Wash. Rev. Code » Title 46 · Chapter 46.30
Revised Code of Washington

Wash. Rev. Code § 46.30.020 (2026)

✓ current as of May 2026
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(1)(a) No person may operate a motor vehicle subject to registration under chapter 46.16A RCW in this state unless the person is insured under a motor vehicle liability policy with liability limits of at least the amounts provided in RCW 46.29.090, is self-insured as provided in RCW 46.29.630, is covered by a certificate of deposit in conformance with RCW 46.29.550, or is covered by a liability bond of at least the amounts provided in RCW 46.29.090. Proof of financial responsibility for motor vehicle operation must be provided on the request of a law enforcement officer in the format specified under RCW 46.30.030.
(b) A person who drives a motor vehicle that is required to be registered in another state that requires drivers and owners of vehicles in that state to maintain insurance or financial responsibility shall, when requested by a law enforcement officer, provide evidence of financial responsibility or insurance as is required by the laws of the state in which the vehicle is registered.
(c) When asked to do so by a law enforcement officer, failure to display proof of financial responsibility for motor vehicle operation as specified under RCW 46.30.030 creates a presumption that the person does not have motor vehicle insurance.
(d) Failure to provide proof of motor vehicle insurance is a traffic infraction and is subject to penalties as set by the supreme court under RCW 46.63.110 or community restitution.
(e) For the purposes of this section, when a person uses a portable electronic device to display proof of financial security to a law enforcement officer, the officer may only view the proof of financial security and is otherwise prohibited from viewing any other content on the portable electronic device.
(f) Whenever a person presents a portable electronic device pursuant to this section, that person assumes all liability for any damage to the portable electronic device.
(2) If a person cited for a violation of subsection (1) of this section appears in person before the court or a violations bureau and provides written evidence that at the time the person was cited, he or she was in compliance with the financial responsibility requirements of subsection (1) of this section, the citation shall be dismissed and the court or violations bureau may assess court administrative costs of twenty-five dollars at the time of dismissal. In lieu of personal appearance, a person cited for a violation of subsection (1) of this section may, before the date scheduled for the person's appearance before the court or violations bureau, submit by mail to the court or violations bureau written evidence that at the time the person was cited, he or she was in compliance with the financial responsibility requirements of subsection (1) of this section, in which case the citation shall be dismissed without cost, except that the court or violations bureau may assess court administrative costs of twenty-five dollars at the time of dismissal.
(3) The provisions of this chapter shall not govern:
(a) The operation of a motor vehicle registered under RCW 46.18.220 or 46.18.255, governed by RCW 46.16A.170, or registered with the Washington utilities and transportation commission as common or contract carriers; or
(b) The operation of a motor-driven cycle as defined in RCW 46.04.332, a moped as defined in RCW 46.04.304, or a wheeled all-terrain vehicle as defined in RCW 46.09.310.
(4) RCW 46.29.490 shall not be deemed to govern all motor vehicle liability policies required by this chapter but only those certified for the purposes stated in chapter 46.29 RCW.
[ 2019 c 60 s 1; 2013 2nd sp.s. c 23 s 20; 2013 c 157 s 1; 2011 c 171 s 76; 2010 c 161 s 1115; 2003 c 221 s 1; 2002 c 175 s 35; 1991 sp.s. c 25 s 1; 1991 c 339 s 24; 1989 c 353 s 2.]

Notes:

Finding—Intent—2013 2nd sp.s. c 23: See note following RCW 46.09.442.
Effective date—2013 2nd sp.s. c 23: See note following RCW 46.09.310.
Intent—Effective date—2011 c 171: See notes following RCW 4.24.210.
Effective date—Intent—Legislation to reconcile chapter 161, Laws of 2010 and other amendments made during the 2010 legislative session—2010 c 161: See notes following RCW 46.04.013.
Effective date—2002 c 175: See note following RCW 7.80.130.
Notice of liability insurance requirement: RCW 46.16A.130.
PDF

RCW 46.30.020

Liability insurance or other financial responsibility required—Violations—Exceptions. (Effective January 15, 2026.)

