years from the conviction date. Under Hawaii's Motor Vehicle Safety Responsibility Law, a driver convicted of certain offenses involving vehicles must file and maintain proof of financial responsibility for three years from the conviction date, by filing evidence of insurance on Form SR-22. The penalty for not complying is suspension of the driver's license. One year and 30 days are far too short, and the requirement is not lifelong. Keep this separate from the SR-21, which is the evidence of insurance filed after a crash involving death, injury or property damage over $3,000.
3. According to the Hawaii manual, what is the most a fine can be for each violation of the motor vehicle insurance law?
- $500
- $1,000
- $5,000
- $10,000
Show answer
$5,000. Each violation of Hawaii's motor vehicle insurance law is a separate offense subject to a fine not to exceed $5,000 or thirty days imprisonment, license suspension, forfeiture of the registration certificate, or any combination of these. Five hundred dollars and $1,000 are below the stated maximum, and $1,000 is the figure the manual gives for the school bus law. Ten thousand dollars is above the maximum and is the per person amount of basic personal injury protection benefits.
Practice this topic
Lock it in with laws and paperwork questions from the free Hawaii practice test. Every answer comes with a plain English explanation.
Source: the Hawaii Driver's Manual, Chapter VII: Crash Procedures. This lesson is a plain English summary, not the law itself; where it differs, the manual and the statute govern. Last checked 2026-09-27.