Vehicle insurance verif.

AN ACT Relating to verification of motor vehicle insurance; 1
amending RCW 46.16A.130, 46.30.020, 46.63.110, and 46.68.067; adding 2
a new section to chapter 46.30 RCW; creating new sections; and 3
providing an effective date. 4
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:5
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 46.30 6
RCW to read as follows: 7
(1) The department must establish an accessible common carrier-8
based system for online verification of liability insurance or other 9
financial responsibility required under RCW 46.30.020. The 10
verification system must: 11
(a) Be accessible, upon request, only to authorized personnel of 12
the department or any other entities authorized by the department, 13
the courts, law enforcement, and insurers on a limited basis as 14
required to comply with this section, and be interfaced, wherever 15
appropriate, with existing state data systems; 16
(b) Send requests to insurers for verification of liability 17
insurance or other financial responsibility through web services 18
established by the insurers, the internet, or a similar proprietary 19
or common carrier electronic system as required by the department in 20
rule; and 21
S-3562.1
SENATE BILL 5864
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2026 Regular Session
By Senators Lovick, Chapman, Gildon, Riccelli, Saldaña, Trudeau,
Wagoner, and J. Wilson
Prefiled 12/10/25. Read first time 01/12/26. Referred to Committee
on Transportation.
p. 1 SB 5864
(c) Include information that enables the department to make 1
requests for proof of financial responsibility to insurers by using 2
multiple data elements for greater matching accuracy, including NAIC 3
company code, vehicle identification number, policy number, or as 4
described by the department in rule. 5
(2) The department must secure system data against unauthorized 6
access, and maintain a historical record of the system data for a 7
period of six to 12 months from the date of any request and response.8
(3)(a) The department must have its verification system respond 9
to each request within a time period established by the department in 10
rule. An insurer's data system must respond to each request within a 11
time period established by the department in rule. The department may 12
offer insurers that write fewer policies than the industry average in 13
Washington state an alternative method for reporting insurance policy 14
data instead of establishing web services. 15
(b) An insurer must cooperate with the department in establishing 16
and maintaining the verification system and provide access to 17
liability insurance or other financial responsibility status 18
information as provided by the department in rule.19
(4) The department may contract with a private service provider 20
or providers who have successfully implemented similar verification 21
systems in other states to assist in establishing and maintaining the 22
verification system. The department must consult with representatives 23
of the insurance industry and private service providers to determine 24
the objectives, details, and deadlines related to the verification 25
system. The department must publish for comment, then issue, a 26
detailed guide of its verification system. The department and its 27
private service provider, if any, must each maintain a contact person 28
for insurers during the establishment, implementation, and operation 29
of the verification system. 30
(5)(a) Except as provided in (b) of this subsection, every 31
insurer licensed to issue motor vehicle liability insurance in 32
Washington must comply with this section for verification of evidence 33
of liability insurance or other financial responsibility for every 34
vehicle insured by the insurer in Washington as required by 35
department in rule. Every insurer must maintain a historical record 36
of verification system data for a maximum period of six months from 37
the date of any request and response. An insurer may use the services 38
of a third-party vendor for facilitating compliance with this 39
section. 40
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(b) This section does not apply to vehicles insured under a 1
commercial motor vehicle liability insurance policy; however, 2
insurers of such vehicles may participate on a voluntary basis. If 3
participating in the verification system, insurers must provide 4
commercial motor vehicle operators with evidence reflecting that the 5
vehicle is insured under a commercial motor vehicle liability 6
insurance policy including, but not limited to, an insurance 7
identification card consistent with RCW 46.30.030. 8
(6) An insurer is immune from civil and administrative liability 9
for good faith efforts to comply with this section.10
(7) Within the first 12 months after the effective date of this 11
section, the department may test or pilot the verification system 12
