bestauto insuranceSeattleCompare the Cheapest Car Insurance Quotes in Seattle, WA
Seattle drivers pay $1,312 on average for car insurance, more than the average annual premium in the state. The cheapest widely-available company is GEICO, which offers an average rate of $809. MoneyGeek analyzed the cheapest across coverage levels and different types of drivers. For those concerned about cost and quality, MoneyGeek recommended the best carriers in Seattle.
REVIEW AUTO INSURANCE RATES
Ensure you're getting the best rate for your auto insurance. Compare quotes from the top insurance companies.
Advertising & Editorial DisclosureLast Updated: 12/31/2022
Edited By |
Ashley Jacobs
Written By |
Mark Fitzpatrick
Getting cheap car insurance depends on your driving history and coverage limits. The most affordable insurer for full coverage, state minimum coverage and drivers with speeding tickets in Seattle is GEICO. The cheapest insurer for military families is USAA. MoneyGeek found the best insurer that balances customer service and cost in Seattle is Hartford.
bestauto insuranceSeattleThe Cheapest and Best Car Insurance in Seattle
Methodology
MoneyGeek scores take into account evaluations from J.D. Power, AM Best and the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC).
The Cheapest Car Insurance Companies in Seattle
In Seattle, you can find the lowest average rates for full coverage car insurance from the following providers:
- GEICO: $809 per year
- PEMCO: $848 per year
If you are a current or former military member, you can opt to purchase cheaper coverage from USAA, which offers the lowest full coverage rates in the city at $655 per year.
Metlife is the most expensive insurer in Seattle and charges $1,757 more per year than GEICO for the same coverage.
A full coverage car insurance policy costs more because it includes comprehensive and collision insurance with higher liability limits. However, your actual cost may vary based on your coverage needs and profile.
Cheapest Car Insurance in Seattle
Full Coverage 100/300/100
- Company100/300/100per year
- 1.$655
- 2.$809
- 3.PEMCO$848
- 4.$962
- 5.$982
Based on MoneyGeek's methodology, the rates in this study were determined using a sample 40-year-old male driver with a full coverage car insurance policy in Seattle.
Full coverage auto insurance is more costly than minimum coverage, although it provides more protection after an at-fault accident. The higher cost is a result of the following two additional types of coverage:
- Collision Coverage: This insurance covers the damage to your car after an at-fault accident.
- Comprehensive Coverage: Covers the cost of repairing your damaged car if the cause is not accident-related.
Full coverage insurance may cost more than the value of your car if you have an older vehicle. Consequently, you may decide to purchase car insurance with low rates, such as liability-only insurance or a policy that only meets the state’s minimum requirements.
Compare Car Insurance Rates in Seattle
Ensure you're getting the best rate for your car insurance. Compare quotes from the top insurance companies.
Cheapest Car Insurance in Seattle for Minimum Coverage
If you want to purchase the cheapest car insurance policy in Seattle, you can get coverage that only meets the state minimum requirements. According to MoneyGeek, the cheapest providers of the state minimum car insurance in the city are, on average:
- GEICO: $449 per year
- Progressive: $468 per year
Eligible military families can purchase policies from USAA, which costs an average of $338 yearly.
GEICO’s average rate is lower than Metlife, the most expensive provider in Seattle, by $1,113 annually.
The state minimum car insurance is the cheapest option available. However, it does not include comprehensive and collision coverage. It also has lower limits, so you might not have adequate coverage. Check out the table below to compare costs across different liability limits.
Cheapest Minimum Liability Car Insurance in Seattle
State Minimum
- CompanyState Minimumper year
- 1.$338
- 2.$449
- 3.$468
- 4.PEMCO$494
- 5.$520
Drivers in Washington need to have car insurance with liability limits of 25/50/10. However, policyholders with the minimum coverage will need to pay more out of pocket if an accident occurs. For instance, if you get involved in an accident and the third-party driver’s medical expenses reach $50,000, your minimum car insurance policy will only cover 50% of the cost. You will have to pay the rest.
Washington Minimum Liability Requirements
- ItemDescription
- Bodily Injury and Property Damage$25,000 per person, $50,000 per accident and $10,000 for property damage. A more protective level is 100/300/100.
Cheapest Car Insurance in Seattle if You Have Driving Violations
Having a traffic violation such as a DUI or speeding ticket can greatly impact the cost of your car insurance. Rates vary by violation type. According to MoneyGeek, the cheapest insurers in Seattle on average if you have a violation are:
- Cheapest after a ticket: GEICO, $809 per year
- Cheapest after an at-fault accident: PEMCO, $1,149 per year
- Cheapest after a DUI: State Farm, $1,071 per year
While USAA is the cheapest provider across all violations, it is not listed above since its policies are only available to military families.
