Best Cheap Car Insurance Quotes in Washington (2023)
Best Cheap Car Insurance Quotes in Washington (2023)
Pemco has the best cheap car insurance quotes in Washington state at $26 per month, or $306 per year for a minimum liability policy.
Best cheap car insurance companies in Washington state
To help drivers find the best cheap car insurance in WA, our editorial team collected quotes from top companies across every ZIP code in the state. Quotes for minimum coverage meet the Washington state minimum requirements of $25,000 in bodily injury liability coverage per person and $50,000 per accident, along with $10,000 in property damage protection. Full coverage quotes include comprehensive and collision protection, in addition to higher liability limits than the state minimums.
We also rated the best auto insurance companies in WA based on insurance costs for different drivers, customer service reviews, coverage availability and convenience.
Cheapest car insurance quotes in Washington: Pemco
Pemco is the cheapest company in Washington state for minimum coverage car insurance. A policy from Pemco costs $26 per month, which is 51% cheaper than the overall state average.
The average cost of car insurance in Washington state is $53 per month, or $631 per year for a minimum coverage policy.
Find Cheap Auto Insurance Quotes in Washington
Active-duty service members, veterans and some members of their families can also find cheap quotes from USAA, where a minimum coverage policy also costs $26 per month.
Cheapest WA car insurance companies
Company | Monthly rate | |
|---|---|---|
| Pemco | $26 |
| Geico | $39 |
| State Farm | $39 |
| Progressive | $68 |
| American Family | $69 |
*USAA is only available to current and former military members and their families.
Minimum liability car insurance is cheaper but could cost you more in the long run if you're in a major accident.
In Washington, a minimum coverage policy only pays for the other driver’s injuries or damage to their car or property resulting from an accident. It doesn't include protection against damage to your vehicle.
We recommend getting a full coverage auto insurance policy rather than a minimum coverage policy.
Cheapest full coverage car insurance in Washington: Pemco
Pemco also has the cheapest full coverage quotes in Washington at $71 per month. That's $48 per month cheaper than the state average of $119.
Company | Monthly rate |
|---|---|
| Pemco | $71 |
| State Farm | $90 |
| Geico | $94 |
| Progressive | $138 |
| Allstate | $147 |
*USAA is only available to current and former military members and their families.
A full coverage policy includes both comprehensive and collision coverage. Collision coverage pays for damage to your car, regardless of who is at fault in an accident. Comprehensive coverage pays for damage outside of your control, like hail or a fallen tree branch.
Cheap car insurance in Washington state for drivers with prior incidents
Pemco is the best car insurance company in Washington state for drivers with a speeding ticket, accident or bad credit score. State Farm has the cheapest rates for drivers with a DUI.
Car insurance quotes usually rise after incidents like speeding tickets, accidents or driving under the influence (DUI) because insurance companies see them as signs of a high-risk driver.
Find Cheap Auto Insurance Quotes in Washington
Cheapest car insurance quotes with a ticket: Pemco
Pemco offers the best quotes for Washington drivers with a speeding ticket on their record — $84 per month for a full coverage policy. That rate is 43% cheaper than the state average.
Company | Monthly rate |
|---|---|
| Pemco | $84 |
| Geico | $94 |
| State Farm | $98 |
| Allstate | $161 |
| Progressive | $182 |
A speeding ticket will generally increase your auto insurance quotes, but not as much as an at-fault accident. In Washington state, rates go up by 22% after a speeding ticket, compared to a 42% increase after an at-fault accident.
Cheapest car insurance in WA after an accident: Pemco
Pemco has the cheapest quotes for Washington drivers with an accident on their record. At $90 per month, full coverage auto insurance from Pemco costs 46% less than the state average, which is $168 per month.
Company | Monthly rate |
|---|---|
| Pemco | $90 |
| State Farm | $107 |
| Geico | $136 |
| Allstate | $209 |
| American Family | $223 |
Washington drivers see an increase of around 42% in the price of car insurance after a single accident. However, not all auto insurance providers in Washington raise rates by the same amount. Progressive has the biggest increase after a single accident — 64%. State Farm only increases its rates by 19%.
That's why we always recommend shopping around for car insurance when your driving record changes.
Cheapest car insurance in Washington after a DUI: State Farm
State Farm has the cheapest car insurance for drivers in Washington with a DUI. A full coverage policy from State Farm costs $98 per month, which is 49% cheaper than the average cost of car insurance in Washington state.
Company | Monthly rate |
|---|---|
| State Farm | $98 |
| Pemco | $106 |
| Progressive | $162 |
| Allstate | $195 |
| Geico | $224 |
If you're a Washington driver cited for driving under the influence (DUI), your rates will increase by an average of 62%, up to $192 per month. Most drivers also have to get SR-22 insurance after a DUI, which means your rates could be even more expensive.
Cheapest car insurance quotes for young drivers in Washington: Pemco
Pemco offers young drivers in Washington the most affordable quotes, with an average rate of $87 per month for minimum coverage insurance.
Teen drivers can also find the cheapest full coverage insurance at Pemco, where a policy costs $198 per month.
Car insurance rates for 18-year-old drivers in Washington are more than three times the rates for 30-year-olds.
Cheapest WA car insurance companies for teens
Company | Liability only | Full coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Pemco | $87 | $198 |
| State Farm | $122 | $264 |
| Geico | $129 | $284 |
| Progressive | $188 | $434 |
| Allstate | $268 | $558 |
The average cost of minimum coverage car insurance for an 18-year-old is $203 per month in Washington. Insurance companies generally charge teen drivers more because their lack of experience behind the wheel leads to more accidents.
Young drivers can get the best car insurance rates by sharing a policy with their parents, which can save them around 62%.
