Auto Coverage in Washington
Washington Auto Insurance
Drivers in the state of Washington are required to carry auto insurance at all times. This is usually in the form of an insurance ID Card. This helps to protect you in case of an accident or other damage to your vehicle. But it's also the law, in Washington and, as you'll see below, the penalties for not carrying auto insurance could be severe.
Minimum Washington auto insurance
Drivers in the state of Washington need to carry auto liability insurance in the following amounts, at minimum:
- Bodily Injury and Death: $25,000 to cover one person in any one accident, and $50,000 to cover all injuries
- Property Damages: $10,000
Washington laws follow a tort system, meaning that in case of an accident, one of the drivers involved must be found at fault. That driver, and their insurance company, will be responsible for paying for all the damages caused in the accident – including medical bills, vehicle repair, and other property damages. Therefore, it's often recommended to purchase more than the minimum coverage to make sure insurance will cover all of the costs.
Penalties without Washington auto insurance
Drivers in Washington State must carry their proof of insurance with them at all times. If a traffic officer pulls a Washington driver over for another reason, he or she may ask for insurance information, and if the driver turns out to be uninsured, he or she can be issued a traffic ticket. The fine may be $450 or even more in Washington.
If you offer false insurance papers, you can be charged with a misdemeanor. Drivers who don't have evidence of insurance at the scene of an accident can be fined, and possibly lose their driving and registration privileges. In addition, when a drive does reinstate their coverage, he or she may have to pay higher premiums, and have the insurance company file extra paperwork with the state in the form of an SR-22 certificate. A Washington SR-22 certificate shows that insurance is being maintained, in compliance with Washington state law.