The Cheapest Car Insurance in Washington for 2023

Pemco offers the cheapest car insurance in Washington, with an average monthly rate of $63 for full coverage.
Ben Moore
By Ben Moore  
Updated
Edited by Lacie Glover  

Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. This influences which products we write about and where and how the product appears on a page. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money.

Table of Contents

Nerdy takeaways

  • The cheapest car insurance in Washington is Pemco, with an average monthly rate of $63 for full coverage.

  • The average cost of car insurance in Washington is $147 per month for full coverage.

  • The best way to get cheap car insurance is to shop around and compare quotes from multiple insurers.

Table of Contents

Nerdy takeaways

  • The cheapest car insurance in Washington is Pemco, with an average monthly rate of $63 for full coverage.

  • The average cost of car insurance in Washington is $147 per month for full coverage.

  • The best way to get cheap car insurance is to shop around and compare quotes from multiple insurers.

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 CIG at $822 per year on average, or $69 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 $1,667 per year, or about $139 per month.

Minimum coverage in Washington is $610 per year on average, but we found you can likely get a cheaper policy. For example, Pemco offers the cheapest rates in Washington at $189 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.

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.

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:

  1. CIG: $1,561 per year, or about $130 per month.
  2. American Family: $2,140 per year, or about $178 per month.
  3. Pemco: $2,416 per year, or about $201 per month.
  4. Geico: $2,422 per year, or about $202 per month.
  5. Kemper: $2,427 per year, or about $202 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:

  1. Pemco: $380 per year, or about $32 per month.
  2. CIG: $602 per year, or about $50 per month.
  3. California Casualty: $640 per year, or about $53 per month.
  4. Geico: $880 per year, or about $73 per month.
  5. Chubb: $945 per year, or about $79 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:

  1. Pemco: $514 per year, or about $43 per month.
  2. CIG: $602 per year, or about $50 per month.
  3. California Casualty: $640 per year, or about $53 per month.
  4. Geico: $880 per year, or about $73 per month.
  5. Chubb: $945 per year, or about $79 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:

  1. Pemco: $426 per year, or about $36 per month.
  2. California Casualty: $804 per year, or about $67 per month.
  3. CIG: $818 per year, or about $68 per month.
  4. Chubb: $1,038 per year, or about $87 per month.
  5. Geico: $1,054 per year, or about $88 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:

  1. Pemco: $469 per year, or about $39 per month.
  2. California Casualty: $695 per year, or about $58 per month.
  3. CIG: $818 per year, or about $68 per month.
  4. Geico: $1,163 per year, or about $97 per month.
  5. Chubb: $1,190 per year, or about $99 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.

  1. Pemco: $548 per year, or about $46 per month.
  2. Progressive: $1,132 per year, or about $94 per month.
  3. CIG: $1,138 per year, or about $95 per month.
  4. Chubb: $1,190 per year, or about $99 per month.
  5. American Family: $1,265 per year, or about $105 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:

  1. CIG: $887 per year, or about $74 per month.
  2. Kemper: $954 per year, or about $80 per month.
  3. Travelers: $1,078 per year, or about $90 per month.
  4. Geico: $1,143 per year, or about $95 per month.
  5. California Casualty: $1,277 per year, or about $106 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:

  1. Pemco: $211 per year, or about $18 per month.
  2. CIG: $280 per year, or about $23 per month.
  3. California Casualty: $294 per year, or about $25 per month.
  4. Grange Insurance Association: $400 per year, or about $33 per month.
  5. Travelers: $418 per year, or about $35 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:

  1. CIG: $887 per year, or about $74 per month.
  2. Kemper: $954 per year, or about $80 per month.
  3. Geico: $1,143 per year, or about $95 per month.
  4. California Casualty: $1,277 per year, or about $106 per month.
  5. American Family: $1,353 per year, or about $113 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:

  1. Pemco: $262 per year, or about $22 per month.
  2. CIG: $376 per year, or about $31 per month.
  3. California Casualty: $434 per year, or about $36 per month.
  4. Chubb: $498 per year, or about $42 per month.
  5. Grange Insurance Association: $548 per year, or about $46 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:

  1. CIG: $1,220 per year, or about $102 per month.
  2. Kemper: $1,321 per year, or about $110 per month.
  3. California Casualty: $1,360 per year, or about $113 per month.
  4. Travelers: $1,405 per year, or about $117 per month.
  5. American Family: $1,727 per year, or about $144 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.

