Car Insurance Requirements in Washington (2024)

To make sure drivers can pay for damages from a car accident, most states set mandatory minimums for car insurance. These minimum requirements can help pay for medical bills, hospital charges, and property damage, as well as your legal fees if you face a lawsuit.

It’s important to understand and maintain these minimum requirements and know whether it’s a good idea to purchase higher liability coverage limits or additional types of car insurance.

Here’s what you need to know about minimum car insurance requirements in Washington.

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Washington car insurance requirements

Washington’s minimum car insurance requirements are similar to mandates in other states. You’ll need to purchase bodily injury liability coverage with a minimum limit of $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident. You’ll also need to purchase property damage liability coverage with a minimum limit of $10,000 per accident.^[1]

Bodily injury liability

If you injure someone while driving, you have the financial responsibility to cover the other driver’s injury. That’s why Washington state law requires you to carry enough bodily injury liability coverage to reimburse someone up to $25,000 in damages, which can include lost wages as well as medical bills.

In 2022, the average bodily injury liability insurance claim was $24,211.^[2] If the damages exceed that amount, you’ll need to cover the remaining amount out of pocket, so you may want to consider increasing your coverage limits.

Property damage liability

Similarly, if you damage someone’s personal property, such as their vehicle, during an accident, your property damage coverage will kick in to reimburse someone for up to $10,000 in damages.

In 2022, just over 2% of people filed a claim against a property damage liability policy, for an average amount of $5,313. As with bodily injury liability coverage, you may want to consider a higher limit if you have significant assets to protect, such as your home or your bank account balance.

Do you need more than state-minimum coverage in Washington?

A liability insurance policy helps cover only the damage and injury you cause others and their property in a car accident. The bare-minimum limit required by the state of Washington is typically the cheapest policy option available. On average, Washington drivers pay $76 per month for liability coverage.

It’s a good idea to consider whether you need additional coverage, especially if you have assets above the minimum coverage limits that you could lose in a lawsuit. For example, if you’re saving toward a down payment on a home and you seriously injure someone in a car accident, you could face out-of-pocket payments from your personal savings if their medical costs exceed $25,000.

Full-coverage car insurance typically includes collision and comprehensive coverages to protect your car from damage, regardless of fault. If you have an auto loan or finance your vehicle, your lender may require you to buy this coverage.^[3]

The cost of liability-only car insurance in Washington

Washington state law requires drivers to carry minimum amounts of liability coverage. Washington drivers pay an average of $76 per month for this type of insurance policy. Direct Auto offers the cheapest average liability rate, at $50 per month.

Here’s how much top insurers charge on average for a minimum-limit liability policy in Washington state.

The cost of full-coverage car insurance in Washington

The average cost of full-coverage insurance in Washington is $161 per month. Full coverage generally includes a collision insurance policy that pays for your vehicle damages following an accident and a comprehensive insurance policy that kicks in following vehicle damage from a non-collision incident, like severe weather or vandalism.

Below, you can find the cheapest average full-coverage quotes from Washington car insurance companies.

Penalties for driving without proof of insurance in Washington

About 21.7% of Washington drivers are uninsured, which increases your risk on the road.^[4] If a police officer pulls you over and you can’t provide proof of insurance in the form of a valid auto insurance ID card, you could face fines starting from $550.^[5]

If you cause an accident and can’t reimburse your victims for the resulting damage, you’ll face a three-year license suspension. You may qualify to apply for conditional restrictions to drive to and from work or school, but you could face further severe penalties if law enforcement catches you driving outside of these restrictions.

Optional car insurance coverages to consider

Many people opt to buy additional types of coverage that provide more protection in the event of an accident but add minimal cost to their total premium. In addition to collision and comprehensive coverages, you should consider the following common insurance add-ons:

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  Gap coverage

  Gap coverage pays the remaining balance on your car loan if an accident totals your motor vehicle before you complete paying it off. Due to depreciation, the insurance payout typically isn’t sufficient to repay the loan.

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  Personal injury protection (PIP) coverage

  PIP coverage pays for ambulance costs and medical expenses for you and your passengers, as well as lost wages and funeral costs.

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  Roadside assistance coverage

  If you run into car trouble on the road, such as needing a jump-start, running out of gas, or getting a flat tire, roadside assistance coverage can pay for a tow truck or mobile mechanic to help you out.

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  Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage

  If one of Washington’s many uninsured drivers hits you, uninsured motorist coverage will kick in to cover your bodily injury and property damage. Underinsured motorist coverage acts similarly and applies when a driver’s limits are too low to fully cover your damages.

Washington car insurance requirements FAQs