Cheapest car insurance in Washington for a bad driving record

If you have a bad driving record in Washington, State Farm, Geico, Allstate offer affordable car insurance. However, State Farm has the lowest average rate of $1,948.

Traffic infractions, accidents and DUIs wind up on your driving record, meaning you’ll pay higher car insurance rates in addition to any fines assessed. While most violations only affect your insurance rates for a few years, a DUI may affect rates for a decade and never be removed from your record.

CompanyAverage annual premium for clean recordAnnual premium for high-risk driver
State Farm$1,794$1,948
Geico$1,171$1,990
Allstate$1,766$2,069
Travelers$1,503$2,226
American Family$1,750$2,300
Farmers$1,714$2,377
Nationwide$1,658$3,125
Progressive$2,554$3,473
USAA$853$1,177
Data updated in 2024

How much is high-risk car insurance in Washington?

A problematic driving record or poor credit score may mean higher insurance rates, but affordable options exist. In Washington, high-risk car insurance costs $2,535. However, you can get rates as low as $1,948 from State Farm.

Many things can make you a high-risk driver, but some affect your rates more than others. For example, having multiple speeding tickets or a ticket for speeding in a school zone will increase your rates more than a single basic speeding ticket.

Read on as we explain high-risk car insurance factors and rates below.

Select your state and risk factor below to see the insurance company and its
average annual full coverage rates.

Washington
State
AlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWashington, D.C.West VirginiaWisconsinWyoming
*Please select from the list
At-fault bodily injury accident
Risk Factor
1 At-fault property damage accident over 2K1 At-fault property damage accident under 2K1 comprehensive claim for over 2k1 comprehensive claim for under 2k2 At-fault property damage accident over 2k2 comprehensive claims for over 2k2 speeding tickets 11 mph or overAt-fault bodily injury accidentCareless drivingDUI/DWI first offenseDUI/DWI second offenseDistracted driving ticketDriving without a license or permitDriving without insuranceFailure to stopFailure to yieldFollowing too closelyHit and run - injuryHit and run - property damageImproper turnImproper/illegal passLapse of coverage for 7 daysLapse of coverage for 7 to 30 daysLapse of coverage for over 30 daysOperating a vehicle in a race (highway racing)Passing stopped school busReckless drivingSR22 Filing OnlySR22 with 1 DUISeatbelt infractionSingle vehicle accident (so the drivers car only)Speeding 30+ over limitSpeeding ticket 1-10 MPH over limitSpeeding ticket 11-29 MPH over limitTalking on cellphone ticketTexting ticket
*Please select from the list
Average annual car insurance rate for At-fault bodily injury accident in Washington, WA is $2,508
Show Graph View
CompanyAnnual premium for clean recordAnnual premium after violation
USAA$853$1,206
Geico$1,171$1,954
State Farm$1,794$2,101
Travelers$1,503$2,165
Allstate$1,766$2,481
American Family$1,750$2,577
Nationwide$1,658$2,799
Farmers$1,714$3,074
Progressive$2,554$4,598
Data updated in 2024
Average annual rate

Cheapest car insurance in Washington with a DUI

While many insurers offer coverage after a DUI, State Farm provides the average cheapest coverage for $1,948.

A DUI is one of the most serious traffic violations to have on your record. Not only do you have to pay fines, but you’ll also see vastly higher car insurance rates for up to 10 years. Multiple DUIs will cause your premiums to skyrocket.

The table below compares average car insurance rates with a clean driving record and rates after a DUI in Washington.

CompanyAverage annual premium for clean recordAnnual premium for a DUI
State Farm$1,794$1,948
Geico$1,171$2,039
American Family$1,750$2,164
Allstate$1,766$2,284
Travelers$1,503$2,287
Farmers$1,714$3,024
Progressive$2,554$3,165
Nationwide$1,658$3,558
USAA$853$1,765
Data updated in 2024

Cheapest car insurance in Washington with multiple tickets

The cheapest insurer for drivers with multiple traffic tickets is Farmers, with rates averaging $1,883 or $157.

While one traffic ticket can affect car insurance rates, multiple tickets can significantly increase those rates. Failure to obey speed limits and traffic laws leads insurers to believe they will eventually have to pay claims due to risky driving.

