Cheapest Car Insurance in Washington for 2026

fact checked icon

Updated: July 1, 2026

Advertising & Editorial Disclosure

GEICO is the cheapest insurer in Washington for both full coverage at $93 a month and minimum coverage at $38 a month, and also holds the lowest senior rate at $105. American Family is the cheapest option for drivers with a speeding ticket or DUI at $114 a month, and texting while driving at $98, the lowest rates in the state for each.

If you're insuring a teen, start with State Farm at 16 at $371 a month and switch to American Family at 17, where rates drop to $282 for males and $274 for females. For ratings and coverage details alongside rates, see the best car insurance in Washington.

Minimum Coverage
GEICO
$38
4.65/5
Full Coverage
GEICO
$93
4.65/5
16-Year-Old Male
State Farm
$371
4.51/5
16-Year-Old Female
State Farm
$371
4.51/5
Young Adults
American Family
$103
4.31/5
Seniors (70+)
GEICO
$105
4.65/5
Speeding ticket
American Family
$114
4.31/5
At-fault accident
State Farm
$129
4.51/5
DUI
American Family
$114
4.31/5
Bad credit
National General
$145
3.88/5
GEICO

GEICO

Best Cheap Car Insurance for Full Coverage in Washington

GEICO earns the best cheap title in Washington for minimum coverage ($38 a month) and full coverage ($93 a month) because it pairs the lowest rates in the state with one of the largest discount programs available. Drivers on a minimum coverage budget can lower that $38 rate further through discounts for safe driving, vehicle safety features and military service. GEICO offers more discount categories than most major insurers, so the listed rate is rarely what you end up paying. For drivers on a full coverage policy who want to customize their protection, GEICO has one of the widest selections of optional coverages in Washington, from roadside assistance and rental reimbursement to rideshare coverage. Rates, scores and coverage details are at the GEICO car insurance review.

Cheapest Car Insurance by Coverage Type in Washington

GEICO
$38
$93
4.65/5
American Family
$61
$98
4.31/5
Pemco Insurance
$50
$106
4.42/5
Progressive
$58
$106
4.49/5
Travelers
$52
$108
4.54/5

Cheapest Minimum Coverage in Washington

GEICO is the cheapest option for minimum coverage in Washington at $38 a month, with State Farm one dollar behind at $39. At that price, the decision comes down to how you want to deal with your insurer. GEICO is fully digital. Claims and policy changes happen through the app. State Farm has local agents across Washington if you'd rather talk to someone in person. Pemco Insurance is worth adding to your quotes at $50 a month. It's $8 cheaper than Progressive and offers accident forgiveness after five years of clean driving, so your first minor accident won't raise your rate. Pemco is only available in Washington and Oregon and won't appear on national comparison sites, so quote directly.

Cheapest Full Coverage in Washington

GEICO is the cheapest option for full coverage at $93 a month and also carries the highest overall score at 4.65/5, which means you're getting the lowest price and the strongest overall rating in the same policy. American Family comes in at $98, which is $5 more per month or $60 a year. American Family also offers gap insurance as an optional add-on, which pays the difference between what your car is worth and what you still owe on a loan if it's totaled. GEICO does not offer gap insurance, so drivers with a financed or leased vehicle should ask American Family about adding it when they quote. Pemco and Progressive both price at $106, but Progressive scores 4.49/5 against Pemco's 4.42/5 at the same rate. Go with Progressive if you're choosing between those two. At $108, Travelers has the highest customer experience score at 4.28/5. Drivers who prioritize service quality over the lowest possible rate should quote Travelers.

How to Choose Between Minimum and Full Coverage in Washington

The decision comes down to your car's value. Full coverage costs $55 more per month than minimum at GEICO, adding up to $660 a year. If your car is worth less than $6,600, that extra cost won't pay off. You'd be paying more in premiums than the car is worth to protect. If it's worth more, full coverage is the right call since minimum coverage pays nothing toward your own vehicle if you cause a crash. One thing to confirm before going minimum: ask your insurer to include uninsured motorist coverage. Washington doesn't require it and you can waive it, but with one in five Washington drivers uninsured, it's the most important add-on on a minimum policy.

