Cheap Car Insurance in Washington for 2023

Auto insurance is an important purchase, but finding cheap car insurance in Washington isn’t always easy. The best way to find cheap car insurance is to compare rates from multiple insurers.

The cheapest car insurance company in Washington is Pemco at $758 per year on average, or $63 per month, according to the most recent NerdWallet analysis of full coverage car insurance rates in Washington. Meanwhile, the average cost of full coverage car insurance in Washington is $1,759 per year, or about $147 per month.

Minimum coverage in Washington is $617 per year on average, but we found you can likely get a cheaper policy. For example, Pemco offers the cheapest rates in Washington at $193 per year, on average, for minimum coverage car insurance for a 35-year-old driver with a clean driving record.

Live in Seattle and need an affordable auto insurance rate? Check out NerdWallet's analysis of the cheapest car insurance in Seattle.

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How we chose the cheapest companies in Washington

NerdWallet’s editorial team analyzed car insurance rates from 23 auto insurers in Washington and listed the five cheapest options for drivers in several age brackets and with different histories, all driving a 2020 Toyota Camry L. For minimum coverage, we looked at rates that reflect the minimum requirements in Washington. For full coverage, we used the below coverage limits:

$100,000 bodily injury liability per person.
$300,000 bodily injury liability per accident.
$50,000 property damage liability per accident.
$100,000 uninsured motorist coverage per person.
$300,000 uninsured motorist coverage per accident.
Collision coverage with a $1,000 deductible.
Comprehensive coverage with a $1,000 deductible.

Why you can trust NerdWallet

Our writers and editors follow strict editorial guidelines to ensure fairness and accuracy in our writing and data analyses. You can trust the prices we show you because our data analysts take rigorous measures to eliminate outliers and inaccuracies in pricing data, which include rates from every locale in Washington where coverage is offered and data is available. When comparing rates for different coverage amounts, ages and backgrounds, we change only one variable at a time, so you can easily see how each factor affects pricing.

Cheapest for 20-year-old drivers

Drivers in their 20s may have to get a lot of quotes to find the best cheap car insurance. Prices can be sky-high for younger 20-somethings, but tend to come down as drivers get more experience on the road. Still, some companies routinely have better insurance rates for young drivers, so it's best to shop around to find them.

Cheapest full coverage car insurance in Washington for 20-year-olds

Drivers in Washington with clean driving records may want to consider the following companies, which had the lowest average rates:

CIG: $1,472 per year, or about $123 per month.
Pemco: $1,473 per year, or about $123 per month.
American Family: $2,216 per year, or about $185 per month.
California Casualty: $2,358 per year, or about $196 per month.
Kemper: $2,498 per year, or about $208 per month.

Cheapest minimum coverage car insurance in Washington for 20-year-olds

Drivers in Washington who want just the state minimum coverage may want to check with these companies, which had the lowest average rates:

Pemco: $459 per year, or about $38 per month.
CIG: $570 per year, or about $48 per month.
California Casualty: $633 per year, or about $53 per month.
Travelers: $908 per year, or about $76 per month.
State Farm: $974 per year, or about $81 per month.

Cheapest auto insurance in Washington for 20-year-olds with poor credit

Drivers with poor credit in Washington should look at the following insurers with the lowest average rates for minimum coverage:

Pemco: $459 per year, or about $38 per month.
CIG: $570 per year, or about $48 per month.
California Casualty: $633 per year, or about $53 per month.
State Farm: $974 per year, or about $81 per month.
Chubb: $1,008 per year, or about $84 per month.

Cheapest auto insurance in Washington for 20-year-old drivers with one speeding ticket

For drivers with a recent speeding ticket in Washington, here are the companies with the lowest average rates for minimum coverage:

Pemco: $501 per year, or about $42 per month.
CIG: $772 per year, or about $64 per month.
California Casualty: $796 per year, or about $66 per month.
Chubb: $1,108 per year, or about $92 per month.
State Farm: $1,135 per year, or about $95 per month.

Cheapest auto insurance in Washington for 20-year-old drivers with one at-fault crash

For drivers with a recent accident in Washington, here are the companies with the lowest average rates for minimum coverage:

Pemco: $557 per year, or about $46 per month.
California Casualty: $720 per year, or about $60 per month.
CIG: $738 per year, or about $62 per month.
Travelers: $1,198 per year, or about $100 per month.
Chubb: $1,271 per year, or about $106 per month.

Cheapest auto insurance in Washington for 20-year-old drivers after a DUI

The cheapest auto insurance we found after a DUI is shown here, alongside the insurers' average rates for minimum coverage.

