The Cheapest Car Insurance in Washington (September 2023)

PEMCO offers the most affordable auto insurance in Washington for most drivers. Auto-Owners also provides 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: $249 per year
• Auto-Owners: $358 per year

In Washington, Dairyland has the highest minimum coverage car insurance rate, at an average yearly cost of $1,720.

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.

You need 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 car.

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: $561 per year
• Auto-Owners: $748 per year

At roughly $3,728 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 $312 higher than its minimum coverage option.

A full coverage policy can provide financial protection in the event of an on-road incident, such as hitting a tree or being involved in a hit-and-run, as well as off-road incidents like flooding or storm damage.

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 got 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 may still need to compare multiple websites to find 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. MoneyGeek found that Kemper and PEMCO offer the cheapest options on average, 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 teens will have the highest annual premium from Progressive, amounting to $4,323, whereas those with female teens will pay $3,912.

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 ($1,627).

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 drivers education, distant and good student discounts. Drivers education discounts are available to drivers who have taken a teenSMART drivers education course, and the distant 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: $705 per year
• American Family: $1,027 per year

At about $5,384, 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, younger drivers tend to pay around $144 more than their middle-aged counterparts because they are considered riskier to insure.

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

• PEMCO: $598 per year
• Auto-Owners: $669 per year

Dairyland is the most expensive insurance for Washington seniors, at an average of $3,359 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 $37 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.

Elderly 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 who have tickets, at-fault accidents and DUIs on their record can take advantage of the low premiums offered by PEMCO. To further reduce insurance costs, drivers should consider taking state-approved driving courses and regularly checking their records for errors. By taking these steps, they can improve their profile and access more affordable insurance options.

MoneyGeek found the following companies offer the cheapest auto insurance for drivers with tickets:

• PEMCO: $698 per year
• State Farm: $948 per year

Dairyland is the priciest of the state’s providers, with an annual rate of about $4,338. In Washington, those with a ticket on their driving record pay an average of $310 more for coverage than those with a clean record.

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

• PEMCO: $765 per year
• Auto-Owners: $998 per year

Dairyland is the most expensive insurer for those who have been in an at-fault accident, with a premium of $4,744. On average, at-fault drivers pay $512 more than those with a clean driving history.

The most affordable full coverage car insurance companies for Washington drivers with a DUI on their driving records are:

• PEMCO: $927 per year
• State Farm: $948 per year

The most expensive insurer in the state, Kemper, charges an average of $4,100 per year. DUI drivers pay $616 more on average than drivers with a clean record.

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

• PEMCO: $560 per year
• Auto-Owners: $748 per year

Dairyland charges $3,728 per year for car insurance for those with a low credit score, the most expensive policy.

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 $50 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 their likelihood of filing a claim. A lower credit rating often indicates a greater likelihood of filing a claim, so insurers may charge drivers with poor credit higher rates. 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 cars drivers in Washington are:

• Auto-Owners: $812 per year
• American Family: $911 per year

Dairyland offers Washington's costliest sports car insurance at $3,399 annually. Compared with a Toyota Camry LE, auto insurance for sports cars is usually — but not always — more expensive, costing about $72 more for drivers in Washington. Sports cars tend to be costlier to repair and replace.