Cheapest Car Insurance for Teens and Young Adults in Washington

State Farm offers the cheapest car insurance for 16-year-olds in Washington at $371 a month. At 17, American Family becomes the most affordable option at $282 for males and $274 for females, saving $89 a month for males and $97 for females, which adds up to more than $1,000 in year one. 

American Family holds the lowest rate at almost every age from 17 through 25. The one exception is 21-year-old males, where Farmers comes in at $136, a dollar less than American Family's $137. It's worth a quick quote at that renewal. By 25, American Family's rate drops to $103 for males and $101 for females, close to what a clean-record adult pays without a teen on the policy.

For the steps to make that switch, see how to switch car insurance companies.

16
State Farm
$371
State Farm
$371
3.8/5
17
American Family
$274
American Family
$282
3.75/5
18
American Family
$222
American Family
$229
3.75/5
19
American Family
$185
American Family
$190
3.75/5
20
American Family
$157
American Family
$162
3.75/5
21
American Family
$137
Farmers
$136
3.4/5
22
American Family
$123
American Family
$127
3.75/5
23
American Family
$113
American Family
$116
3.75/5
24
American Family
$106
American Family
$109
3.75/5
25
American Family
$101
American Family
$103
3.75/5
American Family Insurance

American Family Insurance

Best Cheap Car Insurance for Teens and Young Adults in Washington

American Family is the most affordable car insurance option for teen drivers in Washington from age 17 through 25, with rates starting at $282 for males and $274 for females at 17 and dropping to $103 and $101 by 25. When your teen has an accident, American Family is known for fast response times and is not known for denying valid claims. It also has more ways to bring the rate down than most carriers, including a Good Student discount for B-average students, the free TeenSafeDriver program that saves up to 10%, and an Away at School discount if your teen attends college more than 100 miles from home. A full overview of American Family's coverage and ratings is at its American Family car insurance review.

Cheapest Car Insurance for Seniors in Washington

GEICO is the cheapest senior carrier in Washington at $105 a month for full coverage, with Progressive at $107 and American Family at $108. At that price difference, the better question is which company will treat you better when you need to file a claim. Low-mileage seniors can lower their rate further through GEICO's DriveEasy or Progressive Snapshot, where participants save an average of $328 a year at renewal, though 20% or more see their rate go up, so compare your renewal quote against your current rate before committing.

GEICO
$105
3.65/5
Progressive
$107
3.9/5
American Family
$108
3.75/5
State Farm
$108
3.8/5
Travelers
$110
4.28/5
Progressive

Progressive

Best Cheap Car Insurance for Seniors in Washington

Progressive is one of the most affordable car insurance options for seniors in Washington at $107 a month for full coverage, and it carries the strongest customer experience score in the senior rate table at 3.9/5. Its 24/7 phone support means you can reach a real person at any hour, which matters most when you're dealing with an accident or a claim. Progressive also automatically covers small claims under $500 without raising your rate, and after five years with no accidents or violations, larger claims won't raise your rate either. Low-mileage seniors can also enroll in Snapshot to reduce that $107 rate further, though 20% or more of participants see their rate increase after the monitoring period. A full overview of Progressive's coverage options and ratings is at its Progressive car insurance review.

Cheapest Car Insurance in Washington by City

State Farm offers the cheapest minimum coverage rates across most Washington cities, so it's the first insurer worth quoting no matter where you live. The exceptions are Everett, where GEICO is cheapest at $51 a month, and Bellevue and Kent, where California Casualty leads at $52 and $64. Wherever you are, your city determines your rate more than your carrier choice, which is why getting a local quote matters. Washington has one of the highest uninsured driver rates in the country, so whichever carrier you go with, ask them to include uninsured motorist coverage. Skipping it means paying your own repair and medical bills if an uninsured driver causes the accident.

