Washington Auto Insurance Laws, Minimums, Requirements
What mandatory auto insurance laws exist in Washington?
- All drivers in the state of Washington must carry the minimum levels of auto liability insurance required by Washington law.
- In order to operate a motor vehicle in the state of Washington all drivers must carry at least $25,000 for bodily injury or death per person per accident, $50,000 for bodily injury or death for two or more people per accident, and $10,000 for damage to the property of others per accident.
- In the state of Washington, all drivers must carry proof of insurance at all times. There are no exceptions to this rule. All insurance ID cards should include the insured driver’s name, policy number, effective dates and expiration dates, name of insurance company, and the make, model, and year of the insured vehicle.
- If you are caught driving without insurance in the state of Washington, you will have to pay a fine of $450 or more. If you provide false insurance information, you could be charged with a misdemeanor.
What is the Minimum Liability Coverage (Bodily Injury amounts per person, per accident, and property damage amounts):
If you buy automobile insurance in Washington, your policy must include minimum liability coverage of:
$25,000 for bodily injury or death per person per accident,
$50,000 for bodily injury or death for two or more people per accident,
and
$10,000 for damage to the property of others per accident
What are the Rental Car Insurance Requirements?
In the state of Washington, auto insurance is the law. All vehicles must carry the minimum coverages required under the law. This includes rental cars. If you have the minimum required liability coverage for Washington State, this means that you do not have “comprehensive” or “collision” coverage. Without comprehensive or collision, you do not have coverage for damage to your rental car. The good news is, if you pay for your rental car with a credit card, often your credit card will provide this coverage. Check with your credit card company for details. If you find that your credit card and/or auto insurance policy do not offer enough coverage, you must purchase car rental insurance from the car rental company. It typically costs an extra $7-$14 a day.
What are the rules pertaining to Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage?
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage is not required in the state of Washington, but because Washington is a Tort state, most insurance companies recommend that driver’s consider carrying higher coverages than the state minimums.
What are the rules pertaining to the exclusion from coverage of a driver living in household?
In the state of Washington, it is legal to exclude a member of your household from your policy. It is also legal for your auto insurance company to write a policy that excludes household members that may be considered high-risk due to driving history, etc. These exclusions are listed in the exclusions section of the policy, which also includes a list of all possible circumstances that would free the insurance company from the responsibility of paying a claim. Because a household exclusion means that the excluded person will not be covered under any circumstances, including emergencies, it is extremely important to examine your auto insurance policy carefully before signing on the dotted line.
What are the rules regarding whether a driver has prior insurance? That is, how does state law handle it if a driver has no prior insurance or has let their previous insurance lapse?
If you allow your insurance to lapse in Washington, you risk having to pay hefty fines and higher rates on insurance. When your insurance lapses, you will no longer be covered. If you are caught driving without insurance in the state of Washington, you will have to pay a fine of $450 or more. If you provide false insurance information, you could be charged with a misdemeanor.
What are the rules and guidelines auto insurance companies must follow regarding the use of Personal Credit History in selecting applicants and setting rates?
In the state of Washington, it is legal for auto insurers to use Personal Credit History to help determine which products they will offer as well as rates. Your Personal Credit History may also be used to determine whether you will be making monthly or quarterly payments or if you will be required to pay the entire premium upfront. Personal Credit History is also used to create an “insurance risk score.” This score also helps determine your auto insurance rates. In order to enjoy a lower insurance premium, pay your bills on time in an effort to improve your score. This will also help improve your credit history so that in the long run, you can save money on your car insurance premium. That said, Personal Credit History is not the only assessment tool Washington auto insurance companies may use. In fact, it is against the law for Washington auto insurance companies to use Personal Credit History alone as an assessment tool. They also have to consider age, gender, where you live, car make and model, how much you drive, and driving record.
Is the state a No Fault or Tort state? What does either mean to the policy owner?
The state of Washington follows a Tort System. What this means is, if you are involved in an accident, someone must be found to be the cause or fault of the accident. The person deemed at fault is responsible for all damages. Damages are usually handled through the at-fault person's insurance company. Because Washington is a Tort state, most insurance companies recommend that driver’s consider carrying higher coverages than the state minimums.
What is the average auto insurance premium in this state? As of what year?
As of 2006, Washington resident’s average insurance premium was approximately $839, the 17th most expensive in the nation. This was down 0.3% from the previous year. The national average was $817.
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