Best car insurance companies in Washington: PEMCO

PEMCO is the best auto insurance company in Washington, based on an analysis by Insurance.com, with an overall rating of 3.39. Geico, Travelers, State Farm, and Nationwide are also top car insurance companies in Washington.

Below is a full list of the top Washington insurance companies based on price, NAIC complaint ratio, and AM Best financial ratings. The total Insurance.com score is calculated out of five using these factors.

CompanyAM BestJD PowerNAICInsurance.com scoreAverage annual premium
PEMCOB++8310.243.39$1,326
GeicoA++7970.913.37$1,171
TravelersA++8100.493.35$1,503
State FarmA++8210.73.14$1,794
NationwideA+8100.643.01$1,658
AllstateA+7830.652.96$1,766
FarmersA7960.82.84$1,714
American FamilyA8201.12.56$1,750
ProgressiveA+8070.652.48$2,554

Data updated in 2024
Read our full methodology

Cheapest car insurance companies in Washington: Geico

Based on a rate analysis by Insurance.com, USAA offers the cheapest full coverage car insurance in Washington, with average rates of $853 annually or $71 a month, but it has eligibility requirements. Geico is the second cheapest company overall and is open to all drivers, with an average annual rate of $1,171 for full coverage in Washington. PEMCO offers the cheapest liability car insurance in Washington, with average rates of $351 annually. For state minimum coverage, PEMCO has the cheapest car insurance rates.

Don't just go with the first insurer you come across. Comparison shopping is the key when it comes to finding the best deal on auto insurance. Get quotes from several different insurers and compare their rates. You may be surprised at how much difference there can be in rates from one company to another.

We have gathered price quotes from all the major insurance providers in Washington and put together a list of the cheapest car insurance companies.  

CompanyState minimum liability50/100/50 liability100/300/100 liability with $500 deductible
USAA$226$387$853
Geico$296$473$1,171
PEMCO$158$351$1,326
Travelers$398$713$1,503
Nationwide$496$792$1,658
Farmers$450$868$1,714
American Family$709$1,109$1,750
Allstate$639$927$1,766
State Farm$410$741$1,794
Progressive$595$947$2,554

Data updated in 2024
Read our full methodology

*USAA offers car insurance only to military members, veterans and their families.

Average cost of car insurance in Washington

The average cost of car insurance in Washington state is $1,608 a year for a full coverage policy with a coverage level of 100/300/100 for a driver age 40, according to a rate analysis by Insurance.com. For the state minimum coverage, the average annual cost in Washington is $438.

Auto insurance calculator

Average auto insurance rates in Washington
30
16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75
Male
Male Female
98125 - Seattle
For a 30-year-old male
$48 State minimum
$164 Full coverage
$74 Liability only

Most & least expensive ZIP codes for auto insurance in Washington

Most Expensive

ZIP codeCityHighest rate
98108Seattle$185
98118Seattle$185
98168Tukwila$181
98144Seattle$180

Least Expensive

ZIP codeCityLowest rate
99149Malden$118
98261Lopez Island$119
98362Port Angeles$119
98368Port Townsend$119
Data updated in 2024
Read our full methodology

The Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner says...

There are several reasons why you may want to change or cancel your policy, such as finding cheaper rates or maybe you sold your car and no longer need auto insurance. It's important to avoid any gaps in coverage - as gaps can lead to higher rates. Whatever your reason, here are some suggestions to ensure things go smoothly:

  • Make sure you have a replacement policy in place before you cancel your existing policy.
  • Ask your agent or insurance company about their cancellation policy and if there are any cancellation fees.
  • Read your auto policy's cancellation terms.
  • Follow up with a letter to the company or agent.
- The Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner

Washington car insurance requirements

The minimum car insurance required in Washington is 25/50/10. The average cost of the state minimum liability insurance is $430 a year, or $36 per month. 

Minimum liability insurance requirements for Washington:

  • Bodily injury liability (BI): $25,000 per person and $50,000 for accident
  • Property damage liability (PD): $10,000 per accident

Cheapest car insurance companies for minimum liability coverage in Washington

Insurance.com data show that PEMCO offers the most affordable state minimum liability coverage, costing an average of $150, or $13 a month. 

The table below shows the cheapest car insurance companies for minimum coverage in Washington. 