Kennewick
State Farm
$30
Richland
State Farm
$30
Bellingham
State Farm
$31
Yakima
State Farm
$32
Spokane Valley
State Farm
$36
Spokane
State Farm
$39
Kirkland
State Farm
$41
Redmond
State Farm
$41
Sammamish
State Farm
$41
Marysville
State Farm
$42
Shoreline
State Farm
$43
Vancouver
State Farm
$45
Federal Way
State Farm
$46
South Hill
State Farm
$46
Seattle
State Farm
$48
Everett
GEICO
$51
Bellevue
California Casualty
$52
Tacoma
State Farm
$56
Renton
State Farm
$57
Kent
California Casualty
$64

Cheapest Car Insurance for High Risk Drivers in Washington

American Family is the cheapest option in Washington for drivers with a DUI, speeding ticket or texting while driving violation, and it carries a below-average complaint rate with the NAIC, which means most policyholders get their issues resolved without escalating. If you have a DUI, American Family also takes care of the required SR-22 filing as part of your policy, so you don't have to figure that out separately. Drivers with poor credit will find National General is the most affordable at $145 a month, but its 2.52/5 customer experience score is the weakest in the table, so treat it as a starting point and get new quotes at GEICO as soon as your credit score improves.

Speeding Violation
American Family
$114
3.75/5
At-Fault Accident
State Farm
$129
3.8/5
DUI
American Family
$114
3.75/5
Texting While Driving
American Family
$98
3.75/5
Bad Credit
National General
$145
2.52/5
American Family Insurance

American Family Insurance

Best Cheap Car Insurance After a Violation in Washington

American Family is the best option for Washington drivers with a violation on their record, pricing speeding tickets, DUIs and texting while driving at $114 or less, the cheapest rate in the state for each. Its DUI rates run up to 33% below the national average, which means drivers who have been dropped or repriced by another carrier after a conviction will likely find their best available rate here. Drivers with a first minor violation and an otherwise clean record may also qualify for ticket forgiveness, meaning the speeding ticket won't raise their rate at all. For DUI drivers, American Family files the required SR-22 directly as part of your policy, so you don't have to source it separately or coordinate with a third party. A full overview of American Family's ratings and coverage options is at its American Family car insurance review.

How to Get Cheaper Car Insurance Rates in Washington

Most Washington drivers overpay because they focus only on which carrier to pick and ignore the bigger factor: how much coverage to carry. Switching from full to minimum coverage at GEICO saves $55 a month. Switching between the cheapest and most expensive carriers saves only $15. Both decisions matter, and the steps below show you how to get the most out of each.

  1. 1
    Compare at Least Three Washington Insurers and Save $15 a Month

    The difference between the cheapest and most expensive carrier in Washington is $15 a month, or $180 a year. Start with GEICO, American Family and Pemco Insurance, the three most affordable options in the state. Pemco won't show up on national comparison sites, so you'll need to quote directly.

  2. 2
    Match Your Coverage Level to Your Vehicle Value and Save $55 a Month

    Full coverage costs $55 more per month than minimum at GEICO, adding up to $660 a year. If your car is worth less than $6,600, you're paying more in premiums than the car is worth to protect. Use the Washington car insurance calculator to run your own numbers.

  3. 3
    Bundle Home and Auto and Lower Your Combined Premium

    If you have both home and auto insurance, placing them with the same carrier usually gets you a discount on both. GEICO, American Family and State Farm all offer bundle discounts in Washington. Ask for a combined quote before renewing either policy separately.

