Why Is Car Insurance So Expensive in Washington?

Compared to the national average cost of insurance at $1,424 per year, drivers in Washington may find the average insurance costs in the state affordable. However, due to personal factors like age, credit score and car make, and state-level factors like highway density, urban population, theft rates and uninsured motorist rates, car insurance costs in Washington for some drivers may be expensive.

To arrive at the average rates mentioned in this research, MoneyGeek uses a 40-year-old driver with a clean driving record and a full coverage policy.

• Why Washington Car Insurance Is Expensive
• Why Washington Car Insurance Might Be Expensive for You
• How to Save on Washington Car Insurance
• Frequently Asked Questions

In Washington, a full coverage policy costs $1,264 per year. Compared to the national average of $1,424, rates in Washington are considerably affordable, on average.

However, insurance rates are affected by state-level factors and can vary. Washington has high traffic density, a concentrated urban population, many uninsured drivers, an elevated vehicle theft rate and many natural disasters.

Washington has higher-than-average traffic density, measured by how close vehicles are driving in proximity to each other: while this state has 8.3 million miles driven per highway mile, slightly higher than the national average of 7.7. The higher the highway density, the higher chances of crashes and accidents in a given area. Car insurance rates go up because of this added risk.

Around 84% of Washington residents live in cities. As with highway density, the more densely populated an area is, the higher the chances of theft and vandalism. Because Washington has an increasing population living in urban areas, car insurance rates are likely to increase.

Around 22% of drivers in Washington are uninsured, recording one of the highest numbers of uninsured motorists across the states. That’s nearly as high as the national average of 35%.

Car insurance rates increase due to the risk of getting into accidents with uninsured drivers.

To ensure protection, you may want to seek additional uninsured motorist coverage even though Washington's minimum car insurance law does not require you to carry it.

If you live in an area that sees a high record of theft rate, you can expect your car insurance rates to be high due to added risk. MoneyGeek found that Washington experienced 320.5 vehicle theft cases per 100,000 inhabitants, on average.

Washington has experienced 177 Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) disaster declarations since 1953, more than the national average of 84 per state. Insurance providers take this into account to calculate how much they would pay if vehicles are damaged due to natural disasters.

Car insurance rates vary because of external factors and also personal ones. The above examples affect the entire state’s premium rates. Below are some individual factors that can affect car insurance rates.

Some cities in Washington are more expensive than other cities. Out of the seven cities that MoneyGeek surveyed, Tacoma has the highest car insurance rates at an average of $1,358 per year. Alternatively, drivers in Spokane may have the cheapest car insurance rates at $1,050 per year.

Car insurance rates in Washington can be expensive for you based on your chosen insurance provider. Drivers who want the best car insurance in Washington may need to pay more to get the best value for their money. As for drivers who want to prioritize their budget, the cheapest car insurance in Washington may be the best option.

You can use MoneyGeek’s car insurance calculator to see how much is Washington car insurance for you.

Car insurance costs in Washington may be expensive if you are a young driver with limited experience on the road. There’s a rate difference of about $1,467 annually between a 40-year-old driver and a young driver. This rate difference demonstrates how age significantly affects car insurance costs in Washington and across the country.

Washington insurance rates may be expensive for drivers with accidents or violations on their records. If you calculate the difference between a driver with no violation paying the cheapest average cost of $1,264 per year and a driver with a speeding ticket paying $1,522 per year, there’s a cost difference of $259.

As the table below shows, Washington auto insurance rates increase as the violations worsen.

Credit scores affect car insurance costs in Washington. A driver with an excellent credit score pays around $1,057 annually. A driver with a poor credit score pays $2,073. By practicing good credit habits, you could save $1,016 per year.

Some cars are more expensive to insure than others because of possible high repair or replacement costs. Drivers of a Nissan GT-R pay around $3,096 annually. Drivers of a less expensive car, like a Toyota Camry, pay about $1,682 less annually than the previous driver. Alternatively, older cars are cheaper to insure than newer models.

Since car insurance in Washington can be pricey, you may want to look for different ways to save on premiums. Here are some ideas for getting lower rates.

Here are some of the most common questions drivers in Washington ask about car insurance.