Cheapest Car Insurance Quotes in Seattle, WA (2023)

Seattle drivers pay $234 a month on average for liability-only coverage — 11% higher than the Washington state average of $208. In 2021, Seattle’s number of fatal traffic incidents was the highest it’s been since 2006, and it shows no signs of slowing down in 2022, according to The Seattle Times and the Seattle Department of Transportation.^[1][2] Because insurance companies take your location into account when determining premiums, a higher risk of traffic incidents can contribute to higher premiums.

Here’s how car insurance in Seattle works, how much it costs, and how you can save money on your policy.

How much does car insurance cost in Seattle?

Shopping around for car insurance in Seattle is one of the best ways for you to find the most cost-effective rates for the amount of coverage you desire. Insurance rates can vary greatly, so Insurify data scientists analyzed the latest insurance rates in Seattle, Washington, to identify the cheapest quotes in the area.

• Safeco: At $126 per month, Safeco offers the cheapest liability-only insurance coverage in Seattle.

• Safeco and Travelers: At $167 per month, Safeco and Travelers offer the cheapest full-coverage insurance in Seattle.

• Travelers: At $163 per month, Travelers offers the cheapest insurance for new and young drivers in Seattle.

Learn More: Cheap Car Insurance in Washington

Cheapest car insurance in Seattle: Safeco

The cheapest car insurance provider in Seattle is Safeco, with an average liability-only rate of $126 per month and a full-coverage rate of $167 per month. Many factors — ZIP code, age, driving history, car type, and more — can influence your insurance rates, but these averages give you a jumping-off point when doing research.

Additional cheap car insurance companies in Seattle include the following:

How much car insurance do you need in Seattle?

In Washington state, it’s a legal requirement for all motor vehicles operated or parked on state roadways to have insurance. You must carry proof of insurance in your car at all times and may be asked to provide this proof when renewing your vehicle registration, if your car is involved in an accident, or if a law enforcement officer requests it.

The minimum liability insurance requirements for private passenger vehicles in Washington are:^[3]

• $25,000 per person/$50,000 per accident for bodily injury

• $10,000 per accident for property damage

Washington DMV information

The Washington Department of Licensing (DOL) provides licensing and car registration services for drivers who reside in Washington. You can visit its website to get a new license or permit, renew or update a license or permit, renew your registration, or register a vehicle — among other services.

Read More: Average Cost of Car Insurance (With Quotes, 2022)

Tips for getting cheap car insurance in Seattle

If you’re a Seattle driver looking to save, you have a few ways to potentially lower your insurance costs:

• See what discounts you qualify for.^[4] Plenty of insurance companies offer discounts. You may be able to qualify for a discount by going paperless, getting good grades as a student, having a clean driving record, or taking a defensive driving course.

• Buy all your insurance policies in one place. If your insurance provider offers different types of policies, ask if you can save by bundling multiple policies like car and rideshare, condo, earthquake, renters, or homeowners insurance together.

• Maintain a good driving record. One of the crucial factors in finding low insurance rates is to maintain a clean driving record. Avoid moving violations and traffic infractions to help keep your insurance costs lower.

• Choose a higher deductible. A higher deductible generally leads to lower premiums. If you believe you won’t file a claim anytime soon, then you could benefit from a higher deductible and lower monthly premiums. Your monthly cost could be lower, but if you file a claim, you’ll pay more out of pocket for the deductible.

• Shop for multiple quotes. There’s no need to settle for the first car insurance quote you get, you can compare quotes with different insurance providers to see which will offer the best rate for the amount of coverage you need.

Learn More: Compare Home and Auto Insurance Bundles

How age affects car insurance rates in Seattle

Being on the younger side can hurt you when it comes to auto insurance prices. Drivers under the age of 25 typically have higher car insurance rates due to their lack of driving experience and their resulting higher likelihood of filing claims.^[5]

Here’s how insurance prices vary based on age in Seattle.

