washington auto insurance

Washington Auto Insurance

Washington is a tort state, which means that drivers bear financial responsibility for any damage and injury they cause in an accident. Liability insurance helps fulfill this responsibility, and is required under Washington auto insurance laws.

The state liability minimums are 25/50/10. (That's $25,000 per person for injuries you cause to the other party, up to $50,000 for all, and $10,000 for damage you cause to the other party's property.) However, insurance experts recommend carrying higher levels of coverage.

In addition to required liability coverage, Washington drivers may choose to purchase personal injury protection (PIP). This coverage includes compensation for medical payments, loss of income, loss of services, and funeral expenses. These benefits are optional, but apply to any accident, regardless of fault.

Another optional policy is uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage, which helps pay your expenses in the event you are struck by a driver with inadequate liability coverage. These policies are not required, but they're relatively inexpensive, and can provide a lot of protection.

Washington auto insurance companies will also offer optional policies such as collision and comprehensive coverages.

The price of Washington auto insurance is decided by the behavior of the state's drivers as a whole. The auto insurance companies in Washington take the cost of providing insurance for Washington drivers (this includes settlements and legal fees) and divide it up among the drivers. But these costs aren't spread around evenly. Instead, the percentage you pay is decided by things like your driving record, your age, where you live, and the kind of car you drive.

Of course, not all insurance companies compute their figures in the same manner. So they'll charge different rates on the same driver. What this means for you as a driver, is that you need to shop the different rates (and they'll be very different!) for the best deal. It's the fastest easiest way to save on an Washington auto insurance policy.