Car Insurance In Washington 2026: Laws, Costs, Requirements & Companies

With 15 years of insurance experience and having been a former resident of Washington, I’ve seen firsthand how car insurance requirements can vary and impact drivers differently. This guide breaks down everything you need to know about Washington’s car insurance, from the minimum requirements to the average costs, so that you can make confident choices about your car insurance protection.

Does Washington Require Car Insurance?

Yes, Washington State requires that drivers either provide proof of financial responsibility or maintain mandatory liability coverage. The majority of drivers maintain liability coverage that has to conform to these limits (25/50/10):

• Bodily Injury Liability ($25,000 per person) for the injuries or death you cause to one person in an accident
• Bodily Injury Liability ($50,000 per accident), for all the injuries you cause to multiple people in a single accident
• Property Damage Liability ($10,000 per accident) for the damage you caused to someone else’s property

How Much Insurance Should You Get In Washington?

Washington drivers face distinct risks coming from the Pacific Northwest weather and uninsured motorists, meaning that the minimum liability coverage is often insufficient, especially in major accidents. Drivers might consider optional coverage like comprehensive, collision, or roadside assistance.

Washington regularly ranks among the states with the highest percentage of uninsured drivers, upwards of 21% of all drivers, meaning that you have a one in five chance of being hit by someone who doesn’t have insurance. While Washington doesn’t require uninsured motorist or underinsured motorist coverage, many drivers benefit from having this policy as their only recourse for compensation if hit by someone without insurance.

Washington is prone to Atmospheric River events, which can lead to severe floods, damage from which can total cars in a matter of minutes, and is only covered by comprehensive coverage. Sliding off the road in a single vehicle slide off along the many mountain passes throughout the state with no other drivers, is only covered by Collision.

Those same mountain passes and rural regions of the state can leave drivers stranded due to blown tires or dead batteries, and help can be very expensive, but with roadside assistance, long-distance towing can be made much more affordable.

Even drivers who don’t add optional coverage can still increase their liability coverage beyond what Washington mandates. For example, a single ER visit often exceeds $25,000 in Washington, and new cars have an average price of $48,000, so the $10,000 in property damage is often inadequate when replacing a vehicle. As such, experts typically recommend increasing your coverage to 100/300/100.

How Much Is Car Insurance In Washington?

The average monthly cost for the Washington State mandated minimums is around $46 per month, but full coverage can cost around $180 per month. Washington is one of the few states where credit scores can most significantly impact your insurance premiums, but other things can increase or decrease what you pay as well:

• Low-income car insurance: There are no state-sponsored programs for low-income, but many regional providers with affordable rates, like PEMCO, with minimum coverage around $13 per month.
• Non-owner car insurance: Drivers who want coverage for rented or borrowed cars can expect premiums around $33 per month.
• Temporary car insurance: Drivers who need a 6-month policy will see costs around $100 per month in Washington.
• Senior car insurance: Seniors in Washington typically pay $200 per month for full coverage, but prices gradually rise after age 75.
• Teen car insurance: Teenagers are among the most expensive policies in Washington, costing an average of between $300 and $500 per month for full coverage.
• SR-22: High-risk drivers who have to file an SR-22 can see costs jump to $150 per month for state minimum coverage from some providers.
• College Students: College students in Washington typically pay around $235 per month for full coverage, a rate that decreases once drivers reach the age of 25.
• Bad Credit: Washington has notoriously high differences in premiums for those with a poor credit score, paying an average of $100 per month more than someone with an exceptional score.
• With a speeding ticket: A speeding citation can typically increase annual premiums by an average of $400 per year, depending on the provider.

These figures are general estimates and can vary depending on the insurer and your personal driving profile.

Which Car Insurance Companies Operate In Washington?

Many national and regional insurance providers offer coverage and discounts tailored to Washington drivers, including the following:

• Mutual of Enumclaw
• PEMCO Insurance
• GEICO
• Progressive
• State Farm
• Auto-Owners Insurance
• Travelers
• Allstate
• Grange Insurance
• COUNTRY Financial (good for young and married drivers)
• Safeco
• Liberty Mutual
• Nationwide
• American Family Insurance
• USAA
• Farmers Insurance
• California Casualty (for educators, nurses, and first responders)
• The General
• Kemper (great for teen drivers)
• Direct Auto Insurance (for high-risk drivers and SR-22)
• National General Insurance
• Metromile (known for its pay-per-mile offerings for low-mileage drivers)
• Dairyland

Note: The Washington Office of the Insurance Commissioner offers a search tool to find an up-to-date official list of all licensed insurance operators in the state.

