Credit Acceptance borrowers in Hawaii stand to share nearly $115,000 in restitution and about $830,000 in debt relief under a multistate auto loan settlement, according to the state’s Office of Consumer Protection. The office, part of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, says direct payments are expected to total nearly $115,000 through a settlement administrator, and some eligible borrowers have already received part of the debt relief. The restitution applies “if approved” by a state court judge.
The Hawaii money is a slice of a settlement that the Hawaii Office of Consumer Protection describes as up to $60 million in cash restitution, up to $634 million in debt forgiveness and up to $15 million for the settling attorneys general. Credit Acceptance Corporation, a subprime auto lender, is the company. The settlement takes effect Nov. 2, according to the Arkansas attorney general’s release.
The office does not say how many Hawaii borrowers are covered, so there is no per-person dollar figure. A borrower has two different things to watch: a notice from Credit Acceptance about debt relief, or a notice from the settlement administrator about restitution. Which one applies depends on the loan, not on anything the borrower files.
Stay ahead of government payment news: Miss an enrollment or claim deadline and the money can be gone. Join the Retirement Money Brief and we’ll send you our 2026 Government Check Reality Tracker as a welcome gift.
Get the Brief + the check tracker →
We may earn a commission from links on this page.
How is the Hawaii money split?
The Hawaii office says the debt relief is about $830,000 and that Credit Acceptance will not file collection lawsuits or try to collect certain loan debt from those borrowers. Hawaii is also expected to receive about $112,000 for future consumer protection and education. The restitution, nearly $115,000, is the direct-payment part.
Mana Moriarty, executive director of the Hawaii Office of Consumer Protection, said making high-risk loans a lender knows a borrower cannot reasonably afford “predictably leads to bad outcomes for borrowers and lenders.” She said the settlement removes the threat of collection lawsuits and removes negative items from credit reports.
Who qualifies for debt relief and who for restitution?
The attorneys general say restitution of $60 million goes to people who received particularly risky Credit Acceptance loans made between Nov. 1, 2015 and Nov. 30, 2025, according to the Arkansas attorney general’s announcement. The debt relief totals $634 million, including $388 million for borrowers whose cars were repossessed and $246 million for borrowers who keep their cars.
OpenClassActions reports that debt relief covers loans open on Dec. 1, 2025 for borrowers with a Credit Acceptance Score below 56 and a monthly payment of at least 13% of income when the loan was made. Borrowers cannot see their own score, so the company decides who qualifies. The same report says nobody has to file a claim: Credit Acceptance must notify debt-relief borrowers, and the administrator notifies restitution recipients.
What is still not final?
The Hawaii consent judgment still has to go to a state court judge, and the office describes the restitution as applying if the judge approves it. Amounts per borrower for restitution have not been announced, and the states’ executive committee decides who is paid and how much, OpenClassActions reports. The multistate coalition includes 40 attorneys general, with New York settling its own lawsuit separately.
Monetary terms are due within 90 days after Nov. 2, OpenClassActions says, unless the order sets another deadline. Credit Acceptance has 120 days to report to the states that debt relief, credit reporting and notices are done. A borrower who has not heard anything by then has a reason to call, and a written note of each call, with the date and the name of the person who answered, makes any follow-up easier.
What changes for people who borrow from Credit Acceptance later?
The Hawaii office lists changes in how Credit Acceptance does business. For certain risky loans the company made starting in December 2025, qualifying borrowers get 95% debt relief and protection from collection lawsuits, and that applies for five years from Nov. 2. For seven years the company is also bound by a cap of 109% of retail book value for certain consumers.
Dealers are covered as well. Credit Acceptance has to give enhanced disclosures before a purchase, send a post-purchase alert with an easier way to cancel add-on products, give information about default risk and vehicle value before a loan, and monitor dealers to stop them from raising prices based on a buyer’s creditworthiness or charging above advertised prices.
What should a Hawaii borrower do right now?
The Hawaii office says borrowers with questions can call Credit Acceptance customer service at 800-634-1506 now, or contact the claims administrator once the judgment is approved. OpenClassActions says borrowers should keep making scheduled payments unless Credit Acceptance tells them otherwise.
The company also warns about unexpected messages about “settlement money,” and the advice is to follow only instructions that can be verified through its official settlement page or the state office. The Hawaii office alleges that Credit Acceptance made loans consumers could not reasonably afford and failed to stop dealers from packing loans with unwanted service contracts and GAP products.
Will a Credit Acceptance restitution notice reach you in Hawaii?
Hawaii’s restitution depends on a court approval that has not happened yet, and no per-borrower amount is announced. A notice from Credit Acceptance or the administrator can arrive months from now and be easy to set aside.
The Settlement & Refund Recovery System includes the four-date rule for reading a settlement notice and a claim log and payment tracker, so a borrower can record when the notice came, what it said and when money is due. It also has the scam-proof rules for messages about settlement money.
Get the four-date rule and payment tracker for the Credit Acceptance settlement →
This article was produced with AI assistance and edited for accuracy against the sources linked above.
Warren Cohen is a finance writer based in Phoenix, Arizona, covering personal finance topics including credit, banking, and beginner investing. He earned his degree in business administration from Arizona State University and began his career working in consumer finance, where he gained direct experience with lending and credit systems. He now writes for personal finance websites and fintech platforms, focusing on clear, practical content that helps readers make informed financial decisions.
