Vehicle licensing and insurance

[randomq]

Brilliant argument Kander, you really outwitted that cop. Some will say he just didn't feel like arguing with crazy, but don't listen to them.

[Durian Fiend]

My neighbor recently got pulled over while on Kona side with expired registration and safety check. She showed the officer appointment date, soonest available after acquiring vehicle. He ticketed her anyway, for both infractions. I believe it was $140.

[kander]

Brilliant argument Kander, you really outwitted that cop. Some will say he just didn't feel like arguing with crazy, but don't listen to them.

Im very sorry for whoever made you the way you are.

[kalakoa]

Then you just set it on fire and report it stolen.

There are some bills in the Legislature that will close that "loophole".

the sovereign citizen nonsense

This actually works, but only if you go all the way, and most people don't.

if you have insurance

Revoked license + valid insurance = driving away from a traffic stop. Been there, done that.

[Obie]

Unless you are doing something else illegal like speeding, running stop lights, running from the police, an active gun battle etc etc, the police are not going to ticket you for expired plates.

Parked at a parking meter with expired plates is one of the only ways you would be ticketed.

Insurance is always required though.

[HereOnThePrimalEdge]

I had expired tags for 3 plus years,

Your welcome.  From those of us who pay our registration fees so you can drive on public roads.

[tawyna]

We have a 26 year old truck - our insurance is 144 dollars a year , The truck we bought brand new , - safety is 25 a year and registration is 170 a year .. We are totally legal . 19K miles on our truck. Unless you are destitute we see no reason you can pay this small price to be legal .
Yes you can turn the plates in for vacation and not drive your truck except on your farm but state law says any road in the state even private roads you can be ticketed. We do not have a second vehicle . That would be a luxury we are not able to afford , Consider yourself wealthy too afford two vehicle's .

[DidUHearAboutPluto?]

Several companies offer "per mile" insurance, however none of the ones I checked with offer it in Hawaii.

Between insurance and registration fees I'm paying approximately $100 per trip that I drive my truck.  My average trip is 14 miles, 5 of those on private road.  I thought about getting rid of it, but none of the rubbish haulers I contacted service unpaved roads.  I could get a "junk guy" to do it but even if I come out slightly ahead financially its not worth the loss of independence.

I had a phone session with my agent and there was no difference in farm, commuter, or pleasure rate, nor any difference if the annual mileage was 500 or 10,000.  He couldn't explain why, other than thats just how they do it in Hawaii.

The fact that he couldn't explain why should have been your first clue that perhaps he is not as knowledgeable as he should be.

There are standard factors and rating structures that just about all insurance companies licensed in Hawaii have to comply with.  Usage of the vehicle insured most certainly is one of those factors.

https://cca.hawaii.gov/ins/files/2017/01...n-2017.pdf

[Obie]

Amazing coincidence but we were driving to Hilo today on the Paneawa stretch when a Honda hatchback passed us. The passenger door was caved in to the point it couldn't be opened. Sun shade propped in the open window.. Plate expired May 2021. The next vehicle was a truck with Nevada plates. Obvious that it had been here too long. Next another truck came by with an inspection sticker from 2020 and mold covering the plate making it unreadable.

[AaronM]

Not really big trouble.  More like a big slap on the wrist.  Besides getting caught is difficult. I drove my car for over 3 years without a current reg sticker.

So what was it like when you eventually “got current”?

That's the funny part.  Nothing happened.  I just finally put a current sticker on.