Cheapest Car Insurance in Washington (June 2024)

PEMCO offers the most affordable auto insurance in Washington for most drivers. Kemper, State Farm, Farmers and USAA* also provide the cheapest rates for certain types of drivers.

If quality service and affordability matter most to you, we’ve also analyzed the best car insurance in Washington.

According to our research of car insurance policies that comply with Washington's minimum state requirements, the most affordable providers are:

• PEMCO: $349 per year
• Auto-Owners: $405 per year

In Washington, Dairyland has the highest minimum coverage car insurance rate, at an average annual cost of $1,943.

The minimum car insurance requirement in the Evergreen State is liability coverage, which includes bodily injury per person and per accident and property damage per accident.

It would help if you had more than a minimum coverage policy to protect your car from damage. Such policies only cover damages or injuries you inflict on others, not damages to your vehicle.

To be fully protected, you'll need to purchase a policy with comprehensive and collision insurance, otherwise known as a full coverage policy.

On average, the most affordable full coverage car insurance providers in Washington are:

• PEMCO: $793 per year
• Nationwide: $806 per year

At roughly $4,290 per year, Dairyland offers the most expensive full coverage insurance in Washington.

Ensuring your car is adequately covered with comprehensive and collision insurance can come at an extra cost. For instance, PEMCO's full coverage option is $444 more expensive than its minimum coverage option.

The amount of car insurance you need will impact your rate. MoneyGeek's sample full coverage policy provides liability protection, including:

• $100,000 per person for bodily injury
• $300,000 per accident for bodily injury
• $100,000 per accident for property damage

If you'd like to save money on your insurance premium, you can opt for lower liability limits, forgo comprehensive and collision insurance or raise your deductible. However, you would likely need more coverage if you get into an accident.

Finding the best car insurance quotes in Washington can be time-consuming. Most insurers provide online quote tools, but some of these can take up to 15 minutes to complete, and you still need to repeat the process to multiple provider sites to obtain the cheapest quote.

MoneyGeek’s car insurance calculator is designed to help you get a quick estimate of your car insurance premiums without having to provide specific personal information. This is a helpful starting point for comparing car insurance quotes and finding the cheapest policy for your needs.

Age is one of the biggest factors affecting car insurance rates in Washington. Kemper, PEMCO and Auto-Owners offer the cheapest options, depending on what age group you and your family belong to.

MoneyGeek found that the most cost-effective options for teens and their families in Washington are:

• Kemper: $1,793 per year for male teens and $1,726 per year for female teens
• Capital Insurance Group: $2,002 per year for male teens; Allstate: $1,929 per year for female teens

Families with male and female teens will have the highest average annual premium from Progressive, amounting to $4,323 and $3,912, respectively.

Generally, car insurance rates for teens decrease as they get older. Capital Insurance Group is the cheapest insurer for 19-year-old males in Washington, costing around $1,627 annually.

The cost of a separate policy for a 16-year-old in Washington is around $5,104 per year, whereas it only costs $2,723 to add them to their parent's existing policy — a difference of $2,381. It is generally more cost-efficient to add a teen to a parent's policy than to purchase a separate one.

Families looking to save on car insurance may be able to get discounts for young drivers. Kemper offers a good student discount to drivers who earn good grades in school.

Allstate also offers driver education, distant and good student discounts. Driver education discounts are available to drivers who have taken a teenSMART driver education course, and the distant student discount is available to drivers who live away from home and do not have regular access to a vehicle.

The cheapest auto insurer for drivers in their 20s are:

• PEMCO: $996 per year
• Farmers: $1,046 per year

At about $6,187, Dairyland is the most expensive insurer for young adults in Washington.

Research shows that drivers in their 20s often pay more than middle-aged drivers, even with the cheapest company. On average, young adult drivers pay $412 more than their middle-aged counterparts because they are considered riskier to insure.

The following companies offer the cheapest auto insurance rates to seniors in Washington:

• Auto-Owners: $737 per year
• Kemper: $739 per year

Dairyland is the most expensive insurance provider for Washington seniors, at an average of $3,850 per year. Older drivers usually get a slight discount on their car insurance premiums compared with middle-aged drivers, though the exact amount depends on the insurer.

Generally, those in their 60s pay about $3 more than those in their 40s. Those in their 70s or older often see higher premiums due to their heightened risk of getting into an accident caused by age-related issues, such as weaker reflexes and decreased eyesight.

Older adult drivers may be able to find discounted auto insurance rates through certain providers. For example, Kemper, GEICO and Allstate offer senior driver discounts. Additionally, seniors should compare companies to find the most affordable option, as insurers consider several factors besides age when calculating rates.

Drivers in Washington with speeding tickets on their record and those with poor credit can take advantage of the low premiums offered by PEMCO. For drivers with an at-fault accident, Kemper offers the most affordable rates. Farmers is the most affordable for those with sports cars, and State Farm is cheapest for drivers with DUIs.

