Cheap Car Insurance in Yakima, WA

Located in the prestigious Yakima Valley (central Washington state), Yakima is one of Washington’s most underrated cities. It boasts more than 300 days of sunshine annually and is well-known as a thriving wine destination, home to more than 90 wineries. It is also known for its strong hops tradition, a favorite destination amongst craft beer lovers.

Some of Yakima’s most popular attractions include the Yakima Valley Museum, Johnson’s Orchards, the Bale Breaker Brewing Company, the Yakima Area Arboretum and Botanical Garden, and the Cowiche Canyon Trail.

If you live and drive in Yakima, you must be properly insured. Failure to provide proof of insurance at a traffic stop will result in a driver’s license and/or registration suspension, fines, and plenty of headaches. Keep reading to learn more about car insurance in Washington, including average premiums paid by age/gender, types of auto insurance discounts, penalties for driving without insurance, and a word on road and traffic infrastructure in the region.

Yakima residents pay an average monthly premium of $123 for full coverage, which is lower than the state average of $109 and significantly lower than the national average of $140. The state-minimum liability coverage averages $40 per month, the same as the state and lower than the national average of $47.

What is the Difference Between Full Coverage and Minimum Liability in Washington?

One offers much more protection if you are involved in a wreck or if your car is damaged even when you aren’t driving. The other provides basic third-party liability if you cause an accident. Let’s take a closer look.

With full coverage, you get the benefit of adding collision and comprehensive to your liability policy. This means if your car is damaged in an accident and the other driver’s insurance isn’t enough to cover all your repairs, your collision will kick in to take care of the remainder. If your vehicle is stolen, damaged in a hail or wind storm, vandalized or otherwise harmed when you aren’t behind the wheel, your comprehensive will help pay for the costs.

If you finance your vehicle, it technically still belongs to the lender until it is paid off. This is why many lenders require you to carry full coverage.

Liability only is a combination of bodily injury/death coverage (BI) and property damage insurance (PD). You’ll never see your liability kick in unless you are found to be at fault in an accident. Then your liability will help pay for the other drivers’ injuries and damages. Your liability will never pay anything toward your own injuries and damages.

If you choose to carry only the minimum, it’s a good idea to increase the amounts so that you won’t be sued if you total someone’s new car in a wreck. Consult with an independent agent to find the best coverage for you.

How Many Fatal Accidents Happen in Yakima?

In 2019, there was a single fatal road traffic accident in Yakima involving two vehicles and three people.

How Are the Road Infrastructure and Bridges in Yakima, Washington?

The city of Yakima has an active Public Works department that covers all aspects of street and traffic operations. Responsibilities include street service preservation, sidewalk repairs, snow/ice control, and similar endeavors to cover roughly 400 miles of city streets.

Another critical component of Yakima’s Public Works programs is its traffic operations, which work around the clock to maintain all street lighting, signs, pavement markings, and other pedestrian and traffic flow elements for safer streets.

To drive legally in the state of Washington, you must carry the following minimum liability limits:

All Washington drivers must have an active auto insurance policy to drive legally.

Failure to provide proof of insurance at a traffic stop will result in a traffic citation and a minimum $450 fine. Failure to pay the $450 fine will result in your driver’s license and registration being suspended. You may also be convicted of a misdemeanor.

Driving without insurance may result in a requirement to file an SR-22 certificate of financial responsibility with the state’s DMV. This process may label you as a high-risk driver and cause your premiums to rise substantially.

Finding the best and most affordable insurance for teen drivers in Washington is a challenge. The best insurance consists of a policy that will protect the new driver without causing a huge dent in the family finances. There are several things you can do to help lessen the burden of new driver insurance costs.

Auto insurance companies use the following factors to determine your premiums. Note — this is not an all-inclusive list.