Cheap car insurance in Washington
Pemco offers the cheapest minimum coverage in Washington, with an average rate of $36 per month, according to NerdWallet's May 2025 analysis. The cheapest option for full coverage is Kemper, with an average rate of $92 per month.
Cheapest car insurance in Washington state
How NerdWallet’s editorial team determined these rates: NerdWallet’s auto insurance writers analyze more than 500 million sample car insurance rates using data provided by Quadrant Information Services to find the cheapest car insurance in Washington. Hours of research, data analysis and engineering go into finding the most affordable companies each month, and we follow strict editorial guidelines to make sure every sentence of our summaries is thoroughly fact-checked.
This page highlights the cheapest rates for several types of drivers, but your rates will probably be different because of personal characteristics like your age, driving record, car and ZIP code. We recommend getting quotes from several of the companies below to find out which insurer will actually be the cheapest for you.
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Easily compare personalized rates to see how much switching car insurance could save you.What is the best cheap car insurance in Washington?
Travelers
Travelers offers a broad range of coverage options and discounts to help you customize your car insurance policy.- Received fewer customer complaints than expected for auto insurance.
- Lots of coverage options for auto insurance.
- One of the largest insurance providers in the nation.
- Rideshare insurance is not available in all states.
Minimum coverage cost per month, on average
$38
Minimum coverage cost per year, on average
$457
Full coverage cost per month, on average
$106
Travelers offers the cheapest car insurance in Washington among top-rated insurers, with an average rate of $38 per month for minimum coverage, according to NerdWallet's February 2025 analysis.
In addition to providing some of the cheapest rates in Washington, Travelers earned 5 out of 5 stars for overall performance in NerdWallet’s car insurance analysis. Travelers is regularly considered one of the top insurers in the nation in our star ratings, which factor things like complaints to state regulators, financial strength, and website and mobile app accessibility.
To see the full list of best companies available in your state, check out our roundup of the best car insurance in Washington.
More Nerdy Perspective
Think carefully about whether to drop collision coverage when it’s no longer required. When my car loan was paid off, I got into an accident before I got around to reducing my coverage. The insurance payout was enough to replace my totaled vehicle with a newer-model used car. Opting for less coverage can lower your premium, but in Washington, where car insurance rates are typically below the national average, some drivers may prefer to keep full coverage.
Washington car insurance by city
Your ZIP code is one of the key factors in determining what you’ll pay for auto insurance. For example, here are the median annual rates for minimum coverage car insurance in Seattle compared to the average cost in Washington:
Washington
Average cost of minimum coverage
$626 per year
Seattle
Average cost of minimum coverage
$831 per year
Washington
Average cost of full coverage
$2,190 per year
Seattle
Average cost of full coverage
$2,699 per year
Insurance companies with a focus in the Pacific Northwest, like CIG or Pemco, may be a good place to start when looking for cheap car insurance in Washington. Regional or even local insurers can be more affordable than larger insurers, but the only way to know for sure is to compare quotes and see which is cheapest for you.
Cheap auto insurance in Washington by age
Age is one of the most important factors in determining how much you’ll pay for car insurance. Below you'll find minimum coverage rates from the cheapest insurance companies for young drivers, millennials and seniors.
Cheap car insurance in Washington for young drivers
Young drivers may have to get a lot of quotes to find the best cheap car insurance. Prices can be sky-high in your 20s, 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.
| Company | Median annual rate | Median monthly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Pemco | $931 | $78 |
| GEICO | $988 | $82 |
| Progressive | $1,015 | $85 |
| Chubb | $1,056 | $88 |
| CIG | $1,118 | $93 |
Cheap car insurance in Washington for millennial drivers
Washington millennials with clean driving records may want to consider the following companies, which had the lowest average rates for minimum coverage among drivers in this age group.
