Minimum car insurance in Washington.
What Washington requires, in plain words, and why the minimum may not be enough.
The minimum limits
In Washington, the minimum liability limits are written 25/50/10 (in thousands): $25,000 for injury to one person, $50,000 for injury to everyone in one accident, and $10,000 for property damage.
How the system works
Washington is generally an at-fault (tort) state, so the driver who causes a crash is responsible for the other party’s losses. That is why liability limits matter so much.
Tort (at-fault) state. No other coverage required.
What the minimum means in practice
Say a crash you cause injures three people. The Washington minimum pays at most $25,000 to any one of them and $50,000 in total, shared between all three. Any medical bills above that could become your responsibility. Property damage stops at $10,000.
If you drive without insurance in Washington
The Department of Licensing says driving without required insurance can bring a fine of $550 or more. A driver who causes a collision without insurance and does not pay the resulting damages or injuries may have their license suspended under the Financial Responsibility Law.
Proof of insurance
Drivers must carry an auto insurance ID card, failing to show proof is a traffic infraction, proof may be shown on a phone with the officer viewing only the proof, and a citation can be dismissed by showing coverage was in force when cited (the court may charge a $25 fee).
Also worth knowing in Washington
Washington accepts alternatives to insurance, including a certificate of deposit or liability bond of at least $60,000, or self-insurance for owners with 26 or more vehicles.
Sources we checked (October 2026)
Requirements change. We checked the pages below. Confirm with your state insurance department or an agent.
Questions
Is Washington a no-fault state?
Washington is generally an at-fault state.