Pemco: $661 per year, or about $55 per month.
CIG: $1,074 per year, or about $89 per month.
Chubb: $1,271 per year, or about $106 per month.
California Casualty: $1,310 per year, or about $109 per month.
Progressive: $1,327 per year, or about $111 per month.

Cheapest for 30-year-old drivers

By the time they reach their 30s, most drivers will enjoy cheaper car insurance rates than in their teens and 20s. Still, factors like a person’s driving record and car make and model can increase prices. Drivers in their 30s can get lower rates by shopping around and taking advantage of any car insurance discounts.

Cheapest full coverage car insurance in Washington for 30-year-olds

Drivers in Washington who want their state's minimum coverage can check with the following companies, which had the lowest average rates:

Pemco: $773 per year, or about $64 per month.
CIG: $830 per year, or about $69 per month.
Kemper: $986 per year, or about $82 per month.
California Casualty: $1,123 per year, or about $94 per month.
State Farm: $1,180 per year, or about $98 per month.

Cheapest minimum coverage car insurance in Washington for 30-year-olds

Drivers in Washington who want their state's minimum coverage can check with the following companies, which had the lowest average rates:

Pemco: $194 per year, or about $16 per month.
CIG: $266 per year, or about $22 per month.
California Casualty: $289 per year, or about $24 per month.
State Farm: $378 per year, or about $32 per month.
Grange Insurance Association: $446 per year, or about $37 per month.

Cheapest auto insurance in Washington for 30-year-olds with poor credit

Drivers with poor credit in Washington should consider the following companies with the lowest average rates for full coverage:

Pemco: $773 per year, or about $64 per month.
CIG: $830 per year, or about $69 per month.
Kemper: $986 per year, or about $82 per month.
California Casualty: $1,123 per year, or about $94 per month.
State Farm: $1,180 per year, or about $98 per month.

Cheapest auto insurance in Washington for 30-year-old drivers with one speeding ticket

For drivers with a recent speeding ticket in Washington, here are the companies with the lowest average rates for minimum coverage:

Pemco: $232 per year, or about $19 per month.
CIG: $356 per year, or about $30 per month.
California Casualty: $427 per year, or about $36 per month.
State Farm: $441 per year, or about $37 per month.
Chubb: $533 per year, or about $44 per month.

Cheapest auto insurance in Washington for 30-year-old drivers with one at-fault crash

For drivers in Washington with a recent accident, here are the lowest average rate options for full coverage:

Pemco: $966 per year, or about $80 per month.
CIG: $1,088 per year, or about $91 per month.
California Casualty: $1,241 per year, or about $103 per month.
Kemper: $1,367 per year, or about $114 per month.
State Farm: $1,505 per year, or about $125 per month.

Cheapest auto insurance in Washington for 30-year-old drivers after a DUI

For the cheapest auto insurance after a DUI, we found the following options for full coverage.

Pemco: $1,116 per year, or about $93 per month.
CIG: $1,459 per year, or about $122 per month.
State Farm: $1,715 per year, or about $143 per month.
American Family: $1,716 per year, or about $143 per month.
Chubb: $1,997 per year, or about $166 per month.

Cheapest for 40-year-old drivers

Drivers in their 40s tend to have better insurance rates than their younger counterparts on average, but still pay more than older age groups. Shopping around for cheap car insurance quotes with multiple insurers is the best way to find lower rates. Good drivers who don’t get behind the wheel often might want to consider pay-per-mile insurance, which charges drivers by how many miles they drive.

Cheapest full coverage car insurance in Washington for 40-year-olds

Drivers in Washington with clean driving records may want to think about the following companies, which had the lowest average rates:

Pemco: $754 per year, or about $63 per month.
CIG: $771 per year, or about $64 per month.
Kemper: $960 per year, or about $80 per month.
California Casualty: $1,114 per year, or about $93 per month.
State Farm: $1,138 per year, or about $95 per month.

Cheapest minimum coverage car insurance in Washington for 40-year-olds

Drivers in Washington who want just the minimum coverage may want to check prices from these companies, which had the lowest average rates:

Pemco: $200 per year, or about $17 per month.
CIG: $252 per year, or about $21 per month.
California Casualty: $299 per year, or about $25 per month.
State Farm: $372 per year, or about $31 per month.
Grange Insurance Association: $446 per year, or about $37 per month.

Cheapest auto insurance in Washington for 40-year-olds with poor credit

Drivers with poor credit in Washington can check out the following insurers with the lowest average rates for full coverage:

Pemco: $754 per year, or about $63 per month.
CIG: $771 per year, or about $64 per month.
Kemper: $960 per year, or about $80 per month.
California Casualty: $1,114 per year, or about $93 per month.
State Farm: $1,138 per year, or about $95 per month.

