Washington car insurance quick facts
Minimum liability requirements
25/50/10
Average annual car insurance cost according to the NAIC
$$1,120.02
At-fault state
In at-fault states, the driver who caused the accident pays for damages.
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Compare car insurance in Washington
Get the cheapest car insurance in Washington for 2022
Washington drivers pay an average of $1,120.02 per year for car insurance according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), that’s about $93.33 per month. Washington drivers pay about 6% less than the countrywide national average of $1,189.64.
The NAIC takes into account all car insurance policies within the state such as drivers who select only state minimum coverage, as well as policies that include various levels of comprehensive and collision coverage. Because car insurance rates are influenced by personal factors, you could find yourself paying significantly less.
Washington state minimum car insurance requirements
Drivers in Washington are required to carry a minimum amount of liability coverage to legally drive. You may see it written as 25/50/10, but we’ll break down what that means.
Washington bodily injury liability
- $25,000 bodily injury liability per person
- $50,000 bodily injury per accident
Washington requires $25,000 in bodily injury liability per person and $50,000 of bodily injury per accident to legally drive. That’s right in line with what most states across the US require for this coverage.
This means $25,000 is the most your insurer will pay for a single person injured by you in an at-fault accident. And $50,000 is the maximum amount your insurer will pay if there is more than one person injured by you in an at-fault accident. Any costs outside of your bodily injury limit are required to come out of your pocket.
Washington property damage liability
- $10,000 property damage liability
Washington requires drivers to carry $10,000 of property damage liability to legally drive. This is on the lower end of required property damage limits across the US.
This means $10,000 is the maximum amount your car insurance company will pay towards damages you cause to another person’s car or property, such as repairs to a car, fence or building. You’ll have to pay out of pocket for any costs beyond your property damage liability limit.
Finder tip: State minimum coverage isn’t enough
These state-mandated requirements are the lowest amount of coverage you need to legally drive in Washington, but may fall short if you’re in a major accident. To avoid high out-of-pocket costs after an accident, consider raising your liability limits by balancing coverage, your budget and what you can afford to pay out of pocket for certain damage.
In Washington, the driver at fault pays for damage
Washington is an at-fault state, meaning that the driver who causes the car accident pays for the damage. Your insurance company and legal authorities will figure out who’s at fault, based on the circumstances.
However, Washington also considers whether both drivers are partially at fault under a law called pure comparative fault, according to the legal website Nolo. Under this law, both drivers pay for the percentage of damage that they cause.
For example, if you’re 80% responsible for an accident, your insurance pays 80% of the other driver’s property damage. The other driver’s insurance pays 20% of your property damage.
7 factors that affect car insurance rates in Washington
Factors are characteristics specific to you that car insurance companies use to set how much you’ll pay for car insurance. The less risky each of your factors is the less you pay, the riskier you are the more you’ll pay. We’ll break down Washingtonian’s rating factors to keep in mind.
| Factor | How it affects your rates |
|---|---|
 Age | How old you are is a top factor in determining your car insurance rates. With each passing year, you earn more experience on the road. More experience can equal cheaper rates. Teen drivers pay the most, but rates begin to level off around your 20’s with drivers over 50 paying the least. |
 Gender | Washington takes gender into account when determining your rates. Our analysis of Quadrant data found that men under 18 pay 17% more for car insurance compared to women of the same age. But, between 31 and 45, women see rates 5% higher than men. After 45, rates differ between men and women by only 1%, with women on the higher end. |
 Location | Where you live affects your rates, including where you park your car. High theft rates, high traffic and a high number of uninsured drivers could mean higher rates. Washington vehicle theft rates stand at 356.1 vehicle thefts per 100,000 inhabitants, according to the FBI’s most recent report on vehicle theft rates. That’s the ninth highest number of vehicle thefts in a state, with a national average of 246 vehicle thefts per 100,000 inhabitants. As for uninsured drivers, 21.7% of Washingtonians on the road are uninsured. That’s the fifth highest percentage of uninsured drivers in a state according to Insurance Information Institute, with the national average standing at 12.6%. |
 Vehicle and mileage | Your car’s make, model and trim directly affect how much you’ll pay for car insurance. Things like its cost, safety ratings, the likelihood of theft and sportiness all help insurers determine its cost to insure. Safer and cheaper vehicles score the lowest rates, with luxury vehicles with higher repair costs resulting in higher premiums. And, the more you’re on the road, the more at-risk you are to get in an accident, which means higher premiums. However, according to the Bureau of Transportation, Washingtonians drive an average of 40.4 miles per day, that’s well above the average across the US of 36.1 miles per day. |
 Credit score | Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner issued an emergency ruling in March 2021 that bans insurers from using your credit score to determine your rates. This new rule comes at the heels of the pandemic and stays in effect for three years after the coronavirus pandemic is declared over. |
 Coverage | The more coverage you get and the higher limits you choose, the more protection you’ll have and the more you’ll pay in monthly premiums. And, if you opt for full coverage car insurance that includes comprehensive and collision, the amount of your deductible weighs into your costs too, higher deductibles mean lower monthly premiums. |
 Driving Record | The better your driving record, the lower your premium. If you’re in an at-fault accident you could see rates increases from 20% to 50%. And DUI’s in Rhode Island can increase your rate by around 28%. These types of violations typically stay on your record for about three years. |
Do I need SR-22 insurance in Washington?