without taking any enforcement action under RCW 46.16A.130(2)(b). By 13
April 1, 2029, the verification system must be installed and fully 14
operational. 15
(8) For the purposes of this section, "NAIC" means national 16
association of insurance commissioners. 17
Sec. 2. RCW 46.16A.130 and 2010 c 161 s 429 are each amended to 18
read as follows: 19
(1) The department shall notify motor vehicle owners of the 20
liability insurance requirements described in RCW 46.30.020 through 21
46.30.040 at the time of issuance of an original motor vehicle 22
registration and when the department sends a motor vehicle 23
registration renewal notice. 24
(2)(a) Beginning April 1, 2029, the department must verify if a 25
vehicle owner has liability insurance or other financial 26
responsibility required under RCW 46.30.020 at the time of 27
registration renewal for vehicles subject to license fees under RCW 28
46.17.350(1) (a), (c), (d), (e), (g), (h), (j), (k), (n), (o), (p), 29
and (q) through any of the following methods:30
(i) The online, common carrier-based motor vehicle insurance 31
verification system established under section 1 of this act;32
(ii) In-person presentation of the vehicle owner's insurance 33
identification card, or other proof of financial responsibility, with 34
a vehicle licensing agent; or35
(iii) Physical or electronic receipt of a copy of proof of 36
financial responsibility accompanying a vehicle registration renewal.37
(b) If the online verification system provides that a vehicle 38
owner does not have liability insurance or other financial 39
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responsibility or the vehicle owner fails to provide proof of 1
financial responsibility under (a) of this subsection, the department 2
may not issue a vehicle registration renewal until the department 3
receives verification or proof that the vehicle owner has liability 4
insurance or other financial responsibility required under RCW 5
46.30.020. 6
(c) The department must adopt any rules necessary to implement 7
this subsection (2). When adopting such rules, the department must 8
consider equity and environmental justice principles and impacts to 9
overburdened communities.10
Sec. 3. RCW 46.30.020 and 2025 c 332 s 1 are each amended to 11
read as follows: 12
(1)(a) No person may operate a motor vehicle subject to 13
registration under chapter 46.16A RCW in this state unless the person 14
is insured under a motor vehicle liability policy with liability 15
limits of at least the amounts provided in RCW 46.29.090, is self-16
insured as provided in RCW 46.29.630, is covered by a certificate of 17
deposit in conformance with RCW 46.29.550, or is covered by a 18
liability bond of at least the amounts provided in RCW 46.29.090. 19
Proof of financial responsibility for motor vehicle operation must be 20
provided on the request of a law enforcement officer in the format 21
specified under RCW 46.30.030. 22
(b) A person who drives a motor vehicle that is required to be 23
registered in another state that requires drivers and owners of 24
vehicles in that state to maintain insurance or financial 25
responsibility shall, when requested by a law enforcement officer, 26
provide evidence of financial responsibility or insurance as is 27
required by the laws of the state in which the vehicle is registered.28
(c) When asked to do so by a law enforcement officer, failure to 29
display proof of financial responsibility for motor vehicle operation 30
as specified under RCW 46.30.030 creates a presumption that the 31
person does not have motor vehicle insurance. 32
(d) Failure to provide proof of motor vehicle insurance is a 33
traffic infraction and is subject to penalties as set by the supreme 34
court under RCW 46.63.110 or community restitution. Enforcement of 35
the infraction of failing to provide proof of motor vehicle insurance 36
may be accomplished only as a secondary action when a driver of a 37
motor vehicle has been detained for a suspected violation of a 38
separate traffic infraction or an equivalent local ordinance.39
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(e) For the purposes of this section, when a person uses a 1
portable electronic device to display proof of financial security to 2
a law enforcement officer, the officer may only view the proof of 3
financial security and is otherwise prohibited from viewing any other 4
content on the portable electronic device. 5
(f) Whenever a person presents a portable electronic device 6
pursuant to this section, that person assumes all liability for any 7
damage to the portable electronic device. 8
(2) If a person cited for a violation of subsection (1) of this 9
section appears in person before the court or a violations bureau and 10
provides written evidence that at the time the person was cited, he 11
or she was in compliance with the financial responsibility 12
