Washington Car Insurance Laws and Requirements (2023)

Washington law dictates the minimum requirements for insurance coverage that all drivers must carry. All drivers in Washington must hold 25/50/10 in liability coverage. Additionally, drivers are offered personal injury protection on every policy and can pick from a long list of additional coverages for added protection.

Minimum Car Insurance Requirements in Washington

The minimum car insurance requirements in Washington^[1] are:

• $25,000 for bodily injury liability per person

• $50,000 for bodily injury liability per accident

• $10,000 for property damage liability per accident

Washington drivers are offered personal injury protection (PIP) coverage on every policy and can choose to reject it in writing. PIP covers medical bills, income replacement, funeral expenses, and loss of services in the event of an accident. Because PIP coverage isn’t required by state law, the state of Washington is an at-fault state.

Bodily Injury Liability

Bodily injury liability is part of your liability car insurance coverage. If you cause an accident, this coverage will help cover the other party’s medical expenses. This type of coverage will not cover your own medical expenses for injuries sustained in a car accident you caused. Bodily injury liability coverage is required in Washington.

Property Damage Liability

Property damage liability is the other half of your liability car insurance. It covers repair costs and damage expenses to the other cars involved in an accident you caused. This coverage does not cover damage to your own car in an accident you were at fault for. Property damage liability coverage is required in Washington.

Is state minimum car insurance enough in Washington?

The minimum required car insurance coverage in Washington provides drivers with a solid foundation of auto insurance coverage, but it may not be enough for everyone. Minimum coverage requirements of $25,000 per person for bodily injury coverage can quickly be wiped out with a simple injury—then the rest of the medical bills are up to you to pay.

It’s smart to boost your auto insurance policy with higher liability limits, and in the Evergreen State, it’s not a bad idea to go higher than the required property damage coverage limit of $10,000. In a wealthy city like Seattle, most cars on the road are worth more than that, and an accident could put you on the hook for money you may not have.

Optional Car Insurance Coverage for Washington

Washington drivers who want to be protected in any situation should consider bolstering the minimum car insurance coverage with the following supplemental car insurance coverages:

Collision Coverage

Collision coverage covers damages to your car after a collision with another vehicle or object. If your vehicle is a total loss, collision coverage will reimburse you for the actual cash value of your vehicle. This is a great addition to the required property damage liability coverage in Washington, which applies only to the damages to the other driver’s vehicle.

Comprehensive Coverage

Complementing your collision coverage, comprehensive insurance covers damage to your vehicle that occurs during an event that is not a collision with another vehicle or object. This may apply in situations of vandalism, theft, weather damage, or a run-in with an animal. Adding comprehensive and collision coverage together creates a full-coverage car insurance policy.

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage

If an uninsured (or underinsured) driver causes an accident and you suffer bodily injury, uninsured motorist coverage will cover your medical expenses. If the at-fault driver surpasses their bodily injury liability coverage limits, your underinsured motorist coverage will cover the rest of your medical expenses.

Personal Injury Protection

Personal injury protection, also known as PIP, covers medical bills, lost wages, and replacement services for you and other members of your household if you’re injured in a car accident. PIP provides coverage regardless of who is at fault for an accident. PIP is offered on every auto insurance policy in Washington, though you can reject it in writing.

Other Supplemental Coverage

In addition to liability insurance, PIP coverage, and full coverage, insurance companies in Washington state offer additional benefits to help you get the most out of your auto policy. If your car is being repaired for a covered loss, you can purchase rental car reimbursement to cover a replacement in the meantime.

Additionally, the pass at Snoqualmie and Seattle rush hour can be bad places to break down. If you don’t have roadside assistance from AAA or another membership, many insurance companies provide the service for a nominal fee that won’t skyrocket your insurance costs.

Penalties for Driving Uninsured in Washington

It is illegal to drive in Washington without the minimum car insurance coverage. If law enforcement asks you to provide proof of insurance and you can’t, you’ll be cited with a traffic infraction. If you are insured by self-insurance or a liability bond, you also have to carry proof of financial responsibility. The penalties for traffic infractions are as follows^[2]:

• A maximum fine of $250.

Your insurance provider will give you proof of insurance materials when you sign your policy. You can give law enforcement proof of insurance on your smartphone.

Minimum Requirements for High-Risk Drivers in Washington

When your driving record accumulates a certain number of violations, you fail to pay fines or judgments, or you’re involved in a severe accident, the state of Washington will often require you to provide proof of financial responsibility to reinstate your driver’s license or purchase auto insurance. This most often takes the form of an SR-22 certificate.

You don’t have to obtain the SR-22 certificate yourself; your insurance company files it with the state. But your insurance provider will probably raise your premiums. Generally, you’ll need to carry an SR-22 for three years from the time of the accident or violation that earned you the proof of insurance requirement.

More Information for High-Risk Drivers in Washington

DUI Insurance in Washington

SR-22 Insurance in Washington

Cheapest Minimum Car Insurance in Washington

Car insurance companies weigh different factors to determine what to quote drivers on their car insurance policies. Minimum coverage generally means lower car insurance rates. It also means low coverage limits, which may cost you if you’re ever involved in an accident. Here are the cheapest car insurance quotes for minimum coverage in Washington.

How to Find Cheap Car Insurance in Washington

Driving a motor vehicle in the state of Washington is a costly responsibility. You want to do all you can to reduce your insurance costs. The most important way to do that is to compare car insurance quotes from as many companies as possible. That’s why Insurify is so helpful: it lets you look at real quotes from a bunch of companies, all in one place. Try it for free.