The Cheapest Auto Insurance in Washington in 2023

Car insurance can seem expensive, no matter how you slice it. But Washington residents can take comfort in knowing their rates aren’t as high as they could be. In fact, with average premiums of $110 per month, Washington falls just below the average car insurance rate for the rest of the U.S.

Many factors can influence how much your car insurance costs, including your age, where you live, and more. We’ll walk you through the most common scenarios and data-driven metrics to help you find cheap car insurance in Washington state.

Key Takeaways:

• GEICO offers the best rates for cheap car insurance in Washington for most people.
• East Wenatchee, Longview, and Yakima form a three-way tie for the cheapest cities for car insurance in Washington.
• Washington State requires you to purchase a modest 25/50/10 minimum-liability policy.

Washington’s Cheapest Car Insurance Companies

Washington residents pay an average of $110 per month for car insurance, but you can find even cheaper rates by switching your insurer. Let’s take a look at the five cheapest car insurance companies in Washington.

GEICO offers the cheapest car insurance rates in Washington for most drivers. But that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the best car insurance for you. Different factors can influence your rates, so it’s worth shopping around. Depending on your situation, another company may offer you a better rate.

We’ll look at how average rates in Washington compare to other states below.

The Average Cost of Washington Car Insurance

As we mentioned above, the average Washington resident pays $110 per month for car insurance. That’s expensive, but it’s not as expensive as the national average of $129 per month or neighboring states like Oregon. On the other hand, residents in nearby Idaho are the exception — they only pay $83 per month, on average.

Washington’s lower rates are likely due to the amount of coverage it requires residents to purchase compared to other states. Oregon residents, for example, must purchase at least two additional types of coverage: personal injury protection (PIP) and uninsured motorist coverage. These are optional if you live in Washington.

That said, Washington’s low rates aren’t always guaranteed to stay that way.

“Rates are beginning to climb for consumers, a reflection of rising repair costs and inflation generally,” says Kenton Brine, president of the NW Insurance Council. “Also on the rise: uninsured motorist claims, as WA has the 5th-highest percentage of uninsured drivers in the nation.”

In the following sections, we’ll look at how other factors affect Washington car insurance rates.

Cheapest Car Insurance Rates for State-Minimum Insurance: GEICO

Buying a car insurance policy is like purchasing most anything else — the more you buy, the more expensive it’ll be. That’s why many people opt for a state-minimum insurance policy, since it’s the least amount of insurance you’ll need to legally drive.

Let’s look at the cheapest car insurance companies offering state-minimum liability insurance in Washington.

As the third-largest insurer of private passenger cars in the U.S., GEICO offers customers the lowest state-minimum coverage rate in Washington, with a monthly premium of just $35. But PEMCO isn’t far behind, with an affordable monthly rate of $38.

Cheapest Car Insurance Rates for Full-Coverage Insurance: GEICO

“Full-coverage car insurance” isn’t an exact term, but most people use it to refer to policies that carry additional coverage — collision and comprehensive insurance — to cover vehicle damage. If your car is damaged, these insurance products can help fix it or even help you pay for a new car. That’s why it’s often more expensive.

Let’s take a look at which Washington companies are offering the most affordable full-coverage insurance.

Once again, GEICO is the cheapest insurer offering full-coverage insurance in Washington state. In addition to collision and comprehensive coverage, it offers many other coverage options, such as roadside assistance, mechanical breakdown coverage, PIP, and more.

Compare Washington Auto Insurance Rates by Age

Car insurance companies base your insurance costs on how risky they perceive you to be. One of these risk factors that you can’t really influence is your age. In this case, it pays to choose companies that offer cheap car insurance rates if you’re a driver in a more expensive age bracket.

The sections below show how your age can affect your car insurance rates in Washington.

Cheapest car insurance for Washington teens: PEMCO

High insurance costs are an unfortunate rite of passage that young drivers must pass through. Teenagers often exhibit riskier behavior, and that makes them more expensive to insure. Their rates will typically start to drop around age 25.

Here’s how much the average 18-year-old can expect to pay in Washington, in order of the cheapest rates for liability coverage:

PEMCO edges out GEICO, offering the cheapest rates for teen drivers in Washington state by 27%.

