FAQs

Visit our Claims Resolution Center for complete claim filing instructions. Please file your claim with us or your insurance agent as soon as you become aware of an incident that causes damage to your property, other people’s property or causes injury to others or your employees.

Visit our Claims Resolution Center for complete claim filing instructions. Please file your claim with us or your insurance agent as soon as you become aware of an incident that causes damage to your property, other people’s property or causes injury to others or your employees.

• If possible, drive your vehicle out of the flow of traffic to where you can safely assess the damage and speak to the other driver without obstructing traffic. If you are on the side of the road, turn on your flashers to alert other drivers.
• Stay calm and courteous.
• Call the police to report the accident.
• Do not speculate on why the accident occurred. Do not offer to pay or accept any money at the accident scene.
• Obtain the driver’s name, contact information, driver’s license number, and insurance information. If there are passengers in the other vehicle, get their names and contact information as well.
• Get name(s) and contact information for any witnesses to the incident.
• If possible, take pictures of the damage to both cars and of the accident scene.
• File your claim with us or your insurance agent as soon as possible. You may refer to our Claim Resolution Center for guidance on filing your claim.

Call a tow company of your choice. If you have Towing & Labor coverage, submit the original copy of the road service bill (including your policy number) for reimbursement. Mail to PO Box 2866, Honolulu HI 96803; email to ClaimsReportsDesk@ficoh.com; or fax to 808-545-3120. We will reimburse you based on the limits of your policy coverage.

A deductible is the amount of damage you elect to pay before your insurance policy will cover any loss. The loss must exceed this amount before your insurance policy responds. For example, if the amount of your damage is $1,000 and your deductible is $500, your insurance policy would pay the amount over $500, subject to the terms and conditions of your insurance policy. Policies with higher deductibles typically cost less.

These are auto insurance coverages that work as follows:

• Bodily Injury Liability coverage: When you are at fault, this coverage pays for the medical expenses, loss of income and pain and suffering of other parties involved in the accident up to your policy’s limits of liability.
• Property Damage Liability coverage: When you are at fault, this coverage pays for damage to others’ property (such as a mailbox, vehicle, or sign) up to your policy’s limits of liability.

If you are in an automobile accident, Personal Injury Protection (PIP) pays for your medical expenses and other coverages you have purchased, regardless of who is at fault. Coverage extends to passengers in your car as well as any pedestrians or bicyclists involved in the accident.

Personal insurance customers may report a claim in My Policy. Click here for instructions on creating a My Policy account.

Yes. Hawaii state law mandates that all businesses with company-owned vehicles or vehicles used for business operations must have commercial auto insurance.

A standard commercial auto policy in Hawaii includes liability coverage (for bodily injury and property damage to third parties if your business vehicle is at fault in an accident), personal injury protection (PIP), and physical damage coverage (including collision coverage and comprehensive damage for non-collision events like theft, vandalism, fire, or natural disasters).

Generally, yes. Commercial auto insurance premiums can be deducted as a business expense.

Yes. Even if the state does not legally require it, your mortgage lender will likely require it. It also provides peace of mind as it covers your personal belongings and liability for damage or injury you cause to others, which your condo association’s master policy does not cover.

First Insurance has been serving Hawaii’s businesses and residents since 1911.  As a trusted leader in Hawaii’s insurance market, we are rated A+ by AM Best.

An HO-6 policy is tailored to cover the exposures faced by condominium unit owners. It provides coverage for the original and upgraded structural components to the living area, personal possessions, and additional living expenses if the condominium owner is the victim of a water leak, fire, or other covered peril listed in the insurance policy that makes the unit uninhabitable. The policyholder also receives coverage for personal liability in the event that they negligently cause bodily injury to another person or property damage to items owned by other people, and for medical payments to other people who are injured while in the condominium unit.

If you’re renting a home or apartment, we highly recommend it to protect your personal belongings and to protect yourself from liability claims that may be caused by you.

