The Cheapest Car Insurance in Washington for April 2024

CIG offers the cheapest car insurance in Washington, with an average annual rate of $824 for full coverage.
Ben Moore
By Ben Moore  
Updated
Edited by Lacie Glover  

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Table of Contents

Table of Contents

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 $824 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 $1,723 per year, or about $144 per month.

Minimum coverage in Washington is $593 per year on average, but we found you can likely get a cheaper policy. For example, Pemco offers the cheapest rates in Washington at $222 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.

Are you wondering why insurance rates are higher? Ask a Nerd directly
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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.

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: $1,558 per year, or about $130 per month.
  2. Geico: $2,261 per year, or about $188 per month.
  3. Kemper: $2,524 per year, or about $210 per month.
  4. Pemco: $2,775 per year, or about $231 per month.
  5. Chubb: $2,973 per year, or about $248 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: $375 per year, or about $31 per month.
  2. CIG: $596 per year, or about $50 per month.
  3. Geico: $734 per year, or about $61 per month.
  4. California Casualty: $782 per year, or about $65 per month.
  5. State Farm: $962 per year, or about $80 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. CIG: $596 per year, or about $50 per month.
  2. Pemco: $620 per year, or about $52 per month.
  3. Geico: $734 per year, or about $61 per month.
  4. California Casualty: $782 per year, or about $65 per month.
  5. Chubb: $1,067 per year, or about $89 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: $427 per year, or about $36 per month.
  2. CIG: $810 per year, or about $68 per month.
  3. Geico: $886 per year, or about $74 per month.
  4. California Casualty: $983 per year, or about $82 per month.
  5. State Farm: $1,123 per year, or about $94 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: $463 per year, or about $39 per month.
  2. CIG: $812 per year, or about $68 per month.
  3. California Casualty: $851 per year, or about $71 per month.
  4. Geico: $971 per year, or about $81 per month.
  5. State Farm: $1,267 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.

  1. Pemco: $540 per year, or about $45 per month.
  2. CIG: $1,126 per year, or about $94 per month.
  3. Progressive: $1,132 per year, or about $94 per month.
  4. Geico: $1,216 per year, or about $101 per month.
  5. Chubb: $1,346 per year, or about $112 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: $888 per year, or about $74 per month.
  2. Kemper: $989 per year, or about $82 per month.
  3. Travelers: $1,065 per year, or about $89 per month.
  4. Geico: $1,142 per year, or about $95 per month.
  5. California Casualty: $1,431 per year, or about $119 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: $255 per year, or about $21 per month.
  2. CIG: $278 per year, or about $23 per month.
  3. State Farm: $343 per year, or about $29 per month.
  4. California Casualty: $360 per year, or about $30 per month.
  5. Geico: $376 per year, or about $31 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: $888 per year, or about $74 per month.
  2. Kemper: $989 per year, or about $82 per month.
  3. Geico: $1,142 per year, or about $95 per month.
  4. California Casualty: $1,431 per year, or about $119 per month.
  5. American Family: $1,479 per year, or about $123 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: $317 per year, or about $26 per month.
  2. CIG: $374 per year, or about $31 per month.
  3. State Farm: $401 per year, or about $33 per month.
  4. Geico: $514 per year, or about $43 per month.
  5. California Casualty: $531 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:

  1. CIG: $1,222 per year, or about $102 per month.
  2. Kemper: $1,374 per year, or about $115 per month.
  3. Travelers: $1,387 per year, or about $116 per month.
  4. California Casualty: $1,526 per year, or about $127 per month.
  5. Geico: $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: $1,551 per year, or about $129 per month.
  2. Progressive: $1,727 per year, or about $144 per month.
  3. Chubb: $1,904 per year, or about $159 per month.
  4. State Farm: $2,148 per year, or about $179 per month.
  5. American Family: $2,363 per year, or about $197 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: $824 per year, or about $69 per month.
  2. Kemper: $941 per year, or about $78 per month.
  3. Travelers: $1,045 per year, or about $87 per month.
  4. Geico: $1,097 per year, or about $91 per month.
  5. California Casualty: $1,425 per year, or about $119 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: $209 per year, or about $17 per month.
  2. CIG: $262 per year, or about $22 per month.
  3. State Farm: $337 per year, or about $28 per month.
  4. Geico: $356 per year, or about $30 per month.
  5. California Casualty: $371 per year, or about $31 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: $824 per year, or about $69 per month.
  2. Kemper: $941 per year, or about $78 per month.
  3. Geico: $1,097 per year, or about $91 per month.
  4. California Casualty: $1,425 per year, or about $119 per month.
  5. American Family: $1,447 per year, or about $121 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: $281 per year, or about $23 per month.
  2. CIG: $352 per year, or about $29 per month.
  3. State Farm: $394 per year, or about $33 per month.
  4. Chubb: $486 per year, or about $41 per month.
  5. Geico: $488 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:

