Reader Question

I was wondering since Washington is the state where the White House is, does it mean the police are stricter on Auto Insurance and is there any way that they can check whether I am bringing a valid Auto Insurance?

John, Bellevue

Hey there John,

Like any other state, in Washington, you must bring with you, your proof of insurance when driving. However, motorcycles are exempt. Even if the President of the US resides in Washington, it does not mean that technology is more advanced compared to other states when checking on the validity of the auto insurance. There is only one way for an officer to verify whether your auto insurance is valid or not, it is through contacting the listed company on the proof of insurance that you presented when asked and then, the policy status will be checked.

Insurance can become a secondary violation, when stopped due to collision or a primary violation. A piece of advice, always bring valid auto insurance whenever you are driving. You may not know, one day an officer will ask for it and you can’t present any. It is better to be prepared than be sorry later.