Cheapest car insurance for Washington seniors: GEICO

Car insurance rates tend to decrease as you gain more experience navigating tough and potentially dangerous driving situations. You can expect to pay the lowest rates near retirement age because you’ll be driving considerably less often.

At some point, however, rates start to increase again as older drivers’ mental and physical capabilities change.

The data in the table below is based on the average 65-year-old Washington resident:

GEICO offers the lowest rates for Washington seniors, coming in at just $27 per month for a liability-only policy. That’s four times less than the average cost for Washington residents overall.

Compare Washington Auto Insurance Rates by Driving Record

Past behavior is a good predictor of how you’ll behave in the future, and that’s why insurers look closely at your driving record when you shop for rates. In fact, it’s one of the most important factors insurance companies consider when it comes to how much you’ll be charged for insurance.

In the sections below, we’ll cover how different driving records affect your premium and which insurance companies in Washington offer the cheapest rates.

Cheapest car insurance for good drivers in Washington: GEICO

People with clean driving records generally seem like a safe bet to insurers because they haven’t caused problems in the past — meaning they’re less likely to have to pay a claim on that driver’s behalf in the future. So, the lowest rates typically go to people with a good driving record.

Here’s the cheapest companies for drivers with no accidents or tickets in Washington, according to Compare.com data:

GEICO offers the lowest rates for good drivers in Washington, with costs pushed even lower because of the many discounts it rewards drivers with. For example, if you go more than five years without an accident, you may qualify for GEICO’s Good Driver discount, offering up to 22% off your regular rate.

Cheapest car insurance in Washington after a ticket: GEICO

If you’ve ever gotten a ticket, you can expect your car insurance rates to tick upward as your insurer adjusts your premiums to match your driving behavior. GEICO, for example, charges Washington drivers with one speeding ticket on their driving record just $1 more per month than good drivers for liability insurance.

The five insurers in the table below are the cheapest companies if you have one speeding ticket on your driving record.

Although a $1 rate increase isn’t much in GEICO’s case, most other insurers boost the costs much higher compared to drivers with a blemish-free record.

Cheapest car insurance in Washington after an accident: State Farm

Insurers will adjust your rates even higher if you’ve caused an accident. Some insurers may even deny you a policy, limiting your choices.

Here’s how much the cheapest insurance companies are charging drivers with one accident on their Washington state driving record:

GEICO, State Farm, and PEMCO form a three-way tie for the insurers offering cheap car insurance for Washington drivers with an at-fault car accident on their record.

Cheapest car insurance in Washington after a DUI: Progressive

A DUI is one of the most serious offenses you can have on your driving record — and you may face a lengthy process to restore your driving privileges. If can find an insurer willing to offer you a policy, you can expect it to cost a lot more.

Here’s what the cheapest companies in Washington are charging drivers with one DUI on their record:

Progressive offers the best deal for drivers with a DUI on their record, charging a (relatively) reasonable price of just $47 per month.

The Cheapest Cities for Car Insurance in Washington

Where you live affects how likely you are to file a claim. If you live in an urban area like Seattle or Spokane, you’re more likely to be a victim of car theft than in a more rural area like Longview.

Because of this, your ZIP code also heavily influences how much your insurance will cost. For instance, Seattle residents pay 28% higher rates compared to Longview residents.

Let’s take a look at how car insurance rates vary in cities across Washington.

More rural cities like East Wenatchee, Longview, and Yakima have some of the cheapest rates Washington offers, with liability rates averaging just $60 per month. On the other hand, the Seattle metropolitan area has some of the most expensive rates due to the sheer number of drivers on the roads. Federal Way, Spanaway, Auburn, and Kent are the most expensive areas when it comes to Washington car insurance.

5 Ways to Get Cheap Car Insurance in Washington

Making accurate comparisons is difficult because no two people have exactly the same situation, but that opens up a lot of opportunity for finding the best possible rates.

