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Average cost of car insurance in Washington for 2024

Updated Oct 01, 2024
Washington drivers pay an average of $510 per year for minimum coverage and $1,713 per year for full coverage.
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How much is car insurance in Washington? 

The national average annual cost of full coverage car insurance is $2,388, while minimum coverage costs an average of $664. Washington drivers pay lower average rates at $1,713 per year for full coverage and $510 per year for minimum coverage. While minimum coverage is all that's legally required by the state, most insurance experts recommend full coverage for additional financial protection. If you have a loan or lease on your vehicle, your lender will likely require you to purchase full coverage car insurance.

Key takeaways

  • Teen drivers see some of the highest average rates in Washington. Parents with a 16-year-old driver on their policy pay an average full coverage premium of $3,934 per year.
  • Although Washington allows insurers to consider credit history in auto insurance rating, rate differences between drivers with good credit and drivers with poor credit are not as drastic as in many other states.
  • Your vehicle type impacts your Washington car insurance rates. BMW 330i drivers pay 42 percent more for full coverage than Honda Odyssey drivers.

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Washington car insurance rates by city

If you’re curious how much car insurance is in Washington, you can get an idea by browsing the table below, which shows average city rates in the state’s most-populated metros. You will notice that some ZIP codes pay more, while others see rates below the state average. A higher rate generally indicates that there are more claims filed in that region, perhaps due to higher accident rates or a larger number of car thefts.

City Avg. monthly full coverage premium Avg. annual full coverage premium Avg. savings vs. state average

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Advertising disclosure
This advertisement is powered by Coverage.com, LLC, a licensed insurance producer (NPN: 19966249) and a corporate affiliate of Bankrate. The offers and links that appear on this advertisement are from companies that compensate Coverage.com in different ways. The compensation received and other factors, such as your location, may impact what offers and links appear, and how, where and in what order they appear. While we seek to provide a wide range of offers, we do not include every product or service that may be available. Our goal is to keep information accurate and timely, but some information may not be current. Your actual offer from an advertiser may be different from the offer on this advertisement. All offers are subject to additional terms and conditions.

Coverage.com, LLC is a licensed insurance producer (NPN: 19966249). Coverage.com services are only available in states where it is licensed. Coverage.com may not offer insurance coverage in all states or scenarios. All insurance products are governed by the terms in the applicable insurance policy, and all related decisions (such as approval for coverage, premiums, commissions and fees) and policy obligations are the sole responsibility of the underwriting insurer. The information on this site does not modify any insurance policy terms in any way.

Average car insurance costs by age and gender in Washington

Similar to most states, Washington's car insurance rates are heavily influenced by age and gender. Drivers will typically see the highest costs at 18 (when on their own policy) and a consistent decline thereafter until rates flatten at around age 40.

Men typically pay slightly more for car insurance than women, since they are statistically more likely to be involved in accidents. In the chart below, 16-year-old rates assume they are insured on their parents' policy since drivers are unable to be the primary policyholder if under the age of 18.

