Cheapest Car Insurance in Washington (October 2024)

PEMCO offers the most affordable auto insurance in Washington for most drivers. Kemper and Auto-Owners also provide the cheapest rates for certain drivers.

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

The following companies offer the cheapest car insurance in Washington for a policy with minimum coverage:

• PEMCO: $184 per year
• State Farm: $416 per year

Dairyland has the highest minimum coverage car insurance rate in Washington, with 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: $605 per year
• Kemper: $827 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 $421 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 most significant factors affecting car insurance rates in Washington. Kemper and PEMCO offer the cheapest options, depending on what age group you and your family belong to.

In Washington, teen drivers added to their family's policy will receive the cheapest rates from the following companies:

• 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

Progressive has the highest average annual premium for families with male and female teens, 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.

In Washington, adding a teen to an existing policy only costs $2,723 compared to an individual policy of $5,104 per year.

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 insurers for drivers in their 20s are:

• PEMCO: $765 per year
• Progressive: $1,048 per year

At about $6,187 per year, 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. Because they are considered riskier to insure, young adult drivers pay around $431 more than their middle-aged counterparts.

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

• PEMCO: $642 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.

In Washington, PEMCO offers the most affordable rates for drivers with driving infractions on their records, such as speeding tickets, at an annual premium of $750, for at-fault accidents at $816 and DUIs at $970. It is also the cheapest provider for those with poor credit with an annual premium of $604. American Family is the most affordable provider for those with sports cars at an annual premium of $937.

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.

The cheapest car insurance companies for Washington drivers with a speeding ticket are:

• PEMCO: $750 per year
• Kemper: $1,044 per year

Dairyland is the most expensive insurer for drivers with tickets, with an average annual premium of $4,990. On average, full coverage car insurance in Washington costs up to $363 more if you have a speeding ticket than if you have a clean record.

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

• PEMCO: $815 per year
• Kemper: $1,075 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. Those with an at-fault accident pay around $578 more than those with a clean driving history.

The cheapest auto insurance companies in Washington after a DUI are:

PEMCO: $970 per year State Farm: $1,051 per year

Kemper is the least affordable option for a full coverage policy after a DUI, costing around $4,367 per year. Drivers with a DUI in Washington pay around $725 more per year for car insurance than those with a clean record.

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

• PEMCO: $604 per year
• Kemper: $827 per year

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

Drivers with low credit scores generally pay more for car insurance than those with higher credit scores. In Washington, someone with a credit score above 750 can expect to pay around $64 less for car insurance 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:

• American Family: $937 per year
• Farmers: $990 per year

Dairyland offers Washington's most expensive sports car insurance at around $3,928 per year. Since sports cars tend to be more costly to repair and replace, auto insurance for sports car drivers costs about $127 more than for Toyota Camry LE drivers in Washington.

MoneyGeek used a Ford Mustang as its sample sports car in this study, but costs may differ depending on your particular car model. Sports, electric and luxury cars are generally more expensive to insure; otherwise, the model may not be a significant factor. However, this may not be true for all states.

PEMCO offers the cheapest full coverage car insurance policy in Washington for active-duty military officers or those with a military background. Its average annual premium is $605.

USAA, with an average annual cost of $702, also offers special coverage benefits and discounts for 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 PEMCO at about $690 per year. Car insurance is most expensive in Tacoma, where a full coverage policy from PEMCO averages $963 per year.

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

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 their 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 Washington.

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