Washington is an at-fault state with 25/50/10 minimum liability limits under RCW 46.30.020: $25,000 of bodily injury coverage per person, $50,000 per accident, and $10,000 for property damage. What's unusual is that a policy isn't the only way to comply, the law also accepts a certificate of deposit, a liability bond of at least $60,000, or self-insurance for owners of 26 or more vehicles.
In practice, almost everyone buys a policy, and the interesting decisions sit just above the minimums. A $10,000 property damage floor is one of the lowest in the country, a single totaled vehicle on a Seattle-area freeway can blow through it, so the more useful comparison is usually what different carriers charge for higher limits, not who will write the bare minimum.
The figures below explain the policy structure used in Washington. They do not predict an individual premium. For a broader view of how state rules differ, use our national car insurance directory.
Washington minimum car insurance requirements
Most quotes begin with liability coverage. Bodily injury liability addresses covered injury claims made by other people when you cause a crash. Property damage liability addresses covered damage to their vehicles or other property. The legal minimum keeps a policy compliant, but it does not say how much financial risk a household can comfortably retain.
- Coverage
- Bodily injury liability, one person
- Required amount or rule
- $25,000
- What it generally addresses
- Covered injuries to one other person
- Coverage
- Bodily injury liability, one accident
- Required amount or rule
- $50,000
- What it generally addresses
- Total covered injuries in one accident
- Coverage
- Property damage liability
- Required amount or rule
- $10,000
- What it generally addresses
- Covered damage you cause to other property
- Coverage
- PIP or medical coverage
- Required amount or rule
- Not required, but insurers must offer PIP, rejection must be in writing
- What it generally addresses
- Medical coverage rules vary by policy
- Coverage
- Additional state rule
- Required amount or rule
- Insurers must offer UM/UIM coverage; it applies unless you reject it in writing
- What it generally addresses
- Review the selection or rejection shown on the quote
- Coverage
- Accident framework
- Required amount or rule
- At-fault
- What it generally addresses
- The responsible driver's liability coverage is central
- Coverage
- SR-22 filing
- Required amount or rule
- Used in this state
- What it generally addresses
- Applies only when ordered after qualifying events
| Coverage | Required amount or rule | What it generally addresses |
|---|---|---|
| Bodily injury liability, one person | $25,000 | Covered injuries to one other person |
| Bodily injury liability, one accident | $50,000 | Total covered injuries in one accident |
| Property damage liability | $10,000 | Covered damage you cause to other property |
| PIP or medical coverage | Not required, but insurers must offer PIP, rejection must be in writing | Medical coverage rules vary by policy |
| Additional state rule | Insurers must offer UM/UIM coverage; it applies unless you reject it in writing | Review the selection or rejection shown on the quote |
| Accident framework | At-fault | The responsible driver's liability coverage is central |
| SR-22 filing | Used in this state | Applies only when ordered after qualifying events |
Source: Washington Office of the Insurance Commissioner — Mandatory insurance law
What the state minimum covers, and what it leaves with you
A minimum policy is designed to satisfy state law. It is not designed around the value of your car, the size of a possible injury claim or the amount of savings you want to protect. Those are household decisions, so they need a separate review.
A financed or leased vehicle commonly needs collision and comprehensive coverage under the contract even when state law does not require them. For plain-language definitions and buying context, visit our insurance guides before selecting limits.
Rules and risks that matter in Washington
State law is only the starting point. These Washington-specific details show what to confirm before you compare coverage or buy a policy.
What Washington requires, and the alternatives
The mandatory insurance law (RCW 46.30) requires drivers to carry 25/50/10 liability coverage or use one of the alternatives: a certificate of deposit with the state, a surety-company liability bond of at least $60,000, or self-insurance if you operate 26+ vehicles. Driving without any of these is a traffic infraction, and proof must be carried in the vehicle.
Liability coverage pays the other side when you cause a crash. Your own car and injuries ride on optional coverages, which is where Washington's offer rules come in.