requirements of subsection (1) of this section, the citation shall be 13
dismissed and the court or violations bureau may assess court 14
administrative costs of $25 at the time of dismissal. In lieu of 15
personal appearance, a person cited for a violation of subsection (1) 16
of this section may, before the date scheduled for the person's 17
appearance before the court or violations bureau, submit by mail to 18
the court or violations bureau written evidence that at the time the 19
person was cited, he or she was in compliance with the financial 20
responsibility requirements of subsection (1) of this section, in 21
which case the citation shall be dismissed without cost, except that 22
the court or violations bureau may assess court administrative costs 23
of $25 at the time of dismissal. 24
(3) The provisions of this chapter shall not govern:25
(a) The operation of a motor vehicle governed by RCW 46.16A.170 26
or registered with the Washington utilities and transportation 27
commission as common or contract carriers; or 28
(b) The operation of a motor-driven cycle as defined in RCW 29
46.04.332, a moped as defined in RCW 46.04.304, or a wheeled all-30
terrain vehicle as defined in RCW 46.09.310. 31
(4) RCW 46.29.490 shall not be deemed to govern all motor vehicle 32
liability policies required by this chapter but only those certified 33
for the purposes stated in chapter 46.29 RCW. 34
Sec. 4. RCW 46.63.110 and 2025 c 364 s 2 are each amended to 35
read as follows: 36
(1)(a) A person found to have committed a traffic infraction 37
shall be assessed a monetary penalty. No penalty may exceed $250 for 38
each offense unless authorized by this chapter or title.39
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(b) The court may waive or remit any monetary penalty, fee, cost, 1
assessment, or other monetary obligation associated with a traffic 2
infraction unless the specific monetary obligation in question is 3
prohibited from being waived or remitted by state law.4
(2) The monetary penalty for a violation of (a) RCW 46.55.105(2) 5
is $250 for each offense; (b) RCW 46.61.210(1) is $500 for each 6
offense. No penalty assessed under this subsection (2) may be 7
reduced. 8
(3) The supreme court shall prescribe by rule a schedule of 9
monetary penalties for designated traffic infractions. This rule 10
shall also specify the conditions under which local courts may 11
exercise discretion in assessing fines and penalties for traffic 12
infractions. The legislature respectfully requests the supreme court 13
to adjust this schedule every two years for inflation.14
(4) There shall be a penalty of $25 for failure to respond to a 15
notice of traffic infraction except where the infraction relates to 16
parking as defined by local law, ordinance, regulation, or resolution 17
or failure to pay a monetary penalty imposed pursuant to this 18
chapter. A local legislative body may set a monetary penalty not to 19
exceed $25 for failure to respond to a notice of traffic infraction 20
relating to parking as defined by local law, ordinance, regulation, 21
or resolution. The local court, whether a municipal, police, or 22
district court, shall impose the monetary penalty set by the local 23
legislative body. 24
(5) Monetary penalties provided for in chapter 46.70 RCW which 25
are civil in nature and penalties which may be assessed for 26
violations of chapter 46.44 RCW relating to size, weight, and load of 27
motor vehicles are not subject to the limitation on the amount of 28
monetary penalties which may be imposed pursuant to this chapter.29
(6) Whenever a monetary penalty, fee, cost, assessment, or other 30
monetary obligation is imposed by a court under this chapter, it is 31
immediately payable and is enforceable as a civil judgment under 32
Title 6 RCW. If the court determines that a person is not able to pay 33
a monetary obligation in full, the court shall enter into a payment 34
plan with the person in accordance with RCW 46.63.190 and standards 35
that may be set out in court rule. 36
(7) In addition to any other penalties imposed under this section 37
and not subject to the limitation of subsection (1) of this section, 38
a person found to have committed a traffic infraction shall be 39
assessed: 40
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(a) A fee of $5 per infraction. Under no circumstances shall this 1
fee be reduced or waived. Revenue from this fee shall be forwarded to 2
the state treasurer for deposit in the emergency medical services and 3
trauma care system trust account under RCW 70.168.040;4
(b) A fee of $10 per infraction. Under no circumstances shall 5
this fee be reduced or waived. Revenue from this fee shall be 6
forwarded to the state treasurer for deposit in the general fund; and7
(c) A fee of $10 per infraction. Under no circumstances shall 8
this fee be reduced or waived. Revenue from this fee shall be 9
