Washington Cheapest Car Insurance & Best Coverage Options

Updated May 6th, 2021

Checked by
Jaime Arias
Licensed Agent

Reviewed by
Jennifer Benson
Licensed Agent

AutoInsureSavings.org team of licensed insurance agents found GEICO at $48 per year is the cheapest of all car insurance companies in Washington for a minimum coverage policy.

At $1,245 per year, State Farm is the cheapest car insurance company in Washington for a full coverage policy.

Best Cheap Car Insurance in Washington

Carrying insurance in the state of Washington is mandated by state law. However, who provides your coverage and anything above the liability insurance requirements are a matter of choice.

Cheapest Car Insurance in Washington - Key Takeaways

The cheapest Washington car insurance options are: Cheapest for minimum coverage: GEICO Cheapest for full coverage: State Farm Cheapest after an at-fault accident: GEICO Cheapest after a speeding ticket: Mutual of Enumclaw Cheapest after a DUI: Progressive Cheapest with poor credit history: GEICO Cheapest for young drivers: Mutual of Enumclaw For younger drivers with a speeding violation: State Farm For younger drivers with an at-fault accident: Mutual of Enumclaw

Keep reading to learn how to save money with Washington car insurance companies in various age groups and how to find the best auto insurance coverage for the most affordable cost when comparison shopping.

Cheapest Car Insurance in Washington for Minimum Coverage

Our agents found that GEICO offers the cheapest minimum coverage car insurance for Washington drivers with a good driving record at $448 per year, which is 31% less expensive than the average cost for minimum liability from other car insurance companies in Washington at $645 per year.

Enter your zip code above to compare cheap auto quotes from the best auto insurers to help you save money.  

*USAA is for qualified military members, their spouses, and direct family members. Auto insurance rates vary depending on driver profiles.

We found the most expensive insurance providers for minimum coverage during our rate analysis are American Family and Allstate, with an average quote of $687 and $788 per year. 

The cheapest car insurance in the state of Washington is based on several factors. First, you must determine if you want full coverage or the state minimum coverage. Then, you must factor in your vehicle information, age, and driving history.

Minimum coverage is a liability-only insurance policy with bodily injury and property damage liability insurance.

Cheapest Insurance for Full Coverage in Washington

State Farm offers cheap insurance rates in Washington at $1,245 per year or $103 per month for full coverage, 32% cheaper than Washington state average rates. 

The next best is Mutual of Enumclaw, which offers full coverage insurance rates at $1,289 per year or 30% cheaper than average rates. 

*Your rates may vary when you get a quote.

Washington’s average premium for full coverage insurance is $1,815 per year or $151 per month.

Full coverage policies include comprehensive and collision, which reimburse property damage to your vehicle from car accidents, vandalism, or thefts.

AutoInsureSavings.org licensed insurance agents to recommend drivers in Washington with newer model vehicles to buy a full coverage auto insurance policy.

Cheapest Auto Insurance in Washington With Speeding Tickets

Our licensed agents found Mutual of Enumclaw offers the cheapest rates for Washington drivers with speeding tickets at $1,380 per year or a $115 monthly rate. Mutual of Enumclaw’s rate is 35% less expensive than Washington’s average rates of $2,115 per year.

The average car insurance premium for a Washington driver with a speeding violation is $2,115, or $300 more for auto insurance than a clean record driver. 

A minor speeding violation stays on Washington driving records for five years, but car insurers can only use the past three years. According to the Washington State Department of Licensing, the cost of car insurance can increase by 22% during those three years.  

Cheapest Insurance in Washington For Drivers with an Accident

GEICO offers the best rate for drivers with a recent at-fault accident in Washington, with auto insurance premiums at $1,693 per year. That is $775 per year less than the average amount drivers pay ($2,468) for auto insurance coverage in Washington.

The least expensive insurance coverage exists for people with clean driving records. Washington auto insurance carriers will cover people with an accident. Washington’s average rates for a person with a car accident on their driving record would be $2,468 per year, over $650 more per year than the average premium for full coverage.

Cheapest Auto Insurance in Washington for Drivers with a DUI

Progressive offers the cheapest auto insurance rates for drivers in Washington with a DUI in their driving history at $2,220 per year. The average rate for drivers with a DUI in Washington is $3,032, and Progressive offers savings of $812 per year.

According to the Washington Courts Website, DUI offenders in Washington will have driving privileges suspended for 90 days, a required ignition interlock device (IID) installed in their motor vehicle for 90 days with the required defensive driving course, and required alcohol treatment program. A drunk driving violation in Washinton can raise your car insurance premiums by 41% per year for 24 to 36 months.

