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You can't get behind the wheel in Washington without car insurance. Many drivers pay over $2,000 per year for their coverage, but it's possible to score a much lower rate by focusing your search on the cheapest car insurance in Washington. Here are some of the top providers to consider based on several common driver profiles.
The typical 35-year-old female with a clean driving record pays about $1,523 annually for Washington auto insurance while the typical 35-year-old male pays about $1,563 per year. However, drivers who go with Geico can get coverage for a lot less. It charges typical female drivers about $957 per year and males about $828 per year.
Other companies that offer low-cost car insurance in Washington for typical drivers are:
Drivers with a single accident on their record see their Washington auto insurance rates climb to about $2,252 per year on average. For this group, American Family led the list of the best car insurance companies in Washington, charging just $1,452 per year.
Drivers with an accident history should also get car insurance quotes in Washington from these companies:
Speeding tickets also raise Washington auto insurance premiums. The average driver with one speeding ticket pays about $1,911 per year. However, State Farm offers some of the best car insurance in Washington for these drivers at about $1,334 per year.
These insurers also offer cheap auto insurance in Washington to drivers with speeding tickets:
Young drivers pay about $5,108 per year for Washington auto insurance. This is based on the profile of an 18-year-old male driver with a clean driving record. State Farm offered these drivers the cheapest rate at $3,012 per year on average.
The following companies also offer affordable car insurance in Washington to teen drivers:
Seniors have some of the lowest Washington auto insurance premiums, averaging about $1,473 per year. Drivers who go with Geico could pay a lot less, though. Its average premium for a 65-year-old driver with a clean record is $875.
The following companies also offer cheap Washington auto insurance to seniors:
Washington minimum car insurance costs about $611 on average. But drivers who go with Geico get the same coverage for about $307 per year.
The following companies also offer cheap liability car insurance in Washington:
Poor credit raises a typical driver's Washington auto insurance premiums to $2,500 per year. These drivers should explore Geico, which offers them coverage for about $1,510 per year on average.
Other options for drivers with poor credit include:
How much is car insurance in Washington? It's tough to put an exact number on it because there are so many individual factors that determine a driver's rate. Insurers look at their driving history, address, vehicle make and model, and more.
The average annual Washington auto insurance premium is $2,001. This is 27% under the national average of $2,646 per year.
It's a similar situation across other categories such as drivers who have had a speeding ticket. Washington drivers that fall into that category typically are paying 36% less than the national average.
Average Rate Category | Washington | National Average |
Overall | $2,001 | $2,646 |
Young drivers | $5,108 | $5,988 |
1 accident on driving record | $2,252 | $3,092 |
1 speeding ticket on driving record | $1,911 | $2,766 |
Here are some Washington car insurance laws all drivers should know:
Washington is an at-fault auto insurance state. This means that in the event of an accident involving two or more vehicles, the driver found to be at fault pays for the medical bills of everyone involved. This is different from no-fault states where each driver bills their own insurer for medical costs, regardless of who caused the accident.
Drivers who are caught without insurance in Washington could face fines of up to $550. If they cause an accident, their license could also be suspended if they fail to pay for the resulting damages or injuries.
All drivers in Washington state must have the following types of car insurance coverage:
Drivers must have at least:
In addition, drivers must have at least $10,000 to cover any damage to other people's personal property.
Try these tips to score the cheapest car insurance in Washington:
Here are some other things drivers should bear in mind when shopping for Washington auto insurance:
Washington has the fourth-highest rate of auto thefts in the country, according to the Insurance Information Institute. Yakima, Washington alone saw 1,325 thefts in 2019. State minimum coverage doesn't protect the policyholder's vehicle against theft. Drivers who are worried about this should consider adding comprehensive coverage to their policy. This also protects the policyholder's vehicle against animal-vehicle collisions, weather damage, vandalism, and more.
Washington also has the fifth-highest rate of uninsured drivers in the nation. If you're hit by one of these drivers, odds are good that you'll end up paying for your medical bills and vehicle repairs on your own. To avoid this, consider adding uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage. This kicks in if the policyholder is hit by a driver who doesn't have insurance or who doesn't have enough to cover the full cost of the damages.
Need Homeowners Insurance? Check out Motley Fool Money's guide to the best cheap Washington homeowners insurance.
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The data found on this page is a combination of publicly available quote data obtained directly from the carrier as well as insurance rate data from Quadrant Information Services. These rates were publicly sourced from the top ten (10) to fifteen (15) carrier markets, within each state, based on annual written premium and should be used for comparative purposes only -- your own quotes may be different.