Washington Car Insurance
Washington drivers must carry 25/50/10 liability under RCW 46.30.0201. UM and UIM are a must-offer at policy limits under RCW 48.22.0302; PIP is a must-offer ($10K med + $10K income floor) under RCW 48.22.0853. Washington is otherwise a traditional tort state.
YesWeSure Bottom Line
Three must-offer coverages. UM at liability limits, UIM at liability limits, and PIP at $10K med + $10K income continuation. Each one ships on the policy unless the named insured rejects or reduces it in writing23.
Not a no-fault state. Washington has a PIP must-offer regime but preserves full tort rights. Tort recovery against the at-fault driver remains available alongside any PIP benefits4.
How to make a real decision. Treat 25/50/10 as a floor. UM/UIM at policy limits is the default and usually worth keeping. For how to think about higher limits, see how to choose coverage limits.
State requirements at a glance
What Washington car insurance law requires
Minimum liability limits
25 / 50 / 101
$25,000 bodily injury per person, $50,000 per accident, $10,000 property damage per accident, under RCW 46.30.020.
Personal Injury Protection (PIP)
Must offer; optional purchase3
RCW 48.22.085 requires insurers to offer PIP, but purchase is optional. If elected, the floor is $10,000 medical plus $10,000 income continuation per person. Washington is otherwise a traditional tort state.
Uninsured / Underinsured Motorist
Must offer at policy limits2
RCW 48.22.030 requires insurers to offer UM and UIM in amounts equal to the policy's bodily-injury and property-damage liability limits. Rejection or purchase at lower limits must be in writing.
Coverage verification
DOL mandatory-insurance enforcement5
RCW 46.30.020 makes operating without the required insurance a traffic infraction with civil penalties. Proof of coverage is required at traffic stops and registration.
Rate approval regime
WA OIC oversight4
Washington has considered but not enacted a comprehensive statewide prohibition on credit-based insurance scoring in personal auto. Rating is overseen by the Washington Office of the Insurance Commissioner through filings.
25/50/10 compulsory liability
RCW 46.30.020 compels every registered Washington vehicle to carry 25/50/10 liability1. Many Washington drivers carry higher limits.
PIP must-offer under RCW 48.22.085
RCW 48.22.085 requires insurers to offer PIP, but purchase is optional3. If elected, the floor is $10,000 medical plus $10,000 income continuation per person. Washington is otherwise a traditional tort state. For how PIP sits next to MedPay, see our medical payments coverage guide.
UM and UIM must-offer at policy limits
RCW 48.22.030 requires insurers to offer UM and UIM in amounts equal to the policy's bodily-injury and property-damage liability limits2. Rejection or purchase at lower limits must be in writing.
DOL mandatory-insurance enforcement
RCW 46.30.020 makes operating a motor vehicle without the required insurance a traffic infraction with civil penalties15. The Washington Department of Licensing administers mandatory-insurance enforcement and requires proof of coverage at traffic stops and registration. For a general lapse treatment, see our after-a-lapse guide.
Rating-factor landscape
Washington has considered but not enacted a comprehensive statewide prohibition on credit-based insurance scoring in personal auto4. The Office of the Insurance Commissioner has issued rules on specific rating factors over time; rating is overseen through filings.
Where the Washington situation rules live on YesWeSure
This State Guide owns the Washington pricing and legal framework. Situation-specific mechanics live on the sibling Situation guides:
- After an accident. See our after-an-accident guide.
- After a DUI. Washington SR-22 and reinstatement mechanics are treated in our after-a-DUI guide.
- After a lapse. DOL consequences of a lapse are treated in our after-a-lapse guide.
- Moving into Washington. New-resident registration is treated in our moving-to-another-state guide.
What we verified for this page
- Strong25/50/10 minimum liability verified against RCW 46.30.020.
- StrongPIP must-offer with $10K med + $10K income floor under RCW 48.22.085 verified against the statute. Purchase is optional. Washington is otherwise a traditional tort state.
- StrongUM/UIM must-offer at policy limits under RCW 48.22.030 verified against the statute. Rejection or purchase at lower limits must be in writing.
- StrongDOL mandatory-insurance enforcement under RCW 46.30.020 verified against the statute and the Department of Licensing consumer page.
- LimitedCredit-based insurance scoring in Washington has been contested through administrative action. V1 states conservatively that Washington has not enacted a comprehensive statewide prohibition. Consistent with the frozen YesWeSure cost guide; no conflict.
- LimitedDeliberately omitted from V1. A Washington modeled cost anchor; carrier-specific WA underwriting; the exact SR-22 duration (deferred to the after-a-DUI guide); and telematics program detail.
- LimitedNamed author and expert reviewer. V1 attributes to "YesWeSure Editorial." A Washington-licensed reviewer is tracked as a pre-launch YMYL item.
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Common questions
What is the minimum car insurance required in Washington?
25/50/10 liability under RCW 46.30.0201. UM/UIM and PIP are each must-offer; they ship on the policy unless rejected in writing23.
Is Washington a no-fault state?
No. Washington is a traditional tort state with a PIP must-offer regime34.
Is UM/UIM required in Washington?
UM and UIM are must-offer at policy liability limits. They are included on every Washington personal auto policy unless the named insured rejects or reduces the coverage in writing under RCW 48.22.0302.
Sources & methodology
- RCW 46.30.020: Mandatory liability insurance; 25/50/10 compulsory liability for Washington drivers. (Washington State Legislature, TIER 1)
- RCW 48.22.030: Uninsured Motorist coverage; must-offer at policy liability limits; written rejection required. (Washington State Legislature, TIER 1)
- RCW 48.22.085: Personal Injury Protection must-offer; $10,000 medical plus $10,000 income continuation floor if purchased. (Washington State Legislature, TIER 1)
- Washington Office of the Insurance Commissioner: Auto Insurance consumer page. (Washington Office of the Insurance Commissioner, TIER 1)
- Washington Department of Licensing: Mandatory Insurance information. (Washington Department of Licensing, TIER 1)
- YesWeSure: Car insurance after an accident (YesWeSure, INTERNAL)
- YesWeSure: Car insurance after a DUI (YesWeSure, INTERNAL)
- YesWeSure: Car insurance after a lapse in coverage (YesWeSure, INTERNAL)
- YesWeSure: Car insurance when moving to another state (YesWeSure, INTERNAL)
- YesWeSure: What is medical payments coverage? (YesWeSure, INTERNAL)
- YesWeSure: How to choose coverage limits (YesWeSure, INTERNAL)
- YesWeSure: How insurers calculate rates (YesWeSure, INTERNAL)
Evidence hierarchy on this page: Tier 1 (Revised Code of Washington, Washington Office of the Insurance Commissioner, Washington Department of Licensing). Every legal number traces to a Washington primary source: RCW 46.30.020, 48.22.030, 48.22.085. This page is informational and does not constitute legal, tax, or insurance advice. Last reviewed .