  1. CIG: $1,554 per year, or about $130 per month.
  2. American Family: $1,647 per year, or about $137 per month.
  3. Progressive: $1,727 per year, or about $144 per month.
  4. Chubb: $1,898 per year, or about $158 per month.
  5. Pemco: $2,390 per year, or about $199 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:

  1. CIG: $822 per year, or about $69 per month.
  2. Kemper: $907 per year, or about $76 per month.
  3. Travelers: $1,058 per year, or about $88 per month.
  4. Geico: $1,136 per year, or about $95 per month.
  5. California Casualty: $1,265 per year, or about $105 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:

  1. Pemco: $186 per year, or about $16 per month.
  2. CIG: $264 per year, or about $22 per month.
  3. California Casualty: $304 per year, or about $25 per month.
  4. Grange Insurance Association: $400 per year, or about $33 per month.
  5. Chubb: $421 per year, or about $35 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:

  1. CIG: $822 per year, or about $69 per month.
  2. Kemper: $907 per year, or about $76 per month.
  3. Geico: $1,136 per year, or about $95 per month.
  4. California Casualty: $1,265 per year, or about $105 per month.
  5. American Family: $1,295 per year, or about $108 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:

  1. Pemco: $240 per year, or about $20 per month.
  2. CIG: $354 per year, or about $30 per month.
  3. California Casualty: $450 per year, or about $38 per month.
  4. Chubb: $462 per year, or about $39 per month.
  5. Grange Insurance Association: $548 per year, or about $46 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:

  1. CIG: $1,120 per year, or about $93 per month.
  2. Kemper: $1,255 per year, or about $105 per month.
  3. California Casualty: $1,349 per year, or about $112 per month.
  4. Travelers: $1,367 per year, or about $114 per month.
  5. American Family: $1,639 per year, or about $137 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.

  1. CIG: $1,414 per year, or about $118 per month.
  2. American Family: $1,570 per year, or about $131 per month.
  3. Progressive: $1,641 per year, or about $137 per month.
  4. Chubb: $1,810 per year, or about $151 per month.
  5. Pemco: $2,094 per year, or about $175 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:

  1. CIG: $788 per year, or about $66 per month.
  2. Kemper: $846 per year, or about $71 per month.
  3. Travelers: $994 per year, or about $83 per month.
  4. Geico: $1,171 per year, or about $98 per month.
  5. California Casualty: $1,215 per year, or about $101 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:

  1. Pemco: $188 per year, or about $16 per month.
  2. CIG: $256 per year, or about $21 per month.
  3. California Casualty: $294 per year, or about $25 per month.
  4. Grange Insurance Association: $380 per year, or about $32 per month.
  5. Travelers: $408 per year, or about $34 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:

  1. CIG: $788 per year, or about $66 per month.
  2. Kemper: $846 per year, or about $71 per month.
  3. Geico: $1,171 per year, or about $98 per month.
  4. California Casualty: $1,215 per year, or about $101 per month.
  5. American Family: $1,249 per year, or about $104 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:

  1. Pemco: $255 per year, or about $21 per month.
  2. CIG: $342 per year, or about $29 per month.
  3. California Casualty: $436 per year, or about $36 per month.
  4. Chubb: $462 per year, or about $39 per month.
  5. Grange Insurance Association: $522 per year, or about $44 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:

  1. CIG: $1,069 per year, or about $89 per month.
  2. Kemper: $1,168 per year, or about $97 per month.
  3. California Casualty: $1,292 per year, or about $108 per month.
  4. Travelers: $1,358 per year, or about $113 per month.
  5. American Family: $1,576 per year, or about $131 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.