Cheapest car insurance for young drivers in Seattle

Young drivers who want to save on car insurance can turn to Travelers, which offers the lowest full-coverage policy ($163) for young drivers in Seattle. To help save on car insurance, young drivers can also ask insurance providers if they qualify for a good student discount and may be able to save by maintaining a high GPA.

For more cheap options, the table below highlights a handful of other affordable providers based on their average rates for full-coverage policies.

Cheapest car insurance for middle-aged drivers in Seattle

Middle-aged drivers can also turn to Travelers and Safeco for cheap full-coverage policies for their age group at $139 per month, on average. For additional savings, many middle-aged drivers may be able to bundle additional insurance policies with auto — like renters or homeowners insurance — to save on their insurance costs.

The following table outlines more cheap full-coverage auto insurance rates in Seattle.

Check Out: Compare Car Insurance by Age and Gender

Cheapest car insurance for senior drivers in Seattle

Once again, Travelers offers the cheapest car insurance for senior drivers in Seattle, at an average of $132 per month for full-coverage insurance. To save even more, senior drivers who don’t drive all that often in retirement can benefit from signing up for a pay-per-mile policy, like ones from Allstate and Nationwide, that only charges them for the miles they actually drive.

Here are other cheap insurance providers for Seattle senior drivers who are looking for full-coverage policies.

How credit scores affect cheap car insurance in Seattle

Some states prohibit using credit scores to influence insurance rates. In March 2020, Washington established a temporary rule that prohibited insurers from using credit scores when setting premiums. But a Thurston County Superior Court judge overruled this decision in July 2022, allowing insurers to use consumers’ credit scores again. Washington insurance providers may take your credit score into account when determining your premium, since some believe credit scores correlate to your risk level.

Credit scores are typically ranked as follows:

• Poor: Less than 580

• Fair: 580 to 669

• Good: 670 to 739

• Very good: 740 to 799

• Excellent: 800 to 850

Here’s how your credit score may affect your monthly car insurance rate in Washington state:

Read More: Car Insurance Rates by Credit Tier

The effect of driving habits on car insurance in Seattle

When you have negative marks on your driving record, that can cause insurance companies to worry that you’re likely to file a claim. As a result, they may charge you higher insurance premiums to protect themselves. That’s why it’s best to avoid having negative driving events like at-fault accidents and speeding tickets.

Here’s how rates change when you have certain incidents on your record. Please note that a negative difference in a table doesn’t always mean a company will offer you a lower rate if you have that infraction on your record. Instead, it can mean that our sample size was small or that the insurers choose not to offer policies to drivers with that type of infraction on their record. The actual rate you’re offered will reflect your unique driving record and other factors.

See Also: Cheapest Car Insurance by Driving Record (2022)

Cheapest car insurance with an accident in Seattle: Travelers

Travelers offers the lowest car insurance rates for Seattle drivers with an accident on their records. Because your driving record affects your insurance rates, it’s common to see an increase in premiums after an at-fault accident.

Cheapest car insurance with a DUI in Seattle: Direct Auto

Alcohol-impaired crashes accounted for 30% of car crash fatalities in 2020. If you’re found guilty of driving under the influence (DUI) of drugs or alcohol, it can greatly increase your insurance premiums, even if you didn’t injure anyone or cause a collision. Direct Auto offers the lowest monthly premiums on average for Seattle drivers with a DUI on their records.

Cheapest car insurance with a speeding ticket in Seattle: Travelers

A speeding ticket on your driving record can also increase your premiums. In Seattle, Travelers has the lowest average monthly cost of car insurance for drivers with a speeding ticket on their record. However, it’s a small average increase, from $144 a month for people with a clean record to $173 a month for drivers with speeding tickets.

Car insurance in other Washington cities

Location can significantly affect the cost of car insurance, even between cities in the same state. Here’s a look at car insurance rates in other Washington cities:

• Cheapest Car Insurance in Kennewick, Washington

• Cheapest Car Insurance in Olympia, Washington

• Cheapest Car Insurance in Tacoma, Washington

• Cheapest Car Insurance in Pasco, Washington

Find local Seattle agents

Seattle car insurance rates FAQs

Here are answers to some commonly asked questions about Seattle car insurance.