Washington Auto Insurance

Under Washington law, insurance companies may exclude a driver in your household from inclusion on your auto insurance policy for legal reasons.  In fact, the auto insurance company may make this request for persons with a poor driving history which pose a higher risk.  You as the policy owner may also exclude members of your household from coverage by an insurance policy.  If a driver is excluded from the policy, they have no liability coverage but you still have the liability exposure if they drive one of your vehicles and get in an accident. All exclusions must be either stated in the policy or on an endorsement and can generally be found in the exclusions section of your policy along with all the other circumstances which preclude the insurance policy paying a claim.

If you have an auto policy you cannot let it lapse.  A lapsed policy is considered the same as not having any insurance at all.  You must replace the policy immediately or risk paying high fines and higher insurance rates.  Providing inaccurate or false information will result in a misdemeanor charge.  Some insurance companies will give you better rates if you insure for more than the state mandatory minimums.  Lack of prior insurance coverage due to never owning a car cannot be held against you as long as you have never violated the Washington Mandatory Insurance Laws.

The state of Washington allows insurance companies to check your credit history when they set your premium, determine which products they will offer and set the frequency of you premium payments.  They will also set your insurance risk score. The company may ask you to explain any bankruptcies, judgments, or credit problems.  The insurance company will also use other criteria such as your driving record, age, type of vehicle you drive and the area where you live to determine your premium rates.

Washington is a tort state which means you can be personally sued for injuries, deaths, and damages beyond the amounts your insurance policy covers.  The average insurance premium in Washington averages about $839.00 and has the 17th most expensive auto insurance premiums in the nation as of 2006.  There are several major insurance companies which have met the qualifications to sell auto insurance in the state of Washington.  The following companies are just a few which have been approved to sell auto insurance in the state of Washington:  21st Century Insurance Company, Amica Mutual Insurance Company, AIG Insurance Company Inc., Allstate Indemnity Company, American International Insurance Company, American Home Assurance Company, American Standard Insurance Company of Wisconsin, American National Property and Casualty Company, American Family Mutual Insurance Company, Allstate Insurance Company, Alpha Property and Casualty Insurance Company, Hartford Underwriters Insurance Company, IDS Property Casualty Insurance Company, Horace Mann Property & Casualty Insurance Company, Hallmark Insurance Company, Government Employees Insurance Company, Encompass Indemnity Company, Electric Insurance Company, Enumclaw Property and Casualty Insurance Company, General Insurance Company of America, Deerbrook Insurance Company, Dairyland Insurance Company, Garrison Property and Casualty Insurance Company, GEICO General Insurance Company, First National Insurance Company of America, Farmers Insurance Company of Washington, Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company, Meritplan Insurance Company, Liberty Northwest Insurance Corporation, Metropolitan General Insurance Company, Liberty Mutual Fire Insurance Company, Integon Indemnity Corporation, National Interstate Insurance Company Travelers Home and Marine Insurance Company, State Farm Fire & Casualty Company, Progressive Classic Insurance Company, and Safeco Insurance Company of America.

Some things you can do to reduce your premiums are to maintain a clean driving record, and drive a vehicle with a good safety rating.  Other things that can affect your insurance are the area where you live and work and the traffic volume in that area.  If you have a teenage driver, it may be less expensive to include them on the family policy.  Stress with them the importance of maintaining good grades and a clean driving record as these will help to defray the cost of premiums.  Your age, the age of your car as well as its condition and the type of vehicle you drive, your gender, and your marital status will play a factor in the cost of your auto insurance premiums. Be aware of the vehicles which are targets of thieves and try to buy cars which are not on the following top ten stolen list.

1. 1996 Honda Accord
2. 1995 Honda Civic
3. 1990 Toyota Camry
4. 1994 Dodge Caravan
5. 1996 Jeep Cherokee/Grand Cherokee
6. 1997 Ford Taurus
7. 1994 Plymouth Voyager
8. 1997 Ford Explorer
9. 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier
10. 2004 Ford F150