Best Cheap Car Insurance Rates in Washington (2021)
Best Cheap Car Insurance Rates in Washington (2021)
Our analysis of the top auto insurance companies in Washington found that State Farm offers the most affordable rates for a minimum coverage policy, charging drivers $401 annually, or $33 monthly.
Find Cheap Auto Insurance Quotes in Washington
Our analysis of the top auto insurance companies in Washington found that State Farm offers the most affordable rates for a minimum coverage policy, charging drivers $401 annually, or $33 monthly.
Compare quotes from at least three companies to make sure you're getting your lowest rates. Type your ZIP code into the box above to start shopping among the top providers near you, or read on to learn which insurers offer the cheapest premiums in your state.
Cheapest auto insurance in Washington: State Farm
For a minimum coverage car insurance policy, the cheapest insurer in Washington is State Farm. Our analysis found that State Farm charges Washington drivers an average annual premium of $401 annually, or $33 monthly — 30% cheaper than the overall Washington state average of $569.
Below we've ranked the cheapest auto insurers in Washington state in order from cheapest to most expensive, based on the group's average annual premiums for a minimum coverage policy.
Find Cheap Auto Insurance Quotes in Washington
While these are the statewide rankings, insurers can quote drivers living in different places quite differently depending on the company's record of insurance claims in that area. It's best to compare at least three quotes; start by typing in your ZIP code above to see a list of companies that are active in your area.
Rank | Company | Average annual rate |
---|---|---|
1 | State Farm | $401 |
2 | Geico | $434 |
3 | Progressive | $458 |
4 | Mutual of Enumclaw | $527 |
5 | Farmers | $739 |
6 | American Family | $784 |
7 | Allstate | $863 |
N/A | USAA | $342 |
USAA is excluded from rankings because it is only available to current and former military members and their families.
The difference between the average full coverage ($1,748) and minimum coverage ($569) car insurance policy in Washington is $1,179.
Minimum coverage car insurance policies meet the minimum coverage levels required by state law, and unlike full coverage policies, they do not include comprehensive and collision insurance. While carrying a minimum coverage policy is permissible by law, having low coverage limits may put you at risk of insufficient coverage if you're involved in a car accident.
Minimum liability car insurance policies have the cheapest premiums; however, they could end up costing you more in the long run if you need to file a claim for your own injuries or repairs.
Cheapest company for full coverage: Mutual of Enumclaw
Full coverage auto insurance in Washington costs $1,748 per year ($146 per month) on average. The cheapest full coverage insurance came from Mutual of Enumclaw, which charges $1,177 annually and $98 monthly. Compared to the state average of $1,748 per year, that's 33% cheaper.
However, if you're a current or former military member, or in a military family, you have access to the overall lowest prices in Washington state. USAA offers annual premiums of just $1,036 annually ($86 monthly), which is 41% cheaper than the state average.
Insurer | Annual cost | Monthly cost |
---|---|---|
Mutual of Enumclaw | $1,177 | $98 |
State Farm | $1,340 | $112 |
Geico | $1,472 | $123 |
Progressive | $1,751 | $146 |
USAA | $1,036 | $86 |
Washington average | $1,748 | $146 |
A full coverage policy is a car insurance policy that includes both comprehensive and collision coverage in addition to liability insurance coverage. Collision coverage covers damage to your own car, regardless of who is at fault in an accident, and comprehensive coverage pays for any "acts of God or nature" out of the driver's control, such as hail or a fallen tree branch. Any driver who wants to protect themselves against damage to their car should consider purchasing a full coverage policy.
Cheap car insurance for drivers with prior incidents
Incidents on your driving record generally raise the cost of full coverage car insurance, as insurers see you as a riskier driver to cover and increase your premiums to account for that risk. With this in mind, we found the cheapest full coverage car insurance rates in Washington state for drivers who have:
Find Cheap Auto Insurance Quotes in Washington
Cheapest for drivers with an accident: State Farm
If you're a Washington driver with one at-fault accident on your record, our analysis found that State Farm offers the best rates. Auto insurance from State Farm costs 37% less than the average cost of coverage after an accident in Washington, which is $2,530 per year.
