Average Car Insurance Cost in Washington (2024)

Car insurance in Washington averages around $118 per month — slightly lower than the national average of $158. The Evergreen State’s temperate climate means fewer weather-related claims, but it has a high rate of uninsured drivers.^[1]

Understanding the factors that go into setting car insurance rates and comparing quotes from multiple companies can help you secure affordable premiums.

What’s the average cost of car insurance in Washington?

Car insurance in Washington costs an average of $76 per month for liability-only coverage and $161 for full coverage.

Liability-only policies help cover bodily injury and property damage costs if you cause an accident that injures someone else or damages another person’s property. Liability-only coverage doesn’t protect your own vehicle or passengers.

Full-coverage policies include liability coverage but add comprehensive and collision coverage. Comprehensive insurance helps cover the cost of repairing or replacing your vehicle after non-collision incidents, like theft, vandalism, or falling tree limbs. Collision insurance helps cover damage to your car after an accident.

The table below shows the cheapest rates for liability and full-coverage insurance in Washington.

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Average Washington car insurance rates by city

Car insurance rates vary from city to city — even within the same state — due to a variety of factors like population density, traffic congestion, and local crime rates in that location. For example, cities with higher traffic tend to have more accidents, leading to higher car insurance premiums.^[2]

The table below shows average rates across several major cities in Washington state.

Average Washington car insurance rates by age

Age plays a big part in determining car insurance rates. Insurance companies consider young drivers more at risk of accidents due to their limited experience.

Teen drivers and young adults usually face the highest premiums. As Washington drivers age and gain experience, rates tend to decrease. But older drivers see their rates increase in their 70s due to age-related factors that may affect their driving abilities.

This table shows Washington drivers’ average car insurance rates by age group.

How gender affects car insurance rates in Washington

Gender is another factor insurers consider when calculating car insurance rates. Men often pay more than women based on statistical data showing that men, particularly young men, tend to practice high-risk driving behaviors and have more accidents than women. That gender gap gets smaller as drivers age.

The table below shows the state average rates for males and females at different ages.

How your driving record affects car insurance rates in Washington

Your driving record has a big effect on your car insurance rates. Insurance companies view a clean driving record as an indication of a lower-risk driver and charge lower premiums. But an at-fault accident, speeding ticket, or driving under the influence (DUI) conviction signals higher risk, and insurance companies tend to give a rate increase to high-risk drivers to offset potential claims.^[3]

Maintaining a clean driving record keeps your average premiums down and helps you qualify for good driver discounts.

Average Washington car insurance rates by marital status

Insurance companies generally offer lower premiums to married drivers compared to single drivers. Married people are statistically less likely to have serious accidents^[4] and can more often take advantage of multi-car discounts.

But marital status doesn’t have a big effect on car insurance rates in Washington. As shown in the table below, liability-only and full-coverage car insurance rates are neck and neck for single policyholders and married couples.

Average Washington car insurance rates by credit tier

The Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner allows insurance companies to use customers’ credit history when setting car insurance rates.^[5]

Insurance companies use a special credit-based insurance score to predict the likelihood of policyholders filing claims. They view people with higher credit as less likely to file claims, which leads to lower car insurance premiums. Low credit is associated with higher risk and higher premiums.^[3]

In Washington, rates don’t change drastically for people with good credit. But premiums for drivers with poor credit jump significantly — especially for full-coverage policies.

Washington car insurance FAQs