Key Takeaways
Losing your driving privilege is never a pleasant thought. A driver who has faced a serious driving infraction will have to file a safety responsibility form commonly known as SR-22 insurance in the state they belong to. SR-22 is not an auto insurance policy but proof of financial accountability that allows you to drive around after facing driving infractions.
Despite the fact that state-required obligations differ by state, the state will normally ask you to complete an SR-22 under instances of DUI or DWI charges, failure to own an insurance policy, or other driving violation citations.
In Washington, if a driver is convicted of a major traffic violation, leading to a suspended license, the auto insurance company must submit the SR-22 form. This will certify that the driver meets the state's minimum requirements for insurance. The driver will have to maintain the SR-22 in Washington for three years.
However, your insurance premiums can be higher after filing an SR-22 as the record will have driving infractions which will automatically increase the premium rates. In Washington, we observe that State Farm offers the cheapest SR-22 insurance as well as non-owner SR-22 insurance rates, followed by Progressive.
Here we look in detail at the SR-22 insurance in Washington state, the cost of SR-22 in Washington, and the cheapest and the best SR-22 insurance in the state.
SR-22 is a mandatory requirement in Washington after you have been categorized as a high-risk driver following a driving infraction. Like in every other state, Washington also requires you to file an SR-22 form which will ensure that you have insurance coverage in accordance with the state's minimum insurance requirements.
The minimum car insurance requirements in Washington are as follows.
In Washington, drivers mandatorily need to file SR-22 insurance if they have committed the following infractions.
Under these circumstances, one might have their license suspended. To drive around after these tickets on your record, you require SR-22 insurance. It acts as a certificate of financial responsibility, which proves that you are financially stable to handle another event of an accident or a claim.
While you might not need this for minor offenses, repeated violations and serious cases like hit and run will need an SR-22 for hitting the road again.
Filing for SR-22 insurance in Washington will cost you anywhere between $25 and $50. This might look inexpensive. However, the insurance costs after an infraction or with SR-22 insurance rates become exorbitantly higher when compared to the average insurance rates in Washington.
The average annual car insurance cost in Washington is $1234. In Washington, you will need to file for SR-22 insurance for three years. Therefore, your insurance premiums, which are calculated based on your record, can rise. In case your license is suspended due to any violations, then you will have to pay an additional fee of $75.
You are a high-risk driver if you are in need of SR-22 insurance. While it looks like a matter of filing a form, not all insurance providers cater to the requirement. There are insurance companies that exclusively deal with high-risk drivers. They file the SR-22 form with the Washington Department of Licensing on your behalf.
This is because your current insurance company may not provide you with SR-22 insurance.
Since the provider needs to fill in the form on your behalf, you'll have to make the payment to the provider.
Even if your SR-22 proves that you are financially responsible, you must be regular in your insurance payments for three years. Any lapse in payment can extend the requirement of the SR-22 insurance.
After the insurance provider files the form, you will receive the verification from the Washington Department of Licensing.
You will be eligible to drive around with an SR-22 form once the state accepts your SR-22 application. Once accepted, you'll receive confirmation from the Washington Department of Licensing and your insurance provider.
There might not be many insurance providers who can provide you with SR-22 insurance in Washington. While DUI and driving with a suspended license can increase your insurance premium rates by 75%, hit and run can increase it by 84%.
Here is a list of companies that offer affordable SR-22 insurance in Washington for minimum DUI coverage.
Insurance Company | Annual Average Insurance Rate |
---|---|
USAA | $700 |
State Farm | $556 |
Allstate | $923 |
PEMCO | $794 |
Progressive | $572 |
In Washington, you must retain SR-22 insurance for three years from the day you have your driving privileges revoked or your license reinstated. If you are driving around without filing SR-22, then you will have to pay more for insurance.
Finding insurance becomes tougher with fewer quotes to compare and higher prices, with an SR-22 on your record. As per state law, you must maintain your SR-22 with the Washington License Bureau for three years. Your insurance provider will notify the state if your coverage lapses. This can reset your SR-22 period, and you must pay any SR-22-related expenses again.
Credit scores are an important non-driving factor that is crucial in determining car insurance premium rates. A poor credit score, along with SR-22 as an "added credit," can increase the premium rates by at least $62.
