TAGS
Find the cheapest car insurance rates in Washington State on our website. Regardless if you have a perfect driving record or a few tickets and at-fault accidents, we find the lowest prices when we shop the top companies, research and compare hundreds of plan options, and present them so you can easily apply for coverage. Whether you live in Seattle, Tacoma, or any other part of the state, we will show you the most affordable auto insurance prices in the Evergreen State available to consumers.
The Best Companies
Actually, determining the "best" carrier is almost impossible since prices can differ, depending on the vehicle you own, who the drivers are and where you live. However, we take into account all of these variables (and many more) so you can always choose the best offers. We constantly update ratings each time a carrier changes their pricing. If a new company enters the marketplace, we will closely study their underwriting guidelines and review how competitive their rates are.
Although largest isn't always the best, we have listed below the 20 biggest auto insurance companies in the state of Washington:
1. State Farm Mutual
2. Farmers
3. State Farm Fire & Casualty
4. Pemco
5. Allstate
6. Mutual Of Enumclaw
7. AAA
8. Safeco Of America
9. Safeco Of Illinois
10. American Family
11. Geico General
12. USAA Casualty
13. Allstate Property & Casualty
14. Allstate Fire & Casualty
15. Liberty Mutual
16. Progressive Direct
17. Allstate Indemnity
18. National Union Fire
19. Progressive Casualty
20. First National
How Much Will A Ticket Or Accident Hurt The Rate?
Get Cheap Washington State Car Insurance
A single moving violation usually does not have a significant impact on car insurance prices in Washington. It does, however, help when there are multiple drivers on the policy to help spread the risk. When there are a few tickets (or more), although it is not impossible to find a lower rate, it is a bigger challenge. Once you have three (or more) moving violations in the last three years, the number of companies that are able to offer coverage decreases. At that point, a "high-risk" plan could potentially be less expensive, especially if an SR-22 Bond is required or a DUI or DWI is present on the driving record.
If you have a recent DUI or are covered under an SR-22 Bond, it is likely that you are paying a very high premium. In special circumstances such as this, it is important not to make any changes that will result in higher premiums. For that reason, we use extra caution with drivers that have multiple points on their MVR. It's also critical to be aware of all claims in the household, including comprehensive and glass-breakage claims. NOTE: Many carrier underwriting guidelines include both tickets/accidents AND other claims submitted to the vehicle. If you have a history of high claim activity, but very few (or no) at-fault accidents, it becomes very important to consider companies that minimize this activity when determining their pricing.
Impact Of Accidents
Accidents are a little trickier situation since money was probably paid out in an at-fault situation. In most instances, the increase may be approximately 10%-25% of your premium for a period of approximately three years. You may wish to view our " " list which may offer a few worthwhile ideas. The combination of a high-performance car and multiple claims will wreak havoc on your premium.
A "good-driver" discount can often be restored after 36 months of no claim activity. And it can sometimes be transferred to a new company when you make a change. "Vanishing deductible" credits can also be restarted with a clean driving record or switching to a new company. In some instances, a new carrier will offer an instant $100 credit towards the deductible. Each year you drive accident-free, the credit increases. The maximum is generally $250-$500, and you retain the credit each year, even if not used.
If you have more than one vehicle insured, the at-fault accident increase (surcharge) is much less, since it is spread out over multiple cars or trucks. And since the state utilizes a tort system of laws, if there is an accident, fault must be established. That's why it is very important to insist that police arrive and file a report if you were clearly not at fault.
For example, if there are three vehicles covered, the rate adjustment may only be 4%-10%. And of course, if you have built up a loyalty discount or the damages were under a specific threshold, you may not see a change to your premium. A major violation such as a "hit and run" or "driving under the influence" will result in bigger increases. Multiple major offenses within 12 months will have a more severe effect and take 36-39 months (or longer) to be erased from your driving record.
Are Washington Auto Insurance Prices Cheap Compared To The Rest Of The Country?
Actually, they are. Usually, Evergreen State prices are ranked among the 10 most affordable states in the US. For instance, last year, the only states with lower rates were Indiana, Idaho, Vermont, Ohio, North Carolina, Maine, New Hampshire and Iowa. Louisiana and Michigan feature premiums that are DOUBLE (Yes, that is correct) Washington's rates. Bigger cities such as Tacoma and Seattle have reasonable prices compared to other large cities in the Northwest. And it's not unusual to see many rural areas with lower-than-expected prices.
