Washington auto insurance
Washington requires 25/50/10 liability to drive legally, which means the property damage you are insured for tops out at $10,000 — less than the price of most cars on I-5.
- Monday – Friday: 6:00 AM – 7:00 PM Pacific Time9:00 AM – 10:00 PM Eastern Time
- Saturday: 6:00 AM – 5:00 PM Pacific Time9:00 AM – 8:00 PM Eastern Time
Three reasons Washington drivers re-shop their auto policy
- 1
The $10,000 property-damage floor is the problem, not the liability limit
Washington sets property damage at $10,000. The average new vehicle sold in the state costs several times that. If you rear-end a two-year-old SUV at a light on 405 and you are carrying the state minimum, the gap between the repair bill and your limit is yours to pay. Raising that one number is usually the cheapest meaningful change on a Washington policy.
- 2
Uninsured motorist coverage has to be declined in writing
Washington does not require you to buy uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage, but a carrier must offer it and you must reject it in writing. A lot of people discover they rejected it years ago on a form they do not remember signing. It is the coverage that answers after a hit-and-run, which is not a rare event on the I-5 corridor.
- 3
Nine months of wet road changes what you claim on
Western Washington rear-end collisions cluster in the dark, wet commute. Falling branches, a tree through the roof in a December windstorm and a rock off a gravel truck all fall under comprehensive rather than collision, and the two carry separate deductibles on most policies. People who carry liability only find that out at the worst moment.
Proof of coverage and what happens without it
Washington requires you to carry proof of liability coverage in the vehicle and show it on request. Driving without it is a traffic infraction, and a second finding can cost you the privilege of driving until you file proof. Keep the card current in the glovebox and on your phone, and when you switch carriers make the new policy start the same day the old one ends rather than the day after.
Mountain passes and chain requirements
Snoqualmie, Stevens and White Pass all post traction and chain requirements between roughly November and April, and black ice on the east slope arrives before the snow does. Single-vehicle slides into a guardrail are a collision claim. A tree or rockfall onto the car is comprehensive. If you commute over a pass, say so on the call — the annual mileage figure matters more than people expect.
Rideshare and delivery driving in Seattle
A personal auto policy generally stops covering you the moment you log into a driving app. Some carriers sell an endorsement that covers the waiting period before a ride is accepted; others will not write the car at all if it is used that way. Seattle has more app driving than anywhere else in the state, and this is the single most common thing people leave off an application.
Have these ready when you call
Five minutes on the phone goes faster with the paperwork in front of you.
- Year, make, model and VIN for every vehicle
- Driver license numbers for everyone who will drive
- The exact date your current policy ends, so the new one starts without a gap
- Annual mileage, and whether the commute crosses a mountain pass
- Any ticket or at-fault accident in the last three to five years
- Whether any vehicle is used for rideshare, delivery or other paid driving
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum car insurance in Washington?
Liability of at least $25,000 per injured person, $50,000 per accident, and $10,000 for property damage — written 25/50/10. That is the legal floor for driving, not a recommendation, and the property-damage figure in particular is low against current repair costs.
Is uninsured motorist coverage required in Washington?
No, but the carrier has to offer it and you have to decline it in writing. It covers you when the at-fault driver has no insurance or not enough, including in a hit-and-run.
Does Washington require personal injury protection?
PIP is not mandatory, but it must be offered and declined in writing, the same as uninsured motorist. It pays medical bills after a crash without waiting for fault to be sorted out.
Is hitting a deer collision or comprehensive?
Animal strikes are generally handled under comprehensive, which usually carries a different deductible from collision. Worth knowing before you file rather than after.
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