Cheapest Car Insurance in Washington for Drivers With Poor Credit

GEICO offers the least expensive insurance premiums for Washington drivers with a poor credit score. GEICO provides a savings of over $458 per year or 23% less expensive, with an insurance premium of $1,580 per year for full coverage.

State Farm is the second cheapest car insurance option for a poor credit score at $1,781 per year or 13% cheaper than average Washington poor credit rates.

We found drivers with a bad credit score pay 12% more for coverage in Washington than those with good credit scores during our rate analysis. Make sure to pay your credit cards, student loans, and bills on time to find the best rates with Washington car insurance. And keep an eye on your credit report.  

Cheapest Car Insurance in Washington for Young Drivers

Younger drivers shopping for car insurance can find cheap rates in Washington with Mutual of Enumclaw, who provided our agents with a $2,980 per year quote for full coverage. Mutual of Enumclaw’s rate is 48% cheaper than Washington’s average young driver rate of $5,682 per year.

Teen drivers can find the cheapest insurance for minimum coverage in Washington with GEICO, which provided us with a $1,227 per year rate for an 18-year-old driver. 

*USAA is for qualified military members, their spouses, and direct family members. Coverage rates may vary depending on driver profiles.

A teen driver who recently received their driver’s license or has been driving for less than five years is a high-risk driver.

They tend to get more traffic tickets and have more accidents. The cost to insure a Washington driver under 21 is significantly higher than insuring a driver over 30 with a clean driving record.

Cheapest Insurance for Young Drivers with Speeding Tickets

Young or teen drivers in Washington should compare auto insurance quotes with State Farm with a speeding ticket in their driving history. State Farm provided our agents a quote at $3,658 per year or $304 per month.

State Farm’s coverage rates are 41% less expensive than average rates for young Washington drivers.  

Cheapest Car Insurance for Young Drivers in Washington with an Accident

According to our licensed agent’s rate analysis, younger drivers with an at-fault accident can find the cheapest car insurance quotes with Mutual of Enumclaw, with an average cost of $4,028 per year or $335 per month.

Mutual of Enumclaw’s insurance rate is 46% less expensive than Washington’s $7,349 average rates for younger drivers with an at-fault accident.

Best Auto Insurance Companies in Washington

If we use the NAIC complaint index, J.D. Powers claims satisfaction study, and the average price for state minimum and full coverage, American Family (AmFam), USAA, and Mutual of Enumclaw are the best car insurance companies in Washington. 

Sometimes getting the most affordable insurance company for the average driver isn’t the best for quality customer service for Washington drivers. Depending on your assets and situation, you may need to compare insurance companies with higher than average customer service and satisfaction standards.

According to ValuePenguin, AmFam and USAA received the highest customer satisfaction ratings for Washington car insurance. AmFam also received the highest satisfaction ratings from its customers for both claims satisfaction and an NAIC complaint index of 0.46, well below the national average of 1.00.

If we take the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) complaint index, J.D. Power claims satisfaction score, and A.M. Best financial strength ratings, the results are similar.

Mutual of Enumclaw (0.00), Farmers Insurance (0.15), and AmFam (0.46) are the best car insurance companies with excellent financial strength, have a complaint ratio below the national average of 1.00 which means all three car insurance companies have fewer complaints relative to their market share. 

Average Car Insurance Costs by City in Washington

An insurance company will use your zip code and many factors to determine your Washington car insurance costs, as well as your credit score, marital status, type of motor vehicle, and past driving history. If you live in Washington’s more urban areas, there is a higher chance of auto theft or being in an auto accident. Insurance companies will increase rates to account for such risk.

Cheapest Car Insurance in Seattle, WA

Drivers in Seattle can find the most affordable coverage with GEICO with a $1,416 per year rate for our 30-year-old sample driver. A quote from GEICO is 24% cheaper than Seattle’s average car insurance rates.

Cheapest Car Insurance in Spokane, WA

GEICO offers cheap insurance for drivers in Spokane who provided our licensed agents a quote at $1,420 per year or a $118 monthly rate. GEICO’s rate is 25% less expensive than average rates in Spokane, WA. 

Cheapest Car Insurance in Tacoma, WA

Tacoma drivers can find cheap insurance with Mutual of Enumclaw, who offered us a quote at $1,465 per year or a $122 monthly rate with $500 deductibles for comprehensive and collision insurance. Mutual of Enumclaw’s insurance quote is 22% cheaper than Tacoma’s average rates at $1,872 per year.