You can compare quotes and coverage details through Insuranceopedia to find the right national or regional provider for your needs.

How To Get Lower Insurance Premiums In Washington

As car insurance premiums have risen by over 17% across Washington State in 2025, due to high-tech vehicle repair costs, drivers can utilize the action steps below to try to get lower premiums:

Pay Annually

One of the biggest ways to get discounts is to pay annually, as annual payments can typically drop 10% off your premiums.

Use Telematics

Another way to reduce premiums is by being a safe driver and utilizing telematics programs. National companies like Progressive and GEICO, as well as regional tech-based companies, can track your driving habits and give you discounts of up to 30%.

Increase Your Deductible

Increasing your deductible can save you up to 30% on your premiums. For example, if your current deductible is $500 and you are able to double that to $1,000, it can save you a substantial amount every month.

Washington Mature Driver Discount

If you are over 55, you can get a premium discount for 3 years if you complete an approved accident prevention course. Many of these are offered by the AARP or AAA.

Medical Debt Credit Protection

A 2025 Washington state law stipulates that medical debt has to be excluded from credit reports, and as such, drivers who previously struggled with low credit scores from medical debt and whose low credit scores negatively impacted car insurance premiums can utilize tools like Insuranceopedia to compare new rates with their adjusted credit scores.

Regional Carrier Comparison

Can find highly competitive rates for a minimum state coverage from local and regional carriers. It’s worth comparing what offerings they have juxtaposed by national providers.

Low-Mileage And Transit Savings

Drivers in cities like Seattle and Spokane with robust public transit might consider utilizing public transportation in order to keep mileage at a minimum; keeping annual miles to under 12,000 can typically qualify drivers for low-mileage discounts.

Proof Of Insurance In Washington

Washington state has strict requirements that all drivers with a registered vehicle maintain State minimum insurance coverage and be able to present proof of that coverage at any time. The standard liability limits are 25/50/10. Accepted forms of insurance include the physical ID card presented by your insurance company or a digital version.

Alternatively, some drivers can present copies of their state-issued certificate of self-insurance or liability bond (with a $60,000 minimum).

Drivers who are unable to provide proof or who don’t have insurance can be issued a ticket and a misdemeanor charge, especially if they knowingly drove without proper insurance or caused an accident without proper insurance.

Additional penalties can include standard fines, administrative fees, reinstatement fees, and an SR-22 Certificate of Insurance requirement, which must be maintained for 3 years.

Washington State Driving Laws

Washington uses a broad collection of driving laws with a pure comparative negligence Rule and a fault-based accident system. Below are the key regulations pertaining to things like distracted driving, mandatory insurance, and seat belt laws that every Washington driver should know:

Fault State

Washington is a tort state or a fault-based state, which means whichever driver caused the accident is financially responsible for the damages.

Civil Lawsuit Thresholds

Washington state also uses a pure comparative negligence system, so a driver is legally allowed to recover damages even if they are primarily at fault, up to 99% at fault, but compensation gets reduced by whatever percentage that driver is found at fault.

Drivers Without Insurance

Driving without insurance is illegal and includes a possible SR-22 filing, suspension of a license, and fines.

Uninsured Motorist (UM) Coverage

Washington does not mandate that drivers purchase uninsured motorist or underinsured motorist coverage, but insurers still have to provide it as part of the policy. If drivers prefer not to carry this coverage, they have to reject it in writing.

SR-22s

As mentioned, SR-22 forms may be a requirement after conviction of driving without insurance or other convictions that indicate a high-risk driver profile, like DUI. This is typically required for 3 years. But there are ways to find affordable coverage with an SR-22 in Washington.

Self-Insurance

Individuals and businesses with a fleet of 26 or more vehicles can apply for self-insurance if they can prove to the Department of Licensing that they have a liability bond or cash deposit of at least $60,000 to meet minimum liability requirements for Washington.