To further reduce insurance costs, drivers should consider taking state-approved driving courses and regularly checking their records for errors. They can then improve their profile and access more affordable insurance options.

MoneyGeek found that the cheapest car insurance companies for Washington drivers with a speeding ticket are:

• PEMCO: $987 per year
• Kemper: $1,044 per year

Dairyland is the most expensive insurer for drivers with a ticket at around $4,990 per year. On average, full coverage car insurance in Washington costs up to $341 more if you have a speeding ticket than if you are a driver with a clean record.

Washington drivers with an at-fault accident on their record can still find affordable auto insurance with the following companies:

• Kemper: $1,075 per year
• PEMCO: $1,082 per year

Dairyland is the most expensive insurer for those who have been in an at-fault accident, with an average annual premium of $5,447. On average, at-fault drivers pay $553 more than those with a clean driving history.

MoneyGeek found that the cheapest auto insurance companies in Washington after a DUI are:

• State Farm: $1,051 per year
• Progressive: $1,095 per year

Kemper is the least affordable option for a full coverage policy after a DUI, costing around $4,367 per year. After a DUI in Washington, you will pay up to $682 more per year for car insurance compared with those with a clean record.

The cheapest car insurance companies in Washington for drivers with poor credit are:

• PEMCO: $791 per year
• Auto-Owners: $823 per year

Dairyland provides the most charges expensive car insurance policy for those with a low credit score at $4,290 per year.

Drivers with low credit scores generally pay more for car insurance than those with higher credit scores. Someone with a credit score above 750 can expect to pay around $61 less for car insurance in Washington than someone with a lower credit score.

Insurers often use a driver's credit history to help determine their risk profile and likelihood of filing a claim. A lower credit rating often indicates a greater likelihood of filing a claim, so insurers may charge higher rates to drivers with poor credit.

To save money, drivers can look for insurers that offer discounts, such as bundling, car safety features and other typical discounts. Over time, improving your credit score will help with car insurance rates.

The least expensive auto insurance providers for sports car drivers in Washington are:

• Farmers: $865 per year
• Auto-Owners: $885 per year

Dairyland offers Washington's costliest sports car insurance at $3,928 per year. Since sports cars tend to be more expensive to repair and replace, auto insurance for sports car drivers costs about $82 more than for Toyota Camry LE drivers in Washington.

MoneyGeek used a Ford Mustang as its sample vehicle when researching insurance costs associated with sports cars. However, insurance costs can differ significantly depending on the type and model of a car. Luxury, electric and sports cars tend to be much more expensive to insure than other model types, but this may not be true in your state. The model may not always affect insurance costs, but this should be considered when comparing policies.

USAA provides the most affordable car insurance rates for military members at an average of $653 per year. It also offers discounts for active duty and retired military personnel.

The cost of car insurance in Washington can vary significantly depending on where you live. Drivers in Spokane can get the most affordable full coverage car insurance from Kemper at about $827 per year. Car insurance is most expensive in Renton, where a full coverage policy from Kemper averages $1,082 per year.

Washington state requires that all drivers carry a minimum of bodily injury liability and property damage liability coverage. This type of coverage protects in the event of an at-fault accident, covering medical expenses and other associated costs.

In addition to the compulsory minimums, insurers in Washington also offer optional coverage, such as medical payments coverage, uninsured/underinsured motorists coverage and personal injury protection. Although these are not required by law, they provide additional protection in the event of an accident.

In Washington, drivers must purchase auto insurance with minimum liability coverage, which includes bodily injury, property damage and personal injury protection. This level of insurance is less expensive but offers less protection in case of an accident.

If you receive a high-risk traffic violation, such as a speeding ticket or DUI, you may need to obtain SR-22 insurance. This specialized coverage is more expensive than regular auto insurance, and your insurance provider submits the SR-22 form to the state on your behalf.

MoneyGeek recommends getting $100,000 in bodily injury liability insurance per person and $300,000 in bodily injury liability insurance per accident. Bodily injury liability insurance helps protect you if you are legally responsible for an accident injuring someone. It pays for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering and other costs associated with an accident.

MoneyGeek also recommends getting $100,000 in property damage insurance per accident. Property damage liability insurance helps protect you if you are legally responsible for an accident that damages someone else’s property.

Those who finance their car purchase will likely have to buy comprehensive and collision insurance. Comprehensive insurance covers damage to your car from non-accident causes, such as theft, vandalism and fire. Collision insurance covers damage to your car from an accident with another vehicle or object.

We advise those with valuable cars to consider buying comprehensive and collision insurance even if they didn't take out a loan or lease your car.

If you own at least 25 vehicles in the state of Washington, you can apply for a certificate of self-insurance to demonstrate your financial stability. This certificate is an annual requirement that must be renewed to remain valid and serves as proof of financial responsibility for operating motor vehicles in the state.

Finding affordable auto insurance in Washington can be overwhelming. MoneyGeek answered the most commonly asked questions to help you through the process.