Whether you're driving around or on one of the other beautiful parks or national forests, it's hard not to appreciate the scenery around you. Just try to keep your eyes on the road and you'll help keep the number of accidents to a minimum. So far, this has worked quite well!
What If I Don't Have Coverage Or It Lapsed?
We'll try to help. Firstly, don't drive until you secure coverage. The penalty is $450 (or more) so why risk the fine and potential legal and financial problems that may take quite a while to correct. A new policy can be written, but you'll have to meet the minimum liability requirements, which are $25,000 per person, $50,000 per accident and another $10,000 for property damage (which is not enough). Higher limits are always encouraged, if it fits within your budget. And we can usually find same-day coverage for you.
Uninsured motorist protection must also be $25,000/$50,000 and personal injury protection (PIP) must be at least $10,000. Once again, these limits are merely the lowest coverage you can have and not necessarily a recommended amount. You still may be vulnerable if you have a serious accident with bodily injury that is your fault. Every five years, your existing liability limits should be reviewed and evaluated. A personal umbrella rider should be considered if you have assets in excess of $250,000.
You will be issued an ID card which is mandatory to have while you are driving. It must contain basic information such as the effective and renewal dates of the policy, who the carrier is, and of course, detailed information regarding the vehicles that are insured. If you were driving a vehicle (or owned it) that was involved in an accident, you may need an SR-22 Bond.
Although the allows you to "self-insure" by having a certificate of deposit or liability bond, we don't encourage it. The CD must be at least $60,000, and you must maintain proof that you own it. Of course, it must be renewed every year regardless of the interest rate you earn. Currently, rates of return are near historic lows.
The liability bond must also be for at least $60,000 and issued by a surety company. There will be a separate fee and finding a licensed reputable company that handles the bond is your responsibility. There also may be a fee with maintaining this type of coverage. We can recommend the most reputable and economical companies.
Are There Discounts That Will Reduce My Rates
All auto insurance companies in Washington offer discounts, although some feature more than others. Geico's "Defensive Driver" discount is one example. They will lower your premium by 10% if you complete specific courses. And the popular multi-policy, multi-car, passive restraint, good student and 55 and retired discounts are always available. Alarm system reductions are offered by all carriers and are usually at least 5%.
Teenagers can very quickly raise your premiums by 25% (or more). Therefore, taking advantage of all inexperienced-driver reductions is important. Maintaining good grades (B average or better) will easily save hundreds of dollars per year. By not having a vehicle at school, you'll also save money. The assignment of your daughter or son to the wrong vehicle could substantially raise the premium, so proper rating must be maintained. If the number of vehicles in your household exceeds the number of drivers, you may have some leeway regarding how your children are assigned for purposes of rating.
UPDATES: December 2013 -- "Pay As You Drive" is coming to Washington! Thanks to MetroMile and their new Metronome tracking device for vehicles. For consumers that don't drive more than 8,000-12,000 miles per year, there could be fairly significant savings. It rewards households that drive predominantly in a local radius and avoid long trips. The Metronome installs below the dashboard and was recently approved for use by the State commissioner. Purchasing mileage-based coverage has become popular in Oregon and is expected to spread to other states. The perfect prospect are persons that live in an urban area (such as Seattle in the video below) or typically use other family automobiles on long trips and vacations.
June 2014 -- New safety signs have been put up in a few rest areas. They are located on highways between Seattle and Portland. Both signs are designed to help protect motorcyclists, since they are often very difficult to see. More signs may be installed at a later date in other parts of the state. "Look Twice And You May Save A Life" is one of the messages.
July 2015 -- Instantly . The Department of Licensing has launched a new online location map for finding locations throughout the state. The interactive map makes it easy for state residents to find the nearest offices and obtain information such as closing hours, services, appoint information and other information. By clicking on the city links, you can easily view all area locations. For example, the Spokane office is located on N. Lidgerwood street and is open Tuesday through Saturday (closed Sunday and Monday). Services include renewing or applying for licenses, changing information, or ordering a duplicate ID card.
November 2015 -- The Department of Insurance (DOI) provides the most recent "complaint ratios" for carriers licensed to do business and offer policies. The most recent private passenger ratios feature the following major companies with the best ratios: Pemco, Metropolitan Casualty, State farm, Allstate, Mutual of Enumclaw, travelers, First Safeco, Farmers, Progressive, USAA, and IDS.
.
