Insurance on Your License: Drivers License Insurance
Drivers License Insurance Protects You – With or Without a Car
Drivers license insurance covers the named driver on the policy while operating any owned or non-owned private passenger vehicle for personal use. Washington state is one of the few places in the country where this type of policy is available. It covers you as the driver, not the vehicle, so it works whether you’re behind the wheel of a car you own, one you borrow from a friend, or one you picked up from a family member for the weekend.
Most people just call it drivers license insurance.
Drivers License Insurance Works for Several Common Situations
Drivers license insurance is the right fit if you borrow cars regularly and want your own coverage, drive several different vehicles and don’t want to deal with adding and removing them from a standard policy, or need SR-22 coverage but don’t own a car. It’s also the right call if you’re driving vehicles that don’t need comprehensive or collision — older cars, secondary vehicles or anything you’re not financing.
No car to put on the policy. No problem.
Drivers License Insurance Covers You in a Borrowed Vehicle
Drivers license insurance protects you if you’re held liable after an accident in a car you don’t own. What it doesn’t do is cover the car’s owner. The owner is still legally on the hook for what happens with their vehicle, and if they have their own policy, their carrier may deny the claim if you aren’t listed as a driver. Your coverage is always secondary when you’re driving someone else’s car. Worth knowing before you borrow.
Drivers License Insurance Optional Coverages
Drivers license insurance policies in Washington can include Uninsured Motorist (UM) and Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage. We recommend carrying both. They cover you and the people riding with you, and they’re the part of the policy most likely to matter when something actually goes wrong.
Comprehensive and collision, aka Full Coverage, isn’t available on a broadform policy. Since the carrier doesn’t know what vehicle you’ll be driving, they can’t rate it accurately. Everyone would end up paying for the most expensive car on the road.
Drivers License Insurance Restrictions
Drivers license insurance only covers personal use in private passenger vehicles. Rideshare, delivery driving and any commercial use aren’t covered. Vehicles that wouldn’t qualify for a standard personal auto policy (2-ton pickups, rental trucks, motorhomes and motorcycles for example) aren’t covered either.
Keep in mind, if you are borrowing a vehicle, your coverage is always secondary. The owner is still held legally liable for anything you do even though you have your own insurance.
SR-22 Insurance on Your License
Drivers license insurance is your best option for SR-22 filing when you need to satisfy a state requirement but don’t own a vehicle. Whether the requirement comes from too many tickets, a DUI, reckless driving or another major violation, we can write the policy and file the SR-22 with the DOL directly.
Mid-Columbia Insurance – Your Trusted Insurance Broker
Call us at (509)783-5600 or click “Get a Broadform Quote” to request a quote on insurance on you license.
Mid-Columbia Insurance has been helping Washington drivers get covered since 1995.
Our goal is to get you the coverage you want at a price you can afford!
Español: Seguro en Su Licencia de Conducir – Obtenga un Seguro Para la Licencia
FAQ: Can you insure your driver's license in Washington state?
Yes. A Broadform Named Operator policy covers the policyholder while driving both owned and non-owned private passenger vehicles for personal use. Washington is one of the few states where this type of policy is available.
FAQ: What is broad form insurance in Washington state?
Broadform insurance only covers the named insured while they’re driving. If someone else takes the wheel, the policy doesn’t apply. That reduced exposure is why broadform policies typically cost less than a standard single-car policy.
FAQ: What does a broad form insurance policy cover?
It covers the insured driver operating any private passenger vehicle for personal use, owned or not. The coverage follows the driver, not the car.
FAQ: What type of insurance do you need to drive?
Washington requires a minimum of 25/50/10 liability coverage.
PIP and Uninsured Motorist coverage can be declined in writing.
Collision and comprehensive (full coverage) are not state-required but your lender may require them if you’re financing the vehicle.
FAQ: Can I drive my parents' car with Broad Form insurance?
Your broadform policy would cover you if you’re held liable. But realistically, the lawyers will go after the car’s owner first. If you aren’t listed on your parents’ policy, their carrier may deny the claim and leave them responsible for the damages. It’s worth a conversation before you start borrowing the car regularly.
FAQ: What states offer broad form insurance?
Not many. Washington is one of the few states where carriers are allowed to offer Broadform policies.
FAQ: What insurance companies will cover a suspended license?
Several carriers will write a policy for high-risk or suspended-license drivers and file the SR-22 if needed. Of the companies we represent, National General, Dairyland, Progressive and Bristol West all offer coverage for drivers in this situation.
FAQ: Why is it called broad form insurance?
The coverage is “broad” compared to a Named Non-Owner policy. A Named Non-Owner policy has the same driver restriction but won’t cover any vehicle you own, any car you borrow regularly, or any vehicle kept at your address. Broadform covers all of those.