Here are a few proven ways to save money on car insurance in Washington state:

• Use a telematics device: Insurers commonly offer apps or devices you can plug into your car to record your driving. This can give you actionable feedback to drive more safely and help you earn better rates on your insurance, too.
• Rethink your coverage options: Older, paid-off cars may not need as much coverage as newer, financed models.
• Look for relevant discounts: Most insurers offer many different discounts, especially for bundling different insurance policies together, such as renters or homeowners insurance with your auto policy.
• Choose a larger deductible: Most insurers also charge lower premiums if you choose a higher deductible, but make sure you can still afford it in case you ever need to file a claim.
• Shop for rates: “Washington’s auto insurance market is still highly competitive,” says Brine, “with more than 100 insurers writing private passenger auto insurance currently.” The more companies you shop around with, the better your chances of landing on the cheapest car insurance.

Washington Auto Insurance Requirements

Washington’s car insurance requirements are fairly typical of most states. You’ll need to purchase two types of liability coverage:

• Bodily injury liability: $25,000 per person, $50,000 per accident
• Property damage liability: $10,000 per accident

It’s important to remember that liability coverage doesn’t protect you, per se. Instead, it pays for medical bills and any damage you cause to someone else if you’re involved in an accident.

If you or your own car suffers damage from any road-related mishaps, you won’t be covered unless you can file a claim against the driver who caused the wreck — unless you purchased additional coverages beyond the minimum required.

Penalties for driving without auto insurance in Washington

Driving without insurance is risky. If you’re involved in an at-fault accident, it’s likely that your driver’s license will be suspended unless you’re able to pay to cover the entire cost of the damage you caused. Even if you don’t cause an accident, under Washington state law you could pay a fine of $550 or more if you’re caught.

SR-22 auto insurance in Washington

When you have certain infractions — such as driving under the influence or even if your car has been involved in an accident — Washington state may require you to submit an SR-22 form through your insurer. This form serves as your proof of financial responsibility with the state.

Not all insurers offer SR-22 forms, so if you need one, you’ll need to check with the insurer before purchasing a policy. Since these policies are typically more expensive, it’s important to shop around for rates.

Washington Auto Insurance FAQs

If you’re still unsure about auto insurance in Washington, below are answers to the most commonly asked questions by drivers like you.

What is the cheapest auto insurance company in Washington?

GEICO is the cheapest auto insurance company in the state of Washington, according to our research. The average cost of a policy from the insurer is $56 per month.

How much is car insurance in Washington?

The average Washington resident pays about $110 per month for car insurance. Washington is the 20th-cheapest state for car insurance.

Which city has the cheapest car insurance in Washington?

East Wenatchee, Longview, and Yakima are tied for the cheapest car insurance in Washington, each with an average of $60 per month.

How much car insurance is required in Washington?

Washington state requires drivers to have at least $25,000 worth of bodily injury coverage per person and $50,000 per accident. The minimum property damage liability requirement is $10,000.

What happens if you get caught driving without insurance in Washington?

Driving without insurance is a serious offense. If caught, you can receive a fine of at least $550. You can also receive a license suspension if you’re at fault and don’t pay for the damages.

Methodology

Data scientists at Compare.com analyzed more than 50 million real-time auto insurance rates from more than 75 partner insurance providers in order to compile the quotes and statistics seen in this article. Compare.com’s auto insurance data includes coverage analysis and details on drivers’ vehicles, driving records, insurance histories, and demographic information. All of the quotes listed in this article have been gathered from a combination of real Compare.com quotes and external insurance rate data gathered in collaboration with Quadrant Information Services. Compare.com uses these observations to provide drivers with insight into how auto insurance companies determine their premiums.

Sources

1. Washington State Department of Licensing, “Mandatory insurance,” Accessed August 22, 2023.
2. Oregon Driver & Motor Vehicle Services, “Insurance Requirements,” Accessed August 22, 2023.
3. Insurance Information Institute, “Facts + Statistics: Uninsured motorists,” Accessed August 22, 2023.
4. National Association of Insurance Commissioners, “PROPERTY AND CASUALTY INSURANCE INDUSTRY,” Accessed August 22, 2023.
5. National Association of Insurance Commissioners, “NAIC Consumer Shopping Tool for Auto Insurance,” Accessed August 22, 2023.
6. Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, “Older drivers,” Accessed August 22, 2023.
7. Washington State Department of Licensing, “Financial responsibility (SR-22),” Accessed August 22, 2023.