Wash. Rev. Code » Title 48 · Chapter 48.18
Revised Code of Washington

Wash. Rev. Code § 48.18.300 (2026)

Cancellation by insured

✓ current as of May 2026
Find cases: SyfertCases citing this section WA-LEGapp.leg.wa.gov JustiaTitle on Justia CornellLII Search CasesGoogle Scholar
(1) Cancellation by the insured of any policy which by its terms is cancellable at the insured's option or of any binder based on such policy may be effected by written notice thereof to the insurer or surrender of the policy or binder for cancellation prior to or on the effective date of such cancellation. In [the] event the policy or binder has been lost or destroyed and cannot be so surrendered, the insurer may in lieu of such surrender accept and in good faith rely upon the insured's written statement setting forth the fact of such loss or destruction.
(2) As soon as possible, and no later than thirty days after the receipt of the notice of cancellation from the policyholder for homeowners', dwelling fire, and private passenger auto insurance, the insurer shall pay to the insured or to the person entitled thereto as shown by the insurer's records, any unearned portion of any premium paid on the policy as computed on the customary short rate or as otherwise specified in the policy: PROVIDED, That the refund of any unearned portion of any premium paid on a contract of dwelling fire insurance, homeowners' insurance, or insurance predicated upon the use of a private passenger automobile (as defined in RCW 48.18.297 and excluding contracts of insurance and policies enumerated in RCW 48.18.296) shall be computed on a pro rata basis and the insurer shall refund not less than ninety percent of any unearned portion not exceeding one hundred dollars, plus ninety-five percent of any unearned portion over one hundred dollars but not exceeding five hundred dollars, and not less than ninety-seven percent of the amount of any unearned portion in excess of five hundred dollars. If the amount of any refund is less than two dollars, no refund need be made. If no premium has been paid on the policy, the insured shall be liable to the insurer for premium for the period during which the policy was in force.
(3) The surrender of a policy to the insurer for any cause by any person named therein as having an interest insured thereunder shall create a presumption that such surrender is concurred in by all persons so named.
(4) This section shall not apply to life insurance policies or to annuity contracts.
[ 1980 c 102 s 8; 1979 ex.s. c 199 s 8; 1955 c 303 s 16; 1947 c 79 s .18.30; Rem. Supp. 1947 s 45.18.30.]
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 10 cases, 1986–2005 · leading case: Am. Cont'l Ins. Co. v. Steen, 91 P.3d 864 (Wash. 2004).
Sort: Relevance Newest Treatment
Am. Cont'l Ins. Co. v. Steen, 91 P.3d 864 (Wash. 2004). · cites it 4× “We hasten to add that an insurer may cancel a policy for nonpayment of fees, and an insured may cancel a policy in accordance *870 with RCW 48.18.300. [3] The statute voids agreements between an insurer and insured to cancel or rescind policies if, and only if, the agreement is…”
Am. Cont'l Ins. v. Steen, 91 P.3d 864 (Wash. 2004). · cites it 4× “We hasten to add that an insurer may cancel a policy for nonpayment of fees, and an insured may cancel a policy in accordance with RCW 48.18.300. 4 The statute voids agreements between an insurer and insured to cancel or rescind policies if, and only if, the agreement is made…”
Olivine Corp. v. United Capitol Ins. Co., 52 P.3d 494 (Wash. 2002). · cites it 2× “300, which applies to cancellations by the insured and provides: The surrender of a policy to the insurer for any cause by any person named therein as having an interest insured thereunder shall create a presumption that such surrender is concurred in by all persons so named.”
Taxter v. Safeco Ins. Co. of Am., 721 P.2d 972 (Wash. Ct. App. 1986). “" RCW 48.18.300 provides in part: "(l) Cancellation by the insured of any policy which by its terms is cancellable at the insured's option or of any binder based on such policy may be effected by written notice thereof to the insurer or surrender of the policy or binder for…”
Olivine Corp. v. United Capitol Ins., 105 Wash. App. 194 (Wash. Ct. App. 2001). “As United Capitol points out, RCW 48.18.300(3) provides that the surrender of a policy to the insurer by any interested person named therein creates a presumption that all named persons concur in the surrender.”
Olivine Corp. v. United Capitol Ins. Co., 19 P.3d 1089 (Wash. Ct. App. 2001). “As United Capitol points out, RCW 48.18.300(3) provides that the surrender of a policy to the insurer by any interested person named therein creates a presumption that all named persons concur in the surrender.”
Bailey v. Allstate Ins. Co., 869 P.2d 1110 (Wash. Ct. App. 1994). “2 An insured party’s right to cancel is governed by another statute, RCW 48.18.300. 3 The rule giving preference to the later adopted statute should not be construed to automatically give preference to the later amended statute.”
Olivine Corp. v. United Capitol Ins., 147 Wash. 2d 148 (Wash. 2002). · cites it 2× “300, which applies to cancellations by the insured and provides: The surrender of a policy to the insurer for any cause by any person named therein as having an interest insured thereunder shall create a presumption that such surrender is concurred in by all persons so named.”
Higgins v. Scottsdale Ins., 127 Wash. App. 486 (Wash. Ct. App. 2005). · cites it 4× “¶14 In contrast, the statutory provision applicable to cancellation by the insured, RCW 48.18.300, does not *495 require notice to a mortgagee.”
Higgins v. Scottsdale Ins. Co., 111 P.3d 893 (Wash. Ct. App. 2005). · cites it 4× “¶ 14 In contrast, the statutory provision applicable to cancellation by the insured, RCW 48.18.300, does not require notice to a mortgagee.”
— Wash. Rev. Code § 48.18.300(1) — 2 cases
Higgins v. Scottsdale Ins., 127 Wash. App. 486 (Wash. Ct. App. 2005). “¶14 In contrast, the statutory provision applicable to cancellation by the insured, RCW 48.18.300, does not *495 require notice to a mortgagee.”
Higgins v. Scottsdale Ins. Co., 111 P.3d 893 (Wash. Ct. App. 2005). “¶ 14 In contrast, the statutory provision applicable to cancellation by the insured, RCW 48.18.300, does not require notice to a mortgagee.”
— Wash. Rev. Code § 48.18.300(3) — 6 cases
Olivine Corp. v. United Capitol Ins. Co., 52 P.3d 494 (Wash. 2002). “300, which applies to cancellations by the insured and provides: The surrender of a policy to the insurer for any cause by any person named therein as having an interest insured thereunder shall create a presumption that such surrender is concurred in by all persons so named.”
Olivine Corp. v. United Capitol Ins., 105 Wash. App. 194 (Wash. Ct. App. 2001). “As United Capitol points out, RCW 48.18.300(3) provides that the surrender of a policy to the insurer by any interested person named therein creates a presumption that all named persons concur in the surrender.”
Olivine Corp. v. United Capitol Ins. Co., 19 P.3d 1089 (Wash. Ct. App. 2001). “As United Capitol points out, RCW 48.18.300(3) provides that the surrender of a policy to the insurer by any interested person named therein creates a presumption that all named persons concur in the surrender.”
Olivine Corp. v. United Capitol Ins., 147 Wash. 2d 148 (Wash. 2002). “300, which applies to cancellations by the insured and provides: The surrender of a policy to the insurer for any cause by any person named therein as having an interest insured thereunder shall create a presumption that such surrender is concurred in by all persons so named.”
Higgins v. Scottsdale Ins., 127 Wash. App. 486 (Wash. Ct. App. 2005). “¶14 In contrast, the statutory provision applicable to cancellation by the insured, RCW 48.18.300, does not *495 require notice to a mortgagee.”
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.