Car insurance is a legal requirement in Washington. But if you’ve ever shopped for auto insurance, you know there are dozens of options. It may seem overwhelming to choose the right car insurance company, especially if you are torn between wanting affordable rates, generous coverages, specific types of coverage, or something else.
To help you find the best car insurance companies in Washington, we did some research to help you get started. Reviews.com evaluated a group of the largest car insurance providers by market share in the state. We narrowed down the list based on coverage, discounts, average premium data provided by Bankrate.com, and third-party ratings.
The 4 Best Auto Insurance Companies in Washington
- Geico: Best for Affordability
- USAA: Best for Military-Focused Coverage
- State Farm: Best for Discounts
- Progressive: Best for High-Risk Drivers
Compare the Best Car Insurance Companies in Washington
| Average Price for State Minimum* | Average Price for Full Coverage* | AM Best Financial Strength AM Best rates insurance providers creditworthiness. Ratings are based on the provider’s ability to follow through with a payout when a consumer files a claim. | J.D. Power Overall Customer Satisfaction J.D. Power scores are based on surveys for customer satisfaction and product quality. | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pin Geico | $359 | $912 | A++ | 821 | |
| Pin USAA | $292 | $818 | A++ | 884 | |
| Pin State Farm | $404 | $951 | A++ | 844 | |
| Pin Progressive | $376 | $974 | A+ | 817 |
Information accurate as of December 2021
* Data provided by Bankrate.com
**J.D. Power 2021 Auto Insurance Satisfaction Study rating for the Northwest region. Based on a 1,000-point scale.
***Not officially ranked by J.D. Power due to eligibility restrictions
Geico
Best for Affordability
Why we chose it
Why we chose it
Pros
- Low average premium
- Numerous discounts
- Strong financial ratings
Cons
- Does not offer gap insurance
- No discounts for hybrid/electric cars
Types of Coverage Offered
- Personal injury protection (PIP)
- Roadside assistance
- Rental reimbursement
- Mechanical breakdown coverage
Discounts Available
- Defensive driving course
- Driver education course
- Emergency deployment
- Federal employee
- Good driver
- Good student
- Membership and employee
- Military
- Multi-vehicle
- Multi-policy
- New vehicle
- Seat belt use
- Vehicle safety features
More Geico Insurance Reviews
USAA
Best for Military-Focused Coverage
Why we chose it
Why we chose it
Pros
- Affordable auto insurance policies
- Multiple discounts
- Personalized customer service
Cons
- Available only to military families
- Limited number of branch locations
Types of Coverage Offered
- Accident forgiveness
- Personal injury protection (PIP)
- Extended benefits coverage
- Roadside assistance
- Rental car reimbursement
Discounts Available
- Annual mileage
- Anti-theft device
- Defensive driving course
- Driver training course
- Family discount
- Good student
- Length of membership
- Military installation
- Multi-vehicle
- New Vehicle
- Policy bundling
- Safe driver
- USAA SafePilot program
- Vehicle storage
More USAA Insurance Reviews
State Farm
Best for Discounts
Why we chose it
Why we chose it
Pros
- Coverage for rideshare drivers
- Highly rated mobile app
- Impressive financial strength
- Unique discounts
Cons
- Average minimum coverage premium is higher than state average
- Fewer add-on coverages than competitors
- No accident forgiveness
Types of Coverage Offered
- Liability
- Medical
- Uninsured motorist
- Collision
- Comprehensive
- Emergency road service
- Car rental and travel
- Rideshare driver
- Roadside assistance coverage
Discounts Available
- Accident-free
- Defensive driving course
- Drive Safe & Save program
- Good driver
- Good student
- Multi-vehicle
- Passive restraint
- Policy bundling
- Steer Clear program
- Student away at school
- Vehicle safety
More State Farm Insurance Reviews
- State Farm auto insurance review
- State Farm homeowners insurance review
- Geico vs. State Farm
Progressive
Best for High-Risk Drivers
Why we chose it
Why we chose it
Pros
- Fast and efficient claims handling
- Several discounts
- Variety of add-on policies for customization
Cons
- Below-average customer service ratings
- Some discounts not offered in certain states
Types of Coverage Offered
- Roadside assistance
- Gap insurance
- Rental car reimbursement
- Custom parts and equipment coverage
- Rideshare coverage
- Deductible savings bank
Discounts Available
- AutoPay
- Claim-free
- Continuous insurance
- Distant student
- Good student
- Homeowner
- Multi-policy
- Multi-vehicle
- Online quote
- Paperless billing
- Pay in full
- Sign online
- Snapshot® program
- Teen driver
More Progressive Insurance Reviews
* Data provided by Bankrate.com.
