Washington auto insurance

Reader’s Question:

What is the fine/penalty for driving without insurance in Washington?

Dave

Thank you for asking Dave.

Anyone driving a motor vehicle must have an insurance liability policy in Washington state, a certificate of deposit, liability bond or be self-insured. Purchasing liability insurance on your car is the most common way of showing financial responsibility.

If you are caught driving a motor vehicle without having proof of meeting the requirements of the mandatory insurance law you are committing a major traffic offense. This violation of the law is punishable by a minimum of $250 fine. There are other fees and assessments associated in this that can be added to this fine so it typically costs about $450.

A public safety and education assessment may be part of the penalty also. A ticket for driving without insurance is like any other traffic violation and will become part of your Washington driving record.

Goodluck!

MariCAR

Washington car insurance quote

Reader’s Question:

I received a ticket in MD. Will the points be added on my Washington license?

Red

Thank you for asking Red.

Yes.

Your home area in Washington, DC and the state of Maryland are both members of the Drivers License Compact (DLC). If you are convicted of the MD ticket then their courts will forward this information to the District of Columbia Department of Motor Vehicles.

The District of Columbia DMV states that motorist receive points for certain traffic traffic violations, whether the infractions happened in the District of Columbia or in other states. The DC DMV will assess points if you are found liable at a hearing, fail to pay a ticket within the required time, are convicted in court of a moving violation, or you pay the ticket. The points that you will receive depends on the type of violation you received in Maryland.

Since the Maryland traffic violation will be put on your DC driver’s license your insurance company will see it the next time they pull up your motor vehicle record (MVR) and so this could affect your car insurance rates. Whether this out of state traffic ticket will affect your insurance rates will depend upon your insurance company’s rating system. To get more information about your specific insurance carrier’s rating system check with your car insurance agent.

Goodluck!

MariCAR

WA auto insurance rate

Reader’s Question:

My car was damage and I just want to know if my premium will go up if I make a claim on my own car? I live in WA.

Jerome

Thank you for asking Jerome.

It depends upon your insurance company’s rating system if the accident would affect your car insurance rate.

The Washington State Insurance Commissioner states that most companies apply a surcharge to motorist who have been involved in an accident or convicted of multiple moving infractions.

According to the office of the Insurance Commissioner also notes that ca insurance rates are based on different factors. The insurance you pay consists of a “base rate” plus or minus amounts reflecting various factors like your age, gender, marital status, driving history, type of the vehicle, driving record and claims history. There is a different base rate for each type of vehicle and geographical area. While insurance companies may differ in the amounts they assess for each factor, the major rating factors are fairly universal.

So if you are still trying to decide about making a claim for the damage of your vehicle sustained you may then contact your insurance company to get information if this claim may affect your future premiums.

Goodluck!

MariCAR

Washington auto insurance teen

Reader’s Question:

My son has a WA license but he is going to college in MA. He is planning to purchase a car and will be staying in MA for a few months before deciding whether to live there or state in WA. I’m planning to give her a policy, should it be in WA or MA?

Marit

Thank you for asking Marit.

If your son is going to purchase a car, register it and drive it in Massachusetts then she should get a MA insurance policy to cover the motor vehicle. If after 5 months he moves to a different state then he can register and insure the car in her new state of residency.

Your son can get information on how to register a car in Massachusetts by contacting the MA Registry of Motor Vehicles. He may also need to get information from the RMV if he will need to exchange her Washington State license for a Massachusetts driver’s license after she graduates from college since he may then be considered a resident of MA.

Goodluck!

MariCAR

Washington car insurance

Reader’s Question:

I received a speeding ticket in the state of TX If I ignore the ticket and let the statute clear the charge, Will the state of Washington where I am licensed do anything about this?

Emil

Thank you for asking Emil.

Washington and Texas are both members of Drivers License Compact (DLC) and Non-Resident Violator Compact. The DLC has its member states that forward information concerning traffic violations that a motorist received back to the individual’s home state. So the court in Texas will inform the Washington Department of Licensing of your citation.

The Non-Resident Violator Compact requires member states to suspend the driving privilege of those who get tickets for moving infractions in other states and fails to pay or otherwise take care of the ticket properly. Since WA and TX are both part of this it seems that if you do not take care the Texas speeding ticket that Washington State could suspend your license until you did take care of the TX ticket.