If you need SR-22 insurance in Washington, you’ll be notified by the DMV. This form proves that you’re able to maintain enough liability car insurance to meet your state’s minimum requirements, and allows you to stay on the road. In Washington, most court-mandated SR-22s are required for a minimum of three years. Drivers required to complete an SR-22 are usually those with multiple speeding tickets, a DUI, or found driving without insurance. Learn more about SR-22 car insurance in Washington.
Coverage we recommend for Washington drivers
Your car insurance should offer enough coverage to help you financially recover after an accident. While your state requires a minimum level of coverage, in most cases it won’t be enough to keep you from out-of-pocket costs.
Washingtonians drive more miles per day than average across the US, and with a higher than average percentage of uninsured drivers on the road, you’ve got additional risks to consider. Increasing your required coverage and adding optional types of coverage may be worth the extra costs to protect your assets.
Higher liability limits
Washington requires 25/50/10 for liability coverage, a low amount of protection if you end up paying someone else’s medical bills and property damage. You need higher protection in most cases, especially if another driver takes you to court. Talk with your insurance agent to weigh how much out-of-pocket costs your budget can afford after an accident. You’ll want to set liability limits that balance your monthly budget and offer the coverage you need to protect your assets.
Collision
For accidents where you’re at fault, your collision coverage pays for your own car’s damage — if you buy this optional coverage. Otherwise, repairs to your own vehicle could cost you out of pocket.
Remember that your required liability coverage doesn’t pay for your car damage. Instead, it pays for damage to someone else’s property.
Consider collision coverage if . . .
- Your car loan requires it.
- It costs less than your car’s value.
- You can’t pay for car repairs or another car out of pocket.
- You drive your car regularly, such as for commuting.
Comprehensive
Because Washington holds the 9th highest vehicle theft rate across the US, consider adding comprehensive coverage to your policy. You’re covered for the outright theft of your vehicle, plus any damages that might occur during a break-in.
Plus, while Washington doesn’t see extreme severe weather often, the coverage can kick in to cover damages from harsh weather, falling tree branches or animals.
Consider this coverage if . . .
- It’s required for your car loan.
- You can’t repair or replace your car out of pocket.
- Your area has a high risk of theft or serious storms.
Uninsured or underinsured motorist
This coverage isn’t required in Washington, but as a state with the 5th highest percentage of uninsured drivers on the road, you may consider opting in. If you’re in an accident with a driver who doesn’t have proper coverage, uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage pays for your medical expenses, car repairs or other property damage.
Consider this coverage if . . .
- You can’t pay for car repairs or another car on your own.
- You don’t have health insurance.
- Your health insurance has high out-of-pocket costs.
Roadside assistance
Washingtonians spend a lot of time on the road and drive well above the average across the US for miles driven per day. Long commutes leave more chance for getting stranded on the road. Adding roadside assistance gives you a dedicated customer service number to call if your car breaks down, with features like tire changes, towing or fuel delivery.
Consider this coverage if . . .
- You rely on your car to get around.
- You own an older or less reliable vehicle.
- You don’t have roadside assistance through your car warranty.
- You’d rather not research service providers on your own after a breakdown.
