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Hawaii trucking insurance: align PUC authority and island service

Hawaii PUC guidance sets liability figures for property-carrier certificates, but does not require proof of that insurance with the initial application: it is due within 120 days after approval. Contract-carrier authority must describe the authorized business and service scope, and the carrier must file the shipper contract before starting that service. The PUC separately has discretion to require security for shipper or consignee property; this is not proof that a standard liability policy covers cargo. 1,2,3

What Is Trucking?

Trucking coverage can address liability, damage to your trucks and cargo losses, but one quote may not include all three. If you haul goods for customers or yourself, compare those protections and check whether the quote needs motor-carrier or other commercial auto coverage. Read the national Trucking guide.

Hawaii Requirements

RequirementDetails
PUC property-carrier certificate liabilityPUC guidance lists at least $250,000 bodily injury or death per person, $750,000 per accident, and $250,000 property damage per accident for property carriers holding a PUC motor-carrier certificate. Confirm certificate class and vehicle use with PUC. 1
Insurance proof timingPUC says proof is not required when the application is first filed; after approval, provide proof within 120 days. Its FAQ also sets a 120-day period after approval to provide the vehicle inventory list and registrations. 1
Contract-carrier operating scopeA Hawaii contract-carrier permit specifies the covered business and scope, which may include the persons or classes served. Before service under that permit begins, a signed bilateral shipper contract must be filed and set out the transportation terms. 2

What to Watch for in Hawaii

  • An island extension changes the authority record

    PUC guidance requires prospective-customer letters to correspond to each island for a new certificate or island extension. It also asks carriers to submit the vehicle inventory list and vehicle registrations after approval. Include planned islands and each regulated vehicle when arranging insurance evidence and authority paperwork. 1

  • Public liability and shipper-property security are different

    HRS §271-17 allows the PUC to require security conditioned on compensating shippers or consignees for property in the carrier’s possession. That legal power does not show that the PUC has imposed such security on your certificate, or that your liability policy insures cargo. Ask the PUC whether a security condition applies and ask the broker about separate cargo terms. 3

  • Do not start service outside the permitted class

    A contract permit is limited to its described business and scope, and the related shipper contract must be filed before operations. Confirm that commodity, customer/service class and island are within authority, then have the broker align scheduled operations and policy territory. 2,1

Who Regulates Insurance in Hawaii

Hawaiʻi Insurance Division

The Insurance Division oversees insurance companies and producers, examines Hawaiʻi-based insurers, reviews rate and policy filings, and investigates insurance complaints. It is part of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs. 4,5,6

Surplus-lines tax and stamping office

Reported tax rate: 4.68% of premium when Hawaiʻi is the home state Hawaiʻi applies a 4.68% tax when it is the insured’s home state. Surplus-lines coverage is placed with an unauthorized insurer, so do not assume the Hawaiʻi Insurance Guaranty Association protects the policy; confirm the insurer’s status and policy terms with your broker. 7,8

Providers With Documented State Licenses

No provider in Spot’s research documents both a state license record and this coverage line. This does not establish that providers are unlicensed. Check the regulator’s license lookup and confirm availability with a provider when requesting a quote.

Questions to Ask Before You Buy in Hawaii

  1. Which PUC certificate class, commodity/service scope and island(s) will my operation cover?
  2. What date starts my 120-day post-approval deadline for insurance proof, vehicle list and registrations?
  3. Does my permit or PUC order require separate shipper/consignee property security, and what cargo policy terms are actually quoted?

Trucking in Hawaii: FAQ

Must I have the policy before filing a PUC carrier application? 1

The PUC FAQ says proof of insurance is not needed at initial application, but is due within 120 days after the PUC decision approving the application. Confirm your deadline and required filing format with PUC; buying insurance alone does not authorize service. 1

Does the PUC security law guarantee cargo recovery? 3

No. Section 271-17 gives the PUC discretion to require a bond, insurance or other security for shipper property in a carrier’s possession. It does not establish what condition was placed on your permit or what a specific policy covers. 3