Seat Belt Laws

All occupants in a vehicle, regardless of where they are sitting or age, have to wear a seatbelt. Failure to do so can result in a citation. In Washington, it is a primary offense, which means officers can pull you over simply for not wearing a seatbelt.

Distracted Driving Laws

Washington relies on a Driving Under the Influence of Electronics law to ban any type of handheld electronic device use while operating a vehicle. This includes reading, viewing, typing, calling, or texting even when stopped at a light.

Teen Driving Laws

Washington uses a Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) system, where an instruction permit is available at age 15 contingent upon enrollment and driver’s ed, or 15 and a half if not, driving under supervision. After this, teenagers can graduate to an intermediate driver’s license and after 6 months of a clean record or age 18, whichever comes first, to a permanent driver’s license

DUI Laws

Washington’s legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit is 0.08% for drivers 21 and older, 0.04% for commercial drivers, and 0.02% for drivers under 21. Penalties for driving under the influence include mandatory jail time for first-time convictions, significant fines, license suspension, and a required IID.

Statute Of Limitations For Claims

Filing a lawsuit related to a car accident has a 3-year statute of limitations for both property damage and injury.

When To Report An Accident

Drivers must report a collision to the Washington State Patrol within 5 days of the accident if there is an injury, death, or property damage of more than $1,000. Police need to be notified immediately if there is injury, death, or significant property damage.

When Is A Car Declared A Total Loss?

A car is considered a total loss in Washington when the repairs plus salvage value equal or exceed the cash value of the car.

Cancellation/Non-Renewal Notification Laws

Insurance companies must give you at least 10 days written notice if they are canceling your project due to lack of payment, and 30 days notice for other reasons or for non-renewal.

Defensive Driving

Drivers in Washington can opt to voluntarily take a state-approved defensive driving course, after which they can qualify for insurance premiums or, as determined by the court, dismiss the traffic violation.

Washington Car Insurance Contact Information

Several state agencies manage things like car insurance regulation and driver compliance, which is why, as a Washington driver, it’s important to know who to contact under which circumstances.

1. Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner (OIC)

If you need help understanding any changes to the insurance law, you can reach out to this department. This is also who you contact to confirm the legitimacy of an insurance company or to file a complaint about your insurance company, usually involving things like your policy being canceled or a claim being denied.

Contact Information:

• Consumer Hotline: 1-800-562-6900 (M–F, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.)
• Insurance Licensing: (360) 725-7144 (M–F, 8:30 a.m. – noon) | Email: licinfo@oic.wa.gov
• General Inquiries: (360) 725-7000
• Website: wa.gov

2. Washington State Department of Licensing (DOL)

This department manages issues relating to driver compliance, titles, and registration, so if you need to register a vehicle, this is who you would go through, but you would also use this department if you needed to resolve an issue with your license or registration after it was suspended for lack of insurance coverage.

Contact Information:

• Customer Service Center (General): (360) 902-3900 (M–F, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.)
• Vehicle Titling & Registration: (360) 902-3770
• Insurance Verification (SR-22/26): (360) 570-7825 (Fax)
• Website: dol.wa.gov

3. Local Vehicle Licensing Offices

You can also contact the DOL offices if you want to handle in-person aspects of your vehicle via subagents. This includes things like immediate tab renewals and Quick Titles.

Contact Information:

• Use the DOL License Office Finder to find an office near you.

Common Washington Car-Related Crime And Fatalities

Drivers in Washington can benefit from looking at some of the most common car-related crimes and accident statistics throughout the state.

Traffic Fatalities In Washington

Over 700 fatalities occurred in 2024, but 2023 was a record, 33-year high for the state. Pedestrians and cyclists are the most likely to be involved in car accident fatalities throughout the state, particularly on US highways and county roads.

Vehicle Theft Trends

Throughout the state, there are thousands of car thefts every month, with an average of 4,000 per month for the last several years.

Common Accident Causes For Washington Drivers

Nearly half of all fatalities in Washington are attributed to impaired driving, and one quarter of them are related to speeding. One out of every five car accident fatalities involves distracted driving.

Major cities and interstates throughout Washington have the highest number of fatalities and accidents.