Cheapest Car Insurance in Vancouver, WA

Travelers Insurance offers cheaper car insurance for drivers in Vancouver with a good driving record with quotes at $1,437 per year and 23% less expensive than average rates in Vancouver. 

Cheapest Auto Insurance in Bellevue, WA

AutoInsureSavings.org licensed agents found that Bellevue’s cheapest insurance rate is with State Farm, who provided us a quote at $1,274 per year for full coverage or 29% lower than average rates for drivers in Bellevue, WA.

Cheapest Auto Insurance in Kent, WA

State Farm offers cheaper car insurance for drivers in Kent, Washington, with a quote at $1,319 per year or a $109 monthly rate for a full coverage car insurance policy, which is 31% less expensive than the average rates in Kent.

Average Cost of Insurance for All Cities in Washington

Minimum Car Insurance Requirements in Washington

Drivers in Washington must carry the state minimum auto insurance requirements for vehicle registration. State law mandates drivers have at least $25,000 per person and up to $50,000 per accident of bodily injury liability coverage. They also require at least $25,000 per accident of property damage liability coverage.   

**Underinsured motorist bodily injury, underinsured motorist property damage, and personal injury protection coverage can be rejected by signing a paper form.

AutoInsureSavings.org licensed agents to recommend buying coverage with higher liability limits with comprehensive and collision coverage in Washington for the average driver with multiple assets, such as houses or multiple vehicles.

We recommend uninsured motorists coverage with higher limits since Washington’s uninsured motorist rate is 21.7%, according to the Insurance Information Institute (III.org). 

Washington Car Insurance FAQs

Who has the Cheapest Car Insurance in Washington?

We found the top car insurance companies that offer the lowest Washington driver’s average rates are USAA at $387 per year, GEICO at $448 per year, and Progressive at $460 per year for a state minimum car insurance policy for a 30-year-old with clean driving history.

How Much is Car Insurance in Washington per Month?

On average, drivers pay around $53 per month for state minimum coverage in Washington and $151 per month for full coverage insurance. Based on our research, State Farm, at $103 per month, is one of the state’s most affordable car insurance companies. Most driver’s average annual rate is around $645 per year for state minimums and $1,815 per year, including comprehensive and collision coverage.

How Much Is Full Coverage Car Insurance in Washington?

On average, most drivers in Washington pay for full coverage insurance is $151 per month or $1,815 per year. Washington’s top insurance companies that offer the lowest rate for drivers interested in full coverage auto insurance policies include State Farm and Mutual of Enumclaw. Both insurers provide auto insurance quotes 30% lower than average rates, depending on your driver profile. 

How do I Save on Car Insurance in Washington?

There are many things drivers can do to help save money on their car insurance rates in Washington. First, you will need to compare quotes from multiple insurance providers to find the right insurance company that offers the exact level of coverage in Washington you need at the most affordable price.

Another thing drivers in Washington can do to help them save more on their car insurance rates is to ask their auto insurance provider about a money-saving driver discount they may be eligible for. Many companies offer car insurance discounts for drivers who have multiple coverage policies with them or drivers who have no prior accidents or violations on their driving records. Consider Usage-Based car insurance, such as State Farm’s Drive Safe and Save Program. You can get long-term savings up to 20%, depending on your safe driving habits and driver behavior. 

To learn more about finding the best rates and car insurance options in Washington, contact the experts at AutoInsureSavings.org. Our licensed professionals will be happy to answer any questions you have.

Methodology

AutoInsureSavings.org comparison shopping study used a full-coverage auto policy for a 30-year-old driving a 2018 Honda Accord in Washington with the following coverage limits:

We used car insurance rates for drivers in Washington with accident histories, credit scores, and marital status for other rate analyses. We used insurance rate data from Quadrant Information Services, which are publicly available for comparative purposes only. Your auto insurance rates will vary when you get quotes.

Sources 

– GEICO. “Military Auto Insurance.”
– National Association of Insurance Commissioners. “Market Share Reports for Property/Casualty Groups and Insurance Companies.”
– Washington Dept. of Licensing. “Mandatory Insurance.”
– Office of the Insurance Commissioner: Washington. “Auto Insurance.”

Jaime Arias

Jaime Arias is a licensed insurance agent, co-owner, and editor of AutoInsureSavings.org with a family history in developing insurance businesses. Also, he has a mechanical engineering degree and a master's of business administration (MBA) from Harvard University. Jaime has experience in digital marketing, directing marketing methods online for businesses in the insurance industry.