Understand Washington’s Insurance Requirements
Know what’s mandatory. The only mandatory coverage in Washington is Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability coverage (BI/PD) if you’re the owner of a car. BI/PD pays for injuries or other damage you cause in an accident, up to the limit on your policy.
Optional coverages offer important protection. Personal Injury Protection is insurance coverage for medical expenses, wage loss and funeral expenses, which result from an auto accident—no matter who is at fault. PIP coverage is not mandatory, but your insurance company must offer it to you. And, if you buy PIP coverage, you must pay for each vehicle on your policy.
Uninsured/Undersinsured Motorist Bodily Injury coverage (UM/UIM) pays for injuries caused by an uninsured or underinsured driver. Uninsured Property Damage coverage (UMPD) pays for damage to your car, caused by an uninsured driver. Comprehensive and Collision coverages protect your car from damage, theft or other loss that’s not caused by another driver. Higher deductibles can save you money.
Keep Your Insurance Current
It’s the law. The minimum requirement for Washington drivers is 25/50/10, which is $25,000 bodily injury coverage per person, up to a total of $50,000 for everyone injured in an accident, and $10,000 for property damage. If you don’t have proof of insurance and you are stopped, it’s a traffic infraction, subject to a $450 fine, and the offense may go on your driving record.
The Minimum Is Not Always Enough
Understand when to buy more coverage. While the Washington minimum limits of liability will keep you legal, you should buy enough coverage to protect your assets if you’re responsible for a serious accident that could exceed your policy limits. We recommend you buy UM coverage, to protect yourself and your passengers from the 16% of drivers who don’t have insurance in Washington. And, if you don’t buy Collision coverage, buy Uninsured Motorist Property Damage coverage, in case your car is hit by an uninsured driver.