Cheapest auto insurance in Washington for 40-year-old drivers with one speeding ticket

For drivers with a recent speeding ticket in Washington, here are the companies with the lowest average rates for minimum coverage:

Pemco: $250 per year, or about $21 per month.
CIG: $334 per year, or about $28 per month.
State Farm: $432 per year, or about $36 per month.
California Casualty: $439 per year, or about $37 per month.
Chubb: $492 per year, or about $41 per month.

Cheapest auto insurance in Washington for 40-year-old drivers with one at-fault crash

For drivers with a recent accident living in Washington, here are the companies with the lowest average rates for full coverage:

Pemco: $996 per year, or about $83 per month.
CIG: $999 per year, or about $83 per month.
California Casualty: $1,229 per year, or about $102 per month.
Kemper: $1,330 per year, or about $111 per month.
State Farm: $1,451 per year, or about $121 per month.

Cheapest auto insurance in Washington for 40-year-old drivers after a DUI

The cheapest full coverage auto insurance we found for drivers with a DUI came from the following companies.

Pemco: $1,175 per year, or about $98 per month.
CIG: $1,332 per year, or about $111 per month.
American Family: $1,638 per year, or about $137 per month.
State Farm: $1,654 per year, or about $138 per month.
Chubb: $1,900 per year, or about $158 per month.

Cheapest for 50-year-old drivers

Drivers in their 50s have cheaper car insurance rates than most other age groups on average. Prices will continue to drop as they inch toward their 60s and gain more driving experience. Rates can still vary depending on other factors such as a driver’s gender and location, so it’s smart to shop around to find the best rate. Our list of cheap auto insurance companies is a good place to start.

Cheapest full coverage car insurance in Washington for 50-year-olds

Drivers in Washington with clean driving records may want to get quotes from these insurers, which had the lowest average rates:

CIG: $739 per year, or about $62 per month.
Pemco: $746 per year, or about $62 per month.
Kemper: $885 per year, or about $74 per month.
California Casualty: $1,072 per year, or about $89 per month.
State Farm: $1,096 per year, or about $91 per month.

Cheapest minimum coverage car insurance in Washington for 50-year-olds

Drivers in Washington who opt for the state minimum coverage may want to consider the following companies, with the lowest average rates:

Pemco: $200 per year, or about $17 per month.
CIG: $243 per year, or about $20 per month.
California Casualty: $289 per year, or about $24 per month.
State Farm: $359 per year, or about $30 per month.
Grange Insurance Association: $425 per year, or about $35 per month.

Cheapest auto insurance in Washington for 50-year-olds with poor credit

Drivers with poor credit in Washington can check with the following companies, which showed the lowest average rates for full coverage:

CIG: $739 per year, or about $62 per month.
Pemco: $746 per year, or about $62 per month.
Kemper: $885 per year, or about $74 per month.
California Casualty: $1,072 per year, or about $89 per month.
State Farm: $1,096 per year, or about $91 per month.

Cheapest auto insurance in Washington for 50-year-old drivers with one speeding ticket

For drivers with a recent speeding ticket in Washington, here are the companies with the lowest average rates for minimum coverage:

Pemco: $264 per year, or about $22 per month.
CIG: $325 per year, or about $27 per month.
State Farm: $419 per year, or about $35 per month.
California Casualty: $428 per year, or about $36 per month.
Chubb: $493 per year, or about $41 per month.

Cheapest auto insurance in Washington for 50-year-old drivers with one at-fault crash

For drivers living in Washington with a recent accident, here are the insurers with the lowest average full coverage rates:

CIG: $955 per year, or about $80 per month.
Pemco: $1,023 per year, or about $85 per month.
California Casualty: $1,183 per year, or about $99 per month.
Kemper: $1,222 per year, or about $102 per month.
State Farm: $1,398 per year, or about $117 per month.

Cheapest auto insurance in Washington for 50-year-old drivers after a DUI

The cheapest auto insurance we found for drivers with a recent DUI comes from the following companies, listed with rates for full coverage.

Pemco: $1,228 per year, or about $102 per month.
CIG: $1,267 per year, or about $106 per month.
American Family: $1,575 per year, or about $131 per month.
State Farm: $1,593 per year, or about $133 per month.
Progressive: $1,838 per year, or about $153 per month.