PIP and UIM: yours unless you reject them in writing
Washington insurers must offer personal injury protection (PIP) and underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage on every auto policy. If you don't want them, you must reject them in writing, if the insurer can't produce a signed rejection, the coverage exists as a matter of law.
That default is worth taking seriously. Nationally, 15.4% of drivers were uninsured in 2023, per the Insurance Research Council, and UIM is what covers the gap when the at-fault driver carries too little. When you compare quotes, compare them with PIP and UIM included, since that's the configuration most Washington policies actually end up with.
SR-22s in Washington
After certain suspensions, DUI, unpaid accident judgments, and other serious violations, the Department of Licensing requires an SR-22 filing before reinstating a license, typically maintained for three years. Your insurer files it and must notify the DOL if the policy lapses, which restarts the trouble. Carriers price SR-22 situations very differently, so drivers who need one have the most to gain from comparing quotes.
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Start a Washington quote requestWhat affects car insurance rates in Washington?
Average annual expenditure for auto insurance in Washington was $1,048 in 2022. This is a historical statewide expenditure benchmark from NAIC 2022 Auto Insurance Database Average Premium Supplement. It combines many types of drivers and policies, so it should be used for market context rather than as a current quote estimate.
Insurers apply their filed rating plans to the household in front of them. Two neighbors can see different prices, and the same household can receive a wide range from different companies because each insurer weighs the inputs differently.
Garaging location
Claim frequency, traffic, repair costs, theft and weather exposure vary across Washington ZIP codes.
Drivers and record
Age, driving experience, citations, accidents, claims and continuous insurance history can affect price and eligibility.
Vehicle and use
Repair technology, vehicle value, annual mileage, commute and business use change the potential cost of a claim.
Coverage choices
Liability limits, collision, comprehensive, optional benefits and deductibles determine what the policy is being asked to pay.
Household details
Other licensed drivers, additional vehicles and bundling opportunities can change the account-level price.
Company fit
Insurers target different customer profiles. No one company is consistently cheapest for every driver in every territory.
Before you switch
Read the declarations, not only the price.
The declarations page shows drivers, vehicles, limits, deductibles and selected benefits. Match those fields before deciding that one quote is better.
Learn how a quote becomes a policy →How to compare Washington car insurance quotes
Keep the drivers, vehicles, limits, deductibles, dates and payment method the same. Then compare the full-term cost and change only one choice at a time.
Compare insurance companies on price, coverage and service
A familiar name is not automatically the best fit. Compare how each insurer sells and services policies, which optional programs it offers and whether it writes your profile in Washington. Availability and underwriting can vary by state.
See how Progressive sells and services policies →
See how GEICO sells and services policies →
See how State Farm sells and services policies →
See how Allstate sells and services policies →Company marks link to independent editorial reviews. They do not identify quote partners or a personalized match.
Browse all company reviews →Compare car insurance by Washington city
State law applies across Washington, but the garaging address can add a more local rating layer. Use a city guide to review ZIP related factors, vehicle details and the quote worksheet, then return here for the state requirement source.
Check the facts
Rules and market data used on this Washington page
The minimum-coverage table is paired with a first-party state reference, and the legal authority named in the guide is RCW 46.30.020 (mandatory insurance) and RCW 46.29.090 (minimum limits); Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner. Historical premium context is labeled by year and linked to the underlying publication. These sources do not replace a policy contract or individualized legal advice; rules and forms can change, so confirm current requirements with the regulator, insurer or a licensed professional.
State requirement source
Washington Office of the Insurance Commissioner — Mandatory insurance law ↗Official state consumer page listing Washington's mandatory auto liability limits.
Historical market data
NAIC — 2022 Auto Insurance Database Average Premium Supplement ↗Historical statewide average-expenditure data published by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners in June 2024.
Regulator directory
NAIC — State insurance department directory ↗Directory of state insurance regulators for current consumer guidance, licensing checks and complaints.
Checked by Show my rates · Last updated August 3, 2026
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