forwarded to the state treasurer for deposit in the traumatic brain 10
injury account established in RCW 74.31.060. 11
(8)(a) In addition to any other penalties imposed under this 12
section and not subject to the limitation of subsection (1) of this 13
section, a person found to have committed a traffic infraction other 14
than of RCW 46.61.527 or 46.61.212 shall be assessed an additional 15
penalty of $24. The court may not reduce, waive, or suspend the 16
additional penalty unless the court finds the offender to be 17
indigent. If a court authorized community restitution program for 18
offenders is available in the jurisdiction, the court shall allow 19
offenders to offset all or a part of the penalty due under this 20
subsection (8) by participation in the court authorized community 21
restitution program. 22
(b) $12.50 of the additional penalty under (a) of this subsection 23
shall be remitted to the state treasurer. The remaining revenue from 24
the additional penalty must be remitted under chapters 2.08, 3.46, 25
3.50, 3.62, 10.82, and 35.20 RCW. Money remitted under this 26
subsection to the state treasurer must be deposited as follows: $8.50 27
in the state general fund and $4 in the driver licensing technology 28
support account created under RCW 46.68.067. The moneys deposited 29
into the driver licensing technology support account must be used to 30
support initial and ongoing costs of the online motor vehicle 31
insurance verification system under section 1 of this act and to 32
support information technology systems used by the department to 33
communicate with the judicial information system, manage driving 34
records, and implement court orders. The balance of the revenue 35
received by the county or city treasurer under this subsection must 36
be deposited into the county or city current expense fund. Moneys 37
retained by the city or county under this subsection shall constitute 38
reimbursement for any liabilities under RCW 43.135.060.39
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(9) If a legal proceeding, such as garnishment, has commenced to 1
collect any delinquent amount owed by the person for any penalty 2
imposed by the court under this section, the person may request a 3
payment plan pursuant to RCW 46.63.190. 4
(10) The monetary penalty for violating RCW 46.37.395 is: (a) 5
$250 for the first violation; (b) $500 for the second violation; and 6
(c) $750 for each violation thereafter. 7
(11) The additional monetary penalty for a violation of RCW 8
46.20.500 is not subject to assessments or fees provided under this 9
section. 10
(12) The additional monetary fine for a violation of RCW 11
46.61.110, 46.61.145, 46.61.180, 46.61.185, 46.61.190, and 46.61.205 12
is not subject to assessments or fees provided under this section.13
(13) The additional monetary penalties for a violation of RCW 14
46.61.165 are not subject to assessments or fees provided under this 15
section. 16
(14) The monetary penalty for a violation of RCW 46.63.200 is not 17
subject to assessments or fees provided under this section.18
Sec. 5. RCW 46.68.067 and 2022 c 157 s 2 are each amended to 19
read as follows: 20
The driver licensing technology support account is created in the 21
highway safety fund under RCW 46.68.060. Moneys in the account may be 22
spent only after appropriation. Expenditures from the account may be 23
used only for initial and ongoing costs of the online motor vehicle 24
insurance verification system under section 1 of this act and for 25
supporting information technology systems used by the department to 26
communicate with the judicial information system, manage driving 27
records, and implement court orders. 28
NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. By October 1, 2030, the department of 29
licensing, after consultation with insurers, must report to the 30
appropriate committees of the legislature the following concerning 31
the verification system established in section 1 of this act:32
(1) Costs incurred by the department of licensing, participating 33
insurers, and the public; and 34
(2) Effectiveness of the verification system in reducing the 35
number of uninsured motor vehicles. 36
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NEW SECTION. Sec. 7. By April 1, 2028, the department of 1
licensing must adopt rules necessary to implement an online, common 2
carrier-based motor vehicle insurance verification system required 3
under this act. In adopting such rules, the department must consider 4
guidelines and standards for such verification systems developed by 5
the insurance industry committee on motor vehicle administration, and 6
consider equity and environmental justice principles and impacts to 7
overburdened communities.8
NEW SECTION. Sec. 8. Sections 1 through 6 of this act take 9
effect April 1, 2028.10
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