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HRS §431:10C-303.5

Rental car insurance pays first unless renter's own policy applies

This section says the rental car company's insurance is the main coverage for accidents. But if the renter or driver has their own car insurance, that policy pays first, as long as the rental company gives the injured person the driver's info, a lawsuit can be filed, and the driver's insurer responds. If the rental company has to pay because the driver or insurer didn't cooperate, the rental company can get its money back.

The statute, as written — U-drive insurance policy; primary

(a) A U-drive motor vehicle insurance policy shall be primary; provided that its bodily injury and property damage liability coverages shall be secondary to the operator's or renter's motor vehicle insurance policy if: (1) The U-drive rental business provides any claimant or person sustaining accidental harm or damages, as a result of the operation of the rental vehicle, the identity and address of the operator or renter, along with any information available to the U-drive rental business as to the identity and address of any insurer under any liability policies applicable to the operator or renter; provided that the U-drive rental business shall make reasonable efforts to obtain such information; (2) A suit may be filed and service upon the responsible operator or renter can be effectuated; and (3) An insurer responds on behalf of the operator or renter to a claim or suit. (b) In cases where the U-drive motor vehicle insurance policy is primary because of: (1) A failure of a renter or operator to cooperate with the U-drive rental business in providing the information described in subsection (a)(1); (2) The failure to file suit and effectuate service as described in subsection (a)(2); or (3) The failure of an insurer to respond as described in subsection (a)(3) or defend a claim or pay required benefits or a judgment; the U-drive rental business may recover from the renter, operator, or insurer, the sums the U-drive rental business expended in payments or benefits, along with reasonable attorneys' fees and expenses.
Read the official text at capitol.hawaii.gov ↗as published Jan 6, 2026our copy taken Aug 20, 2026

LawTrove is not legal advice. The summary above is a computer-generated restatement — the authoritative text is the official version linked above.