The Cheapest Car Insurance in Washington (April 2023)

PEMCO offers the most affordable auto insurance in Washington for most drivers, including young adults and drivers with poor credit and speeding tickets. Capital Insurance Group is the most affordable option for drivers with sports cars. Kemper is the cheapest car insurance provider for teens and seniors. USAA has the lowest rates for military 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: $309 per year
• Capital Insurance Group: $358 per year

In Washington, Dairyland has the highest minimum coverage car insurance rate, at an average yearly cost of $1,611.

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: $614 per year
• Kemper: $725 per year

At roughly $3,403 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 $305 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.

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: $771 per year
• American Family: $1,027 per year

At about $4,922, 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 $157 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:

• Kemper: $647 per year
• PEMCO: $655 per year

Dairyland is the most expensive insurance for Washington seniors, at an average of $3,080 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 $78 less 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 and at-fault accidents on their record can take advantage of the low premiums offered by PEMCO, whereas those with a DUI record can find cheap rates from State Farm. 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: $764 per year
• Kemper: $914 per year

Dairyland is the priciest of the state’s providers, with an annual rate of about $3,961. In Washington, those with a ticket on their driving record pay an average of $301 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: $838 per year
• Kemper: $942 per year

Dairyland is the most expensive insurer for those who have been in an at-fault accident, with a premium of $4,341. On average, at-fault drivers pay $498 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:

• State Farm: $962 per year
• PEMCO: $1,015 per year

The most expensive insurer in the state, Kemper, charges an average of $3,826 per year. DUI drivers pay $620 more on average than drivers with a clean record.

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

• PEMCO: $612 per year
• Kemper: $725 per year

Dairyland charges $3,403 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 $53 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:

• Capital Insurance Group: $812 per year
• Kemper: $882 per year

Dairyland offers Washington's costliest sports car insurance at $3,090 annually. Compared with a Toyota Camry LE, auto insurance for sports cars is usually — but not always — more expensive, costing about $128 more for drivers in Washington. Sports cars tend to be costlier to repair and replace.

When researching insurance costs associated with sports cars, MoneyGeek used a Ford Mustang as its sample vehicle. However, insurance costs can differ significantly depending on the type of car model.

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 you should factor it in when comparing policies.

USAA offers the most affordable car insurance rates for military members, as well as discounts for active duty and retired military personnel with an average rate of $576. USAA offers various discounts and benefits that help military members save even more on car insurance premiums.

The cost of car insurance in Washington can vary significantly depending on where you live. Drivers in Spokane can get the most affordable car insurance from PEMCO at about $582 per year for a full coverage policy.

Vancouver is also relatively affordable, with an annual full coverage policy from PEMCO costing around $663. However, car insurance is the most expensive in Tacoma, where a full coverage policy from PEMCO averages $819 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 costs associated with the 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 it also 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 that injures someone else. 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 in order 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.