(1)(a) No person may operate a motor vehicle subject to registration under chapter 46.16A RCW in this state unless the person is insured under a motor vehicle liability policy with liability limits of at least the amounts provided in RCW 46.29.090, is self-insured as provided in RCW 46.29.630, is covered by a certificate of deposit in conformance with RCW 46.29.550, or is covered by a liability bond of at least the amounts provided in RCW 46.29.090. Proof of financial responsibility for motor vehicle operation must be provided on the request of a law enforcement officer in the format specified under RCW 46.30.030.
(b) A person who drives a motor vehicle that is required to be registered in another state that requires drivers and owners of vehicles in that state to maintain insurance or financial responsibility shall, when requested by a law enforcement officer, provide evidence of financial responsibility or insurance as is required by the laws of the state in which the vehicle is registered.
(c) When asked to do so by a law enforcement officer, failure to display proof of financial responsibility for motor vehicle operation as specified under RCW 46.30.030 creates a presumption that the person does not have motor vehicle insurance.
(d) Failure to provide proof of motor vehicle insurance is a traffic infraction and is subject to penalties as set by the supreme court under RCW 46.63.110 or community restitution.
(e) For the purposes of this section, when a person uses a portable electronic device to display proof of financial security to a law enforcement officer, the officer may only view the proof of financial security and is otherwise prohibited from viewing any other content on the portable electronic device.
(f) Whenever a person presents a portable electronic device pursuant to this section, that person assumes all liability for any damage to the portable electronic device.
(2) If a person cited for a violation of subsection (1) of this section appears in person before the court or a violations bureau and provides written evidence that at the time the person was cited, he or she was in compliance with the financial responsibility requirements of subsection (1) of this section, the citation shall be dismissed and the court or violations bureau may assess court administrative costs of $25 at the time of dismissal. In lieu of personal appearance, a person cited for a violation of subsection (1) of this section may, before the date scheduled for the person's appearance before the court or violations bureau, submit by mail to the court or violations bureau written evidence that at the time the person was cited, he or she was in compliance with the financial responsibility requirements of subsection (1) of this section, in which case the citation shall be dismissed without cost, except that the court or violations bureau may assess court administrative costs of $25 at the time of dismissal.
(3) The provisions of this chapter shall not govern:
(a) The operation of a motor vehicle governed by RCW 46.16A.170 or registered with the Washington utilities and transportation commission as common or contract carriers; or
(b) The operation of a motor-driven cycle as defined in RCW 46.04.332, a moped as defined in RCW 46.04.304, or a wheeled all-terrain vehicle as defined in RCW 46.09.310.
(4) RCW 46.29.490 shall not be deemed to govern all motor vehicle liability policies required by this chapter but only those certified for the purposes stated in chapter 46.29 RCW.
[ 2025 c 332 s 1; 2019 c 60 s 1; 2013 2nd sp.s. c 23 s 20; 2013 c 157 s 1; 2011 c 171 s 76; 2010 c 161 s 1115; 2003 c 221 s 1; 2002 c 175 s 35; 1991 sp.s. c 25 s 1; 1991 c 339 s 24; 1989 c 353 s 2.]

Notes:

Effective date—2025 c 332: See note following RCW 46.18.255.
Finding—Intent—2013 2nd sp.s. c 23: See note following RCW 46.09.442.
Effective date—2013 2nd sp.s. c 23: See note following RCW 46.09.310.
Intent—Effective date—2011 c 171: See notes following RCW 4.24.210.
Effective date—Intent—Legislation to reconcile chapter 161, Laws of 2010 and other amendments made during the 2010 legislative session—2010 c 161: See notes following RCW 46.04.013.
Effective date—2002 c 175: See note following RCW 7.80.130.
Notice of liability insurance requirement: RCW 46.16A.130.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 12 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1993–2024 · leading case: Quinn Kyrkos v. State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins., 852 P.2d 1078 (Wash. 1993).
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Quinn Kyrkos v. State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins., 852 P.2d 1078 (Wash. 1993). · cites it 4× “RCW 46.30.020(1)(a). The City has obtained such a certificate and thus meets the requirements of the financial responsibility laws.”
State v. Flake, 883 P.2d 341 (Wash. Ct. App. 1994). · cites it 2× “It is prohibited by RCW 46.30.020(l)(a), but the failure to provide proof of insurance is categorized as a traffic infraction subject to monetary penalties or community service.”
S&K Motors, Inc. v. Harco Nat'l Ins., 151 Wash. App. 633 (Wash. Ct. App. 2009). “See RCW 46.30.020; RCW 46.29.090. Mut. of Enumclaw Ins.”
Allstate Indem. Co. v. Wise, 818 So. 2d 524 (Fla. 2d DCA 2001). “See Wash. Rev.Code § 46.30.020 (effective 1990).”
City of Spokane v. Ward, 92 P.3d 787 (Wash. Ct. App. 2004). · cites it 2× “No costs or attorney fees may be awarded to either party in a traffic infraction case, except as provided for in RCW 46.30.020(2).” (The exceptions found in RCW 46.”
Miller v. Aetna Life & Cas. Co., 851 P.2d 1253 (Wash. Ct. App. 1993). · cites it 2× “RCW 46.30.020(3)(a); RCW 46.30.020(l)(a).”
S & K Motors, Inc. v. Harco Nat. Ins. Co., 213 P.3d 630 (Wash. Ct. App. 2009). “[24] See RCW 46.30.020; RCW 46.29.090. [25] Mut. of Enumclaw Ins.”
Clayton v. Grange Ins. Ass'n., 875 P.2d 1246 (Wash. Ct. App. 1994). “010; RCW 46.30.020. This contention finds support in one of our prior decisions.”
Am. States Ins. v. Bolin, 94 P.3d 1010 (Wash. Ct. App. 2004). “RCW 46.30.020. Sperry, 48 Wn. App. at 603 .”
William H. Morgan v. Dep't Of Labor & Indus. (Wash. Ct. App. 2017). “342(1)(c), operating a motor vehicle without insurance under RCW 46.30.020, and following another vehicle too closely under RCW 46.”
Aleksey Zorchenko & Nina Zorchenko, App/cr-resps V. City Of Fed. Way, Resp/cr-apps (Wash. Ct. App. 2024). “RCW 46.30.020, RCW 46.32.060; RCW 46.63.030(1)(c).”
Allstate Indem. Co., App. v. Mirtha Angarita, Et Ano., Resps. (Wash. Ct. App. 2014). “70201-7-1/9 RCW 46.30.020. The purpose of this law is "to require that all persons driving vehicles registered in this state satisfy the financial responsibility requirements of [chapter 46.”
— Wash. Rev. Code § 46.30.020(1)(a) — 1 case
Quinn Kyrkos v. State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins., 852 P.2d 1078 (Wash. 1993). “RCW 46.30.020(1)(a). The City has obtained such a certificate and thus meets the requirements of the financial responsibility laws.”
— Wash. Rev. Code § 46.30.020(2) — 1 case
City of Spokane v. Ward, 92 P.3d 787 (Wash. Ct. App. 2004). “No costs or attorney fees may be awarded to either party in a traffic infraction case, except as provided for in RCW 46.30.020(2).” (The exceptions found in RCW 46.”
— Wash. Rev. Code § 46.30.020(3)(a) — 1 case
Miller v. Aetna Life & Cas. Co., 851 P.2d 1253 (Wash. Ct. App. 1993). “RCW 46.30.020(3)(a); RCW 46.30.020(l)(a).”
— Wash. Rev. Code § 46.30.020(l)(a) — 3 cases
Quinn Kyrkos v. State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins., 852 P.2d 1078 (Wash. 1993). “RCW 46.30.020(1)(a). The City has obtained such a certificate and thus meets the requirements of the financial responsibility laws.”
State v. Flake, 883 P.2d 341 (Wash. Ct. App. 1994). “It is prohibited by RCW 46.30.020(l)(a), but the failure to provide proof of insurance is categorized as a traffic infraction subject to monetary penalties or community service.”
Miller v. Aetna Life & Cas. Co., 851 P.2d 1253 (Wash. Ct. App. 1993). “RCW 46.30.020(3)(a); RCW 46.30.020(l)(a).”
— Wash. Rev. Code § 46.30.020(l)(d) — 1 case
State v. Flake, 883 P.2d 341 (Wash. Ct. App. 1994). “It is prohibited by RCW 46.30.020(l)(a), but the failure to provide proof of insurance is categorized as a traffic infraction subject to monetary penalties or community service.”
Annotations are extracted automatically from the opinions in the Syfert caselaw corpus and ranked by authority, recency, and treatment. Dots show Syfertize treatment of the citing case itself.