Washington Auto Insurance

The state of Washington uses a Tort insurance system. If you are found at fault in an accident, you and your insurance company have to reimburse the other drivers for their material losses and pay for the eventual medical expenses.

Minimum Liability Requirements in Washington

As of April 2026, Washington requires drivers to carry minimum liability coverage of 25/50/10 — at least $25,000 in bodily injury liability per injured person, up to $50,000 per accident, and $10,000 in property damage liability.

Source: CarInsurance.com, "US State Minimum Liability Car Insurance Requirements," updated April 15, 2026.

Average Car Insurance Premiums in Washington

Drivers in Washington pay an average of $2,835 a year for full-coverage car insurance — 3% below the national average of $2,922 a year.

Source: Experian, "Car Insurance Average Costs by State," published September 9, 2026.

Driving and using a cellphone

Washington State has decided that drivers may only use cellphones together with hands-free devices. Texting while driving is prohibited. Moreover, young drivers in the GDL program aren’t allowed to use handheld devices altogether.

Teenage driving regulations

The Graduated Driver Licensing program is open to all Washington residents of at least 15 years old. Provisional license holders are subject to a series of restrictions:

• they may not drive unless assisted by a parent, legal guardian or licensed driver of 25+ years old who has had an unrestricted license for at least five years;
• they may not transport passengers under 20, except for immediate family members;
• may not drive between 1 am and 5 am in the first year, except for going to or coming back from work or school

Violations of these restrictions will result in the extension of the restriction period.

Penalties for driving uninsured in Washington

Driving without acceptable insurance in Washington is a traffic violation and is punishable by a fine of at least $250. The rest of the fees and assessments that usually go with such a penalty will amount to another $200. You will also have to take a public education and assessment course. A ticket for operating a vehicle without insurance will go on your WA driving record.

AutoInsuranceQuery editorial team. Last reviewed: September 16, 2026.