We know of no statute of limitations that you could wait out for the Texas ticket, it will likely remain with you until you take care of it. If you think there is a limit of time in which Texas can try to collect on or enforce the ticket, you may verify with a traffic ticket lawyer to get information on this.

Goodluck!

MariCAR

WA car insurance

Reader’s Question:

I received a written warning for a traffic violation in the state of Washington Will this increase my rate? by how much?

James

Thank you for asking James.

It depends if the warning tickets that you received were warnings that were recorded to your driving record or were real citations that were placed on your Washington driving record. Some warnings are a type of citation that provides information on how to obey.

Your insurance provider may be able to check your motor vehicle record (MVR) by contacting the Washington Department of Licensing. If the 3 warnings or citations are placed on your driving record then they will likely affect your car insurance rates.

Insurance providers rating systems can different so to verify if these warnings or citations will increase your rates, and by how much if so, you will need to contact your insurance company. You may also contact WA Insurance Commissioner to find out about rates.

Goodluck!

MariCAR

auto insurance rate in WA

Reader’s Question:

I purchased a car in Washington state and I just want to know how I can get an insurance so I can drive it back home in Canada.

Jim

Thank you for asking Jim

Typically, insurance providers do not sell car insurance for one day. The shortest period is usually 6 months for a car insurance policy. I would suggest that instead of getting US insurance to pick up the vehicle and drive it home it will likely be easier for you to see if your current Canadian insurance company will add the vehicle to your insurance policy.

According to the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC) they provides universal car insurance to BC motorists. The ICBC is also responsible for motorist licensing, car registration and licensing so you might contact them regarding how to get car insurance on the car you are picking up from Washington state and then how to register it.

Goodluck!

MariCAR

auto insurance WA

Reader’s Question:

I’m in Washington state for a business for 5 months and I am planning to purchase a car. I have an international license, can I drive around the US license and change insurance companies every month?

Luis

Thank you for asking Luis.

It will be hard to get around the issue of getting a US license for auto insurance by switching insurance carrier every month or so. It is not easy to get car insurance with a foreign or international license at first and then if you start to cancel insurance every few weeks it will show up when you are trying to get new car insurance. Insurance carriers will likely see this as a red flag and will not want to insure you.

Usually, the Department of Motor Vehicle keeps tabs of insurance polices, when they cancel, terminate or lapse, to make certain a vehicle is not without insurance. If you change insurance providers so often, this might cause the DMV to become suspicious. I would suggest that you may get a Washington state license first if you want to buy a vehicle, it might not be as difficult as you think.

Goodluck!

MariCAR

car insurance WA

Reader’s Question:

Will my insurance in in the state of Washington be accepted or effective in CA?

Jim

Thank you for asking Jim.

It actually depend upon your situation if Washington State auto insurance would be effective or accepted as coverage in California.

For instance if your motor vehicle is registered in Washington State because you reside there but you are visiting California then normally your WA coverages would conform to California’s car insurance requirements.

If you have moved to California then you would need to register and insure your car in California with an insurance company authorized to do business in CA. If your Washington insurance company also does business in CA then it may be a simple process of working with your insurance agent to change it over to a new agency in CA.

To verify if your Washington insurance would be effective in California for your case you should contact your insurance company who can discuss the specifics of your policy with you. To get more information if your Washington State insurance coverages would be accepted by California for your case you may also try contacting the CA DMV and/or California Department of Insurance.

Goodluck!

MariCAR

WA auto insurance

Reader’s Question:

What is the car insurance with full coverage in Washington state?

Harry

Thank you for asking Harry.

A full coverage requirement is usually set not by the state but by your lien holder or finance company. According to the The Washington Insurance Commissioner site, collision and comprehensive may be required by your lender until you have the car completely paid off.

When you operate a vehicle in Washington state, you are required to have car insurance. If you operate a a car that is registered in Washington, or is required to be under the Revised Code of Washington (RCW), you must have auto insurance policy with limits of at least:

* $25,000 of bodily injury or death of one person in any one accident
* $50,000 of bodily injury or death of two or more persons in any one accident
* $10,000 of injury to or destruction of property of others in any accident (property damage)

Goodluck!

MariCAR

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