The average cost of full coverage car insurance in Washington is $1,730 per year, a little higher than the U.S. national average of $1,638. But car insurance rates are different for everyone, and whether you live along the coast or along the border with Idaho will affect what you’ll pay. So will your age, driving history and the company you pick.
The best way to get affordable coverage is to compare quotes before you pick a policy. Policygenius can help you see options from top car insurance companies so you can be sure you’re getting the best rates.
Methodology & why you can trust our rates
Policygenius has analyzed car insurance rates provided by Quadrant Information Services for every ZIP code in all 50 states plus Washington, D.C. For full coverage policies, the following coverage limits were used:
Bodily injury liability: 50/100
Property damage liability: $50,000
Uninsured/underinsured motorist: 50/100
Comprehensive: $500 deductible
Collision: $500 deductible
In some cases, additional coverages were added where required by state or insurer.
Rates for overall average rate, rates by ZIP code, and cheapest companies determined using averages for single drivers ages 30, 35, and 45. Our sample vehicle was a 2017 Toyota Camry LE driven 10,000 miles/year.
Rates for driving violations and “Poor” credit determined using average rates for a single male 30-year-old driver with a credit score under 578.
Some carriers may be represented by affiliates or subsidiaries. Rates provided are a sample of costs. Your actual quotes may differ.
Cheapest car insurance companies in Washington
The price you pay for car insurance depends on lots of factors, including your driving history, marital status, and the kind of car you drive. But rates can vary from company to company, even for the exact same driver.
Company | Average cost | JD Power Rating |
|---|---|---|
PEMCO Insurance | $77/month | -- |
USAA | $86/month | 890 |
State Farm | $92/month | 882 |
GEICO | $105/month | 874 |
Nationwide | $121/month | 868 |
Cheapest car insurance companies by age in Washington
Young drivers pay the highest insurance rates of any age group. Statistics show teenage drivers are more likely to be in an accident and file a claim than any other group. Many young drivers see a price reduction when they turn 25, but that isn’t always the case, especially for drivers with accidents or moving violations on their record.
Age | Cheapest company | Average cost |
|---|---|---|
16 | PEMCO Insurance | $3,216 |
18 | PEMCO Insurance | $2,364 |
21 | USAA | $1,496 |
25 | PEMCO Insurance | $1,094 |
30 | PEMCO Insurance | $929 |
35 | PEMCO Insurance | $909 |
45 | PEMCO Insurance | $915 |
55 | PEMCO Insurance | $861 |
60 | PEMCO Insurance | $841 |
65 | PEMCO Insurance | $933 |
70 | PEMCO Insurance | $966 |
Choosing the right car insurance company in Washington
Living in the Pacific Northwest means lots of opportunities to hit the open road and enjoy the great outdoors. So it’s important that you find a car insurance provider that meets your coverage needs without charging you too much.
Policygenius can help you compare quotes from top companies, so you can get the coverage you need at affordable rates.
Car insurance rates for drivers with driving violations in Washington
A speeding ticket can increase your insurance rates by hundreds of dollars, and a DUI conviction can double or even triple your rates with some companies. Obeying the speed limit and never driving under the influence are simple ways to avoid paying more for car insurance.