Age 16*
Avg. monthly full coverage premium in Washington
$346
Avg. annual full coverage premium in Washington
$4,154
Age 18
Avg. monthly full coverage premium in Washington
$507
Avg. annual full coverage premium in Washington
$6,080
Age 20
Avg. monthly full coverage premium in Washington
$385
Avg. annual full coverage premium in Washington
$4,617
Age 25
Avg. monthly full coverage premium in Washington
$195
Avg. annual full coverage premium in Washington
$2,345
Age 30
Avg. monthly full coverage premium in Washington
$152
Avg. annual full coverage premium in Washington
$1,820
Age 40
Avg. monthly full coverage premium in Washington
$144
Avg. annual full coverage premium in Washington
$1,733
Age 50
Avg. monthly full coverage premium in Washington
$131
Avg. annual full coverage premium in Washington
$1,576
Age 60
Avg. monthly full coverage premium in Washington
$126
Avg. annual full coverage premium in Washington
$1,515
Age 70
Avg. monthly full coverage premium in Washington
$142
Avg. annual full coverage premium in Washington
$1,708
Age 40
Avg. monthly full coverage premium in Washington
$144
Avg. annual full coverage premium in Washington
$1,733
Age 50
Avg. monthly full coverage premium in Washington
$131
Avg. annual full coverage premium in Washington
$1,576
Age 60
Avg. monthly full coverage premium in Washington
$126
Avg. annual full coverage premium in Washington
$1,515
Age 70
Avg. monthly full coverage premium in Washington
$142
Avg. annual full coverage premium in Washington
$1,708
*16-year-old calculated on parents' policy with discounts applied; 18- and 20-year-old are renters on their own policies with no discounts applied
Age 16*
Avg. monthly full coverage premium in Washington
$310
Avg. annual full coverage premium in Washington
$3,715
Age 18
Avg. monthly full coverage premium in Washington
$459
Avg. annual full coverage premium in Washington
$5,512
Age 20
Avg. monthly full coverage premium in Washington
$328
Avg. annual full coverage premium in Washington
$3,937
Age 25
Avg. monthly full coverage premium in Washington
$176
Avg. annual full coverage premium in Washington
$2,111
Age 30
Avg. monthly full coverage premium in Washington
$146
Avg. annual full coverage premium in Washington
$1,758
Age 40
Avg. monthly full coverage premium in Washington
$141
Avg. annual full coverage premium in Washington
$1,693
Age 50
Avg. monthly full coverage premium in Washington
$123
Avg. annual full coverage premium in Washington
$1,481
Age 60
Avg. monthly full coverage premium in Washington
$124
Avg. annual full coverage premium in Washington
$1,490
Age 70
Avg. monthly full coverage premium in Washington
$142
Avg. annual full coverage premium in Washington
$1,703
Age 40
Avg. monthly full coverage premium in Washington
$141
Avg. annual full coverage premium in Washington
$1,693
Age 50
Avg. monthly full coverage premium in Washington
$123
Avg. annual full coverage premium in Washington
$1,481
Age 60
Avg. monthly full coverage premium in Washington
$124
Avg. annual full coverage premium in Washington
$1,490
Age 70
Avg. monthly full coverage premium in Washington
$142
Avg. annual full coverage premium in Washington
$1,703
*16-year-old calculated on parents' policy with discounts applied; 18- and 20-year-old are renters on their own policies with no discounts applied
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Bankrate’s take: Young male drivers see some of the highest average car insurance rates because they are more likely to engage in risky driving behavior, including speeding, distracted driving and not wearing a seatbelt. Fortunately, most drivers see their rates come down over time as they age and demonstrate safe driving habits. Young drivers may be able to save by enrolling in a telematics program that rewards safe driving with a premium discount.

Cost considerations for young drivers in Washington

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Age 16*
Avg. annual premium for drivers in Washington
$3,934
Age 17
Avg. annual premium for drivers in Washington
$3,718
Age 18
Avg. annual premium for drivers in Washington
$3,399
Age 19
Avg. annual premium for drivers in Washington
$2,825
Age 20
Avg. annual premium for drivers in Washington
$2,668
*16-year-old calculated on parents' policy with discounts applied; 18- and 20-year-old are renters on their own policies with no discounts applied
Age 18
Avg. annual premium for drivers in Washington
$5,796
Age 19
Avg. annual premium for drivers in Washington
$4,676
Age 20
Avg. annual premium for drivers in Washington
$4,277
*16-year-old calculated on parents' policy with discounts applied; 18- and 20-year-old are renters on their own policies with no discounts applied
Age Avg. annual premium difference for drivers on their own policy
Age 18 71 percent more
Age 19 66 percent more
Age 20 60 percent more

*18- and 20-year-old are renters on their own policies with no discounts applied

How does driving record impact the cost of car insurance in Washington?

As with any other state, Washington car insurance rates are strongly impacted by driving history. If you get into an accident, receive a speeding ticket or are convicted of a DUI, you are more likely to pay higher car insurance premiums. The rates below show the average increase drivers may see after a single offense in each category. If you become a repeat offender, the increase will typically be much higher. Note that not all carriers will extend coverage to drivers with a DUI conviction or other high-risk offense.

Clean driving record
Avg. annual premium* in Washington
$1,713
Percentage increase from Washington avg. annual premium*
0%
Avg. annual premium* in Washington
$2,049
Percentage increase from Washington avg. annual premium*
20%
Avg. annual premium* in Washington
$2,490
Percentage increase from Washington avg. annual premium*
45%
Avg. annual premium* in Washington
$3,215
Percentage increase from Washington avg. annual premium*
88%
*The table above compares driving records with different incidents and highlights how much, on average, these incidents tend to raise rates. *The rates reflected are for full coverage policies.