Insurer | Annual cost | Monthly cost |
---|---|---|
State Farm | $1,600 | $133 |
Mutual of Enumclaw | $1,609 | $134 |
Geico | $2,128 | $177 |
Washington average | $2,530 | $211 |
Drivers with an accident on their driving record tend to have more expensive rates than those without any history of accidents. The rate difference between a full coverage policy with no accident history ($1,748) versus with one prior accident ($2,530) is $782, a 45% increase.
Progressive has the most drastic change in car insurance rates from the addition of a single accident, spiking from $1,751 to $3,291. To put that in perspective, State Farm only increases its rates by $260 after an at-fault accident. Given this huge variability in rates, we always recommend shopping around for car insurance when your driving record changes.
Cheapest car insurance for people with a speeding ticket: Mutual of Enumclaw
Our analysis found that average premiums for Washington drivers with a speeding ticket are 24% more expensive than drivers with a clean record. Mutual of Enumclaw offers the best rates to these drivers, with premiums that are 33% cheaper than the state average.
Insurer | Annual cost | Monthly cost |
---|---|---|
Mutual of Enumclaw | $1,442 | $120 |
State Farm | $1,470 | $122 |
Geico | $1,472 | $123 |
Washington average | $2,164 | $180 |
Cheapest car insurance for drivers with a DUI: State Farm
If you're a Washington driver who receives a citation for driving under the influence, your rates could increase by 65%. The average annual rate for drivers with a DUI on their record is $2,888, over $1,000 more expensive than the average rate for drivers with a clean record.
Drivers in Washington with a DUI could find the cheapest car insurance with State Farm. Compared to the average cost for people with a DUI, State Farm's rates are 49% cheaper. In fact, our sample driver received the same rates from State Farm for a DUI and a speeding ticket, suggesting that this could be a solid insurer for a driver with either mark on their record.
Insurer | Annual cost | Monthly cost |
---|---|---|
State Farm | $1,470 | $122 |
Mutual of Enumclaw | $2,088 | $174 |
Progressive | $2,256 | $188 |
Washington average | $2,888 | $241 |
Cheapest car insurance for drivers with poor credit: Geico
Drivers with poor credit in Washington state pay 47% more than drivers with average credit, according to our analysis. If you have poor credit and want to keep your premiums as low as possible, we'd recommend taking a look at Geico. At $1,546 annually and $129 monthly, Geico's rates are 28% cheaper than the state average for drivers with poor credit.
Insurer | Annual cost | Monthly cost |
---|---|---|
Geico | $1,546 | $129 |
Mutual of Enumclaw | $1,906 | $159 |
State Farm | $2,072 | $173 |
Washington average | $2,156 | $180 |
Drivers with poor credit usually pay higher rates than drivers with average or above-average credit because insurance companies view them as higher-risk.
Cheapest car insurance for married drivers: Mutual of Enumclaw
Our research found that married drivers in Washington state pay about 7% less on average than single drivers do. Mutual Enumclaw offers married drivers the most affordable rates, charging 31% less than the state average, followed by State Farm (18% less) and Geico (14% less).
Insurer | Annual cost | Monthly cost |
---|---|---|
Mutual of Enumclaw | $1,118 | $93 |
State Farm | $1,340 | $112 |
Geico | $1,404 | $117 |
Washington average | $1,624 | $135 |
Cheapest car insurance for young drivers: Mutual of Enumclaw
Young drivers in Washington pay premiums that are almost four times higher than what adults pay.
Our analysis found that the average cost of full coverage auto insurance for young drivers is $6,726 a year — a 285% increase from the average adult rate of $1,748 a year.
If you're a young driver looking for affordable full coverage car insurance in Washington, your best bet is Mutual of Enumclaw. Mutual of Enumclaw charges young drivers $3,033 annually ($253 monthly), which is 55% cheaper than the state average.
