Best Car Insurance in Washington (September 2023)

Washington drivers pay an average of $197 a month for car insurance, which is higher than the national average. Motorists in Washington may struggle to choose the right car insurance company and for good reason. A vehicle’s type, age, and your driving record can all affect the type of car insurance you need.^[1]

Best car insurance companies in Washington

Due to the unique insurance needs of each individual driver, choosing the right auto insurance company depends on a variety of factors, such as your budget, vehicle type, and driving history.^[1] To make things easier, Insurify compiled a list of the best car insurance companies in Washington.

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Best car insurance overall: USAA

Best cheap car insurance in Washington: American Family

Most affordable car insurance in Washington: State Farm

Best for full coverage: Allstate

Best for commuters: Farmers

Best for families: Liberty Mutual

Best for outdoor enthusiasts: GEICO

Best for college students: Travelers

Best for luxury car owners: Nationwide

Best for high-risk drivers: Kemper

How Insurify’s experts used internal proprietary data to rate top auto insurers

Data scientists at Insurify analyzed more than 40 million real-time auto insurance rates from the company’s partner providers across the United States to compile the car insurance quotes, statistics, and data visualizations displayed on this page. The car insurance data includes coverage analysis and details on drivers’ vehicles, driving records, and demographic information.

Quotes for Allstate, Farmers, GEICO, State Farm, and USAA are estimates based on Quadrant Information Services’ database of auto insurance rates. With this information, Insurify is able to offer drivers insight into how companies price their car insurance premiums.

The data included on this page represents averages across all ages, genders, credit scores, and Washington driver profiles.

How to shop for the best car insurance in Washington

Drivers should consider a company’s financial stability, prices, coverage options, and more when they shop for insurers in Washington.

“When shopping for insurance coverage, we recommend consumers look for the most robust coverage for the best price,” says Mark Friedlander, director of corporate communications at the Insurance Information Institute (III). “It’s also important to consider an auto insurer’s financial stability and customer service record. You want to make sure your insurer has the ability to pay claims and will quickly take care of you when you suffer a loss.” 

Here’s how to get coverage that meets your needs and keeps your wallet happy:

1. Assess your coverage needs. Determine what coverage you need based on your car’s value and your driving habits.

2. Compare rate quotes. Get quotes from multiple insurance companies and compare them to find the best rates and coverage.

3. Check the company’s financial stability. Look up the company’s financial ratings to ensure it’s financially stable and able to pay out claims.

4. Research the company’s reputation. Read customer reviews and check the company’s ratings with organizations like J.D. Power and the Better Business Bureau.

5. Review discounts. Review discounts the company offers to help lower your premiums.

6. Understand policy details. Review the policy carefully to make sure you understand what your coverage includes and what it doesn’t.

How to get the cheapest car insurance in Washington

Several factors can influence the cost of car insurance in Washington, including your driving history, the type of car you drive, where you live, and your credit score.^[1]

Here are some tips to help you get lower premiums:

• Shop around. Gather quotes from multiple insurance companies to find the best rates.

• Adjust coverage limits. Consider adjusting your policy limits, deductibles, and add-ons to find a balance between affordability and protection.

• Look for discounts. Ask about discounts for good driving habits, vehicle safety features, and bundling policies.

• Maintain good credit. Keeping a good credit score can often lead to lower insurance rates.

• Drive safely. Avoid accidents and traffic violations to maintain a clean driving record.

• Consider a cheaper vehicle. Driving an older-model car can be less expensive to insure.

Minimum car insurance requirements in Washington

All motor vehicles operating or parked on Washington’s roads must carry insurance. You must carry proof of insurance in your car at all times and have the proof available when:

• Law enforcement requests it

• Renewing vehicle registration

• The vehicle is involved in a car accident

The minimum liability insurance requirements for private passenger vehicles in Washington are:^[3]

“These minimums are on par with many other states but can leave you financially vulnerable if you are involved in a serious at-fault accident,” says Friedlander. “For a much greater level of protection, insurance professionals recommend limits of $100,000 per person, $300,000 per accident, and $100,000 for property.”

Liability-only vs. full-coverage insurance in Washington

Washington requires drivers to have minimum liability auto insurance to cover damages or injuries they might cause to others. Choosing a liability-only policy may make sense if you have an older car, are on a tight budget, or have a solid emergency fund to pay for repairs or replacement costs out of pocket.

To increase your protection, consider full-coverage insurance. It includes collision for damage an accident causes to your vehicle as well as comprehensive coverage for theft, vandalism, or natural disasters. Full coverage is a good choice when you have an expensive or new car, are financing or leasing the vehicle, or just want peace of mind.

Here’s a look at the cheapest auto insurance in Washington by policy type. Note that rates vary considerably from one insurer to the next. For instance, State Farm offers the cheapest rates for liability and full-coverage policies. You’ll pay 50% more for the same coverage from The General and nearly 300% more for liability insurance from Liberty Mutual.

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Washington car insurance rates by driving and accident history

Driving history can greatly affect car insurance costs. If you receive speeding tickets, have a driving under the influence conviction, or have an at-fault accident, your insurance rates can go up because you present a higher risk to the insurance company.^[4] In Washington, an at-fault accident can increase your rates by 43% and a DUI can increase your rates by almost 100%, so it’s in your best interest to avoid violations and collisions.

Here’s a look at average monthly quotes for the cheapest car insurance in Washington based on driving and accident history.

SR-22 insurance in Washington

Following a conviction, failure to pay judgments, or being involved in an accident, you might need to carry SR-22 insurance. However, it isn’t a policy type — it’s a certificate that proves you meet the state-minimum liability requirements. You typically need to have the form on file with the state for three years starting on the day you reinstate your license.^[5]

If you need SR-22 coverage in Washington, you can find it at GEICO, State Farm, and Nationwide.

Washington car insurance quotes by credit tier

Car insurance companies in Washington can use credit scores to set rates. Your credit-based insurance score determines how likely you are to file a claim.^[6] Excellent or good credit scores mean fewer claims, while poor credit scores indicate a higher risk to the insurance company.

“Drivers with lower scores tend to have a higher risk of at-fault accidents. So, the higher your score, most likely the better your rate will be,” says Friedlander.

Car insurance quotes in Washington cities

Car insurance rates can change depending on where in Washington you live. A city’s population density, crime rate, and accident statistics can influence your premiums.^[1] The most expensive cities for car insurance typically have more people, more crime, and more accidents.

The two tables below illustrate how differences in population, accident rates, and other location-related factors can affect car insurance costs. The first table shows the cheapest cities in the state. For example, Yakima — which has a population of around 96,968 — has average insurance rates that are 19% less than the state average. 

The following table shows the most expensive cities for car insurance in Washington. While Federal Way has a similar sized population — around 99,000 — than Yakima, it has a higher rate of accidents. Federal Way saw 2,075 reported accidents in 2022, while much larger Yakima had just 1,883, according to state data.^[7]

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Based on 3,806+ reviews

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