Cheapest for 60-year-old drivers

Although 60-year-olds have cheaper car insurance rates than many other age groups on average, prices will start increasing as they get older. To find cheap car insurance for seniors, drivers in their 60s should make sure to shop around to find the best rate. Drivers in this age group should also take advantage of any available discounts for senior citizens.

Cheapest full coverage car insurance in Washington for 60-year-olds

Drivers in Washington with clean driving records may want to think about getting quotes from these companies, which had the lowest average rates:

Pemco: $697 per year, or about $58 per month.
CIG: $716 per year, or about $60 per month.
Kemper: $850 per year, or about $71 per month.
State Farm: $1,024 per year, or about $85 per month.
California Casualty: $1,046 per year, or about $87 per month.

Cheapest minimum coverage car insurance in Washington for 60-year-olds

Drivers in Washington who want just the state minimum coverage may want to check with these insurers, which had the lowest average rates:

Pemco: $185 per year, or about $15 per month.
CIG: $239 per year, or about $20 per month.
California Casualty: $286 per year, or about $24 per month.
State Farm: $330 per year, or about $27 per month.
Chubb: $395 per year, or about $33 per month.

Cheapest auto insurance in Washington for 60-year-olds with poor credit

Drivers with poor credit in Washington can look at the following companies with the lowest average rates for full coverage:

Pemco: $697 per year, or about $58 per month.
CIG: $716 per year, or about $60 per month.
Kemper: $850 per year, or about $71 per month.
State Farm: $1,024 per year, or about $85 per month.
California Casualty: $1,046 per year, or about $87 per month.

Cheapest auto insurance in Washington for 60-year-old drivers with one speeding ticket

For drivers with a recent speeding ticket in Washington, here are the companies with the lowest average rates for minimum coverage:

Pemco: $249 per year, or about $21 per month.
CIG: $317 per year, or about $26 per month.
State Farm: $384 per year, or about $32 per month.
California Casualty: $424 per year, or about $35 per month.
Chubb: $433 per year, or about $36 per month.

Cheapest auto insurance in Washington for 60-year-old drivers with one at-fault crash

For drivers with a recent accident living in Washington, here are the companies with the lowest average rates for full coverage:

CIG: $925 per year, or about $77 per month.
Pemco: $969 per year, or about $81 per month.
California Casualty: $1,154 per year, or about $96 per month.
Kemper: $1,171 per year, or about $98 per month.
State Farm: $1,306 per year, or about $109 per month.

Cheapest auto insurance in Washington for 60-year-old drivers after a DUI

The cheapest auto insurance we found after a DUI came from the following companies, shown with their average rates for full coverage.

Pemco: $1,170 per year, or about $97 per month.
CIG: $1,235 per year, or about $103 per month.
State Farm: $1,486 per year, or about $124 per month.
Chubb: $1,604 per year, or about $134 per month.
American Family: $1,615 per year, or about $135 per month.

Cheapest for 70-year-old drivers

Car insurance costs may start to rise for 70-year-old drivers. To find the cheapest possible coverage, shop around and compare quotes from multiple companies. Also, look for insurers that offer discounts for seniors. For example, some insurers offer discounts to senior drivers who take a defensive driving course.

Cheapest full coverage car insurance in Washington for 70-year-olds

Drivers in Washington with clean driving records may want to think about getting quotes from these companies, which had the lowest average rates:

CIG: $761 per year, or about $63 per month.
Pemco: $800 per year, or about $67 per month.
Kemper: $915 per year, or about $76 per month.
State Farm: $1,093 per year, or about $91 per month.
California Casualty: $1,258 per year, or about $105 per month.

Cheapest minimum coverage car insurance in Washington for 70-year-olds

Drivers in Washington who want just the state minimum coverage may want to check with these insurers, which had the lowest average rates:

Pemco: $227 per year, or about $19 per month.
CIG: $269 per year, or about $22 per month.
State Farm: $366 per year, or about $31 per month.
California Casualty: $370 per year, or about $31 per month.
Chubb: $431 per year, or about $36 per month.

Cheapest auto insurance in Washington for 70-year-olds with poor credit

Drivers with poor credit in Washington can look at the following companies with the lowest average rates for full coverage:

CIG: $761 per year, or about $63 per month.
Pemco: $800 per year, or about $67 per month.
Kemper: $915 per year, or about $76 per month.
State Farm: $1,093 per year, or about $91 per month.
California Casualty: $1,258 per year, or about $105 per month.

Cheapest auto insurance in Washington for 70-year-old drivers with one speeding ticket

For drivers with a recent speeding ticket in Washington, here are the companies with the lowest average rates for minimum coverage:

Pemco: $306 per year, or about $25 per month.
CIG: $359 per year, or about $30 per month.
State Farm: $427 per year, or about $36 per month.
Chubb: $473 per year, or about $39 per month.
California Casualty: $602 per year, or about $50 per month.