Even if you have a severe violation, your car insurance rates will go down as your record improves. You can find the lowest prices by comparing costs between different insurers.
Cheapest Car Insurance in Seattle With a Violation
Speeding Ticket
- CompanySpeeding Ticketper year
- 1.$767
- 2.$809
- 3.PEMCO$1,049
- 4.$1,071
- 5.$1,291
Average Cost of Car Insurance in Seattle
Seattle$1,312
Washington$1,264
U.S.$1,424
In Seattle, drivers pay an average annual car insurance rate of $1,312, which is about 3.8% more expensive than the average annual premium of $1,264 in Washington State. Even so, the city’s rate is about 7.9% more affordable than the national average, which stands at $1,424 a year.
Personalized Quotes to Get You the Cheapest Car Insurance in Seattle
There are various factors that influence car insurance rates, including your marital status, age, gender, driving history and credit history. That’s why it’s essential to get personalized car insurance quotes in Seattle because your circumstances may be unique to you. Regularly getting a quote is also recommended as you may be eligible for discounts, promos or rebates when your circumstances change.
Compare Car Insurance Rates in Seattle
Ensure you're getting the best rate for your car insurance. Compare quotes from the top insurance companies.
The Best Car Insurance Companies in Seattle
MoneyGeek analyzed data on several car insurance companies in Seattle based on average rates, claims ratings and user satisfaction. Based on our analysis, we gave each company a score to find out where you can get the best car insurance.
The rankings show that the following are the best car insurance companies in Seattle:
- GEICO: 91 out of 100
- State Farm: 88.40 out of 100
USAA was not included in the rankings, but it has a perfect MoneyGeek score. Therefore, USAA is the best car insurance company in Washington for veterans and active members of the military.
1
GEICO
Score:91
GEICO does well in terms of financial stability and affordability but is lower in claims. In Seattle, the average premium is $809 per year for a 40-year-old driver. One of the coverages it offers is Mechanical Breakdown Insurance (MBI).
More About GEICO
No matter how much a driver in Seattle takes care of their car, there’s always a time when things break down. Certain parts or systems get damaged and sometimes, it can be a bit costly.
GEICO's Mechanical Breakdown Insurance (MBI) in GEICO covers all parts and systems of your vehicle. It’s like the extended warranty provided by your car dealer, except the extended warranty only covers specific parts. MBI is also less expensive than most extended warranties.
Drivers with less than 15,000 miles on their car can add this coverage to their GEICO policy. Additionally, your car must be less than 15 months old.
Read MoneyGeek's GEICO auto Insurance Review2
State Farm
Score:88
State Farm has one of the best scores for affordability and ranked well in claims and satisfaction. The average annual cost of a premium for a 40-year-old driver in Seattle is $982. A rare coverage it provides is rideshare insurance.
More About State Farm
If you’re working for a rideshare company or a TNC, rideshare insurance in Seattle could be useful coverage for you. Since there are many risks to driving, especially when you do it for work, you need to be protected from anything unexpected that may happen while you’re on the road.
Rideshare insurance guarantees that your personal policy will still apply while driving for a ridesharing service. This means that your medical, emergency roadside assistance, rental car reimbursement coverages and deductibles will be in effect while driving your passengers around Seattle. Your liability insurance, however, is not included in this coverage.
Read MoneyGeek's State Farm auto Insurance Review3
Allstate
Score:82
4
Travelers
Score:81
5
Progressive
Score:80
6
American Family
Score:74
7
Farmers
Score:67
8
PEMCO
Score:65
9
Allied
Score:56
10
MetLife
Score:24
Average Cost of Car Insurance by Postal Code
Down to the ZIP code, location matters in how car insurance companies in Seattle calculate their rates. If your ZIP code has high levels of crime, accidents and theft, then you’ll pay more on premiums. Seattle drivers living in ZIP code 98103 pay the cheapest average annual rate at $1,250, which is about $184 lower than the auto insurance rate in ZIP code 98118.
- Zip CodeState Minimumper year
- 98103$1,250
- 98115$1,287
- 98133$1,291
- 98125$1,296
- 98118$1,435
Factors That Impact Insurance Costs in Seattle
In addition to individual driver needs and history, location-specific factors like the percentage of uninsured motorists and the rate of car thefts also contribute to car insurance rates in Seattle. How Seattle ranks compared to the 300 most populous cities in the United States can have a significant impact on premium costs.
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