The cost of renters insurance can be as low as $3 a week, depending on where you live and how much coverage you need.

Calculate the total value it would cost to replace all your personal possessions, such as furniture, clothing, electronics, etc., and ask your agent to help determine appropriate liability coverage to give you a custom coverage mix.

You can bundle your homeowners, auto, and optional umbrella insurance coverage with the convenience of one bill and one policy. The FirstSelect Portfolio (FSP) homeowners policy also offers flexibility and comprehensive coverage for your peace of mind.

Yes. We offer multiple car discounts, loyalty rewards, and loss-free credits the longer you go without making a claim.

Umbrella insurance is a type of extra liability insurance over and above your existing auto and home insurance coverage. It kicks in to cover high-cost claims such as serious bodily injuries, property damage, and personal injury when your standard homeowners policy limits are exceeded.

You can bundle your renters, auto, and optional umbrella insurance coverage with the convenience of one bill and one policy.

Yes. We offer multiple car discounts, loyalty rewards, and loss-free credits the longer you go without making a claim.

Umbrella insurance is a type of extra liability insurance over and above your existing auto and home insurance coverage. It kicks in to cover high-cost claims such as serious bodily injuries, property damage, and personal injury when your standard renters policy limits are exceeded.

A flood is defined as a general and temporary condition of partial or complete inundation of two or more acres of normally dry land, or two or more properties, from an overflow of inland or tidal waters, unusual surface water runoff, or mudflows. It also includes the collapse or subsidence of land along a body of water due to wave or current action.

Key components of the FEMA definition:

• Inundation: The condition must be a partial or complete covering by water.
• Scope: It must affect either two or more acres of normally dry land or two or more properties.
• Causes: The flooding can be caused by:
  • Overflow of inland or tidal waters
  • Unusual and rapid accumulation or runoff of surface waters from any source
  • Mudflow; a river of liquid or flowing mud on normally dry land
  • Collapse or sinking of land along a lake or similar body of water, caused by erosion or undermining from waves or currents

A primary residence is now a residence that an insured will occupy more than 50 percent of the policy term.

To help offset flood program deficiencies, a federally mandated surcharge will apply to all new and renewed personal flood policies. The surcharge will be $25 for all Primary Residence policies (as defined above) and $250 for all other policies. Primary Residence eligibility must be validated before policy issuance to avoid the more costly $250 surcharge. The surcharge is fully earned and is not eligible for refunds due to cancellation or reduction of coverage.

No, hurricane insurance is not required by law in Hawaii; however, it is mandatory if you have a mortgage, as lenders will require it.

Check with your independent insurance agent first. However, in general, hurricane insurance covers damages resulting from hurricane-force winds and rain, but does not cover flood damage.

The premium is based on the construction type of dwelling, the deductible, and other factors such as the age and condition of your home.

Our commercial package policy offers bundled savings and the convenience of multiple tailored insurance coverage solutions in one policy.

Please contact your independent agent. If you don’t have an agent, find one here.

Visit our Claims Resolution Center for complete claim filing instructions. Please file your claim with us or your insurance agent as soon as you become aware of an incident that causes damage to your property, causes damage to other people’s property, or causes injury to others or your employees.

No, it is not legally required by the state of Hawaii for all businesses. However, it may be required by specific industries, state licensing boards, or as a condition of contracts with clients or landlords.

CGL insurance primarily protects businesses from financial loss due to third-party claims for bodily injury, property damage, personal and advertising injury (e.g., libel, slander, or copyright infringement in an advertisement), and medical payments.

It is generally recommended that businesses take out anywhere from $1 million to $2 million. However, depending on your industry and your risks, you should consult with your independent insurance agent.  

You should consider inland marine insurance if your business transports valuable equipment, machinery, products, or materials over land, by truck, or by train.