Rank | Insurer | Full coverage | Minimum coverage |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Mutual of Enumclaw | $3,033 | $1,601 |
2 | State Farm | $4,008 | $1,257 |
3 | Geico | $4,482 | $1,434 |
4 | Farmers | $6,730 | $3,838 |
5 | Allstate | $8,602 | $2,800 |
6 | Progressive | $8,757 | $3,050 |
7 | American Family | $14,349 | $4,975 |
N/A | USAA | $3,848 | $1,430 |
N/A | Washington average | $6,726 | $2,548 |
USAA is excluded from rankings because it is only available to current and former military members and their families.
Minimum coverage is generally not advisable, particularly for young drivers who are more accident-prone. However, if you are shopping for a minimum coverage policy, we found that State Farm offers the most affordable premiums: $1,257 annually and $105 monthly.
Cheapest for young drivers with one accident: Mutual of Enumclaw
Young Washingtonians already have expensive auto insurance premiums, but at-fault accidents cause them to go up even more — by 22%, our analysis found. The cheapest auto insurance for young drivers with one at-fault accident on their record comes from Mutual of Enumclaw. Mutual of Enumclaw's rates are $4,299 annually and $358 monthly, making them 48% cheaper than the state average.
Insurer | Annual cost | Monthly cost |
---|---|---|
Mutual of Enumclaw | $4,299 | $358 |
State Farm | $4,848 | $404 |
Geico | $4,987 | $416 |
Washington average | $8,201 | $683 |
Cheapest for young drivers with one speeding ticket: Mutual of Enumclaw
Young drivers with a speeding ticket pay higher average rates than young drivers with a clean record, though not as high as young drivers with an at-fault accident. We recommend that young drivers in Washington who have a speeding ticket look at a policy from Mutual of Enumclaw, as the company's rates are 50% cheaper than average.
Insurer | Annual cost | Monthly cost |
---|---|---|
Mutual of Enumclaw | $3,800 | $317 |
State Farm | $4,428 | $369 |
Geico | $4,482 | $374 |
Washington average | $7,611 | $634 |
Best auto insurance companies in Washington
The best insurer in Washington is USAA, according to our survey of current customers' satisfaction with service and claims.
For those who aren't eligible for USAA membership, American Family and State Farm are url="/best-auto-insurance" title="Best Car Insurance Companies"]solid alternative choices. Policyholders gave these companies high marks as well.
Overall rank | Group | Percentage of respondents overall extremely satisfied with most recent claim | Percentage of respondents who rated customer service as "excellent" |
---|---|---|---|
1 | USAA | 78% | 62% |
2 | American Family (AmFam) | 86% | 50% |
3 | State Farm | 73% | 46% |
4 | Allstate | 72% | 47% |
5 | Farmers Insurance | 71% | 38% |
6 | Progressive | 74% | 34% |
7 | Geico | 64% | 42% |
N/A | Mutual of Enumclaw | N/A | N/A |
Overall rank takes both claim satisfaction and customer service rankings into account.
Farmers also has an excellent customer service reputation. It received an above-average score from J.D. Power, and its Complaint Index from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) was just 0.15. That means it received only 15% as many complaints as is typical for its size.
Insurer | NAIC Complaint Index (lower is better) | J.D. Power claims satisfaction score (higher is better) | AM Best Financial Strength Rating |
---|---|---|---|
State Farm | 0.66 | 881 | A++ |
Progressive | 0.67 | 856 | A+ |
Allstate | 0.63 | 876 | A+ |
Farmers | 0.15 | 872 | A |
USAA | 0.98 | 890 | A++ |
Geico | 1.01 | 871 | A++ |
American Family | 0.46 | 862 | A |
Mutual of Enumclaw | 0.00 | N/A | A- |
AM Best awarded all the companies we looked at a Financial Strength Rating of A- or better. These high marks indicate AM Best's confidence that these insurers have an "Excellent" or "Superior" ability to pay out claims.