  4. 4
    Get New Quotes When Your Violation Ages Off and Recover $21 to $36 a Month

    Washington insurers stop applying surcharges three years after a speeding ticket or at-fault accident. For a DUI, the three-year window starts when your license is reinstated. At that point, getting new quotes at GEICO can recover $21 a month after a DUI or speeding violation and $36 a month after an at-fault accident. Mark the date on your calendar so you don't miss the window.

  5. 5
    Improve Your Credit Before Renewal and Recover $52 a Month

    Poor credit costs Washington drivers up to $52 more a month. That's the gap between National General's $145 poor-credit rate and GEICO's $93 good-credit rate. Once your credit score moves into the good range, get new quotes at GEICO or State Farm. For most drivers, consistent on-time payments and lower credit card balances can make that shift within 12 to 24 months.

  6. 6
    Use a Telematics Discount With the Three Cheapest Washington Insurers

    All three of Washington's most affordable insurers offer telematics programs that track your driving and adjust your rate based on how safely you drive. If you have a clean record and low mileage, these programs can lower your rate by up to 20% at renewal. The tradeoff is that poor scores, especially hard braking and phone use, can raise your rate instead.

    • GEICO: DriveEasy tracks your driving through your smartphone for 91 days. Hard braking and phone use carry the highest penalty weight. Around 20% or more of participants see no discount or a rate increase at renewal, so check your score before the period ends.
    • American Family: KnowYourDrive monitors mileage, time of day and braking through the American Family app. You get a discount just for enrolling, and your renewal rate reflects how you drove during the monitoring period.
    • Pemco Insurance: PEMCODOMETER tracks your driving through the Go PEMCO app for 91 days and can lower your rate by up to 20%. If you don't qualify for a discount after the first period, you can re-enroll at your next renewal.

MoneyGeek analyzed car insurance rates for Washington using data from Quadrant Information Services, collected from state insurance filing records across all residential ZIP codes in Washington. Carriers are required to file rates with the Washington Office of the Insurance Commissioner before charging them. These are filed rates, not estimates or online quote approximations.

The baseline driver profile is a 40-year-old male driving a 2012 Toyota Camry LE with a clean record, good credit and 12,000 annual miles. Full coverage is 100/300/100 liability with a $1,000 deductible. Minimum coverage is Washington's state-mandated minimums: 25/50/10 liability. Profile variations include young drivers ages 16 to 25 on individual policies rated by gender, a 70-year-old senior driver, violation profiles (one variable changed at a time) and a poor-credit profile. USAA is excluded from all tables. It is available only to military members, veterans and immediate family. Eligible drivers should include USAA in any quote comparison.

MoneyGeek scores carriers on three factors: affordability (60% of score, normalized rates across all carriers within each driver profile), customer experience (30%, based on J.D. Power survey results, NAIC complaint index, AM Best financial strength ratings, agent network ratings and Google Business ratings) and coverage options (10%, based on the breadth of available add-ons and included benefits). Washington requires SR-22 filings after DUI convictions, maintained for three years from the date the driver is eligible to reinstate their license. Credit scoring is permitted in Washington as a rating factor. Gender is also a permitted rating factor.

About Mark Fitzpatrick

Mark Fitzpatrick, Licensed P&C Insurance Expert, MoneyGeek

Mark Fitzpatrick, a licensed Property and Casualty (P&C) Insurance Producer in Connecticut, is MoneyGeek's resident insurance expert. He has spent nearly a decade analyzing the market, first at LendingTree and now at MoneyGeek, where he produces original research on hundreds of carriers and millions of rates across auto, home, renters, health and life insurance.

He covers economics and insurance at MoneyGeek, and his work has been featured in The Washington Post, The New York Times and NPR, among other outlets.

Like all MoneyGeek analysts, he draws on independent cost and consumer experience data. No insurance company partnership influences his recommendations.

Mark holds a B.A. from Boston College and an M.A. in Economics and International Relations from Johns Hopkins University. He started his career in financial risk management at State Street and is also a five-time “Jeopardy!” champion.

Read Full Bio »