Yes, there are several types of specialty coverage written as inland marine insurance. These policies provide coverage for specific situations, such as a contractor’s equipment floater, which covers a contractor’s equipment and tools against loss, damage, or theft, whether in a fixed location or in transit. Motor truck cargo insurance is a type of inland marine insurance that covers for-hire truckers, while bailee insurance is another type of specialty inland marine insurance that provides coverage for property that belongs to a customer but is in the care of a business.

Please consult with your independent insurance agent to determine your coverage needs.

No, it is not required by law in the state of Hawaii. However, many landlords require tenants to have it as a condition of a commercial lease.

Any business that owns, rents, or leases a physical location and/or uses equipment or inventory. Examples of businesses include, but are not limited to:

• Contractors
• Restaurants
• Retailers
• Accounting firms

A commercial property policy typically covers buildings (physical structures, including walls, floors, plumbing, electrical systems, etc.), business personal property (contents within your building), and loss of business income (business interruption if your business operations are suspended due to property damages that need repair).

Commercial umbrella insurance provides an extra layer of liability protection that kicks in when limits from a business’s primary liability policies are exceeded.

A standard policy covers bodily injury, damage to another person’s property, personal injuries, advertising injuries, and legal defense costs.

Please consult with your independent insurance agent to determine if your business needs this policy.

Garage liability insurance is a type of umbrella insurance policy targeted to the automotive industry that provides coverage for day-to-day operations. It normally covers bodily injury and property damage resulting from direct garage operations, which are not covered under most commercial liability insurance policies.

If your business sells, repairs, services, stores, or transports automobiles, you should inquire with your independent insurance agent to determine whether you need garage liability insurance. Examples of these types of businesses include auto repair shops, dealerships, body shops, towing companies, parking garages, and valet services.

Your coverage needs depend on the size and scope of your business operations as well as your business risks. Please consult with your independent insurance agent to determine your policy needs.

Workers’ compensation is a type of insurance that provides benefits for employees who are injured or become ill on the job. Employers pay for this, which typically covers medical expenses, lost wages, rehabilitation costs, and death benefits for a work-related fatality.

Yes. Workers’ compensation is required for all employers in Hawaii who have one or more employees, including those who are full-time, part-time, permanent, or temporary.

The average cost in Hawaii is $77 per month or $928 annually, as of September 30, 2025. Premiums will vary depending on the type of business and amount of payroll.

The Risk & Safety Management Consultants at FICOH help you keep your organization and employees safe and your business running strong by reducing risk and preventing costly losses. We work with you to identify exposures, provide practical safety training and tools, and support smarter risk decisions across your operations. This is a service we offer to select business customers.

• Loss sources — we help determine where loss may be coming from in your business
• Ability to assess and provide needs-based solutions for:
  • General Liability
  • Property
  • Workers’ Compensation
  • Commercial Auto
• Customized risk and safety management training program
• Replacement cost estimates for property coverage
• Integrated working relationship with our claims department to achieve seamless  prevention and cost containment in customer service
• Azuga Vehicle Telematics
• Hartford Steam Boiler/Meshify Sensor Technology

Complete our safety checklist. If you answered no to any of the questions, contact your agent to request that a Risk & Safety Management survey be conducted at your business.

You likely need commercial flood insurance in Hawaii if your business is in a high-risk flood zone and has a mortgage from a federally regulated lender.

To help offset flood program deficiencies, a federally mandated surcharge will apply to all new and renewed commercial flood policies. The $250 surcharge is fully earned and is not eligible for refunds due to cancellation or reduction of coverage.

Captive insurance is a form of self-insurance where a company creates and owns its own insurance company to cover its own risks.

Companies with large, complex, or unique risks that are expensive or hard to cover in the traditional market; a history of favorable loss; and the financial capacity to manage the risk internally. Examples include construction, healthcare, and manufacturing.

A captive insurance company represents an option for many corporations that want to take financial control and manage risks by underwriting their own insurance rather than paying premiums to a third party.