Updated April 2026
Minimum Coverage Requirements in Washington
Washington requires minimum liability coverage of 25/50/10: $25,000 per person for bodily injury, $50,000 per accident for bodily injury, and $10,000 for property damage. These minimums apply to all drivers, but if you have a DUI, suspended license, or were caught driving uninsured, Washington's Department of Licensing requires SR-22 filing to prove continuous coverage. The SR-22 requirement typically lasts 3 years from the violation date, and any lapse in coverage restarts the clock.
How Much Does Car Insurance Cost in Washington?
High-risk premiums in Washington vary widely based on violation type, age, location, and prior insurance history. A DUI conviction typically doubles or triples your base rate, while a lapse or suspended license can increase premiums by 50–100%. Rates drop gradually as violations age off your record—Washington insurers review driving history for the prior 3–5 years—and maintaining continuous SR-22 coverage demonstrates stability to underwriters.
What Affects Your Rate
- Violation type: DUI convictions result in the highest rate increases, often 150–250% above clean-record rates
- Time since violation: rates typically drop 10–20% each year as the violation ages, with the steepest reduction after year 2
- SR-22 duration remaining: some carriers offer slight discounts after the first year of continuous SR-22 filing
- Location: Seattle, Tacoma, and Spokane drivers pay 15–30% more than rural areas due to higher accident and theft rates
- Prior insurance history: a lapse before the violation can add an additional 20–40% to premiums
- Credit-based insurance score: Washington allows insurers to use credit as a rating factor, which can raise rates by 30–50% for drivers with poor credit
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Sources
- Washington Department of Licensing - SR-22/Financial Responsibility Requirements
- Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner - Minimum Coverage Laws
- Insurance Institute for Highway Safety - Uninsured Motorist Statistics by State