Cheapest Car Insurance in Washington

Geico has the best cheap car insurance in Washington

Coverage Cat found that Geico has the best cheap car insurance, with premiums of approximately $135 per month. The median Washingtonian pays $140 per month for car insurance, or $1,680 yearly, while the median Washingtonian with a Geico policy is paying only $1,620 yearly, saving them approximately $60 a year.

Why you should trust us

I first started navigating insurance more than 15 years ago, when an injury left me missing two teeth. Frustrated by how little my insurance wanted to pay, I began finding out how to efficiently use and buy insurance. That experience inspired me to start Coverage Cat, as a way for people to discover transparent price data about their insurance and make better choices with that information. I want to help all Americans avoid overpaying for expensive insurance they don't need and get the right coverage at the right price.

Before founding Coverage Cat and becoming a licensed insurance agent, I spent the past ten years working in quantitative roles at Google, Two Sigma, and Microsoft.

Methodology

To determine our top picks, Coverage Cat generated a unique database of over 11,000 quotes for Washington drivers. Within this dataset, we represented drivers from ages 16-70, driving vehicles that were up to 15 years old, and from a variety of makes. Using thousands of quotes, we’re able to normalize our data and provide a median of randomly generated Washington drivers. For our comparisons on insurance price, we’ve also chosen to exclude carriers with fewer than 1,000 quotes to prevent imbalanced comparisons. Internally, we use this dataset and others to match Coverage Cat users with the best insurance for their needs.

Our dataset is continuously adjusted and presented to you in real time. Specific numbers in this article may vary slightly from the latest data contained in the graphs above.

Who is this for

You need car insurance if you're a car-owner or live with a car-owner and drive their car. By law, cars in Washington require a minimum amount of insurance coverage. You may also need car insurance if you regularly rent or borrow cars, since it can be both cheaper and provide more security to have a non-owner policy that will cover your liability.

We prepared this data and wrote this guide for people trying to make smart money choices with data. Figuring out the best deal in car insurance isn't easy, since prices and eligibility can vary substantially across individuals.

Cheapest car insurance quotes for young Washington drivers

Coverage Cat found that Progressive had the lowest premiums for young WA drivers, aged 20-30, with premiums of approximately $139/month. For younger drivers, particularly those under 25, insurance rates can be significantly higher due to a higher risk of accidents. The median Washingtonian aged 20-30 pays $142 per month for car insurance ($1,704/year) and purchasing a cheaper Progressive policy can save them $36/year.

Cheapest car insurance quotes for Washington drivers with older cars

While car insurance generally decreases as a car ages, finding the right insurance and coverage can still save you money. Coverage Cat found that, for older cars, Geico had the best cheap car insurance, with premiums of approximately $114/month for a 10-year-old car. The median Washingtonian, meanwhile, is paying $131/month or $204 more per year than the median driver with a Geico policy. As cars age and depreciate, insurance companies also pay less for their repair or replacement after an accident, therefore it’s important to re-evaluate your insurance needs, including whether you should buy comprehensive or collision coverage.

Cheapest car insurance in Washington for male drivers

For male drivers in Washington, the best cheap car insurance quotes were at Geico for $120/month. The median cost for male drivers was only slightly higher at $140/month, but that adds up to $240 in yearly savings for Geico drivers.

Cheapest car insurance in Washington for female drivers

For female drivers in Washington, the lowest median monthly premiums were available at Progressive for $143/month. Coverage Cat also found that female drivers in Washington pay slightly more than male drivers, with a median payment of $146/month. While that’s only $6 more a month, it adds up to $72/year more than male drivers in WA. 

Minimum required insurance in Washington

In Washington, the minimum liability car insurance required by law is 25/50/10. This means $25,000 in bodily injury liability coverage per person, and $50,000 in total bodily injury coverage per accident, as well as $10,000 in property damage liability coverage. Bodily injury liability pays for medical costs and other expenses for others when you’ve been in an accident, while property damage covers repairs to other vehicles and/or property like fences and walls.

While minimum liability policies can offer lower premiums, they can also fail to fully cover the cost of damages or injuries in an accident.  A crash with multiple vehicles or where another driver is severely injured can easily end up costing much more than the limits of a minimum liability policy. Washington also has one of the lowest minimums for property damage and, as car prices and repairs cost rise due to inflation, a crash is even more likely to exceed the minimum limit. If the cost of an accident exceeds either your bodily injury or property damage limits, insurance companies are only obligated to pay up to the limit you’ve purchased and you will be liable for additional costs.

Washington car insurance after an accident or ticket

After you’ve been in an accident or received a ticket in Washington, your car insurance premium may increase, as these events make drivers an increased risk for insurance companies. The exact impact on your premium will depend on factors like the severity of the accident, the type of ticket you received, and your driving record.

If you were at fault in an accident, your insurance company can raise your premium to cover the costs of the claim, and if the ticket was for a serious violation, such as reckless driving or DUI, your insurance premium could increase significantly, and your company can even choose not to renew your policy. If you’re not able to renew your policy or get a new one, Washington offers insurance coverage for hard-to-insure drivers through the Automobile Insurance Plan.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is insurance expensive in WA?

A: Washington auto insurance is less expensive than the national average. The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) estimates that Washington drivers paid 3.75% less in premiums than drivers nationwide. The NAIC’s 2019 Auto Insurance Database Report estimates that the average monthly premium for auto insurance was $100 in the U.S., and $96.25 in Washington.

Q: Which company has the cheapest insurance in WA?

A: According to Coverage Cat, Geico has the best cheap car insurance in Washington with premiums of approximately $135/month, which is lower than the median cost of $140/month. Depending on your insurance needs, however, your insurance could be cheaper (and better) with a different company.

Q: How do I lower my car insurance premiums in WA?

A: While Coverage Cat found that premiums were lower for Geico drivers overall, switching to one company doesn’t guarantee savings. We recommend shopping for insurance at least every two years, getting multiple quotes, and re-evaluating your insurance needs every time. If that sounds complicated, try out Coverage Cat. We optimize your insurance to serve your needs at the best price. 

Editorial Note

The content of this article is based on the author’s opinions and recommendations alone. It has not been previewed, paid for, commissioned or otherwise endorsed by any of our partners.

Coverage Cat’s analysis used insurance rate information derived from our own datasets. These rates were publicly sourced and should be used for informational purposes only. Your own quotes may be different.