Violation | PEMCO Insurance | USAA | State Farm | GEICO | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
At-fault accident | $1,147 | $1,489 | $1,338 | $2,006 | $2,621 |
Suspended license | $1,243 | $2,117 | $1,231 | $2,241 | $3,330 |
Open container | $1,243 | $1,593 | $1,231 | $2,006 | $2,287 |
Expired registration | $1,062 | $1,273 | $1,231 | $1,668 | $2,287 |
Driving without lights | $1,062 | $1,082 | $1,231 | $1,668 | $3,330 |
Running a red light | $1,062 | $1,273 | $1,231 | $1,668 | $2,287 |
Following too closely | $1,243 | $1,273 | $1,231 | $1,668 | $2,287 |
Hit and run | $1,326 | $2,327 | $1,231 | $2,006 | $3,330 |
Not-at-fault accident | $914 | $1,082 | $1,124 | $1,142 | $1,501 |
Passing a school bus | $1,243 | $1,593 | $1,231 | $1,668 | $2,287 |
Reckless driving | $1,243 | $1,419 | $1,231 | $2,006 | $3,330 |
Cheapest car insurance for drivers with a DUI in Washington
Company | Rates for drivers with DUIs |
|---|---|
State Farm | $1,231 |
PEMCO Insurance | $1,326 |
GEICO | $2,006 |
USAA | $2,245 |
Nationwide | $3,330 |
Cheapest car insurance for drivers with a speeding ticket in Washington
Company | Rates for drivers with speeding tickets |
|---|---|
PEMCO Insurance | $1,062 |
State Farm | $1,231 |
USAA | $1,273 |
GEICO | $2,006 |
Nationwide | $2,287 |
Cheapest car insurance for drivers with bad credit in Washington
Washington recently eliminated the use of credit as a factor when setting car insurance rates by issuing an emergency rule, but this change may not already have been applied to every driver, so drivers with poor credit scores may still be paying more for car insurance.
Car insurance costs in Washington cities
Drivers who live in cities often pay more for car insurance than those who live in rural areas. More people on the road means more accidents, which raises the overall cost of car insurance. Here are the average car insurance rates in the ten largest cities in Washington by population.
Seattle: $2,182
Spokane: $1,744
Tacoma: $2,188
Vancouver: $1,896
Bellevue: $1,988
Kent: $2,220
Everett: $2,021
Spokane Valley: $1,643
Renton: $2,146
Kirkland: $1,926
If you live in a city with high rates, shopping around for coverage, bundling policies, and maintaining a good driving record are the easiest ways to save money.
Find car insurance in your city:
Buying car insurance in Washington
Washington state law says that all vehicles have the following minimum liability insurance requirements:
Bodily Injury Liability Coverage per person: $25,000
Bodily Injury Liability Coverage per accident: $50,000
Property Damage Liability Coverage: $10,000
Washington state allows drivers who don't have liability coverage to choose one of these alternate forms of coverage:
Apply for a certificate of deposit to guarantee financial responsibility for an accident with the state’s Department of Licensing
Have a liability bond of at least $60,000
Washington has low minimum liability requirements, which won’t be enough protection for most drivers. Remember that Washington is an at-fault state when it comes to car accidents. That means that the insurance company of the driver who caused the accident must pay for the other party’s medical bills and repair costs, up to the limits of the policy.
The state also follows a modified comparative negligence rule, which says if more than one driver is responsible for an accident, each settlement claim is reduced accordingly.
How to get cheap car insurance in Washington
The cost of insurance in Washington tends to go up over time, even for good drivers. Fortunately, most insurance companies offer a range of discounts, some of the most common include:
Safe-Driver Discount: For drivers without any recent accident claims
Military Discount: A discount for active-duty service members and their families
Bundling Discount: For combining home and auto or another policy from the same company
Multi-car discount: For having more than one car on your policy
Customer Loyalty: For customers with policies in effect for more than a year
You might not qualify for some of these discounts, so you should still be sure to shop around and compare quotes to find your cheapest rates.
Frequently asked questions
Who has the lowest car insurance in Washington?
PEMCO has the lowest average rates in the state, at $918 per year for full coverage.
What is the minimum car insurance in Washington state?
State law in Washington requires drivers to have minimum liability levels of 25/50/10.
Will a speeding ticket make my insurance go up in WA?
In Washington, a single speeding ticket can raise by more than $250 annually with some car insurance companies, but how much your rates will increase may vary.
How much is car insurance per month in Washington?
Drivers in Washington pay an average of $1,730 per year, which breaks down to $144 per month.