For our analysis, we used 40-year-olds as the baseline for this group to clearly show the difference between young drivers and senior drivers.
| Company | Median annual rate | Median monthly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Pemco | $406 | $34 |
| Grange Insurance Association | $438 | $37 |
| Chubb | $441 | $37 |
| Travelers | $471 | $39 |
| CIG | $476 | $40 |
Cheap car insurance in Washington for senior drivers
Car insurance costs may start to rise for older drivers, so it’s wise to shop around for the cheapest rates once you’re in your 70s. You can also check for senior discounts. For example, some insurers offer discounts to senior drivers who take a defensive driving course.
| Company | Median annual rate | Median monthly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Chubb | $424 | $35 |
| Grange Insurance Association | $446 | $37 |
| State Farm | $471 | $39 |
| CIG | $512 | $43 |
| GEICO | $512 | $43 |
» MORE: Car insurance for seniors
Cheapest car insurance in Washington by driving record
Having a driving violation on your record is likely to increase your car insurance premium. How much more you’ll pay depends on the type of violation, your car insurance carrier and your other personal characteristics.
NerdWallet found the companies offering the lowest minimum coverage car insurance rates for 35-year-old Washington drivers with different driving records. If you have multiple violations on your record, consider looking into the best high risk car insurance companies.
Cheap car insurance in Washington after a speeding ticket
If you recently got a speeding ticket, check out these companies we found in Washington with the lowest average rates for minimum coverage:
| Company | Median annual rate | Median monthly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Chubb | $511 | $43 |
| Pemco | $518 | $43 |
| Grange Insurance Association | $520 | $43 |
| State Farm | $558 | $46 |
| Oregon Mutual | $614 | $51 |
Cheap car insurance in Washington after an accident
Here are the companies in Washington with the lowest average rates for minimum coverage and a recent at-fault accident:
| Company | Median annual rate | Median monthly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Oregon Mutual | $548 | $46 |
| Pemco | $557 | $46 |
| Chubb | $578 | $48 |
| Travelers | $626 | $52 |
| State Farm | $630 | $52 |
Cheap car insurance in Washington after a DUI
For drivers in Washington with a recent DUI, here are the companies with the lowest average rates for minimum coverage:
| Company | Median annual rate | Median monthly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Progressive | $563 | $47 |
| Chubb | $578 | $48 |
| Pemco | $652 | $54 |
| National General | $713 | $59 |
| State Farm | $750 | $62 |
» MORE: Cheap car insurance after a DUI
Cheapest car insurance in Washington by credit history
Your credit history can impact your auto insurance rates in Washington. Insurers use a credit-based insurance score, which is different from your regular credit score, to determine the likelihood you’ll file a claim.
NerdWallet found the companies offering the lowest car insurance rates for 35-year-old Washington drivers with poor credit. Consider the following companies with the lowest average rates for minimum coverage:
| Company | Median annual rate | Median monthly rate |
|---|---|---|
| CIG | $476 | $40 |
| Grange Insurance Association | $527 | $44 |
| Allstate | $588 | $49 |
| GEICO | $602 | $50 |
| Pemco | $718 | $60 |
Cheapest car insurance for military families in Washington
If you're an active member of the military or a veteran — or you have an immediate family member who is — chances are you'll get a relatively cheap rate with USAA, a company whose policies aren’t available to the general public.
Because of that restriction, USAA isn't ranked with the others, but it was among the cheapest three auto insurance options for 57 of the 70 driver profiles we examined.
USAA
USAA offers insurance to active military, veterans and their families only.- High customer satisfaction ratings.
- One-stop shop for insurance as well as banking and investing products.
- Policies available in all states and Washington, D.C.
- Available to active military, veterans and their families only.
Minimum coverage cost per year, on average
$334
Minimum coverage cost per month, on average
$28
Full coverage cost per month, on average
$106
Perks of car insurance coverage for Washington drivers
One benefit of being a Washington driver is access to roadside assistance through the Incident Response Program. This program combines resources from emergency responders, towing services, highway clean-up and other groups to deal with anything from flat tires to multi-vehicle accidents.
If you need assistance, dial 911 and the call responder will direct the proper team to help you.
How we chose the cheapest companies in Washington
NerdWallet’s editorial team analyzed car insurance rates from 22 auto insurers in Washington and listed the five cheapest options for drivers in several age brackets and with different histories, all driving a 2022 Toyota Camry LE. 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.
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 2022 Toyota Camry LE for all drivers and assumed 12,000 annual miles driven.
We analyzed rates for drivers 20 to 70 years old in 10-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.