Cheapest auto insurance in Washington for 70-year-old drivers with one at-fault crash

For drivers with a recent accident living in Washington, here are the companies with the lowest average rates for full coverage:

CIG: $982 per year, or about $82 per month.
Pemco: $1,119 per year, or about $93 per month.
Kemper: $1,265 per year, or about $105 per month.
California Casualty: $1,393 per year, or about $116 per month.
State Farm: $1,397 per year, or about $116 per month.

Cheapest auto insurance in Washington for 70-year-old drivers after a DUI

The cheapest auto insurance we found after a DUI came from the following companies, shown with their average rates for full coverage.

CIG: $1,327 per year, or about $111 per month.
Pemco: $1,354 per year, or about $113 per month.
State Farm: $1,595 per year, or about $133 per month.
Chubb: $1,685 per year, or about $140 per month.
American Family: $1,893 per year, or about $158 per month.

Cheapest car insurance for military families

If you're an active member of the military or a veteran — or have an immediate family member who is — chances are you'll get a relatively cheap rate with USAA, a company that isn't available to the general public.

Because of that restriction, USAA isn't ranked with the others, but it was among the cheapest five auto insurance options for 68 of the 70 driver profiles we examined.

» MORE: Best car insurance for veterans and military

Minimum auto insurance limits required in Washington

Washington drivers are required to purchase liability insurance. If you’re ever found at fault in a car accident, liability coverage pays for others’ property damage and injury expenses so you don’t have to cover these bills out of your own pocket.

The minimum auto liability limits in Washington are:

$25,000 bodily injury liability per person.
$50,000 bodily injury liability per crash.
$10,000 property damage liability per crash.

Liability car insurance covers the cost of any damage, injuries or deaths you cause in a car accident, up to your policy’s predefined limits.

While this will be enough to drive legally, it’s usually wise to select more than the bare minimum, because a serious crash could easily leave you owing more than, say, $10,000 in property damage. You might also want common optional coverages such as collision, comprehensive and uninsured motorist protection.

Check out NerdWallet’s guide to car insurance requirements by state to learn more about how the parts of your Washington auto policy work.

Alternative car insurance in Washington

Drivers who are denied coverage on the voluntary market because of a spotty driving record or other factors can apply for a policy through the Washington Automobile Insurance Plan.

Or, you could forgo auto insurance entirely by posting a certificate of deposit with the state for at least $60,000 to prove your financial responsibility under Washington law.

For more help finding great rates on your Washington auto coverage, try NerdWallet’s tool for car insurance comparisons.

Methodology

For our “good driver” profile, NerdWallet averaged insurance estimates for single male and female drivers with good credit and no tickets or violations. The analysis included 5-10 of the largest insurance companies in each state; smaller insurers were also included when rates were available. Liberty Mutual and its subsidiaries were excluded from our analysis as rates were not available.

For full coverage policies, we used the following coverage limits:

$100,000 bodily injury liability per person.
$300,000 bodily injury liability per accident.
$50,000 property damage liability per accident.
$100,000 uninsured motorist coverage per person.
$300,000 uninsured motorist coverage per accident.
Collision coverage with a $1,000 deductible.
Comprehensive coverage with a $1,000 deductible.

In states where required, minimum additional coverages were added. Some policies include additional coverages at the insurer’s discretion.

We used a 2020 Toyota Camry L for all drivers and assumed 12,000 annual miles driven.

We analyzed rates for drivers 20 to 70 years old in ten-year increments. For the average cost of full and minimum coverage in each state, we looked at 35-year-old drivers.

We used the same assumptions for all other driver profiles, with the following exceptions:

For drivers with minimum coverage, we adjusted the numbers above to reflect the minimum required coverage by law in the state.
We changed the credit tier from “good” to “poor” as reported to the insurer to see rates for drivers with poor credit.
For drivers with one at-fault crash, we added a single at-fault crash that happened six months ago, resulting in $10,000 in property damage and no bodily injury claim.
For drivers with a DUI, we added a single drunken driving violation that happened six months ago.

We looked at 35-year-old drivers to find the cheapest company overall, the cheapest company for minimum coverage and the cheapest company for drivers with poor credit in states where credit history is used to price rates. We looked at 20-year-old drivers to find the cheapest company for young drivers.

These are rates generated through Quadrant Information Services. Your own rates will be different. Some insurance companies included in this article may have made changes in their underwriting practices and no longer issue new policies in your state.