A full coverage requirement is usually set by your lien holder or finance company, not by a state. The Washington Insurance Commissioner site even notes that collision and comprehensive may be required by your lender until you have the car completely paid off.

When you drive in Washington state, you are required to have auto insurance. If you drive a car that is registered in Washington, or is required to be under the Revised Code of Washington (RCW), you must have auto insurance policy with limits of at least:

• $25,000 of bodily injury or death of one person in any one accident
• $50,000 of bodily injury or death of two or more persons in any one accident
• $10,000 of injury to or destruction of property of others in any accident (property damage)

So the Washington state laws require bodily injury and property damage liability insurance must be placed on your automobile if it is registered in the state. Full coverage, meaning also having collision and comprehensive coverage, is not mandated by the state but is likely required if you are financing a car through a loan or a lease.

If you are paying off a vehicle then the lender will normally require that you obtain full coverage on the vehicle so that their asset/collateral, the car, is covered better. The state thus would not require this of you but the lien holder or title holder of the vehicle.

To get a quote for complete auto insurance coverage or just the basic liability coverages mandated by Washington State laws, click here.