Delaney Simchuk, Car Insurance Writer
@delaney_simchuk
The minimum liability car insurance requirements in Washington are $25,000 in bodily injury liability insurance per person ($50,000 per accident) plus $10,000 in property damage liability insurance. These requirements can also be written as 25/50/10.
Key Things to Know About Liability Car Insurance in Washington
- Some communities are exempt. Per Alaska state legislature, if you live in certain communities, you are exempt from vehicle registration, the Mandatory Insurance Law, and CDL road testing. In this case, you are not required to purchase liability insurance.
- It covers others' expenses. Liability insurance pays for others' medical expenses and property damage after an accident you were responsible for.
- There are penalties for driving without the required coverage. If Washington drivers do not satisfy Washington's minimum liability requirements, they can face penalties for driving without insurance.
- Drivers should consider purchasing higher limits. Drivers should consider buying more than the minimum amount of liability coverage required by Washington law if they can afford it. If you cause an accident that results in damage beyond your policy limits, you will be personally responsible for paying the difference.
- Liability insurance will not cover all events. Washington drivers can also consider purchasing other types of car insurance in order to better protect themselves, given that liability insurance does not provide any coverage for the policyholder's own injuries or property. For instance, both collision insurance and comprehensive insurance cover damage to the policyholder's car. You will likely need these types of insurance if your vehicle is financed.
To learn more, check out WalletHub's guides on how much car insurance you need and cheap car insurance in Washington.
People also ask
How much liability insurance do I need?
You need enough liability insurance to cover your net worth. Having coverage equal to the value of the assets you own and all the money you have, minus your debt, protects you financially in case of a serious car accident.
When to Carry Only the Minimum Liability Coverage
Although almost every state requires drivers to carry liability insurance, the minimum coverage is not always enough to cover the cost of an accident. It’s always...
read full answerWhat is liability only insurance?
Liability-only insurance is car insurance that covers a third party's property damage or injuries in the event of an accident. The term “liability-only car insurance” is used to distinguish policies with basic coverage from those with collision insurance and comprehensive coverage.
Liability insurance is the only type of auto insurance that is mandatory in almost every state. It’s split into two main categories of coverage: bodily injury liability and property damage liability.
What Liability-only Insurance Covers
- ...
Is personal injury protection required in Washington?
No, personal injury protection (PIP) is not required in Washington – it’s optional. By default, all Washington car insurance policies include at least $10,000 in PIP coverage. But if you don’t want the coverage, you don’t have to carry it (or get any replacement coverage for medical expenses). You just need to notify your insurance company in writing that you would like to decline PIP coverage.
Washington drivers who want to cancel their PIP...
read full answerDid we answer your question?