Car Insurance in Washington: 2026 Rates & Requirements

Washington keeps a standard 25/50/10 minimum with no added PIP, MedPay, or mandatory uninsured motorist requirement - one of the simpler, more affordable minimum-coverage structures on the West Coast, especially compared to neighboring states.

Minimum Insurance Requirements in Washington

Washington requires drivers to carry at least $25,000/50,000 in bodily injury liability (per person / per accident) and $10,000 in property damage liability. Washington is an at-fault (tort) state: the driver who caused the accident, through their liability coverage, pays for the other party's injuries and property damage. These are legal minimums, not a safety net for your own finances — most independent advisors recommend carrying meaningfully higher limits than the state requires, especially if you own a home or have savings to protect.

What Drives the Cost of Car Insurance in Washington

The Seattle metro area drives most of the statewide average upward, with denser traffic, higher accident frequency, and elevated vehicle theft rates compared to the rest of the state. Washington's property damage liability minimum, at $10,000, is on the lower end nationally, which is part of why a bare-minimum policy stays relatively cheap here - though it also means a driver carrying only the state minimum has fairly thin protection if they damage an expensive vehicle in an accident. Rates east of the Cascades tend to run meaningfully lower than the Puget Sound region.

Get Your Own Washington Estimate

The figures above are state averages for a 35-year-old driver with a clean record and full coverage — useful as a benchmark, but your own rate depends on your exact ZIP code, vehicle, driving history, and coverage choices. Run your own free, no-signup estimate below, pre-filled for Washington.