State guide
Car Insurance in Washington
Updated August 2026
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.
| Coverage | Required minimum |
|---|---|
| Bodily injury liability (per person) | $25,000 |
| Bodily injury liability (per accident) | $50,000 |
| Property damage liability | $10,000 |
| PIP / medical | Not required, but insurers must offer PIP — rejection must be in writing |
| Additional requirements | Insurers must offer UM/UIM coverage; it applies unless you reject it in writing |
| No-fault state | No |
| SR-22 used | Yes |
Source: RCW 46.30.020; Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner
Average annual expenditure for auto insurance in Washington was $1,048 in 2022. (NAIC 2022 Auto Insurance Database Average Premium Supplement)
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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Frequently asked questions
What car insurance is required in Washington?+
Liability coverage of at least $25,000 bodily injury per person, $50,000 per accident, and $10,000 property damage (25/50/10), per RCW 46.30.020 — or an approved alternative: a certificate of deposit, a liability bond of at least $60,000, or self-insurance for 26+ vehicles.
Is Washington a no-fault state?+
No. Washington is an at-fault (tort) state: the driver who causes the accident pays for the other side's injuries and damage through their liability coverage. PIP exists in Washington, but as an offered coverage you can reject in writing — not a no-fault mandate.
Do I have to accept PIP and UIM coverage in Washington?+
No, but the default runs the other way: insurers must offer both, and they become part of your policy unless you reject them in writing. Without a signed rejection on file, the coverage applies.
Does Washington use SR-22s?+
Yes. The Department of Licensing requires SR-22 filings to reinstate a license after certain suspensions, generally for three years. Your insurance company files the certificate with the state.
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