The rule in Hawaii
Hawaii uses the Total Loss Formula (repair cost + estimated salvage value vs. ACV) to decide when a damaged vehicle must be declared a total loss. Repair cost alone isn't the test — the state adds estimated salvage value to the repair estimate, and compares that combined figure to ACV.
Worked example — a $10,000.00 vehicle:
$7,500.00 repair + $1,000.00 estimated salvage = $8,500.00, which is below the $10,000.00 ACV — so this specific damage would not meet Hawaii's Total Loss Formula, even though the repair estimate alone is 75% of ACV.
What this means practically
Hawaii does not use a single percentage — it applies the Total Loss Formula, so a vehicle's fate depends on the combination of repair cost and expected salvage value, not repair cost alone. Two vehicles with an identical repair estimate can land on opposite sides of the total-loss line here if their salvage values differ.
Check your own numbers
The Total-Loss Threshold Checker has Hawaii pre-selected from this link — enter your own repair estimate and ACV (plus an estimated salvage value) to see how they compare.
What this page can't tell you
It can't tell you Hawaii's threshold with legal certainty — this reflects one compiled secondary review as of mid-2026, not a direct reading of the state's current statute or administrative code, and state rules can change. It also can't tell you what your specific vehicle's ACV or salvage value actually is; for that, see How Insurers Value a Total-Loss Vehicle and run your own numbers through the Total-Loss Offer Audit calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total-loss threshold in Hawaii?
Hawaii uses the Total Loss Formula: a vehicle is a total loss once estimated repair cost plus expected salvage value meets or exceeds its actual cash value (ACV) — there's no single fixed percentage.
Does Hawaii use a percentage rule or the Total Loss Formula?
The Total Loss Formula, not a simple percentage. Some neighboring states use a fixed percentage instead, so the same repair estimate can produce a different result just across a state line.
Is this the exact test my insurer will use?
It's the state-law minimum, compiled from a secondary source and one example state regulator's published methodology — not a live read of the current statute, and not necessarily identical to your insurer's own internal total-loss policy, which can be more (but not less) generous. Confirm the current rule with your state insurance department if it matters to your claim.