Can I Drive Legally Without Auto Insurance in Washington?
Reader’s Question:
I’m just got my new car and a license here in Washington and I’m excited to use it all. But I have no auto insurance yet. Can I still drive legally without auto insurance policy?
Mandy
Bellevue, Washington WA
Wow, you must be excited, Mandy
It’s fun to have everything new especially a new vehicle! Now I’m sure you just want to go wherever the wheels lead you.
Nevertheless, Mandy, you can’t legally drive without auto insurance. All states in America require all vehicles to have at least the liability coverage in auto insurance. And this includes Washington. Non-compliance to this law is punishable ranging from fines to imprisonment. This is how serious the law is about auto insurance so better avoid the penalties and drive legally with auto insurance. Besides, excited you may be with your new car, accidents can happen anytime. So it would do you good if you are protected with auto insurance. The basic compulsory liability coverage of auto insurance is used to meet financial obligation when you meet accidents on the road and caused someone to be injured. It can be used to meet the injured person’s medical bills, funeral or lawsuits against you.
If you still have to register your new car, the registration would usually carry with it auto insurance policy with the basic coverage (you have to pay for it of course). To get the most protection, you may need to buy collision or comprehensive coverage on your auto insurance. Auto insurance with collision coverage protects the car from damages due to collision and comprehensive protects the car from any other incidents aside from collision. There are plenty of insurance companies offering auto insurance policies so it is not actually hard to get one. So while you are excited to drive your car, protect yourself first from authority and possible accidents. Get auto insurance immediately.