Washington State Driving Without Insurance

Washington State law requires all drivers to be covered by the minimum amount of liability insurance. The insurance requirement helps drivers avoid the financial hardship that comes from an automobile accident and ensures that the other driver will be compensated for damages and/or injuries.

In lieu of insurance, a driver may choose to prove financial responsibility in the event of an accident. To do this, the driver must deposit $60,000 in cash or securities with the state treasurer. The state treasurer must then ensure that there are no unsatisfied judgments of characters against the driver. After receiving the deposit, a certificate for financial responsibility will be issued. The driver could also file a liability bond for $60,000 at any state-authorized surety bond company in order to prove financial responsibility.

Washington state minimum insurance requirements state that you must have a limit of $25,000 for the injury or death of one person in an accident, $50,000 for the injury or death of two people in an accident, and $10,000 for the injury or property damage of others in accident. Please note that if you are brought to court and found liable for more than this amount, you may be expected to pay the costs out of pocket.

When you drive, you must have proof of insurance. If you are pulled over by an officer and cannot show written proof of insurance, you may be issued a traffic ticket and charged with driving without insurance. The fine for driving without insurance is very high. However, if you go to court and show proof of insurance, the ticket may be reduced to mere payment toward court administrative costs.

Your insurance card must include the name of the insurance company, your policy number, the effective date of the policy, the expiration date, and a description of the make, model, and year of the insured vehicle. If you have a certificate of deposit, it must include the certificate number and the name of the driver. Liability bonds must show the name of the company that issued the bond, the bond number, and the name of the person covered by the bond.

Callahan Law represents drivers who have been issued traffic citations. If you have questions about the Washington State law regarding driving without insurance, contact us today.