Trucking in Other States

Other Coverage in Hawaii

Sources

  1. FAQs for Motor Carriers. Hawaii Public Utilities Commission; Questions 12-20, PDF pp. 3-5; current agency guidance opened 2026-09-28. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  2. Hawaii Revised Statutes §271-13, Permits for contract carriers by motor vehicle. Hawaii Legislature; §271-13(a)-(c), current codification; last amendment shown 2021, opened 2026-09-28. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  3. Hawaii Revised Statutes §271-17, Security for protection of public. Hawaii Legislature; §271-17, current codification opened 2026-09-28. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  4. Insurance Division. Hawaiʻi Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs; Official division homepage; scope, license search, complaints, contact information. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  5. Insurance Licenses and Registrations. Hawaiʻi Insurance Division; Insurance license information; links to state-based system for license applications and status. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  6. Filing a Complaint. Hawaiʻi Insurance Division; Online complaint form and published consumer phone. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  7. Surplus Lines Tax. Hawaiʻi Insurance Division; 4.68% rate and home-state application under HRS § 431:8-315. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  8. HRS § 431:16-105: Definitions. Hawaiʻi Legislature; Defines a member insurer as an insurer licensed or holding a certificate of authority in Hawaiʻi; cross-read with HRS § 431:8-102 and § 431:8-301 for unauthorized surplus-lines placements. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  9. Licenses. At-Bay; Current producer introduction and state table; At-Bay Insurance Services LLC; P&C and surplus-lines identifiers. Accessed 2026-09-21.
  10. Licenses and Carriers. Coalition; Licenses and Carriers, re-read 22 September 2026: Insurance Licenses table for Coalition Insurance Solutions, Inc., national producer number 18419475, with producer and surplus-lines numbers for all 50 states and DC including California 0L76155, Georgia 196479, Texas 2199630 and 2205589, Pennsylvania 815731 and 817452, Colorado 539028 and Wisconsin 3000108852. Insurance Carriers table naming, with NAIC numbers, Allianz Underwriters Insurance Company 36420, Arch Specialty Insurance Company 21199, Ascot Specialty Insurance Company 45055, Ascot Insurance Company 23752, Aspen Specialty Insurance Company 10717, Chaucer Insurance Company DAC, Coalition Insurance Company 29530, Fireman's Fund Indemnity Corporation 11380, Fortegra Specialty Insurance Company 16823, Lloyd's of London, MSIG Specialty Insurance USA Inc. 34886, MS Transverse Specialty Insurance Company 41807, Steadfast Insurance Company 26387, Vantage Risk Specialty Insurance Company 16275 and Zurich American Insurance Company 16535. Accessed 2026-09-22.
  11. Insurance Producer Licenses. Corgi Insurance; Current complete Insurance Producer Licenses table for Corgi Insurance Services, Inc.; 50 rows covering 49 states and DC (DC 3003091619); no New Mexico row; no NPN or as-of date shown. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  12. About Hiscox US Insurance. Hiscox; Hiscox Insurance Company Inc. NAIC 10200 as Chicago, IL domiciled insurer admitted or licensed in all 50 states and D.C.; Hiscox Inc. as general agent and Lloyd’s coverholder for Syndicates 33 and 3624; surplus-lines placements through licensed surplus-lines brokers; A.M. Best rating statement. Accessed 2026-09-16.
  13. Licenses. ERGO NEXT Insurance; Current entity-by-state license table reopened 28 September 2026: 50 rows under Next First Insurance Agency, Inc., including Washington, DC; New York rows instead list Next Insurance Services PC-1423070 and AP Intego BR-1198885. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  14. Insurance Licenses by State. TechInsurance; Current state table; identifies TechInsurance as a division of Specialty Program Group LLC d/b/a SPG Insurance Solutions; lists DC 3000041536 and labels Rhode Island “Individual licenses,” without an agency license number. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  15. Licenses. Vouch; Effective 16 January 2025: Vouch Specialty Insurance Services, LLC, NPN 19926463; P&C table (50 states and DC); surplus-lines table includes Idaho 870820; footnote says Georgia and Idaho do not issue agency-level surplus-lines licenses; Idaho retained as producer-only due to conflict. Accessed 2026-09-15.

Updated .

This guide is informational and does not determine whether a policy is available or meets your needs. Editorial policy. To suggest a correction, contact Spot with a supporting source.

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