Car insurance rates in Washington by credit score

Your credit history will influence your Washington car insurance rates. Drivers with poor credit histories tend to file more claims than drivers with strong credit histories, so carriers generally charge higher rates if you have poor credit. Although Washington passed a law to ban credit history from auto insurance rating in 2022, it was later overturned and is no longer in effect.

Avg. annual premium* in Washington
$2,372
Percentage difference from Washington avg. annual premium*
38%
Average
Avg. annual premium* in Washington
$1,809
Percentage difference from Washington avg. annual premium*
6%
Avg. annual premium* in Washington
$1,713
Percentage difference from Washington avg. annual premium*
0%
Excellent
Avg. annual premium* in Washington
$1,520
Percentage difference from Washington avg. annual premium*
-11%
*Rates reflect full coverage policies.

Washington car insurance rates by vehicle type

Insurers will take your car's make and model into account, as well as the car's age, when pricing policies. Vehicles that are lower in cost and able to be repaired using domestic rather than imported parts may earn a lower rate than high-priced sports or luxury cars. Cars with low theft rates and extra safety features also typically see lower premiums.

Avg. annual premium* in Washington
$1,713
Avg. annual premium* in Washington
$1,620
Avg. annual premium* in Washington
$1,502
BMW 330i
Avg. annual premium* in Washington
$2,126
Toyota Prius
Avg. annual premium* in Washington
$1,786
*Rates reflect full coverage policies.

Estimate your car insurance cost in Washington

Average rates can give you a general idea of what you might pay for car insurance in Washington state, but your personal rating factors are unique to you. By inputting a few details into the tool below, we can provide you with a more personalized estimate.

Calculate your monthly car insurance payment

Get a quick estimate to make sure you're not overpaying.

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Methodology

How to save on car insurance in Washington

If the average car insurance rates in Washington seem expensive to you, keep in mind that you may be able to find a lower quote using a few strategies:

  • Gather multiple quotes: Since every insurer determines rates using their own proprietary algorithms, each insurer you ask is likely to give you a different quote. By comparing multiple quotes for the same levels of coverage, you can determine which company is able to offer you the lowest rate for your insurance.
  • Use all possible discounts: Most insurance companies offer at least a small handful of discounts, and some are easy to qualify for. Most insurers, for example, will reduce your rate if you bundle your auto insurance with a homeowners or renters policy. This is one reason it may be good to work with a live agent — they can make sure you are receiving all the possible discounts you have earned.
  • Raise your deductible: If you can afford to increase your deductible, which is the amount you pay before your insurance kicks for some types of coverage, you are likely to save on your premium rate. Raising it from $500 to $1,000, for example, will probably net you a lower premium. Just be careful you don't raise it higher than you could afford to pay in the event of a claim.
  • Avoid certain types of car: Your premium cost will vary depending on the type of car you drive. A high-end imported luxury or sports car is likely to cost you more to insure than a more-reasonably priced domestic model. If you're in the market for a new car and have narrowed down your choices to a few vehicles, consider getting quotes for insurance for all of them to see which one is cheapest.

Frequently asked questions

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46
years of industry expertise
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122
carriers reviewed
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34.5K
ZIP codes examined
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1.2M
quotes analyzed

Methodology

Bankrate utilizes Quadrant Information Services to analyze October 2024 rates for all ZIP codes and carriers in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Rates are weighted based on the population density in each geographic region. Quoted rates for our base profile are based on the following characteristics and coverage levels:

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40 year old
Single male and female driver
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2022 Toyota Camry
Primary vehicle
Credit Good Icon
Good credit score
Auto Insurance Guide Icon
Clean driving record
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Commutes 5 days

Bodily injury liability

$100,000 per person
$300,000 per accident

Property damage liability

$50,000 per accident

Personal injury protection

$100,000 per accident

Uninsured motorist bodily injury

$100,000 per person
$300,000 per accident

Collision deductible

$500

Comprehensive deductible

$500

Other profiles

These are sample rates and should only be used for comparative purposes. 



Written by
Ashlyn Brooks
Ashlyn Brooks is a finance writer with more than half a decade of experience, known for her knowledge in areas such as taxes, insurance, investing, retirement, finance news, and banking products.
Edited by Editor, Insurance
Reviewed by Senior wealth advisor at Versant Capital Management