**J.D. Power 2021 Auto Insurance Satisfaction Study rating for the Northwest region. Based on a 1,000-point scale.
The Average Cost of Car Insurance in Washington
In Washington State, the average cost of car insurance is $1,176 for a full coverage policy and $463 for a minimum coverage policy, based on 2021 quoted premium data from Bankrate.com. However, keep in mind that car insurance rates are personalized for every driver. In addition to location-based factors, like your ZIP code and loss statistics in your area, premiums in most states are also impacted by your age, gender, claim history, and driving record. As a result, it’s important to shop around and compare car insurance quotes before purchasing a policy.
Top 3 Cheapest Car Insurance Companies in Washington
| Company | Average Annual Full Coverage Premium |
| USAA | $818 |
| Oregon Mutual | $825 |
| Travelers | $876 |
Top 3 Most Expensive Car Insurance Companies in Washington
| Company | Average Annual Full Coverage Premium |
| Chubb | $1,421 |
| Allstate | $1,384 |
| California Casualty | $1,371 |
Top 3 Cheapest Cities for Car Insurance in Washington
| City | Average Annual Full Coverage Premium |
| Port Townsend | $992 |
| Sequim | $995 |
| Carlsborg | $995 |
Top 3 Most Expensive Cities for Car Insurance in Washington
| City | Average Annual Full Coverage Premium |
| Boulevard Park | $1,460 |
| Midland | $1,456 |
| Parkland | $1,451 |
Key Things to Know About Car Insurance in Washington
As a Washington driver, you can access specific information regarding insurance from the Department of Licensing (DOL). Additional information is also provided by the Office of the Insurance Commissioner.
Washington Minimum Insurance Requirements
Most states require drivers to have some sort of car insurance, but the type of coverage and limits that each state requires will vary. Washington requires drivers to have liability insurance, which will cover bodily injury and property damage they are at-fault in an accident.
Washington minimum auto insurance requirements:
- $25,000 bodily injury liability per person
- $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident
- $10,000 for property damage liability
In addition to liability coverage, Washington car insurance companies are required to offer personal injury protection (PIP) and uninsured motorist coverage to all drivers. However, drivers have the option to decline these coverages if they want.
Car Insurance Coverage Options
There are additional coverages when considering further financial protection as a driver in Washington:
- Collision: Covers the cost of damage to your vehicle caused by a collision as well damage caused by your vehicle flipping over or hitting a pothole.
- Comprehensive: Covers the cost of damage caused by something other than a collision with another car or object, such as theft or fire.
- Uninsured and underinsured motorist: Covers damage caused by a driver who is at-fault but does not have insurance or insurance that will fully cover the cost of damages.
- Roadside assistance: Covers the cost of roadside services that may be required if your vehicle breaks down and needs to be towed.
Frequently asked questions
Methodology
Reviews.com scores products, services and companies using five quantifiable criteria to help readers choose the best one for them. For the best car insurance in Washington, our editorial team compared affordability, customer support, coverage options, customer satisfaction scores and online resources from each company. These scores were created with our readers in mind and are meant to be a helpful tool to simplify the process of choosing which car insurance company is best for you.
As for average pricing, we used Bankrate.com’s data of car insurance in Washington, based on the profiles of a 40-year male and female. For full coverage, the details used were the following:
- $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 bodily injury per person
- $300,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per accident
- $500 collision deductible
- $500 comprehensive deductible
To determine minimum coverage limits, Bankrate used minimum coverage that meets each state’s requirements. Our base profile drivers own a 2019 Toyota Camry, commute five days a week and drive 12,000 miles annually.
These are sample rates and should only be used for comparative purposes.
About the Authors
Elizabeth Rivelli is an insurance writer for Reviews.com. Over the last year, she has covered insurance providers, best policies, industry trends and more. Elizabeth has been featured in The Simple Dollar, Bankrate and Coverage.com, among others. She holds a bachelor's degree in Communication Studies from Northeastern University in Boston, MA. The Best Term Life Insurance Companies is Elizabeth’s favorite review on Reviews.com.