Credit Tier | Avg. Monthly Rate - No Violation | Avg. Monthly Rate - SR-22 | Difference |
---|---|---|---|
Excellent | $220 | $271 | $51 |
Good | $245 | $302 | $57 |
Average | $247 | $304 | $58 |
Poor | $267 | $329 | $62 |
If you don't own a car and if you are in need of SR-22 insurance in Washington, you can opt for non-owner SR-22 insurance. If you frequently rent cars and have a ticket on your record, this will keep your insurance rates lower than the average.
The non-owner car insurance rates are lower than the average insurance rates in Washington. The best rates for non-owner SR-22 insurance in Washington are offered by Progressive.
Insurance Company | Average Annual Rate |
---|---|
USAA | $512 |
State Farm | $465 |
Progressive | $458 |
Travelers | $598 |
The state offers a few alternatives to the SR-22 insurance, which is mandatory for your driving privileges in the state after a serious violation.
In case you find it difficult to file your SR-22 insurance with an insurance provider, Washington allows you to sign up for the Washington Automobile Assigned Risk Plan. If you would like to avoid carrying SR-22 insurance, there is also an option to pay $60,000 to the State Treasury or get a surety bond from a licensed business.
With an offense on record, it may be more difficult to reduce insurance premiums. Even if your alternatives are restricted, comparing insurance quotes should provide you with an idea of the average rates. This can help choose a cost-effective option even after filing an SR-22 form.
Make use of the online quotes that insurance companies now provide. Choosing the one that suits your needs is best possible through this research. Way.com is the quickest and easiest way to compare quotes in Washington.
A good credit score indicates fewer claims. So, having a good to excellent credit score can reduce the premium rates even after an offense. If it is not repeated, a good credit score will come to your rescue and reduce your premium rates.
You may not be eligible for good driver discounts, but you have to always look for the other available discounts. Insurance companies will offer multipolicy discounts, telematics discounts, and bundling discounts. This can make a huge difference in the rates.
Higher deductibles reduce vehicle insurance premiums. This will, however, reduce your accident claim. Compare deductible alternatives to discover if a reduced deductible delivers savings, then choose one that meets your budget and comfort level.
If you can pay your premium in full, then insurance companies will make a reduction in the total amount to be paid.
If you are not a frequent driver but are a high-risk driver due to any of the infractions, then you might want to consider usage-based insurance. This can keep your premium rates to a minimum.
SR-22 Needed After | Serious traffic offense and/or suspension of the license |
Required For | 3 years |
Average Rate Increase | $51 |
Minimum Bodily Injury Liability Coverage | $50,000 per person / $100,000 per accident |
Minimum Property Damage Liability Coverage | $10,000 |
Additional coverage required | Personal injury protection - $25000 |
Property protection insurance - $10000 |
The auto insurance rates published in this guide are based on the results of research completed by Way.com’s data team. Using a mix of public and internal data, we analyzed millions of rate averages across U.S. ZIP codes.
Quotes are typically based on a full coverage policy average unless otherwise noted within the content.
These rates were publicly sourced from insurer filings and should be used for comparative purposes only — your own quotes will differ. Given this, it’s important to go through our insurance steps form to find how much you can save with way.com
Way.com’s Insurance Broker Quote Data
In Washington, an auto insurance company must submit an SR-22 form if a driver's license is suspended for a major traffic infraction. This certifies the driver's insurance satisfies the state minimum requirement for insurance. Three years of SR-22 maintenance are required in Washington.
After you finalize your provider, they file the SR-22 form with the Washington Department of Licensing on your behalf. The department of licensing will send a verification followed by confirmation emails.
The SR-22 filing is a cheap exercise that will cost you anywhere between $25 and $50. However, your insurance rates can increase by at least 75% after an infraction or if you have to maintain an SR-22 form.
Among the different insurance companies which provide SR-22 insurance State Farm provides the cheapest rates for the same.
As per state law, you must maintain your SR-22 with the Washington License Bureau for three years. During this period, your insurance provider is required to notify the state if your coverage lapses. This can reset your SR-22 period, and you must pay any SR-22-related expenses again.
Even if you move to a state without SR-22 requirements, don't let your insurance lapse without consulting the Washington DMV. Usually, the drivers file for new insurance and finish their SR-22 in the new state.
If you don't own a car and if you are in need of SR-22 insurance in Washington, you can opt for non-owner SR-22 insurance. If you frequently rent cars and have a ticket on your record, this will keep your insurance rates lower than the average.
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