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Bellevue, WA Personal Injury Attorney Discusses Mandatory Car Insurance in Washington State

Hughes Robbins, P.S. Sept. 13, 2012

Bellevue, WA Personal Injury Attorney Scott Hughes Discusses Mandatory Car Insurance in Washington State

Auto insurance laws vary from state to state, and what is required in one state may not be required in another so it is important to know the regulations in Washington. The penalties and fines for not having proper insurance can be expensive so make sure you know what is required in Washington.

Washington State law requires anyone who drives a motor vehicle in our state to do one of the following:

  • Carry liability insurance—you must have liability limits of at least:

    • $25,000 for injury or death to another person

    • $50,000 for injuries or death to all other people

    • $10,000 for damage to another’s property

  • Pay a deposit to the Washington State Treasurer

  • Have a liability bond of at least $60,000

You should always carry your proof of insurance with you. Failure to show proof of insurance to a law enforcement officer is considered a traffic violation.

The Mandatory Auto Insurance Law also allows exemptions. The vehicles which are exempted from the law are:

  • specially licensed “antique vehicles” over 40 years old;

  • “Collector’s vehicles” over 30 years old;

  • publicly-owned vehicles (vehicles owned, rented or leased by state, federal, city, county, and town governments, school districts and political subdivisions);

  • vehicles registered with the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission as common or contract carriers (any truck that hauls for payment);

  • motorcycles; and

  • motor-driven cycles, such as motor scooters and mopeds.

Exemptions notwithstanding, all drivers are subject to the WA’s Financial Responsibility Law (FRL). The FRL requires the person who might be involved and at-fault in an accident to pay the claims to damages or injuries.

This post was written by Scott Hughes, Bellevue WA based attorney at Hughes Robbins. If you have a question about the Mandatory Car Insurance requirements or are looking for a Personal Injury attorney, contact Scott today.