Had a similar experience with my Lexus a while back. I swear, just tapping the brakes to avoid a chicken crossing Kam Hwy got flagged as "hard braking." Guess the mainland engineers didn't factor in our local wildlife or roads full of surprise potholes, haha. Makes me wonder if there's any insurance company out there that actually takes Hawaii driving conditions into account when rating us... has anyone found one that's more forgiving?
Yeah, I've seen this happen quite a bit actually. Those telematics devices are pretty sensitive and don't always account for local quirks—like chickens or potholes. Mainland algorithms just aren't built for island life, haha. From what I've noticed, smaller local insurers sometimes have more flexibility in their underwriting. Might be worth checking out some Hawaii-based companies; they tend to understand our roads better and might cut you some slack on those "hard braking" incidents.
That's a fair point about local insurers—I switched to one a couple of years ago after similar frustrations with telematics. While they've certainly been more understanding, I do wonder if there's a trade-off in terms of coverage or customer service compared to bigger mainland companies. Has anyone experienced any notable differences when filing claims through smaller, Hawaii-based insurers? I'd be interested to hear if the flexibility in underwriting translates into smoother claims handling or not...
"I do wonder if there's a trade-off in terms of coverage or customer service compared to bigger mainland companies."
Good point—I’ve seen it go both ways. From what I've noticed:
- Smaller local insurers tend to be quicker with initial responses and more flexible when dealing with unique situations.
- But... sometimes their limited resources mean slower processing if things get complicated or require specialized assessments.
- Mainland companies often have streamlined processes, but you might lose that personal touch.
Curious if anyone else has had a different experience?
I've had experience with both, and honestly, it's a bit of a toss-up. When I had a minor fender-bender, my local insurer was quick to respond personally and walked me through the process step-by-step, which was reassuring. On the flip side, when I moved to a bigger mainland company, the claims process was definitely smoother and faster overall—but I did miss that personal connection. Guess it depends if you prefer efficiency or a more personal approach...
