Washington car insurance: minimums, prices and your estimate
Washington requires at least $25,000 of bodily injury liability per person, $50,000 per accident, and $10,000 of property damage liability (written 25/50/10).
Washington is an at-fault state where insurers must offer personal injury protection (PIP) with at least $10,000 in medical benefits and must include underinsured motorist coverage, which also covers uninsured and hit-and-run drivers. You can reject either in writing.
- Legal minimum
- 25/50/10
- Fault system
- At-fault
- Personal injury protection
- Must be offered ($10,000); you can turn it down
- Uninsured motorist
- Must be offered; you can turn it down
- Underinsured motorist
- Must be offered; you can turn it down
- Credit-based pricing
- Allowed with limits
- Gender-based pricing
- Allowed
- High-risk proof filing
- SR-22 (usually 3 years)
What drivers in Washington can expect to pay
Monthly ranges from our model, anchored to Washington's position in 7 published price studies from 2025 and 2026 ($2,615 a year for full coverage and $755 for minimum coverage for a standard adult driver; which studies). Suburban ZIP code, mid-size sedan a few years old.
| Driver | Estimated monthly | About per year |
|---|---|---|
| Adult, full coverage35, clean record, 100/300/100, $500 deductibles | $188-$248 | $2,615 |
| Adult, state-minimum coverage35, clean record, only what the law requires | $54-$72 | $755 |
| Young driver, full coverage20, own policy, clean record | $348-$523 | $5,230 |
| Senior, full coverage70, clean record | $180-$238 | $2,510 |
| After one at-fault accident35, full coverage | $281-$373 | $3,923 |
| After a DUI35, full coverage | $328-$492 | $4,916 |
| Poor credit35, clean record, full coverage | $334-$481 | $4,890 |
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Rules worth knowing in Washington
- If you have PIP, the minimum benefits are $10,000 for medical bills, $10,000 for lost income (up to $200 a week), $5,000 for household services (up to $200 a week) and $2,000 for funeral costs.
- Underinsured motorist coverage, which also covers uninsured, hit-and-run and phantom vehicles, comes at your liability limits unless you or your spouse reject all or part of it in writing. Its property damage deductible can be up to $100, or $300 for hit-and-run and phantom vehicles.
- Insurers may use your credit to set your price and must notify you if it works against you, but cannot cancel or refuse to renew your policy based on credit, even in part. A Washington court struck down the Insurance Commissioner's ban on credit-based auto pricing in July 2022.
- Insurers cannot use a lack of credit history, credit inquiries, medical collections, a first car or home loan, the type of card you use, or your total available credit. Credit can support a denial only together with other underwriting factors.
- If you cannot show proof of insurance, the law presumes you are uninsured, and you can be cited for a traffic infraction. Instead of a policy, the law accepts a liability bond, a certificate of deposit or self-insurance.
- In Washington, an SR-22 can be cancelled 3 years after it was required if you had no disqualifying conviction, bail forfeiture or infraction during those 3 years.
Questions about Washington car insurance
What is the minimum car insurance in Washington?
Washington requires at least $25,000 of bodily injury liability per person, $50,000 per accident, and $10,000 of property damage liability (written 25/50/10).
How much is car insurance in Washington per month?
For a 35-year-old with a clean record, our model puts full coverage at about $188 to $248 a month and state-minimum coverage at about $54 to $72. Age, record, car, ZIP code and the company you choose move the real number a lot.
Is Washington a no-fault state?
At-fault (tort) state: the driver who causes a crash, and their insurer, pays for the other side's injuries and damage.
Can insurers in Washington use my credit score?
Yes, within limits set by state law, so better credit usually means a lower price when you buy a new policy.
Do I need an SR-22 in Washington?
Only if a court or the state requires one, usually after a serious violation or a lapse. In Washington, an SR-22 can be cancelled 3 years after it was required if you had no disqualifying conviction, bail forfeiture or infraction during those 3 years.