This table shows Washington drivers how much multiple tickets increase premiums.

CompanyAverage annual premium for clean recordAnnual premium with a speeding ticket
Farmers$1,714$1,883
Allstate$1,766$1,925
State Farm$1,794$1,948
Geico$1,171$1,958
American Family$1,750$2,164
Travelers$1,503$2,185
Nationwide$1,658$2,836
Progressive$2,554$3,374
USAA$853$1,002
Data updated in 2024

Cheapest car insurance in Washington with a reckless driving conviction

State Farm has the cheapest rates for drivers with reckless driving convictions at $1,948.

If you engage in hazardous driving behaviors that endanger others, you may be charged with reckless driving. A reckless driving conviction will increase your car insurance rates.

The table below shows car insurance rates for drivers with a clean record vs. drivers with a reckless driving conviction.

CompanyAverage annual premium for clean recordAnnual premium for reckless driving
State Farm$1,794$1,948
Geico$1,171$2,039
Allstate$1,766$2,284
Travelers$1,503$2,287
American Family$1,750$2,845
Farmers$1,714$3,216
Nationwide$1,658$3,558
Progressive$2,554$4,076
USAA$853$1,114
Data updated in 2024

Cheapest car insurance after an accident in Washington

Geico has the lowest rates after an accident at $1,954. State Farm also has affordable rates at $2,101.

Drivers with accidents on their driving records see higher rates than drivers who avoid crashes. While car insurance increases after one accident, multiple accidents significantly increase rates.

This table compares rates for drivers with a clean driving record, one at-fault accident, and multiple accidents.

CompanyAverage annual premium for clean recordAnnual premium for one at-fault accidentAnnual premium for multiple accident
Geico$1,171$1,954$3,195
State Farm$1,794$2,101$2,101
Travelers$1,503$2,110$2,703
Allstate$1,766$2,481$3,225
American Family$1,750$2,577$3,095
Nationwide$1,658$2,799$4,407
Farmers$1,714$2,962$5,663
Progressive$2,554$4,598$7,006
USAA$853$1,206$1,738
Data updated in 2024

Cheapest car insurance in Washington by city

Moxee has the cheapest car insurance rates in Washington at $2,317. But the most expensive city is Seattle with rates of $3,065.

Your location in Washington also matters. For example, if you live in an area with heavy traffic or a high vehicle theft rate, rates will reflect the increased chance of claims.

CityAverage annual premium for clean recordAnnual premium for high-risk driver
Moxee$1,486$2,317
Cheney$1,483$2,321
Aberdeen$1,483$2,338
Yakima$1,510$2,351
Kelso$1,518$2,382
Nine Mile Falls$1,563$2,448
Camas$1,642$2,582
Edmonds$1,838$2,919
Shoreline$1,859$2,970
Seattle$1,910$3,065
Data updated in 2024

How to reduce car insurance rates in Washington for a bad driving record

Finding affordable car insurance in Washington is possible, even with a bad driving record. Ways to lower car insurance rates include:

  • Carefully consider filing claims. Paying for minor damage out of pocket may be cheaper than filing an insurance claim and increasing rates for years.
  • Avoid costly infractions. Drive carefully to avoid adding traffic infractions to your record. Tickets only affect insurance rates for a few years, which will decrease if more tickets aren’t added.
  • Improve your credit score. Raising your credit score lowers car insurance rates. Make on-time payments and consider credit usage to improve your rating.
  • Take a defensive driving course. Many insurance companies offer a discount for doing so, and some states remove driver's license points for successfully completing the class.
  • Shop around for coverage. Every car insurance company weighs factors differently and offers different rates. Compare quotes to find the cheapest rates.

Washington car insurance laws for high-risk drivers

If you're a high-risk driver in Washington, you might need to file an SR-22. This is a form that your car insurance company sends in to show you have the required minimum insurance coverage. The court will let you know how long you need to keep the SR-22.

An SR-22 isn’t a type of insurance; it’s just a form. You don’t need special coverage, but your rates might be higher because you’re considered high-risk. Also, not all insurance companies offer coverage for high-risk drivers or handle SR-22 filings.

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