Cheapest car insurance in WA for teen drivers after a ticket: Pemco
Pemco also has the most affordable minimum-coverage quotes for young drivers in Washington with a speeding ticket, at $94 per month. That's $134 per month cheaper than the Washington state average.
Company | Monthly rate |
|---|---|
| Pemco | $94 |
| Geico | $129 |
| State Farm | $136 |
| Progressive | $205 |
| Allstate | $304 |
A single speeding ticket can cause rates for teenage drivers to go up by 12% on average.
Cheapest quotes for young drivers after an accident: Pemco
Pemco has the best minimum coverage quotes for teen drivers after an accident. Pemco's average rate is $104 per month, which is 57% lower than the state average.
Company | Monthly rate |
|---|---|
| Pemco | $104 |
| Geico | $143 |
| State Farm | $150 |
| Progressive | $227 |
| Farmers | $315 |
Car insurance quotes go up by 20% after an 18-year-old driver causes an accident, an average increase of $40 per month.
Cheapest car insurance in Washington state for married drivers: Pemco
Pemco offers married drivers the most affordable quotes in Washington. However, married drivers don't get a discount with Pemco — at $72 per month for full coverage, married and unmarried drivers pay the same rates.
Company | Monthly rate per car |
|---|---|
| Pemco | $72 |
| State Farm | $90 |
| Geico | $90 |
| Progressive | $118 |
| Allstate | $143 |
Married drivers in Washington state pay about 8% less on average than single drivers. Farmers offers the largest discount at 19%.
Best car insurance companies in Washington
State Farm is the best car insurance in Washington state because of its combination of reliable customer service and cheap quotes.
USAA also offers excellent service for Washington drivers. However, USAA is only available to current and former military members and their families, so most people can't buy a policy.
Best WA car insurance
Company |
Editor's rating
|
J.D. Power
|
AM Best
|
|---|---|---|---|
| USAA | 881 | A++ | |
| State Farm | 842 | A++ | |
| Geico | 835 | A++ | |
| American Family | 838 | A | |
| Farmers | 815 | A |
When shopping for car insurance, choosing a dependable insurance company is as important as finding the best rate.
If you're in an accident, a company with great customer service will make the claims process stress-free and get you back on the road quickly. Companies with poor service could take longer to process your claim, and may offer you less money for repairs.
Average cost of car insurance in Washington by city
The most expensive city for car insurance is Boulevard Park, a Seattle suburb, where a full coverage policy costs $154 per month.
Port Townsend, a peninsula outside Seattle, has the most affordable car insurance rates in Washington at $98 per month for full coverage.
Full coverage car insurance quotes in Washington can vary by $54 per month depending on where you live in the state.
Average cost of car insurance by city in WA
City | Monthly cost | % from average |
|---|---|---|
| Aberdeen | $104 | -13% |
| Acme | $109 | -9% |
| Addy | $110 | -8% |
| Adna | $109 | -8% |
| Ahtanum | $106 | -11% |
Minimum car insurance requirements in Washington state
In order to drive legally in Washington, your auto insurance coverage must meet minimum liability insurance requirements, sometimes written as 25/50/10.
Coverage | Limit |
|---|---|
| Bodily injury (BI) liability | $25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident |
| Property damage (PD) liability | $10,000 per accident |
The state of Washington requires all insurance companies to automatically include personal injury protection (PIP) coverage on every insurance policy, but you can reject it in writing. If you decide to keep it, there are two limits you can choose from: $10,000 or $35,000 per accident.
While the minimum car insurance requirement is your cheapest option, it may not fit for your individual needs. For instance, car dealerships almost always require comprehensive and collision protection for any cars leased or bought with a loan.
Alternatives to car insurance
An auto insurance policy is the most convenient way to satisfy the Motor Vehicle Safety Responsibility Law. However, drivers in Washington can choose to put up a $60,000 liability bond proof instead of buying an insurance policy. We don't recommend this option for most drivers, because it doesn't provide any protection if you're in an accident, so you'll have to pay for any damage you cause.
Frequently asked questions
Which company has the cheapest auto insurance in Washington state?
Pemco offers the cheapest car insurance quotes in Washington state. A minimum coverage policy from Pemco costs $26 per month, and full coverage costs $71 per month.
How much is car insurance in Washington?
On average, minimum coverage car insurance in Washington costs $53 per month, or $631 per year. A full coverage policy costs an average of $119 per month, or $1,428 per year.
Who has the best car insurance in Washington state?
State Farm is our pick for best car insurance in Washington. It has affordable rates, dependable customer service and useful coverage options. Drivers with military ties should also consider USAA, which has a reputation for excellent service.
How much is car insurance in Seattle?
Full coverage car insurance in Seattle costs an average of $144 per month. That's 21% more expensive than the average in Washington state. By comparison, drivers in Washington's second-largest city, Spokane, pay around $112 per month for the same coverage.
What are the car insurance requirements in Washington state?
Washington requires drivers to have bodily injury limits of $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident, along with $10,000 property damage liability insurance to drive legally.
Methodology
We collected thousands of rates from ZIP codes across Washington for the state's largest insurance companies. Rates are for a 30-year-old man driving a 2015 Honda Civic EX with good credit.
Unless otherwise noted, all quotes are based on a full coverage policy with the following limits:
Coverage | Limit |
|---|---|
| Bodily injury liability | $50,000 per person/$100,000 per accident |
| Property damage liability | $25,000 per accident |
| Personal injury protection (PIP) | $10,000 |
| Uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury | $50,000 per person/$100,000 per accident |
| Comprehensive and collision | $500 deductible |
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.
Editorial Note: The content of this article is based on the author’s opinions and recommendations alone. It has not been previewed, commissioned or otherwise endorsed by any of our network partners.