Washington Trucking Insurance Requirements
Insurance requirements and costs for trucking in Washington.
Minimum Liability and Coverage
Washington follows federal minimums: $750,000 for general freight, $1 million for hazmat. For intrastate carriers, WUTC requires $750,000. Washington follows a pure comparative fault system — no bar to recovery. King County (Seattle) and Pierce County (Tacoma) can produce above-average jury verdicts. Total annual insurance for a Washington owner-operator runs $10,500-$19,000. Primary liability averages $8,000-$14,000. The state's active plaintiff bar and metropolitan jury pools drive costs above the national average. Workers' comp uses a monopolistic state fund (Department of Labor & Industries) — premiums average $10-$16 per $100 of payroll. Private workers' comp is not available.