  1. CIG: $1,120 per year, or about $93 per month.
  2. Kemper: $1,306 per year, or about $109 per month.
  3. Travelers: $1,349 per year, or about $112 per month.
  4. California Casualty: $1,517 per year, or about $126 per month.
  5. Geico: $1,657 per year, or about $138 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: $1,412 per year, or about $118 per month.
  2. Progressive: $1,641 per year, or about $137 per month.
  3. Chubb: $1,796 per year, or about $150 per month.
  4. State Farm: $2,069 per year, or about $172 per month.
  5. American Family: $2,320 per year, or about $193 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: $790 per year, or about $66 per month.
  2. Kemper: $879 per year, or about $73 per month.
  3. Travelers: $981 per year, or about $82 per month.
  4. Geico: $1,125 per year, or about $94 per month.
  5. American Family: $1,321 per year, or about $110 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: $214 per year, or about $18 per month.
  2. CIG: $254 per year, or about $21 per month.
  3. State Farm: $326 per year, or about $27 per month.
  4. Geico: $357 per year, or about $30 per month.
  5. California Casualty: $360 per year, or about $30 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: $790 per year, or about $66 per month.
  2. Kemper: $879 per year, or about $73 per month.
  3. Geico: $1,125 per year, or about $94 per month.
  4. American Family: $1,321 per year, or about $110 per month.
  5. California Casualty: $1,365 per year, or about $114 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: $302 per year, or about $25 per month.
  2. CIG: $340 per year, or about $28 per month.
  3. State Farm: $381 per year, or about $32 per month.
  4. Chubb: $459 per year, or about $38 per month.
  5. Geico: $511 per year, or about $43 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: $1,072 per year, or about $89 per month.
  2. Kemper: $1,215 per year, or about $101 per month.
  3. Travelers: $1,340 per year, or about $112 per month.
  4. California Casualty: $1,450 per year, or about $121 per month.
  5. Chubb: $1,703 per year, or about $142 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: $1,345 per year, or about $112 per month.
  2. Progressive: $1,670 per year, or about $139 per month.
  3. Chubb: $1,703 per year, or about $142 per month.
  4. State Farm: $1,997 per year, or about $166 per month.
  5. American Family: $2,089 per year, or about $174 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: $765 per year, or about $64 per month.
  2. Kemper: $836 per year, or about $70 per month.
  3. Travelers: $1,028 per year, or about $86 per month.
  4. Geico: $1,125 per year, or about $94 per month.
  5. Chubb: $1,285 per year, or about $107 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: $243 per year, or about $20 per month.
  2. CIG: $248 per year, or about $21 per month.
  3. State Farm: $299 per year, or about $25 per month.
  4. California Casualty: $351 per year, or about $29 per month.
  5. Geico: $367 per year, or about $31 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: $765 per year, or about $64 per month.
  2. Kemper: $836 per year, or about $70 per month.
  3. Geico: $1,125 per year, or about $94 per month.
  4. Chubb: $1,285 per year, or about $107 per month.
  5. California Casualty: $1,328 per year, or about $111 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. CIG: $334 per year, or about $28 per month.
  2. Pemco: $349 per year, or about $29 per month.
  3. State Farm: $349 per year, or about $29 per month.
  4. Chubb: $439 per year, or about $37 per month.
  5. Geico: $501 per year, or about $42 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: $1,038 per year, or about $87 per month.
  2. Kemper: $1,153 per year, or about $96 per month.
  3. California Casualty: $1,415 per year, or about $118 per month.
  4. Travelers: $1,439 per year, or about $120 per month.
  5. Chubb: $1,569 per year, or about $131 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: $1,569 per year, or about $131 per month.
  3. Progressive: $1,661 per year, or about $138 per month.
  4. State Farm: $1,876 per year, or about $156 per month.
  5. American Family: $2,108 per year, or about $176 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: $814 per year, or about $68 per month.
  2. Kemper: $903 per year, or about $75 per month.
  3. Travelers: $1,256 per year, or about $105 per month.
  4. Geico: $1,295 per year, or about $108 per month.
  5. Chubb: $1,331 per year, or about $111 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. CIG: $282 per year, or about $24 per month.
  2. Pemco: $310 per year, or about $26 per month.
  3. State Farm: $332 per year, or about $28 per month.
  4. Geico: $422 per year, or about $35 per month.
  5. Chubb: $425 per year, or about $35 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: $814 per year, or about $68 per month.
  2. Kemper: $903 per year, or about $75 per month.
  3. Geico: $1,295 per year, or about $108 per month.
  4. Chubb: $1,331 per year, or about $111 per month.
  5. American Family: $1,524 per year, or about $127 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. CIG: $374 per year, or about $31 per month.
  2. State Farm: $388 per year, or about $32 per month.
  3. Pemco: $445 per year, or about $37 per month.
  4. Chubb: $466 per year, or about $39 per month.
  5. Grange Insurance Association: $551 per year, or about $46 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: $1,100 per year, or about $92 per month.
  2. Kemper: $1,251 per year, or about $104 per month.
  3. Chubb: $1,627 per year, or about $136 per month.
  4. California Casualty: $1,703 per year, or about $142 per month.
  5. State Farm: $1,745 per year, or about $145 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: $1,408 per year, or about $117 per month.
  2. Chubb: $1,627 per year, or about $136 per month.
  3. State Farm: $1,992 per year, or about $166 per month.
  4. Progressive: $2,267 per year, or about $189 per month.
  5. American Family: $2,426 per year, or about $202 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 three auto insurance options for 56 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 2021 Toyota Camry LE 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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