Washington Does Not Require Uninsured Motorist Coverage
You're structuring coverage for two or more vehicles in Washington and need to know whether uninsured motorist coverage is mandatory or optional. Washington does not require uninsured motorist (UM) coverage. The state mandates only liability insurance: $25,000 per person for bodily injury, $50,000 per accident for bodily injury, and $10,000 for property damage. UM coverage is offered by every carrier writing in Washington, but you must add it to your policy — it does not appear automatically.
This creates a structural gap. The state requires you to carry liability insurance to pay for damage you cause to others, but it does not require protection for damage others cause to you when they carry no insurance. With multiple vehicles on one policy, that gap multiplies: an uninsured driver who hits any of your household's cars leaves you relying on your own collision coverage or paying out of pocket if you declined UM.
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Get Your Free QuoteWashington Uninsured Driver Rate
19.1%
Nearly one in five drivers on Washington roads carries no insurance. That rate is above the national average and means your household's vehicles face meaningful exposure every time they leave the driveway.
Insurance Research Council, 2023
What Uninsured Motorist Coverage Actually Pays
Uninsured motorist coverage pays for bodily injury and, when you add the property-damage endorsement, vehicle damage caused by a driver with no insurance. It also covers hit-and-run accidents where the at-fault driver cannot be identified. UM bodily injury pays medical bills, lost wages, and pain-and-suffering damages up to your policy limits. UM property damage pays repair costs for your vehicle up to the limit you select, typically with a deductible.
UM coverage follows the policy, not the vehicle. If you insure three cars on one policy and add UM, all three are covered. If one of your vehicles is hit by an uninsured driver, your UM coverage pays the claim regardless of which car was involved. This makes UM particularly efficient for multi-car households: one endorsement protects every vehicle on the policy.
UM does not duplicate collision coverage. Collision pays for damage to your car regardless of fault — including single-vehicle accidents, rollovers, and collisions with objects. UM property damage pays only when another driver is at fault and uninsured. If you carry collision, UM property damage adds a second layer for the specific scenario where the at-fault driver has no insurance. If you do not carry collision, UM property damage is your only coverage for that scenario.
Washington law does not require carriers to offer UM coverage at limits higher than your liability limits, but most carriers allow you to match or exceed them.
How to Add UM Coverage to a Multi-Car Policy
Contact your carrier or log into your account and request UM bodily injury and UM property damage endorsements. You will select a per-person and per-accident limit for bodily injury — typically matching your liability limits — and a per-accident limit for property damage. The carrier adds the endorsement to your policy and adjusts your premium. The coverage applies to every vehicle listed on the policy from the effective date forward.
Most households insuring multiple cars choose UM limits that match their liability limits. Some carriers allow you to select higher UM limits than your liability limits; others cap UM at your liability amount. If you want higher UM limits, confirm your carrier's rules before finalizing the endorsement.
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Underinsured Motorist Coverage Closes a Second Gap
Underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage pays when the at-fault driver carries insurance but their liability limits are too low to cover your damages. Washington does not require UIM coverage, but carriers writing in the state offer it alongside UM. UIM bodily injury pays the difference between the at-fault driver's liability limit and your damages, up to your UIM policy limit. UIM property damage works the same way for vehicle repair costs.
UIM is particularly relevant in Washington because the state's minimum liability limits are low. A driver carrying only the $25,000/$50,000/$10,000 minimum may not have enough coverage to pay for serious injuries or total-loss vehicle damage. If your household's medical bills and vehicle repairs exceed the at-fault driver's limits, UIM steps in to cover the gap. For households insuring multiple vehicles, UIM ensures that a serious accident involving any of your cars does not leave you paying the shortfall.
Carriers typically offer UM and UIM as a combined endorsement. You select one set of limits that applies to both uninsured and underinsured claims. The combined endorsement costs less than purchasing UM and UIM separately and simplifies the policy structure. When you add UM/UIM to a multi-car policy, every vehicle on the policy receives both coverages at the limits you select.
Washington Minimum Liability Limits
$25,000 / $50,000 / $10,000
These are the lowest liability limits a driver can carry and remain legal in Washington. A driver carrying only these minimums may not have enough coverage to pay for serious injuries or significant vehicle damage, which is where your UM and UIM endorsements become critical.
Washington State Department of Licensing
Carriers Writing UM Coverage in Washington
Every carrier licensed to write auto insurance in Washington offers uninsured motorist coverage. State Farm, GEICO, Progressive, Allstate, Farmers, USAA, Liberty Mutual, Travelers, American Family, Nationwide, and The Hartford all write UM and UIM endorsements for multi-car policies. The availability of UM coverage does not vary by carrier; the price does. Carriers price UM based on your liability limits, your driving record, your location, and the number of vehicles on your policy.
When comparing carriers for a multi-car policy, request quotes with and without UM/UIM coverage. The cost difference shows you the price of closing the uninsured-driver gap. For households insuring multiple vehicles, the incremental cost of UM is typically lower per vehicle than it would be on separate single-car policies, because the endorsement applies to the entire policy rather than to each car individually.
Compare Carriers That Write Your Household's Vehicles
Washington does not require uninsured motorist coverage, but with nearly one in five drivers uninsured, the structural gap is real. Households insuring multiple cars face that gap across every vehicle on the policy. Adding UM and UIM endorsements closes it. Compare carriers writing in Washington, request quotes with UM/UIM included, and select limits that match or exceed your liability coverage. The endorsement applies to every car on your policy and protects your household from the most common coverage failure: the at-fault driver who carries no insurance or too little of it.