Average car insurance cost in Washington by city
Full coverage car insurance costs in Washington can vary significantly depending on where you live in the state. Our analysis found that the most affordable Washington city for car insurance is Whidbey Island Station, where drivers pay an average of $1,431 annually, while the most expensive Washington city for car insurance is Boulevard Park, where drivers pay an average of $2,278 annually.
As a general rule, auto coverage costs more in large cities, where accidents and auto theft are more common.
City | Average annual cost | Percentage difference from average |
---|---|---|
Whidbey Island Station | $1,431 | -18.1% |
Anacortes | $1,432 | -18.1% |
Friday Harbor | $1,438 | -17.7% |
Port Townsend | $1,438 | -17.7% |
Lopez Island | $1,439 | -17.7% |
Eastsound | $1,442 | -17.5% |
Oak Harbor | $1,443 | -17.5% |
Hay | $1,445 | -17.3% |
Endicott | $1,445 | -17.3% |
Hooper | $1,450 | -17.0% |
Coupeville | $1,452 | -16.9% |
Electric City | $1,453 | -16.9% |
Washington rate changes by company
In Washington, auto insurance providers decreased their premiums by 2.5% in 2020, ending a trend of higher rates over the past few years. State Farm showed the most significant decrease in premiums, reducing rates 17.7% compared to 2019. However, many other companies in Washington did not change their rates at all in 2020, such as Geico and Progressive.
Insurer | Premiums written (millions) 2019 | Rate change 2019 | Rate change 2020 |
---|---|---|---|
State Farm | $ 890.9 | 0.1% | -17.7% |
Geico | $ 666.2 | -2.0% | 0.0% |
Progressive | $ 661.7 | 0.0% | 0.0% |
Liberty Mutual | $ 601.6 | 10.9% | 1.6% |
Allstate | $ 541.3 | 0.0% | 0.6% |
USAA | $ 487.5 | 0.0% | 0.0% |
Farmers | $ 384.8 | 3.8% | 0.7% |
PEMCO | $ 300.0 | 0.0% | 0.0% |
American Family | $ 263.5 | 5.7% | 10.3% |
Hartford Fire & Casualty | $ 127.1 | 3.4% | 0.0% |
Minimum auto insurance requirements in Washington
In order to drive in Washington, your auto insurance coverage must meet the minimum liability insurance requirements listed below.
Washington state auto insurance requirements are as follows:
- $25,000 of insurance for bodily injury or death of any one person in any one accident
- $50,000 of insurance for bodily injury or death of any two people in any one accident
- $10,000 property damage liability insurance
While the minimum coverage policy is your cheapest option, it may not be the best fit for your individual needs. We recommend drivers with new or expensive cars consider higher limits or additional coverage.
Recap of the cheapest auto insurance in Washington
- Minimum coverage: State Farm
- Full coverage: Mutual of Enumclaw
- After an at-fault accident: State Farm
- After a speeding ticket: Mutual of Enumclaw
- After a DUI: State Farm
- Poor credit history: Geico
- Very good credit history: Geico
- Married drivers: Mutual of Enumclaw
- Young drivers: Mutual of Enumclaw
- Young drivers with one accident: Mutual of Enumclaw
- Young drivers with a speeding ticket: Mutual of Enumclaw
Methodology
We collected thousands of rates from ZIP codes across Washington for the largest 10 insurers. We used a sample driver with the following profile:
- 30-year-old man
- Drives a 2015 Honda Civic EX
- Average credit
The base policy for the study was a full-coverage policy with the following limits:
Coverage type | Study limits |
---|---|
Bodily liability | $50,000 per person/$100,000 per accident |
Personal injury protection | $10,000 |
Property damage | $25,000 per accident |
Uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury | $50,000 per person/$100,000 per accident |
Comprehensive and collision | $500 deductible |
For our minimum-coverage policy, we quoted a policy with the minimum required limits in Washington, above.
For other rates analyses (age, credit score, accident history and marriage status) the base policy listed above was alternated to reflect the new driver.
ValuePenguin's analysis used insurance rate data from Quadrant Information Services. These rates were publicly sourced from insurer filings and should be used for comparative purposes only — your own quotes may be different.