Washington

Washington Basic Auto Insurance Coverage Amounts

For Washington drivers, the basic auto insurance coverage amounts are set by the state legislature. This is a tort state for car insurance purposes, which means that the driver who has been found legally responsible for an accident must pay for the damages he or she caused. Property damage and bodily injury liability insurance coverage are required by law.

Property damage coverage is used to pay for repairs to the other driver’s vehicle following the accident. It also pays for damage to other property following the event, including sign posts, mail boxes, fences, guard rails, buildings and sheds. At least $10,000 must be put in place for this purpose.

Bodily injury liability coverage is also a legal requirement in Washington. This is the part of the policy which is used to pay for medical bills and other expenses related to the accident, and pays a certain amount for funeral benefits if the accident caused one or more deaths. Drivers in Washington must buy at least $25,000 in coverage to compensate one accident victim or injuries and $50,000 to pay for injuries and damages sustained by two or more accident victims.

Car insurance buyers can buy a policy with a higher limit than the minimum level of protection required by law if they wish, and it’s a good idea to consider buying one. With the ever-rising cost of health care, the coverage available under a basic policy can be used up very quickly if the accident causes injuries requiring hospitalization.

WA Minimum Auto Insurance Coverage Requirements

In WA, the minimum auto insurance coverage requirements are determined by state lawmakers. Liability insurance pays for injuries and damages claimed by the occupants of the other vehicle involved in an accident.

Property damage liability coverage is used to pay for the cost of repairs to the other driver’s vehicle. It also pays for repairs to other property damaged in the accident, including sidewalks, guard rails, sign posts and buildings. The minimum level of property damage liability coverage required in Washington is $10,000.

Bodily injury liability insurance is the part of the policy used to pay for personal injury claims stemming from an accident. It covers medical bills and rehabilitation costs, and pays out a funeral benefit if the accident resulted in one or more fatalities. The minimum level required for this type of coverage is $25,000 to pay for injuries and damages claimed by a single accident victim and $50,000 to pay for claims made by two or more accident victims.

Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage is not mandatory in Washington, but it is a good idea to add these types of coverage to an existing policy. Uninsured motorist coverage pays for injuries and damages sustained by the policyholder and the occupants of his or her own vehicle when the at-fault driver doesn’t have any coverage. Underinsured motorist coverage is used to top up the at-fault driver’s available coverage when he or she doesn’t have enough insurance to fully cover the level of damages stemming from the accident.