Top 10 auto insurance companies in USA that serve Washington
We’ve pulled the top 10 companies by market share that offer coverage in Washington according to S&P Global. Compare top companies by three major rating agencies along with our overall score.
- Better Business Bureau (BBB) rating measures how a business interacts with its customers, with the highest rating being A++.
- J.D. Power determines customers’ overall satisfaction with their car insurer’s price, billing, claims and customer support. The higher the J.D. Power score out of 1,000, the better.
- NAIC complaint index shows how a company’s number of complaints compares to similar companies of its size. Scores lower than 1.00 show the company receives less than the average number of complaints, and scores above 1.00 show more complaints than average.
- Finder’s score shows you an overall look at the company by taking into account scores from each of these agencies as well as the coverage and discounts each company offers.
 | ★★★★★ 4/5 | |||||
 | ★★★★★ 4/5 | |||||
 | ★★★★★ 4/5 | |||||
 | ★★★★★ 4/5 | |||||
 | ★★★★★ 4/5 | |||||
 | ★★★★★ 4/5 | |||||
 | ★★★★★ 4/5 | |||||
 | ★★★★★ 4/5 | |||||
 | ★★★★★ 4/5 | |||||
 | ★★★★★ 4/5 |
Which city has the cheapest car insurance in Washington?
Of Washington’s largest cities, Pasco has the cheapest rates and Vancouver has the most expensive car insurance rates. Vancouver drivers could face rates 2 times more than Pasco drivers.
Car insurance quotes in Redmond
| Company | Annual car insurance rate |
|---|---|
| Allstate | $1832 |
| American Family | $1764 |
| Metromile | $1131 |
| Progressive | $1961 |
| Geico | $1990 |
Car insurance quotes in Pasco
| Company | Annual car insurance rate |
|---|---|
| Allstate | $1436 |
| American Family | $1361 |
| Metromile | $899 |
| Progressive | $1497 |
| Geico | $1537 |
Car insurance quotes in Bothell
| Company | Annual car insurance rate |
|---|---|
| Allstate | $1907 |
| American Family | $1818 |
| Metromile | $1190 |
| Progressive | $1960 |
| Geico | $1953 |
Car insurance quotes in Vancouver
| Company | Annual car insurance rate |
|---|---|
| Allstate | $1611 |
| American Family | $1610 |
| Metromile | $1110 |
| Progressive | $1969 |
| Geico | $1994 |
Car insurance quotes in Everett
| Company | Annual car insurance rate |
|---|---|
| Allstate | $1884 |
| American Family | $1704 |
| Metromile | $1142 |
| Progressive | $1970 |
| Geico | $1922 |
Compare car insurance providers in Washington
Roadside assistance in Washington
Many Washington insurers offer roadside assistance as an optional extra, and a few offer it free when you buy collision and comprehensive coverage. Washington has some of the worst roads in the country, ranking seventh worst with 31% of roads in poor conditions, according to a recent report by the American Society of Civil Engineers. With so much mountainous terrain and rural roads, it’s difficult for the state to maintain everything with current funding. Roadside help could come in handy for any Washington driver who’s experienced a fender bender, unseen pothole or black ice on a winter night.
Car insurance for high-risk drivers in Washington
If you can’t find cheap coverage or if you’ve been denied coverage because you’re a high-risk driver, you can get insured with the Western Association of Automobile Insurance Plans (WAAIP).
With WAAIP, you’ll be assigned an insurance provider, and any additional risk you pose to the insurance provider is mitigated by spreading it across the WAAIP network of insurance companies.
Bottom line
Car insurance can help to protect you, your vehicle and everyone else on the road if something ever goes wrong. And in the state of Washington, it’s a legal requirement to carry insurance for these reasons. The first step of comparing car insurance is understanding laws and regulations in your state to help you get the best value on your auto coverage.
- Average Premiums and Expenditures, NAIC, 2018
- Automobile Financial Responsibility Limits By State, III, October 2021
- Washington Car Accident Laws, Nolo
- Motor vehicle theft rate in the United States in 2020, by state, Statista, 08 October 2021
- Top 10 Highest And Lowest States By Estimated Percentage Of Uninsured Motorists, 2019, III
- State Transportation by the Numbers, BTS
- Largest private auto insurers posted combined ratios under 100% in 2020, Spglobal, May 4 2021
Common questions about car insurance in Washington
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