State minimum auto insurance coverage in WA
Company Liability insurance premiumMonthly liability insurance premium
PEMCO$150$13
USAA*$226$19
Geico$267$22
Travelers$407$34
State Farm$410$34
Farmers$430$36
Nationwide$486$41
Progressive$577$48
Allstate$629$52
American Family$716$60

Data updated in 2024
Read our full methodology

*USAA offers coverage only to military veterans and their family

Cheapest car insurance cost in Washington by age

PEMCO
Cheapest for teens
$3,514/yr
Learn more
company_name
Cheapest for adults
$1,213/yr
Learn more
company_name
Cheapest for seniors
$1,142/yr
Learn more

In Washington, as in all states, car insurance rates are higher for teenagers as they are more prone to accidents due to their lack of experience.

PEMCO offers the cheapest car insurance for teen drivers in Washington at $3,514 per year for a full coverage policy.

Car insurance rates will decrease as teens age and keep a good driving record. Car insurance rates for adults 25+ and seniors 60+ are lower than those for teens and young adults. 

In Washington, Geico offers the cheapest full coverage car insurance for adult drivers and senior drivers at $1,213 per year and $1,142 per year. You can save more with USAA if you are eligible.

Compare car insurance rates by age

Select your age group and age below to see the insurance company and its
average annual and average monthly premium rates.

Age group
Teen
Age
16
Table
Graph
PEMCO$4,520$377
Travelers$5,208$434
State Farm$5,624$469
Farmers$5,889$491
American Family$6,374$531
Nationwide$6,701$558
USAA$6,851$571
Geico$7,087$591
Progressive$9,052$754
Allstate$9,200$767
Yearly premium

Data updated in 2024
Read our full methodology

*USAA offers car insurance only to military members, veterans and their families.

Cheapest car insurance companies in Washington by driver profile

company_name
Cheapest for at-fault accident
$1,954/yr
Learn more
company_name
Cheapest for DUI
$1,948/yr
Learn more
company_name
Cheapest for speeding ticket
$1,883/yr
Learn more

Drivers who have accidents or tickets are considered a higher risk and will pay more. In Washington, Geico is the cheapest auto insurance company for most drivers with an accident in Washington state at an average of $1,954 per year. USAA offers the cheapest car insurance rates for drivers with an accident, at $1,206 per year. However, it covers specifically the military community.

Farmers is the cheapest option for drivers with a speeding ticket at $1,883 per year. USAA offers the cheapest rates for drivers with speeding tickets if you are eligible.

Below are the average Washington car insurance rates by company for drivers with accidents and tickets on their driving record. 

CompanyClean recordAccidentSpeeding ticket
USAA$853$1,206$1,002
Farmers$1,714$2,963$1,883
Allstate$1,766$2,481$1,925
State Farm$1,794$2,101$1,948
Geico$1,171$1,954$1,958
American Family$1,750$2,577$2,164
Travelers$1,503$2,110$2,184
Nationwide$1,658$2,799$2,836
Progressive$2,554$4,598$3,374

*USAA offers car insurance only to military members, veterans, and their families.

Data updated in 2024
Read our full methodology

*USAA offers car insurance only to military members, veterans and their families.

Compare auto insurance rates by city in Washington

Auto insurance rates in your city can differ significantly from the state average due to factors such as population density, increased instances of auto theft or accidents, and a few other factors. It's best to compare quotes from various insurance providers to find the most competitive rates for your specific city in Washington.

CityAnnual insurance premium
Seattle
$1,910
Data updated in 2024
Read our full methodology

Car insurance average rates increase most years and various factors contribute to these changes, including shifts in economic conditions, changes in state laws, and the number and severity of insurance claims.

That's why it's important to keep track of car insurance premiums to make better decisions. The graph below shows how insurance rates in Washington have increased or decreased from 2020 to 2023.

Whether you're planning to renew your policy with your current insurer or looking for a new one, this analysis is invaluable for making informed insurance choices.

Insurance.com commissioned Quadrant Information Services in 2023 to field rates from major insurers in every state across most ZIP codes. Driver profile: male, age 40, driving a 2023 Honda Accord LX with full coverage of 100/300/100 with comprehensive and collision; $500 deductible.

The car insurance rates for drivers with accidents and tickets are averaged based on rates for the following accidents and tickets: 

Accidents: 

  • 1 at-fault property damage accident over $2k
  • 1 at-fault property damage accident under $2k
  • At-fault bodily injury accident 
  • Single vehicle accident 

Tickets: 

  • Distracted driving ticket
  • Speeding ticket 1- 10 MPH over limit 
  • Speeding ticket 11- 29 MPH over limit 
  • Talking on cellphone ticket 
  • Texting ticket 

Insurance.com analyzed rates from more than 34,000 ZIP codes, 56 million quotes, and 136 companies. Rates sourced from Quadrant Data Services are for comparison purposes only; your rates may differ.

Tip icon You might also be interested in