When you move to a different state, you need new auto insurance in that state, and your insurance ID card lists the state you live in. Moving from Washington to Idaho? The Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) says to tell your insurer you’ve moved and use a company admitted in Idaho, with minimum liability of $25,000 / $50,000 / $15,000.
Do I need new auto insurance if I move from Washington to Idaho?
Yes. A policy and ID card for your Washington address aren’t the policy and card for your new Idaho home, and Idaho’s Transportation Department points the same way. ITD tells new residents to “make sure your liability insurance is with an admitted carrier in Idaho by letting your insurance company know that you’ve moved to Idaho,” and says Idaho verifies insurance coverage electronically. Whether your current insurance company writes in Idaho varies, so ask them before your move date. If they don’t, an independent agency can look at other companies for you.
What does Idaho require for auto insurance?
Idaho Code § 49-117(20) and ITD list the same minimum liability limits:
- $25,000 for injury or death of one person in any one accident
- $50,000 for injury or death of two or more people in any one accident
- $15,000 for damage or destruction of property of others in any one accident
That is a little different from Washington, where the Department of Licensing (DOL) lists a $10,000 property damage minimum. ITD says your vehicle must be insured “with an insurance company licensed to do business in Idaho.” The Idaho Department of Insurance adds that insurers must provide uninsured and underinsured motorist bodily injury coverage “unless a named insured has rejected the coverages in writing.” These are legal minimums, not a recommendation. Medical bills and repair costs can run past them, and some drivers choose higher limits or an umbrella policy.
How does Idaho check that my insurance is in place?
Electronically. ITD says the Idaho DMV receives data from licensed Idaho insurance companies identifying vehicles that have coverage. Its Drive Insured FAQ says that if you have a policy from an out-of-state insurer that is not reported to the Idaho DMV, you “will be classified as not having insurance until an alternative method of proof is provided.” ITD says owners with no valid insurance on record for two consecutive months get a warning and 30 days to respond before registration is suspended, and reinstatement requires proof of insurance and a $75 fee. That is one more reason to line up Idaho coverage before you register.
How soon do I have to deal with the Idaho DMV?
ITD’s New to Idaho guide says you must get an Idaho driver’s license or ID card “within 30 days of moving to Idaho” and must title and register your vehicle “within 30 days of moving to Idaho.” ITD also says new arrivals should get the Idaho license before registering or titling a vehicle. Be aware that ITD’s own publications don’t all match. An ITD registration fact sheet dated 07/17 says new residents must register within 90 days, and ITD’s driver manual describes 90 consecutive days of residency, with residency declarable earlier. Check with ITD or your county DMV office for the deadline that applies to you instead of relying on a blog post.
What if I’m moving to the Wenatchee area instead?
The same idea runs the other direction. DOL says new Washington residents have 30 days after moving to get a Washington driver license and register their vehicles, and you need the Washington license before you can register a vehicle. Washington law says new residents are allowed 30 days from the date they become residents to obtain Washington registration (RCW 46.16A.140). DOL also says that if you drive a vehicle registered in Washington, you must carry liability insurance of at least $25,000 / $50,000 / $10,000 or another approved way to assume financial responsibility, and it lists a fine of $550 or more for driving without it.
Your Washington ID card has to include the name of the insurance company, the policy number, the effective and expiration dates, and a description of the insured vehicle or the name of the insured driver (WAC 308-106-020). While your car is still registered in another state, DOL says you must have the insurance that state requires and be able to show proof of it to law enforcement. We can help new Wenatchee-area residents line up Washington coverage before the 30 days run out. See our Washington auto insurance page.
Can I keep my Washington policy after I move to Idaho?
That depends on whether your insurance company is admitted in Idaho and rewrites the policy for your new address. Idaho tells you to confirm your coverage is with an Idaho-admitted insurance company, and a policy not reported to the Idaho DMV may show as no insurance. Ask your insurance company or us how to line up the start of the new policy and the end of the old one so there is no gap. The timing is your decision, and we won’t tell you to cancel anything before you choose to. Our guide to switching car or home insurance mid-term in Washington covers the basics.
What else should I review when I move?
- Liability limits that fit your situation, not just the state minimums
- Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage, which Idaho insurers must offer unless you reject it in writing
- Comprehensive and collision, especially if you finance or lease
- Your home or renters policy for the new address. See our home insurance and renters insurance pages.
FAQ
Does the Idaho DMV need my insurance before I register?
ITD says that when you register your vehicle in Idaho you must have insurance with an admitted carrier at Idaho’s minimum limits, and Idaho verifies coverage electronically. Having your Idaho policy in place first avoids problems.
Are Washington and Idaho minimums the same?
Not quite. Both list $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for bodily injury. Idaho’s property damage minimum is $15,000, and Washington’s is $10,000, according to ITD and DOL.
Is Blue Horizon licensed in Idaho?
Yes. Our licensed states page lists Washington and Idaho. Our home office is in Wenatchee, and Washington is our main focus.
Is Blue Horizon the insurance company?
No. We’re an independent agency, not the insurance company. Coverage and claim decisions are made by the insurance company that issues your policy.
Related guides: Washington’s rules on SR-22 filings and uninsured drivers are in our SR-22 and uninsured driver guide. Flood needs a separate policy from home or renters insurance; see our flood insurance guide.
Talk it through with a local independent agent
Blue Horizon Insurance is an independent agency at 12 S Wenatchee Ave in Wenatchee. We are not an insurance company. Our licensed insurance agents shop many insurance companies for you and explain the trade-offs in plain English. We have also been Ramsey Trusted / Dave Ramsey endorsed for 10+ years. Tell us your move date and new address, and we’ll look at your options.
- Call us: 509-293-7500 (Mon–Fri, 9–5)
- Text us (text only, not for calls): 509-300-3515
- Request a quote online:
https://www.bhifs.com/insurance-quotes.html
Sources
- Idaho Transportation Department, New to Idaho
- ITD, Vehicle insurance
- ITD, Drive Insured questions
- Idaho Code § 49-117
- Idaho Department of Insurance, Required auto coverage
- Washington DOL, Moving to Washington: Get a driver license
- Washington DOL, Moving to Washington: Vehicle registration and plates
- RCW 46.16A.140
- Washington DOL, Mandatory insurance
- WAC 308-106-020, Insurance identification card content
