Cheapest car insurance in Washington for 2023

The cheapest insurance companies in Washington

Washington drivers are required by law to carry at least a minimum amount of auto insurance for their vehicles, but many drivers will opt for higher limits or more coverage types when purchasing a policy to be better financially protected. When looking for cheap car insurance in Washington, it may benefit you to ask for quotes from a range of car insurance companies to see who will offer you the best rates for your unique driving profile.

Cheapest company for minimum coverage

Cheapest company for full coverage

Cheapest company for adding a teen driver

Cheapest company for getting a speeding ticket

Cheapest company for being in an at-fault accident

Cheapest company after a high-risk incident

The cheapest car insurance companies in Washington by coverage level

In addition to liability coverage, drivers in the state of Washington are required to carry a minimum of $25,000/$50,000 in uninsured/underinsured bodily injury, $10,000 in uninsured/underinsured property damage and $10,000 basic injury protection. The average cost of car insurance in Washington is $515 per year for the state-required minimum coverage and $1,410 per year for full coverage, which includes collision and comprehensive insurance. When compared to the national average cost of car insurance, which is $622 for minimum and $2,014 for full coverage, drivers are paying less on average for car insurance policies in Washington.

Cheapest cities in Washington for car insurance 

One factor that has an impact on your premium rate is your ZIP code. If you live in an area with a high crime rate, or in an urban area that sees more than the average number of accidents, your insurer may see you as a higher risk, and will accordingly increase your rate. Below are sample rates for minimum and full coverage for some of Washington's cities and towns.

Getting a speeding ticket

Getting into an at-fault accident

Being deemed a high-risk driver

Minimum coverage requirements for Washington Drivers

The state of Washington requires drivers to carry at least minimum limits of liability coverage to drive legally. In Washington, you must have at least the following minimum coverage limits:

• $25,000 bodily injury per person
• $50,000 bodily injury per accident
• $10,000 property damage

Washington also requires the following coverage to be offered, but policyholders can reject them in writing if they wish:

• $25,000/$50,000 underinsured motorist bodily injury
• $10,000 underinsured motorist property damage
• $10,000 basic injury protection

Drivers who opt for minimum coverage car insurance typically pay some of the lowest costs on average. However, most insurance professionals will recommend that you purchase coverage more than the minimum amount of coverage required by law if you are financially able to do so in order to be better protected financially. If you cause an accident and the damages exceed your policy’s coverage limits, you are responsible for paying the difference out of pocket.

If you have a loan or lease on your vehicle, or want a car insurance policy that will cover damage to your vehicle, full coverage car insurance is typically the answer. In fact, nearly all lenders and financial institutions will require you to have full coverage car insurance if you have a loan or lease on your car.

How to get the cheapest car insurance in Washington

If you are wondering how to save on car insurance in Washington, there are a number of ways you may be able to do so. Aside from choosing a cheap car insurance company, it may benefit you to consider the following to save on car insurance in Washington:

Get multiple quotes

When researching car insurance providers, it can be helpful to get quotes from a few companies and compare them. Every company uses its own methods to determine rates, so each company's quote is likely to be different, even for the same type and amount of coverage. Getting multiple quotes allows you to see which provider offers the lowest rate for the type and amount of coverage you need.

Look for discounts

It may also be helpful to seek out insurance companies that offer multiple discounts. In some cases you may be able to save money simply by signing up for automatic payments or enrolling in paperless billing statements. Almost every company offers at least a few discount opportunities to customers, and qualifying for one or more discounts is typically one of the easiest ways to save money on the cost of your car insurance.

Choose coverage strategically

It can be tempting to purchase add-on coverage options, like accident forgiveness and OEM (original equipment manufacturer) coverage, but those options do cost extra to include in your policy. If you are going to buy optional endorsements, it may help to choose the coverage types that are most important to you.

Pay in full

If you can afford to pay your annual premium in full, you may be able to save some money on your policy. You may also save if you choose paperless billing and elect to receive your policy documents electronically rather than through the mail.

If you are unsure what coverages, discounts or policy features that might be best for you, talking with a licensed agent may be helpful.

Car insurance discounts in Washington

One of the easiest ways to find cheap car insurance in Washington is through discounts. Discount opportunities are very common, and may save you anywhere from a few dollars to 25 or 30 percent on the cost of your car insurance policy. Here are some car insurance discounts in Washington that you may see listed on your insurer's website:

• Young driver discounts: Drivers under the age of 25 may be able to save if they are full-time high school or college students who maintain GPAs above the threshold set by an insurance company. They may also save if they are on their parents' policy and attend a school more than 100 miles from home.
• Safe driver discounts: Drivers who go without an at-fault accident or moving violation conviction on their records for a certain number of years (usually three to five) may earn a discount. Participating in your insurer's telematics program could also earn you a hefty discount on your premium if the data shows that you're a safe and careful driver.
• Safety features: Many insurers offer a discount for having a car with certain safety features, and may also be able to save if you install an anti-theft system in the vehicle.
• Military discounts: Discounts for veterans or active duty military members may also be available from certain car insurance companies.
• Organizational discounts: Some insurers offer discounts to drivers who are part of certain organizations, companies, and/or alumni groups. 

Frequently asked questions

Methodology

Bankrate utilizes Quadrant Information Services to analyze 2023 rates for 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 are based on a 40-year-old male and female driver with a clean driving record, good credit and the following full coverage limits:

• $100,000 bodily injury liability per person
• $300,000 bodily injury liability per accident
• $50,000 property damage liability per accident
• $100,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per person
• $300,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per accident
• $500 collision deductible
• $500 comprehensive deductible

To determine minimum coverage limits, Bankrate used minimum coverage that meets each state’s requirements. Our base profile drivers own a 2021 Toyota Camry, commute five days a week and drive 12,000 miles annually. 

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

Bankrate Scores 

Our 2023 Bankrate Score considers variables our insurance editorial team determined impacts policyholders’ experiences with an insurance company. These rating factors include a robust assessment of each company’s product availability, financial strength ratings, online capabilities and customer and claims support accessibility. Each factor was added to a category, and these categories were weighted in a tiered approach to analyze how companies perform in key customer-impacting categories. 

Like our previous Bankrate Scores, each category was assigned a metric to determine performance, and the weighted sum adds up to a company’s total Bankrate Score — out of 5 points. This year, our 2023 scoring model provides a more comprehensive view, indicating when companies excel across several key areas and better highlighting where they fall short.

• Tier 1 (Cost & ratings): To determine how well auto and home insurance companies satisfy these priorities, 2023 quoted premiums from Quadrant Information Services (if available), as well as any of the latest third-party agency ratings from J.D. Power, AM Best and the NAIC, were analyzed.
• Tier 2 (Coverage & savings): We assessed companies’ coverage options and availability to help policyholders find a provider that balances cost with coverage. Additionally, we evaluated each company’s discount options listed on its website.
• Tier 3 (Support): To encompass the many ways an auto insurance company can support policyholders, we analyzed avenues of customer accessibility along with community support. This analysis incorporated additional financial strength ratings from S&P and Moody’s and factored a company’s corporate sustainability efforts.