  1. CIG: $1,347 per year, or about $112 per month.
  2. American Family: $1,508 per year, or about $126 per month.
  3. Progressive: $1,670 per year, or about $139 per month.
  4. Chubb: $1,756 per year, or about $146 per month.
  5. Pemco: $2,183 per year, or about $182 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:

  1. CIG: $764 per year, or about $64 per month.
  2. Kemper: $804 per year, or about $67 per month.
  3. Travelers: $1,042 per year, or about $87 per month.
  4. Geico: $1,171 per year, or about $98 per month.
  5. California Casualty: $1,185 per year, or about $99 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:

  1. Pemco: $202 per year, or about $17 per month.
  2. CIG: $250 per year, or about $21 per month.
  3. California Casualty: $287 per year, or about $24 per month.
  4. Chubb: $371 per year, or about $31 per month.
  5. Grange Insurance Association: $380 per year, or about $32 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:

  1. CIG: $764 per year, or about $64 per month.
  2. Kemper: $804 per year, or about $67 per month.
  3. Geico: $1,171 per year, or about $98 per month.
  4. California Casualty: $1,185 per year, or about $99 per month.
  5. Chubb: $1,253 per year, or about $104 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:

  1. Pemco: $290 per year, or about $24 per month.
  2. CIG: $336 per year, or about $28 per month.
  3. Chubb: $407 per year, or about $34 per month.
  4. California Casualty: $424 per year, or about $35 per month.
  5. Grange Insurance Association: $522 per year, or about $44 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:

  1. CIG: $1,036 per year, or about $86 per month.
  2. Kemper: $1,109 per year, or about $92 per month.
  3. California Casualty: $1,257 per year, or about $105 per month.
  4. Travelers: $1,459 per year, or about $122 per month.
  5. Chubb: $1,528 per year, or about $127 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.

  1. CIG: $1,312 per year, or about $109 per month.
  2. Chubb: $1,528 per year, or about $127 per month.
  3. American Family: $1,545 per year, or about $129 per month.
  4. Progressive: $1,661 per year, or about $138 per month.
  5. Allstate: $2,321 per year, or about $193 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:

  1. CIG: $812 per year, or about $68 per month.
  2. Kemper: $870 per year, or about $73 per month.
  3. Travelers: $1,271 per year, or about $106 per month.
  4. Chubb: $1,307 per year, or about $109 per month.
  5. Geico: $1,376 per year, or about $115 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:

  1. Pemco: $257 per year, or about $21 per month.
  2. CIG: $284 per year, or about $24 per month.
  3. California Casualty: $373 per year, or about $31 per month.
  4. Chubb: $404 per year, or about $34 per month.
  5. Grange Insurance Association: $408 per year, or about $34 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:

  1. CIG: $812 per year, or about $68 per month.
  2. Kemper: $870 per year, or about $73 per month.
  3. Chubb: $1,307 per year, or about $109 per month.
  4. Geico: $1,376 per year, or about $115 per month.
  5. California Casualty: $1,416 per year, or about $118 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:

  1. Pemco: $368 per year, or about $31 per month.
  2. CIG: $378 per year, or about $32 per month.
  3. Chubb: $443 per year, or about $37 per month.
  4. Grange Insurance Association: $558 per year, or about $47 per month.
  5. California Casualty: $609 per year, or about $51 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:

  1. CIG: $1,098 per year, or about $92 per month.
  2. Kemper: $1,200 per year, or about $100 per month.
  3. California Casualty: $1,512 per year, or about $126 per month.
  4. Chubb: $1,596 per year, or about $133 per month.
  5. Travelers: $1,822 per year, or about $152 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.

  1. CIG: $1,410 per year, or about $118 per month.
  2. Chubb: $1,596 per year, or about $133 per month.
  3. American Family: $1,801 per year, or about $150 per month.
  4. Progressive: $2,267 per year, or about $189 per month.
  5. Allstate: $2,509 per year, or about $209 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 70 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.

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